Useful as being a thorough life of a man who was unusual as being a Boston Democrat --a view shared by Hawthorne and Melville but few others. The author argues he was essentially a strong nationalist Unionist, equally opposed to radical abolitionists and southern disunionists. In 1923, this was seen sympathetically; now we are more likely to side with the abolitionists. Based on a through study of Cushing's own papers. ( )