The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-10
Obituary.


Era of December 49, in the sixty third year OF his age
was recorded by late edition OF last week, and
we have now only to append few particulars iustra
tive of his life Moncreh a name that he assumed
for family reasons at very early period his real name
being William Thomas Thomas a patronymic that he
doubtless fanced could never be that OF successful
author. HIS father was respectable tradesman in New
castle street. Strand and the vicinity Of his home
theatrical region gave him an opportunity youth Of
cuvang the carly taste be evinced for the pursuit Of
poetry and the drama He became song writer for the
boys tho neighborhood an one OF these juvenile e1
soDs the afterwards popular "Pretty star Of the
night, GIL others outshjning." Volume OF his poems
including some hundred songs, published few years
later attest the fertility Of his invention in this way
Becoming acquainted with the elder Oxberry the come
dian, Of Drnry lane, who was also printer, he
Office, and conformity they brought out Pierce Egans
:" poxiana." This led to his adapting tom and Jerry"
TO the stage and his career as dramatic writer was then
marked out. The number Of plays he produced will be
best shown by the following extract from his benefit bill
in 1929, in which their titles are thus given
On this night Mr. Moncrie respectfully hopes by Z" The
Diamond Arfrw" of vivacy TO strike his friends with
pleasure and see his enemies All at Coventry" In his
efforts TO please he trusts he shall prove various and
successful Bamylde Moore Carew," though he pre-
sumes in taking benen for the first time in compliance
with the custom Of the establishment at which he has had
the honor for the last two Of presiding the
bitter elegantiarum, he VIII not be exactly regarded as
"Kng OF the Beggars" he certainly though altogether
1.-THE Man all Taered and TORI, - viii have no objection
to The Bouse that Jack Built filed He trusts
see the nobility and gentry, like "Hyppolita in their
charots and will have objection TO receive the whole
OF the 'Dandy Family In respectfully inviting the presence
of the Ia 3ies he bopes he will lay himself under the
imputaon Of being Giovanni in London for though
be may heretofore have INDUCED in the gay freedoms of
"Rocbester," they will now find him completely "The
Lbertne Reclaimed" However numerous the friends
thai may honor him th their company they will receive
no check at the doors from "John Adams but will freely
be admitted though gushing in Ike "Ihe Torrent of the
Valley" "The Votaries of WedocR" who have attended
the wedding of the Bride OF Iammermoor" and the
"Marr age Of Capacho WILL he feels confident give him
their double support when they recollect his advertise
meDt Of Wanted Wife," though il there is not the
compartments Of "a Cheque my Banker" his lot is
DE- rac egg
ell his efforts, he viii indeed be Knight Of the Boots
and then What will ny Lady sayY She will be very
eDsue, which win certainly not make him an 'Ioconden
but perhaps drive him TO the obscurty of "A Monks
Mystery but he redicts that will not be the Along
with the married be trusts to see all The Singles in Lon
DON who may readily obtain tickets either by appoa
ton through rhe Post House, addressed to NJ E. II
Great Canterbury place Lambeth, OF Mr. Knoch, at
the box Office were places may be taken. Should they
"Rob Roy' nor "Blipd Beggar," but indeed "a For.
tunate Youth" without The Force of Crednlityo and
have ample reason To thank the kind friends who like
sop0 "'"
For twenty years be had been afflicted With the
render life enjoyable, and which might account for
deed, would not altogether excuse that feversb rra
bty which for 80 hong period severely tested the pa
tence and endurance of his best friends. Five years
ago he completed three volumes OF his dramatic works
which he dedicated, by permission, to the Crown
The o,us he bad had S o.
belief that he would ultimately his SIGHT, and
referring 70 this in his dedication he says "Ths is the
EXTREMIST grief Of my condition, which, the light,
est sense 10 one of no ordinary radays pa sed in night
the sun everasngy eclped-long hours Of solitude,
rom which there IS no relaxation; but the mind vanly
working the dictates which the eyes now unable TO
record as all ~ vanly dreamingthe weary ongngs of
blind man that those eyes may be made whole This
last sentence contains the entire impulse Of this publca
ton. The hope held by several ocuss that change
OF air, exercise and total cessation from all bodily and
mental exertion may partially restore my sight alone
No pAAd vodd
Tor the information OF the majority OF readers that
this hope In which he INDUCED realized For
guinea per week. independent of the Charter House an
buy to efahe hin, 70 pay for the daily attendance Of
servant rendered Necessary by bis blindness The fact
Of MoncrieG having translated and versbed some half
dozen operas while q state Of total blindness might be
made the text had space ut disposal OF
rious comments the s,eadfasness with which the ruling
passion will be pursued under any amount OF difficulty In
this process Of translation Moncre obliged have all
read TO him, to dictate the first rough translation and to
have read and reread till he had thoroughly melowed
the meaning in his mind SO as TO throw into vershed
form, when again committed by himself 10 paper for
the printers which he would do by peculiar system Of
folding 70 as TO insure the evenncss OF the lines
Much Of this labor mostly due 10 a woman much
influenced by her love Of literature and sympathy with
pccunary reward he could bcsow She was far advanced
age, and has been for the last FIVE years believe
deceased. Some time ago Mr.. Moncrief contributed a
Ellis,onsna, )" or 'Recoectons Of EstonD with whom
he was closely connected for the "New Monthly Maya
2inen Re died on Thursday the ID inst, at his apart
meD in the Charter House. Of the benefits OF which ins
tuition be had been for many years a recipient
DEATH OF MISS LESLIE, THE AUTHORIZES.
The death Of Eliza Ieslie the auhoress says the Pha
taken place Saturday at Gloucester City, New Jersey
where she latcrly had resided She born November
Is, 1851, and consequently had completed the "threo
years aud ten" mentioned by the rsalmst the
tural term Of human existence. Mss Leslie was native
of Philadelphia Her family Scottish, the name
implies and engracd to this country in 745 Her father,
"A wat alprl fbetrs
and Intimately acquainted with Franklin and jefferson
Ono Of her brothers Charles X Leslie r. A. Of England
author well artist. Another Is Major Thomas J.
Leslie 4. s. A. Her FIRST attempts writing were in
verse, made almost before she had got nto her teens
and soon estimated by her lightly that she consigned al
Of them 70 the flames. Not until she had reached the
mature age Of forty did she achieve the honor Of pro-
ducipf real. downright, printed book. That was in
1877 and the work Is called "sevenydve Receipts for
Pastry, Cakes aud Sweemeats" Il was plain. practical
and successful tina, s publisher encouraged her TO
write volume Of juvenile sories she published many
sneh books favorte reading children 20 this day. and
produced 1.-The american Girls Book" in 1881, which
confcssedy remains at the bead Of IT, class Nor did she
write alone for juveniles. She composed numerous
gazine stories for "chldrcn Of larger growth Among
the most popular az these prize entitled Mrs
Washington Potts'-litcray story Of cbna-writtcn
Tor the Lddys Book Her magazinespapers, collected
"Penci Sketches have been very popular. Some
more noveletcs she published in pamphlet form. Here
fcrt< lay In the composition OF short storesiust her
brother the artist txces in cabinet paintings She never
tired regular novelette, nearest approach TO II
were volumes vailed "Amcba, or Young Iady's
Nicesiiudes," "Ahca Vernon" and "Henrietta
Harrison" Of which Is first rate She s editor Of
"The G annual ~ high standing at time. Fol.
lowing up the first publication Miss Leslie produced
raj other volumes cookery and housekeeping, which
have bad very great sale and continue popular because
they useful Her last work, believe appeared IN
1863, and is called Tho Behavior Book y full Of practical
truth and subdued humor. detailed account q Miss
Iese and her writings vii be found In puykincks' "Cy
copsdia Of American Literature" Miss Islies rank In
the world Of letters has been determined long since and
favorably. She had not what called genius but com.
mon sense, tact good TASTE, quiet bumor keen and al
thp
the world close observation and keen perception OF
character the combined elements Of her writing She
was essentially rhiladephian, and has occupied, for
many years the first place among local female writer's
Personal Intelligence.
DEpARTUREs.
Southam IIavrc in shin