Images of this object are available online to Collection subscribers.
- GLC#
- GLC01579.01
- Type
- Letters
- Date
- October 16, 1775
- Author/Creator
- Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829
- Title
- to Samuel Holton
- Place Written
- Salem, Massachusetts
- Pagination
- 2 p. : Height: 32 cm, Width: 20 cm
- Language
- English
- Primary time period
- American Revolution, 1763-1783
- Sub-Era
- The War for Independence
Letter written to fellow jurist Samuel Holton discussing the qualifications of a justice, the readiness of the American forces, and George Washington's opinion of his own army. Satirizes another judge who thinks all judges should have "the prime qualities of an executioner." He believes "the proper qualifications of a judge" are "integrity, ability, & knowledge of the law...a discerner between truth & falsehood, right and wrong." Believes that the colonies were not ready for war, and are still unprepared now, but insists in his full patriotism despite these doubts. Says Washington "declared to me last week" that "he is obliged to remain most mortifyingly inactive" because his troops are unprepared.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
For reproductions and permissions, please visit our Rights and Reproductions Page.
- Copyright Notice
- The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.