PICKERING, TIMOTHY. Autograph letter signed ("Tim. Pickering Esq.") to Samuel Holton (or Holten), Salem [Massachusetts]. 16 October 1775; 2 pages, folio, fold separation with old repairs obscuring a few words, a few tiny perforations, originally bound into a volume, tape along edge affecting one or two letters at line ends, minor discoloration, satirizing an associate's opinion of the qualifications for a judge: "to be consistent, he should go one step further...& say--that unless a man has a brawny arm, & the heart of a lion--or, in other words, if he possess not the prime qualities of an executioner, he is unfit for a judge!...What does common sense pronounce to be the proper qualifications of a judge? Are they other than these--integrity, ability, & knowledge of the law?...", and defending at some length his opinion of the unreadiness of the Colonies for war: "I said we were not prepared for war; and that war to me appeared not unavoidable: hence arose my wishes still longer to forbear avowed hostilities... And were I to say, even now, that the colonies are unprepared for war,--the declaration would not be wholly destitute of truth. Ask General Washington--he'll tell you he is obliged to remain most mortifyingly inactive, & receive, without reply, the enemy's unceasing insults. This he declared to me last week. But admitting my opinion to be unfounded: must I from thence be concluded my country's enemy, or timid friend?...My efforts have not been wanting, to the utmost of my ability: and had I been actually a member of the army, I could scarcely have spent more time in its service..."; Autograph letter signed ("T. Pickering") as Secretary of State, to an unidentified correspondent, Trenton, 21 September 1798, one page, 4to, two short marginal tears, one repaired, corner torn not affecting text, concerning the payment of his correspondent's claim against the Spanish Government: "I have a good while been suspicious of great delays, if not final evasion of payment of such demands; altho' till now I have not expressed my suspicions, and do not wish them to go further. If we avoid a war with Spain, the demands will finally be paid: but she will procrastinate, while the issue is doubtful--and because the Government is embarrassed to find money...".Provenance: Joseph M. Roebling (sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 28 April 1981, lots 132 and 134). (2)

PICKERING, TIMOTHY. Autograph letter signed ("Tim. Pickering Esq.") to Samuel Holton (or Holten), Salem [Massachusetts]. 16 October 1775; 2 pages, folio, fold separation with old repairs obscuring a few words, a few tiny perforations, originally bound into a volume, tape along edge affecting one or two letters at line ends, minor discoloration, satirizing an associate's opinion of the qualifications for a judge: "to be consistent, he should go one step further...& say--that unless a man has a brawny arm, & the heart of a lion--or, in other words, if he possess not the prime qualities of an executioner, he is unfit for a judge!...What does common sense pronounce to be the proper qualifications of a judge? Are they other than these--integrity, ability, & knowledge of the law?...", and defending at some length his opinion of the unreadiness of the Colonies for war: "I said we were not prepared for war; and that war to me appeared not unavoidable: hence arose my wishes still longer to forbear avowed hostilities... And were I to say, even now, that the colonies are unprepared for war,--the declaration would not be wholly destitute of truth. Ask General Washington--he'll tell you he is obliged to remain most mortifyingly inactive, & receive, without reply, the enemy's unceasing insults. This he declared to me last week. But admitting my opinion to be unfounded: must I from thence be concluded my country's enemy, or timid friend?...My efforts have not been wanting, to the utmost of my ability: and had I been actually a member of the army, I could scarcely have spent more time in its service..."; Autograph letter signed ("T. Pickering") as Secretary of State, to an unidentified correspondent, Trenton, 21 September 1798, one page, 4to, two short marginal tears, one repaired, corner torn not affecting text, concerning the payment of his correspondent's claim against the Spanish Government: "I have a good while been suspicious of great delays, if not final evasion of payment of such demands; altho' till now I have not expressed my suspicions, and do not wish them to go further. If we avoid a war with Spain, the demands will finally be paid: but she will procrastinate, while the issue is doubtful--and because the Government is embarrassed to find money...". Provenance: Joseph M. Roebling (sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 28 April 1981, lots 132 and 134). (2)

細節

PICKERING, TIMOTHY. Autograph letter signed ("Tim. Pickering Esq.") to Samuel Holton (or Holten), Salem [Massachusetts]. 16 October 1775; 2 pages, folio, fold separation with old repairs obscuring a few words, a few tiny perforations, originally bound into a volume, tape along edge affecting one or two letters at line ends, minor discoloration, satirizing an associate's opinion of the qualifications for a judge: "to be consistent, he should go one step further...& say--that unless a man has a brawny arm, & the heart of a lion--or, in other words, if he possess not the prime qualities of an executioner, he is unfit for a judge!...What does common sense pronounce to be the proper qualifications of a judge? Are they other than these--integrity, ability, & knowledge of the law?...", and defending at some length his opinion of the unreadiness of the Colonies for war: "I said we were not prepared for war; and that war to me appeared not unavoidable: hence arose my wishes still longer to forbear avowed hostilities... And were I to say, even now, that the colonies are unprepared for war,--the declaration would not be wholly destitute of truth. Ask General Washington--he'll tell you he is obliged to remain most mortifyingly inactive, & receive, without reply, the enemy's unceasing insults. This he declared to me last week. But admitting my opinion to be unfounded: must I from thence be concluded my country's enemy, or timid friend?...My efforts have not been wanting, to the utmost of my ability: and had I been actually a member of the army, I could scarcely have spent more time in its service..."; Autograph letter signed ("T. Pickering") as Secretary of State, to an unidentified correspondent, Trenton, 21 September 1798, one page, 4to, two short marginal tears, one repaired, corner torn not affecting text, concerning the payment of his correspondent's claim against the Spanish Government: "I have a good while been suspicious of great delays, if not final evasion of payment of such demands; altho' till now I have not expressed my suspicions, and do not wish them to go further. If we avoid a war with Spain, the demands will finally be paid: but she will procrastinate, while the issue is doubtful--and because the Government is embarrassed to find money...".

Provenance: Joseph M. Roebling (sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 28 April 1981, lots 132 and 134). (2)