The recipient is not identified but the closing sentence references Mrs. Blair and Mr. Johnston which suggests it is possibly James Iredell.
Part of a two-volume set of autographs of Signers of the Declaration of Independence; see main record for MA 552-553 for more information.
Concerning his appointment to Justice in North Carolina; congratulating him on "being promoted to the first honours this state can bestow. I Sincerely congratulate you upon the favourable opinion which induced the people to this measure, & I confess I feel a spice of vanity in having born my testimony to the merit of him whom they have thus distinguished;" discussing the possibility that he might decline the position but expressing hope that he would accept; saying it "would give you a weight of importance in those parts of the state where you had not had an opportunity to make yourself generally known & prepare you for a more extensive & profitable practice when you should think fit to descend again to the bar. That even if you declined the office altogether that two would still remain who for a while would be competent to the purposes of administering Justice & that they would hazard the experiment upon the bare possibility of filling the third seat with one respectable Character you bore. Their reasons prevailed. And you have now the satisfaction of an unrestrained Choice - the appointment has been imposed upon you & therefore you are at perfect liberty to act or not;" adding that Mr. Ashe expects him "here on the 12th of January when the Gov'r will attend and take the Qualification of himself & the other Judges;" asking to be remembered to "your good Lady[,] Mrs Blair & family[,] Mr. Johnston."