Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-03-12

Life and Correspondence of James IredelI, Vol H.
We have before us the second volume of the Life and
Correspondence of Judge Irede presented to the public
by our gifted tOwnsman, G. j. McRee, Esq, to whom
it has been labor of love to illustrate the life OF an an
cestor of his wife, and at the time throw light up
on the revolutionary history of his native State
The present volume covers the space OF time from lIo2
to 1899 and brings the reader down to the death OF
Judge Iredel in the last named year. Although not
strictly revolutionary in name these times were virtually
so in character The positions of prominence in the ma
ton were all filled by men who had borne part in the
sruppe that had resulted in its independence and the
first years of that independence only sequel to
those that had been spent in achieving it. The right to
liberty and independence had taken years to es
tabish and more than other years were required
to decide upon the form that that liberty and indpen
ence should assume and the institutions which should
be devised for securing its permanence These years
were scarcely less event than those of actual contest
with foreign foe Many nations have been able to
achieve ndependence-ew have succeeded IN establish
ing liberty The years from the recognition of Ameri-
can Independence to the close OF the administration OF
Washington would be far difficult to parallel than
even those of the revolutionary war vaor and consancy
in war things Corsica, Switzerland, Greece,
yea South America and Mexico have not been deficient
either in bravery or devotion in the field but all have
failed in consolidating their independent Institutions up
on the joint basis Of liberty and order The great SUI
perory of the statesmen and warriors of the American
revolution was shown after the termination Of the srug
ole which had called them from retirement. The labor
of framing new institutions and organizing new govern
ments under them devolved upon the who had
fought for the right to do so and their genius and pa
otism was even more conspicuous in the councils Of
peace than during the din of war.
The present volume of Mr.. McRee's Life and Cores
pondence of Judge Iredell throws flood of light the
feelings and views, actions and speculaons of men dur
ing this second era of our revolution The letters given
are from leading characters in all sections but of course
those of North Carolinans are than from
the citizens of any other State. These letters bring be
fore us the politicians and statesmen of the day in The
mental garb with which it has pleased them to array
their own thoughts and there other letters which give
an insight into the tone of contemporary social and do
nestle feeling which interesting. The arrangement
of these letters shows thought and what might cal
editorial Skill while the connecting portions supplied b!
Mr. McRae himself are marked by clearness and fore
of style. The English is pure and nervous, unmarried
by affectaton We like the way the book is gotten up
Its clear sharp type-fne white paper, and to say al
in word its general Tone so characteristic of the pub
locations of the Appetons in good keeping with tn
really classic character of its contents.