Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1892, volume 3).djvu/720

682  and political enemies of the prisoners, and so gross were the acts of some of the parties that Sloughter hesitated at signing the death-warrants, and it is said that he finally did so when under the influence of wine. By the English law of treason their estates were forfeited to the crown, but the committee of the privy council to whom the matter was referred reported that, although the trial was in conformity to the forms of law, they nevertheless recommended the restoration of the estates of the culprits to their heirs. In 1695 Leisler's son succeeded in procuring the passage of an act of parliament reversing his father's attainder. Three years later the Earl of Bellomont, who had been one of the most influential supporters of the efforts of Leisler's son, was appointed governor of New York, and through his influence the assembly voted an indemnity to Leisler's heirs. The bones of Leisler and Milbourne were honorably interred in the Dutch church. Among Leisler's claims to kindly remembrance is the fact that, in 1689, while exercising the functions of governor, he purchased the land that is now occupied by the village of New Rochelle, N. Y., as a place of refuge for the persecuted Huguenots. See his "Life," by Charles Fenno Hoffman, in Sparks's "American Biography" (Boston, 1844). See also "A Man whom New York Beheaded," by Emily C. Judson, included in "Alderbrook" (Boston, 1846).

LEITCH, William, Canadian educator, b. in Rothesay, Scotland, in 1814; d. in Kingston, Canada, 9 May, 1864. He was educated at the grammar-school of Greenock, and at the University of Glasgow, where he received the degree of M. A. in 1836. After studying in the Divinity hall of Glasgow, in 1838 he was licensed as a preacher in the Church of Scotland. He was minister of the parish of Monimail from 1843 till 1859, when he resigned on his appointment as principal of Queen's university, Kingston, Canada. By virtue of his office he was a member of the synod of the Presbyterian church of Canada, and in 1862 was elected moderator. He was also a member of the senate of the University of Toronto, and was an examiner in that institution. He was in favor of maintaining a great Canadian university, with all properly organized colleges throughout the country rallying around it, on such terms as would best secure a collegiate education for the various sections of the country, and at the same time promote a generous rivalry among the various colleges constituting that university. His scheme is still advocated in Canada, but with little prospect of success. He was an enthusiastic student of science, lectured in Glasgow university on astronomy while studying there, and for several years acted as assistant to Prof. Nichol, the astronomer. For some time he conducted a series of investigations on the subject of partheno-genesis and alternate generation, as illustrated by the phenomena of sexual development in hymenoptera, the result of his researches being published in the "Transactions of the British Association for the Advancement of Science" and in the "Annals of the Botanical Society of Canada." In addition to several publications on the subject of national education in Scotland and India, he wrote a work entitled "God’s Glory in the Heavens" (New York, 1866).

LEITE FERREIRA DE MELLO, José Bento (lay′-e-teh), Brazilian politician, b. in Campanha, Minas Geraes, 6 Jan., 1785; d. near Pousoalegre, 8 Feb., 1844. He studied and was graduated in São Paulo, where he was ordained priest in 1810, and soon afterward he was appointed rector of the parish of Pousoalegre. In 1821 he took part in politics as a member of the Liberal party, which elected him representative to the assembly of Lisbon. In 1822 he was appointed member of the provisional government of Brazil, and in 1825 he was elected to the legislature of the nation. In that year he began to publish the paper "Pregoeiro Constitucional," and some years afterward the "Recopilador Mineiro." In 1831 he founded in Pousoalegre the society "Defensora da Libertade é Independencia Nacional," and from that year till 1834 he was active in propagating liberal ideas concerning the abolition of slavery. During the regency of Father Feijó he sustained the government, and in 1840 was the first to propose the declaration of the majority of Pedro II. In 1843 he espoused the revolution of the Liberal party in S. Paulo and Minas Geraes, and, being defeated, retired to his province on account of feeble health and his decreasing popularity. Next year, on the way to one of his plantations, he was murdered.

LEITH, Sir James, British general, b. in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 8 Aug., 1763; d. in Barbadoes, W. I., 16 Oct., 1816. He entered the army as a lieutenant in 1780, served under Sir John Moore and Wellington in Spain, attaining the rank of lieutenant-general, and in 1814 was appointed commander-in-chief of the British forces in the West Indies, and captain-general of the Leeward isles. From Barbadoes he sent troops to aid the French commander in suppressing the revolt in Guadeloupe, and forced the insurgents to capitulate.

LEIVA, Andres Diaz Venero de (lay′-e-vah), first governor of New Granada, b. in Valladolid, Spain, in 1523; d. in Madrid in 1585. He studied in the College of Santa Cruz de Valladolid, where he obtained the degree of doctor in civil and ecclesiastic law, and occupied the posts of attorney-general and auditor of the council of the Indies. He was appointed in 1563 governor of the newly created province of New Granada, and arrived in Santa Fé on 12 Feb., 1564. He adopted many measures for the protection of the natives, punishing excesses that were committed against them, establishing numerous schools, and obtaining a royal order in 1566 for the foundation of several convents. He organized and regulated the missions, distributing them in different parts of the country, founded villages for the Indians, organized police forces for their protection, and gave them the best lands for their colonies, which were called resguardos. Instead of using the Indians as beasts of burden, he introduced for this purpose a great number of donkeys, thus giving new facilities for commerce. He established a college in the capital for sons of caciques and other Indians of rank, and also created a court of justice for their benefit. Leiva was the only governor under whose administration the country enjoyed peace and prosperity. In 1573 he was recalled to Spain and made president of the council of the Indies.

'''LE JEUNE. Paul''' (leh-zhun′), French missionary, b. in the diocese of Chalons, France, in 1592; d. in Paris, 7 Aug., 1664. He became a Jesuit in 1614, and after completing his theological studies was professor of rhetoric and literature in various colleges. He was sent to Canada in 1632, and on his arrival in Quebec made superior of the missions. In 1637 Commander de Sillery sent workmen to Le Jeune with a request that he would employ them in founding villages for the Christian Indians. The superior conducted them to a point about four miles above Quebec, and there founded the village of Sillery. In a few years this settlement became a considerable town, and the Indian inhabitants cleared a large tract, and were