Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-04-21
S~~>se v-xSNSN
From the Raleigh Register.
.fANfES TREDEII.
ONE OF rHr ASSOCIATE 5usrlcEs or .r1a sUPRHnH

COURT OF TIE UNITED STATES
i As no memoir Of Judge Iredell, worthy of his
fame and excellent merit has been written, and
little of his is known to the public at large
have thought brief biographical sketch within
the dimensions of magazine article might be inter-
esting. Abundant materials for large volume eX-
list in the Office of his son, the late Governor irede,
and in the library of MIR. James Z. Johnsto ,, OF
Elenton; and hope yet to hail its publication.
Judge Ireiell was born at Lewes, Sussex County,
England, on the fifth of October, 100. He was re-
lated to Lord NJ &c lrtney the celebrated AnhaSSa-
dor to China. AMI to North Carolina with let
tiers of Recommendation from that distinguished man.
At his arrival in this State, he was only II years
old vet IRE was immediately appointed, under MS
kinsman Henry Eustace McCuiioch, Deputy Collec-
tor of the Customs for the Port of Edenton; anu
was afterwards appointed Collector, which valuable
Office he held until the revolution. McCutioch, a
Barrister of the Inner Temple held under the Crown
large grants of land in North Carolina. lie was
tory during tn. revolution; and his property was
coniscated, while he himself fled the country Mr.
Iredeli from first to last as his agent aud attorney
in the sale and preservation of his property, render
ed him valuable services. From this source alone he
ought to have derived considerable income; bat
when pressed for payment, McCuiloeh, who was
bachelor, always evaded the demand 10y promising
to provide handsomely for Mr.. lredell IN ms WILL
This promise was never fulfilled, whether through
ingratitude because he died interstate, is not
known. McCulloch was also agent for George Sell
wynn, and MI. Iredeli transacted most OF the onS
ness growing out of that agency. From ms carry
youth Mr.. Ire,lel remarkable as methouca
laboriouS precise business man. There is trad-
ton in the Iredell family that the name now differs
somewhat from the true name, that the family was
greatly imp icated in the English rebellion, and alter
the restoration, found it convenient and pohtc to
change their name so as to escape observation anu
odium For years after Mr. lredelPs arrival III Amer
lea, Miss Margaret Mccartney was his regular cor
respondent. She wrote from Bath, England, ana
seems to have cherished for her kinsman an "ftc-
ton characterized by unusual tenderness, though
she jests pleasantly their disparity vi years. she
L.. ocl loffn Shn
your cousin, Sir George Mccartney, has procured
a pair of colors for your brother Thomas Irede
Tae letters full of sprghty descriptions OF fash
ioiab!e life at Bath and OF prominent people. Ihev'
no doubt, q coteuporaneous exhibition OF tue
men and manners OF that famous watering place,
years ago by close observer, would be very inter
estiug the English Mr.. I:edell, when he
about % years old, July II, l173, married
Hannah Johnston lady of masculine intellect, conf
bined with true feminine tenderness of sentiment,
and graceful dignity of manners She was his Cherish
cd companion through life, his confidential friend to
whom he communicated freely and without reserve
all he felt, and thought, and did. Their voiunnous
correspondence has been carefully preserved and
possesses public well as domestic interest. She
the sister of Mr., afterwards Governor, Samuel
Johnston, gentleman whose wealth. legal abilities,
and high character, gave him potent influence In
the Province. She the niece of the Royal Gov
crnor, Gabriel Johnston. Her father was the Sur
veyor General of the Province. After this match
Mr.. Irede;i studied law with Mr.. Johnston At the
own language, 'he held one of the best offices in
the State under the crown-an Office on which he
depended for his support. His relations were i'll
Great Britain; yet, though thus circumstanced, so
far was he from being influenced by pecuriary mo-
tives emolumentS of Office, that soon as his
situation would admit OF it, he did not hesitate mo-
ment to join the opposition to Great Britain, nor
would tn richest office of America have tempted
him to adhere to that MUST cause.-the British gov
eminent" Nor this the only consequence of
his connection with the Wings Of that day. His
uncle wealthy clergyman of the Church Of Eng
land, settled in of the West India Islands, who
had ever regarded him his heir, cut him OFT from
the Inheritance leaving his ample estate to Mr.. Ire
dell's brother. After due of preparatory
study under Mr. Johnston, Mr.. Iredell was admitted
to the bar in 1875. He to eminence in
his profession and was elected by the General As
sembly Judge of the Superior Court the Goth
December, l777 which Office he resigned in August
1779. He was subsequently appointed Alto ney
General in November 1779 but resigned soon after
his appointment. While at the Bar he attended all
the important Courts OH tn. seaboart from lenton
to Wilmington He not a member of any pub
lie body during the revolution, but in more pri-
vate, yet not the less n1uentai manner contributed
to its success being the intelligent counsellor and
trusted friend of William Hooper, San Johnston,
and the other leaders of his party. His correspon-
fence with Mr. Hooper reserved by the latter's
daughter, the late MIS-. alters, Of Hi sboIough,
and SUPP ose, is still i'll existence
In 1877, MIR. lredei was appoi nted by the General
Assembly commissioner to compile and revise the
laws OF the State This delicate and lmpOr-
tant trust. Though Mr.. Iretel was, by the vgor O.
his intellect by his learning and industry, better
fitted to the task than any other in the State, and
though the confidence of the Legislature in him
great, yet, with dfidence almost incredible in this
age OF mpudent presumption and reckless audacity,
in the preface to his work he says: There
authority vested in me, which confess | ..fraId
to exercise directed Ito leave all acts on
which no questions of property could arise" Though
this expressed confidence in me- not little fiat
tering, should have shown myself very undesery-
eng Of it. if had awaited myself of great power
without clearly discerning that there hazard
OF abusing 1t. coull not venture to repoSe vain
confidence in my own Judgment to undertake
to determine precisely what acts might give occasions
TO such Questions, and what not. 1t would he a
task perhaps, difficult for any man, and if in the
exercise of so high an authority, l
had omitted any which it should have appeared af-
forwards it material to have preserved, the
would have been fatal and irretrievable." Mr.. Ire
iefS hesitation being made known to the General
Assembly, that body gave him still signal
proof of their unbounled confidence, by passing
:asolution December %, 1889, auth orizng him ito
:eyise and publish the laws of this State, such
alode, form, and MANNER as his knowledge and dis
c:etion may direct" Part of the collection was
printed before the session of 1888 The whole work.
IS it now exists however, not finally com rleted
md published until 1871, embracing all the laws
passed up 10 that period. The volume we'll known
as Iredell's revisal, printed at Edenton, by
Hodge Wills
Ofthe Convention assembled at HillsEorcueh in
f7SS dete mine the adoption of the Federal Con-
stitution. Mr.. Il edell was member. He had never
before been in any public assembly, yet he evil
IDENTIFY regarded by tue Federasts the leader of