Page:The Supreme Court in United States History vol 1.djvu/180

154 in Judge Wilson's office, though only thirty-six years of age, had already acquired a reputation as a profound lawyer and was recommended for the position by Attorney-General Lee. As Virginia had had no representative on the Court since Blair's resignation in 1795, President Adams determined that the appointment should go to that State, but he apparently thought that there was very little choice between the two candidates; for he wrote to Secretary of State Pickering: "The reasons urged by Judge Iredell for an early appointment of a successor [to Wilson] are important. I am ready to appoint either General Marshall or Bushrod Washington. The former I suppose ought to have the preference. If you think so, send him a conmmission. If you think any other person more proper, please to mention him." Pickering, in his reply giving his view of the possible candidates, wrote somewhat whimsically of "B. Washington, a name that I have never heard mentioned but with respect for his talents, virtues and genuine patriotism. But he is young, not more, I believe, than three or four and thirty. His indefatigable pursuit of knowledge and the business of his profession has deprived him of the sight of one eye; it will be happy if the loss does not make him perfectly the emblem of justice." To this Adams answered, September 26, that: "The name, the connections, the character, the merit and abilities of Mr. Washington