.546

The Green Bag

written and the later day historian must search for his material through news paper files, law periodicals and magazine articles. From these sources one may find valuable expressions of contem porary opinion from which I have freely drawn. Caleb Cushing was born in Salisbury, Mass., January 17, 1800, and entered Harvard College at the age of thirteen, graduating with high honors in 1817. It is worthy of note that on the occasion of President Monroe's visit to Harvard in 1817, dishing, although probably the youngest in his class, was chosen to de'iver the address of welcome. At the age of nineteen he became a tutor at Harvard in mathematics and natural philosophy, a post which he filled for two years. In his twenty-third year he was admitted to the bar, and at once became prominent, although the Kssex County bar, where he began to practice, con tained many able lawyers, among whom were Rufus Choate and Robert Rantoul. Cushing later acquired a national repu tation as a lawyer, taking part in many important causes. At the Boston Public Library may be found a collection of his law briefs, which are models of con cise statement, clearness and vigorous logic. In 1824 he married Caroline E. Wilde, daughter of Judge Samuel S. Wilde, of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massa chusetts, and a most accomplished woman. Her untimely death in 1832 deeply affected Cushing, who never remarried. At the age of twenty-five Cushing had become a distinguished figure in the politics of Massachusetts, and from that age down to his death in 1879, his life was full of almost unexampled profes sional and political activities. Six times he was sent to the Massachusetts legis lature, and twice was chosen mayor of

Newburyport. He was eight years in Congress, minister to China and Spain, attorney- general under President Pierce, for a brief period upon the Supreme Bench of Massachusetts, and took part in the war with Mexico from which he retired with the rank of General. Within the limits of this paper only the most important events in Cushing's extended career can be treated. HIS MISSION TO CHINA

In 1843 Cushing was sent as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipo tentiary to China. This mission was at that time an important event in the eyes of the people and press. A squad ron of three vessels was assigned to convey Cushing and his suite to China. Gushing made elaborate preparations for his mission, seeking information from all available sources, and among other things so mastered the Chinese tongue that it was said that not once during his stay in China did he require the services of an interpreter. On Cushing's departure President Tyler gave him a letter written by Webster and directed to the Chinese Emperor, from which I quote: — I, John Tyler, President of the United States of America, . . . send you this letter of peace and friendship, signed by my own hand. I hope your health is good. China is a great empire, extending over a great part of the world. The Chinese are numerous. You have millions and millions of subjects. The twenty-six United States arc as large as China, although our people are not so numerous. The rising sun looks upon the great rivers and great mountains of China. When he sets he looks upon rivers and mountains equally large in the United States. . . . Now my words are, that the governments of two such great countries should be at peace. It is proper, and according to the will of Heaven, that they should respect each other, and act wisely. I therefore send to your Court, Caleb Cushing, one of the wise and learned men of this country. On his first arrival in China he will inquire for your health. He has then strict