One of them was the appointment by Governor Boutwell of Caleb Cushing to a seat on the Supreme Bench of Massachusetts.

General Cushing was a man of great accomplishment, though never a great lawyer.

He could collect with wonderful industry all the facts bearing on any historic question and everything that had been said on either side of any question of law.

But he never had a gift of cogent argument that would convince any judge or jury.

He owed his success in life largely to the personal favor of men who knew him and were charmed by his agreeable quality.