IREDELL, James (1751-1799). Autograph letter signed ("Ja. Iredell") as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court to Thomas Iredell, Philadelphia, 30 July 1795. "My life is still a very wandering one." A very rare letter, written as Associate Justice , to his uncle, President of the Royal Council of Jamaica: "My life is still a very wandering one. I left home so long ago as the 18th of January, and have been employed the greater part of the time since in attending Courts in the course of my duty – first the Supreme Court in this City in February and march last, and afterwards circuit courts in at the States of New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, and Rhode Island. I have lately returned here and must wait till another Session of the Supreme Court is over which is to begin on Monday next." Iredell is strained by his "frequent and long absences" from home, mitigated only by "the kindest and most distinguished civilities," among those he met in his travels. He notes the enclosures of several newspapers (not present) that chronicle the "ferment" over Jay's Treaty, noting how its opponents "make such of clamour," much of which is unattended by "decency and refliexion." Still, Iredell harbored no doubts that the treaty would be passed "exactly in its present form," thanks to "most of the considerable and thinking men of our Country," and expresses his belief that the treaty "has laid the foundation of a permanent good understanding between the two Countries, so much to be decided by the real Friends of both." Letters by Iredell seldom appear at auction. ABPC records only two examples of his handwriting appearing at auction in nearly a century. The last full letter to appear at auction, according to ABPC, was in 1926 (Chrles B. Greenough, his sale, Anderson Galleries, 3 May 1926, lot 321). Provenance: Thoams Iredell – by descent to the consignor.