1To John Adams from William Cushing, 20 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Amidst the trouble of our times, I have pleasure in the thought of your being on the bench and appointed to the head of it, a place I have heretofore had a Secret imagination you were destined to, which proves in event, not an enthusiastical Chimera. Reed, Paine and Sargeant it seems, have declined: and Foster, Sullivan and Warren are appointed in their room. Col. Warren has not yet accepted,...
2From John Adams to William Cushing, 9 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
I had, yesterday, the Honour of your Letter of the 20th. of May, and I read it, with all that Pleasure, which We feel on the Revival of an old Friendship when We meet a Friend, whom, for a long Time We have not Seen. You do me great Honour, sir, in expressing a Pleasure at my Appointment to the Bench; but be assured that no Circumstance relating to that Appointment has given me So much...
3To John Adams from William Cushing, 29 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged for your favor of the 9th June, which I did not receive till the 15th instant, when I came to town for inoculation; general permission having been given by authority therefor, and that being the last day: I had just returnd from Falmouth time enough to take hold of the Opportunity. I have the pleasure to congratulate you on the light and easy manner, in which Mrs. Adams and...
4To John Adams from William Cushing, 14 January 1777 (Adams Papers)
I return the two volumes of Hume (by my brother) which you were so good as to lend me, and should be glad of two volumes of Mrs. McCawley, if Mrs. Adams has got them home from her Asylum at Scadden; which my brother will call for on his return from Boston. Three first volumes I have read in quarto which go to 1642; the two next I want. If those are not at home I should be glad of the 2d. and...
5To John Adams from William Cushing, 18 February 1789 (Adams Papers)
I know you will forgive me if I draw your attention, a moment, from the weighty matters that employ it, to the Subject of libels & liberty of the press; on which I had the pleasure of a word with you— lately. Our 16 th. Art. of declaration of rights, holds forth that, “ The liberty of the press is essential to the Security of freedom in a state ,” and that—“it ought not, therefore, to be...
6From John Adams to William Cushing, 7 March 1789 (Adams Papers)
I am greatly obliged, by the Letter you did me the Honour to write me on the 18 th. of February; and regret very much the Want of Leisure to examine the Subject of it, with that Attention which its great Importance requires. That the Truth may be pleaded in Bar of a civil Action for Damages, for actionable Words, Spoken or written, I remembered very well: but it lay in my mind that Some just...
7To John Adams from William Cushing, 22 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
I hope you will excuse my indolence as to writing; but I ought before now to have expressed my thanks for your favor of the Second volume Hollandois, which has afforded me a great fund of entertainment & instruction: you accomplished a great work and of a variety of thoughts arising upon the occasion, this is one—that the minister of a mighty monarch appears to make but a small Figure before a...
8From John Adams to William Cushing, 14 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have not yet acknowledged my obligation to you for your favor of Aug t 22. if my hasty scrawls written in gloomy times and desperate circumstances, have furnished you an amusement for a vacant hour I am glad of it. My present office is as agreable to me as any public office ever can be: and my situation as pleasing as any on this earth, excepting Braintree. My compensation will be...
9To John Adams from William Cushing, 7 August 1790 (Adams Papers)
I intended myself the pleasure of calling to pay my respects to you before leaving the city, & for that purpose had engaged a hack to carry me out Thursday Morning, but the hack failed & disappointed me & the packet I had bespoke a passage in, being soon ready to sail, I stepped aboard & reached the harbour of Newhaven that Evening; which saved much jolting over horseneck rocks.— So I hope you...
10To John Adams from William Cushing, 9 June 1802 (Adams Papers)
Mrs. Cushing joins to present our best respects to you & Mrs Adams and our best wishes for your health & happiness. We returned through Providence, & have been unwell since we got home (the 4. May) with bad colds coughs & influenza, but are beginning to be restored. I hope to have the honor of calling upon you in the fall, when the new circuit begins. This new mode may make the burden rather...