The Cecil Whig., 1874-12-05
General Thomas j. Leslie.

on wednesday oil last week, IN the i9tn
year of his age. He was the youngest son
of Robert Leslie, the watch and clock
maker, who was a native of Cecil county,
and had shop i'll Elkton about the year
| 1875.
Robert Leslie, the grandfather of the
above named Robert, was Scotchman,
who settled between Bay View and North
East early in the last century: and Benja-
min f. Johnson and others of his descend
ants are still in the same neighborhood.
The mother of Thomas J. Leslie was Lydia
Baker, a daughter of Jethro Baker, a
farmer who lived about five miles westerly
| from Elkton, on property lately owned by
Colonel Groome; and the stone house which
| Mr.. Baker built there is now in ruins
During the Revolutionary war, while en-
gagged in collecting blankets for the army,
two daughters, Francina and Lydia; Daniel
McCauley married the former, and Robert
Leslie the latter. After remaining in Elk
ton one year, Robert removed to Philadel-
and being a man of great ingenuity, was
very successful, and became acquainted
with all the men of mechanical genius then
about the city, among whom may be men,
toned Charles Wilson Peale Oliver Evans
and John Fitch; and Philadelphia being
then the seat of government, Washington,
jefferson, Franklin, and most members of
the old Congress, were among his patrons.
He took partner into his business, and in
1898 went to London to make purchases
for the establishment, and took his wife
and three little girls with him. His son,
Charles Robert, was born in London in
1894, and Thomas Jefferson in 1906 In
1893, on the 18th of September, Robert
Leslie left England for the United States,
in the ship Washington, carrying 80 guns,
being armed on account of the war with
France. The passage was most disas-
trous one, being unable, from storms, to
get clear of the coast for thirty-tw days;
and then, being attacked by French ship
of war and greatly disabled, were obliged
to put into Lisbon for repairs, and were de-
tanned there until the 31st of March follow
ing. Mr.. Leslie kept diary, and his ac-
count Of the first action, the drawing off
of the enemy and the renewal of the at
tack, the conduct of Captain Williamson,
the numerous incidents on deck, and the
family below, are interesting, but too long
for this notice. They arrived in Philadel-
phia in May, 1900; his partner was dead,
and the business in Il deranged condition.
Robert Leslie died in 1904, and left little
for his family. Charles was bound to Mr..
Bradford a bookseller, in 1903. He early
showed talent for drawing, and in 1911,
when George Frederick Cooke, the great
actor came to Philadelphia, and was a
subject of much interest in the city,
! Charles drew likeness of him, which at
| tracted much attention, and was thought
wonderful for boy, and determined Mr..
Bradford to send him to London for in
struction. Before he left, Mr.. Sully, then
the best painter in Philadelphia. gave him
some instructions in oil painting, and a
letter of introduction to Benjamin West,
in London. He found many warm friends
artist, and stood high in his profession, be-
ing elected Member of the Royal Academy,
and receiving distinguished consideration
| from the most eminent men in Great Bri-
| tain. Among his best pictures may be
named" May Day in the time Of Queen
| Elizabeth" " Z" Roger de Coverly Going to
| Church, " " Saul and the Witch of Endor. :"
"Uncle Toby and the Widow Wadman," :"
The Mother and Child,' "Sancho and
the Duchess and scores of others. He
was an amiable and most excellent man,
and nothing could exceed his affection for
his fellow artists. Alston, Constable, Chan
trey. Newton, Wilkie and others. He died
| in 1859 One of his sous has made con-
siderable proficiency as an artist.
| The eldest sister of Charles ELIZA, bet
ter known as Miss Leslie acquired consid-
cradle reputation in Philadelphia as wri-
ter, some thirty years ago. and her " Cook
Book has gone through some sixty edi-
tions. She never married, nor did Ann, the
second sister; Patty, the youngest. married
Henry Carey, distinguished publisher of
Philadelphia.
Gen. Leslie, lately deceased, the youngest
Point Military School, and has ever since
been connected with the army, most of the
time as Paymaster, stationed in New ork,
and his title as General is by brevet. He
was very anxious that his brother should
come to this country to reside, and procur-
ed for him the appointment of Professor
of Drawing at West Point and Charles
came over with his family in the Fall of
1888. but he returned again to England the
next Spring. The prospects held out to
him were not realized, and here he was de-
prived of the society of distinguished art
| lists. to which he had been long accustomed
in London, and which formed the great
charm of his life, and there was not in this
| country that accumulation Of wealth, and
disposition to encourage art, that prevailed
| in the Old World. MCC.
AN ENORMOUS LEAP,-It is no part of