Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-08-21
pIr. McRee's Life and Correspondence of
Judge Iredlell.

JuuSe
4 few DAYS since we acknowledged the receipt Of
the first volume of the Life and Correspondence Of
Judge Iredell, by Griffith ]. McRee, Esq, of Will
mington.
We then had time barely to look at the mechani-
cal execution OF the work. Even now, we find our
selves unable 10 devote to the book itself that atten
ton TO which it's merits entitle it. We believe we
remarked before upon the style-the general appear
nee of the volumeits clear and distinct Typography
its fine white paper-the whole quiet library tone
md look, so different from the frppery publications
Of the day. 1t is book that will do TO keep, to read
quietly and think over for the contents worthy OF
the style in which they are presented.
The volume before us traces the life of Judge Ire
dell from his birth Lewes, Sussex County, England,
in 1861, up to 1881, that period in the CT the
Revolution, in which, although the States had passed
the PORT of the deepest depression and orebodings
they yet were suffering under The most painful ex.
baustion from The efforts they had made.
The Correspondence of Judge Iredel, arranged as
it has been, by loving and faithful hand tracing
the sequence of events and leading the mind clearly
fom point to point, must indeed afford valuable
materials for history, especially that portion of history
which bears upon the earlier days of North Carolina.
Such materials are, beyond all question, entitled to
the first consideration. They give, not the re-
hected image of the times, distorted by lis transmits
sion through mediums ohscured by ignorance or un-
fit ed by prejudice, but they bring before the very
for n and pressure of the age tselfhe very Thoughts
of its prominent actors clothed in The language selee
ted by themselves most appropriate No one, after
a careful perusal of Mr. McRee's work, can fail tc
have understanding Of the history of his State
of the spirit that actuated its leading minds and diff
fused itself among IS patriotic people.
Naturally from the character and scope of the
work. Judge Iredell is the central figure, but from
the prominent position of that gentleman, from thu
leading place which he occupied, the relations h
maintained and the correspondence he carried OF
with nearly every of mark in the province ant
with many out Ct it, we find IN the pages before u
much if not ALL the history of the State during tn
period covered by the life and and correspondence
we are introduced to the great of the earle
province, TO the daring yet thoughtful spirits of tn
rising State, to the political and legislative
blies of the day-to its civil and its military heroe
and heroines, with much of it's social life and man
ners.
here runs throughout the correspondence per
ding earnestness and sincerity, and what in thes
times of slang, is something to make glad, Their
is total absence of fppancy and slang. The letter
of Judge Iredel himself, really models of compo
stion. But the greatest charm, after all, is that t
which we have aluded-all who wrote, did so a
men fully in earnest.
The language of Mr.. McRee's narrative, harmonic
in style and tone with the matter which it connects an
explains. 1t is plain, idomatc English, free fror
afectation or striving after effect yet rising at time
into eloquence and never deficient in perspicuity o
lacking in power.
We commend it to every North Carolnian, as
valuable addition TO the literature of the State On
the country, and above ALL as afordng an insight il
to the modes of thinking and acting of the histories
characters of the past