1From John Adams to Caleb Cushing, 26 July 1821 (Adams Papers)
Although unfortunately my eyes have been so ill that I could not read, yet I have had the pleasure of hearing read, your Oration on the fourth of July; and never have read or heard a better. To point at its merits would be to copy the book. When Voltaire was asked why he had not written criticisms upon Racine as well as upon Corneille, he answered, “because there is no criticism to be made.” I...