1From John Adams to Nathaniel Peaslee Sargeant, 22 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I received with pleasure your friendly letter of the 25 th of April—your recommendation of M r William Pickman has great weight with me. but you must give me leave to enquire whether he has made application to the President: if he has not he should be advised to do it, immediately. There you know the Constitution has wisely placed the Authority of judging in the first instance of the Merits...