The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-06-04
From tie fro: sumter Of ire Efontlgi
Recorder, q dIrgaziae. hubHshcd IL, .We7i
York, Edited bG FVaiia,7 Di1ttan Esg.
MASTER LESLIE.

MASTER LESLIE.
About two yeara ago. when Mr.. Cooke
was acting IN Philadelphia Master Les,jo
! 1ttracted the attention of the public at that
city by several drawings ofthe great TRACE
dian in various characters, s, true, So spiri-
| Jed, aId evinclng such quckness and vi
gor OF perception at the rroment of receiv
ing the image, such power of impresslng &
retaining It until the opportunity offered OF
transferring II to paper, and such freedan
lot manner 2nd deciaIon of drawing. (thopgh
MOI yet correct) that all Glasses joined in
enc expression Of adniratiun.-r adm
ration OF the Vulgag is easily excited, and
| is'ot little wDy Sh bue artists were astSili,l,
ed to see that the difficulties winch had
cost them so much labor 90 remove were
overieapcd az one bound by an, untutored
hoy. and expedlenss founi as If int.i,ive-
liy, by sAis youth, 20 produce those eYccts BY
lshadow or color which were generally
Acknowledged TO require years Of study and
| experiment.
Happily for Master Leslie and for the
lhUe arts, his fate had placed him in CITY
where an enlightened taste and generous
temUiation pervades tue wealthy portion of
the inhabitants. IL was immediately d, ter.
nined that every faCiiit, whch wealth
jcouid give, should be given to the Young
gentleman and his friends. for the prosecu
Ihon OF studies which the bent of his i1clina
tion and the success of his eF,rts. roin,rd
out as those which would lead him to honcc
and usefulness.
Messrs. Bradford and Iosteep in whose
service he had been placed by ms mother,
4 widow with large aid amiabla family. a.
an apprentice, joined in The liberal ,,jan: Il
young Leslie was sent TO England, with s,lcs
lcrcdantals and letters rs Introduced him to
lthnse treasures Of ait aud those ;nstrurtor.
htted to accomplish the porpcsc OF his voy
Isge.
That he has by his application and i'm
provement justified the expectations of his
friends, re writer few days ago had am
| pie proct, By the examination OF two pic
.ores m OIL, the first q copy FROM a Musidora
lby our ilustrious cOuntrymaa West the
second IN Original composition of his own.
che SUBJECT Chosen frsm SCOTS My-ulion.
In the brst Master Leslie has succeeded
so peIiccty, thar it would require con
noisseur Of more skill than possess, to
pronounce The picture a copy. It has the
drawing, co!oring, manner and touch OF Air.
West.
The second, which IS sent as tribute Of
gratitude to lady in phladelbhia, who IN
terest,d herself in the young artists fortune
IS composition FIR above tie level OF me.
diocrlty, AID as it tested 50 it proved, TIC
talents Of its author. Ths subiecs is Con
stance before her bigot;cl judges, aad at
tended by the executio7ers Of thets cruelty
The disposition and grouping are IN = stgIf.
ot chaste simplicity. the hgucs and the as
tance Characteristic aid veil keot VIC. it,,
% "jgoted cruelty IN the foreground. IS The
most labored ana best figure cf tie cictarc.
and unfortunately ihepdhcipal hgnie 81 te
piece j. N. wort:
wrote sometime afte@ hay:r5 seen she
girtnre' wnien vas imr'rJ-telY seat cn e.
Pniade!pna bat fear n,t 10 assei
ihst the fsicnds Of Mastcr Leslie an
the fine artsS az congratulate tbepeofv,,
upon prof to conviction, ti,at his ;odustr,
and ta'ents have Justified their cYssts and
tneir predictions.