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Tilley, Sir Samuel Leonard, K.C.M.G., Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of New Brunswick, Fredericton, one of the most prominent of our Canadian statesmen, is the son of Thomas M. Tilley, of Queen’s county, New Brunswick, and great-grandson of Samuel Tilley, of Brooklyn, New York, a U. E. loyalist, who, at the termination of the American revolutionary war, came to New Brunswick, and became a grantee of the now city of St. John in that province. Sir Leonard was born at Georgetown, Queen’s county, on the 8th May, 1818, and received his education at the Grammar school of his native village, and when he had attained his thirteenth year, went to St. John, and became apprenticed to an apothecary. Before beginning business for himself, Mr. Tilley was for a time in the employ of William O. Smith, druggist, a gentleman of superior intellectual parts, and who took an active interest in all the political movements of the day. It was probably from him that the future lieutenant-governor of the province derived his first lessons in political economy, and which served him so well when he was minister of finance for the Dominion of Canada, and we say, without being far astray, that Mr. Smith plainly saw that his lessons were not likely to be wasted on this clear-headed and enthusiastic young man. Young Tilley too, being sprung from loyalist stock, it is only fair to assume that whenever, if ever he should bring himself before the public, he would find a prepossession in his favour. He became a prominent member of a debating society when seventeen, and took a leading part in political discussions, and shortly afterwards became an able advocate of the cause of temperance. It may be said here that from that far-past day to this Mr. Tilley has always been loyal to his temperance principles, has always seized the opportunity to forward the movement, and upon all occasions has shown the sincerity of his character by the practice of his precepts. In recognition of his distinguished services in the cause, the National Division of the Sons of Temperance of America, in 1854, elected him to the highest office in the order, namely, that of Most Worthy Patriarch, and which position he held for two years. In enlarged politics the first heard of Mr. Tilley was in 1849, when he was the seconder on the paper of B. Ansley, who was returned by a good majority. He was one of the foremost promoters of the Railway League, organized to secure the construction of a railway from St. John to Shediac. In 1850 he was elected to the New Brunswick legislature for the city of St. John. Mr. Tilley was at this time a Liberal. The following year the Tory manipulators began to undermine the foundations of their opponents, and they seduced from allegiance the Hon. J. H. Gray and the Hon. R. D. Wilmot [Mr. Gray was afterwards appointed a judge, and Mr. Wilmot a lieutenant-governor], and these two leading gentlemen entered the government. On the day that their secession became known, the Liberal party was naturally shocked and pained at the treachery, but closed up their ranks and resolved still to fight the enemy. Messrs. Tilley, Simonds, Ritchie and Needham thereupon published a card to the people, declaring that if Mr. Wilmot, who had accepted office, was re-elected, they would resign their seats in the house, as they could not, in that case, represent their views. The electors, however, returned Mr. Wilmot, and all the parties on the card, except W. H. Needham, resigned their seats. Mr. Tilley then returned to private life. But he was not long to remain “a mute, inglorious Milton.” In 1854 the Liberals were triumphant, and Mr. Tilley obtained a portfolio in the new administration. From that time up to 1885, when he resigned his seat in the House of Commons at Ottawa, with the exception of a couple of breaks, he had enjoyed a remarkable lease of power, having been a member of the New Brunswick and Dominion governments during many long years, except the session of 1851, and part of the extra session of 1854. In 1856 he was beaten on the liquor question, but in 1857 regained power, and became leader of the administration in 1860, which position he retained till March, 1865. He attended the conference held in Prince Edward Island to discuss maritime union, and subsequently appeared at the Quebec conference, where he made a telling speech on the importance of the province he represented. The proceedings of the Quebec conference were kept from the public with the most zealous care, but one member belonging to a sea province told his wife one day that “it was no use,” he was unable “to keep it any longer.” He unburthened himself to a newspaper editor, when with the speed of the wind intelligence of the affair was spread through the British North American provinces. At once in the lower provinces a storm of opposition was raised to the scheme, and presses rolled out tons of pamphlets, placards, circulars and open letters, denouncing the scheme, and calling upon the people to rise and thwart Tilley and other enemies of his country. The ministry fell. The Irish were all the time rampant and unappeasable. They all remembered how Ireland had once been sold, and their representative newspaper became so bitter as to eventually overreach its aim. To help along the scheme and defeat the great booming of the Irish, fate brought along the Fenian scare. The government resigned, and Mr. Tilley was sent for to form an administration. A new election took place in 1866, and the antis got a still worse drubbing than had fallen to the lot of the supporters of confederation. A short time afterwards Mr. Tilley attended the conference in England, formed to procure a Chart of Union, and he was, in July, 1867, made a C.B. (civil), in recognition of his distinguished services. He resigned his seat in the New Brunswick legislature and government to become minister of customs in the new Canadian cabinet. From November, 1868, to April, 1869, he acted as minister of public works, and on the 22nd of February, 1873, he was made minister of finance. This office he held until the downfall of the administration on the 5th of November of the same year. He then became lieutenant-governor of his native province, which office he held till 1878, when he took the field again, with the triumphant result so well known. In the new Conservative administration he became once again finance minister, and shortly afterwards framed the legislation with which his name will be connected so long as the history of Canada is read, namely the National Policy. On May 24th, 1879, he was created a Knight of the Order of St. Michael and St. George by the Governor-General, acting for the Queen. During the session of 1885, at Ottawa, Sir Leonard’s health having given way, he was compelled to relinquish his parliamentary duties, and seek comparative rest and recreation by a visit to London, England, where he gave attention to some matters relating to the finances of the dominion, and also considerably improved his health. On his return to Ottawa in the fall, he however suffered a relapse, and it became very evident to his friends, that he could no longer successfully cope with his departmental duties, and if he would prolong his usefulness, he must abandon parliamentary life. He accordingly sent in his resignation, which was accepted at a meeting of the Cabinet held on the 31st October, at which meeting Sir Leonard was appointed lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick for a second time, the term of lieutenant-governor Wilmot having expired several months before. On his return to his native province, he was accorded a hearty reception by the people among whom he had grown up who gladly welcomed him back to the position he had so worthily filled from 1873 to 1878. He was sworn into office in the legislative council chamber at Fredericton, on the 13th November, by the chief justice of the province, in the presence of a large number of prominent persons, who had assembled to witness the ceremony. It may here be stated that in December following, the Liberal-Conservative Club of St. John, N.B., was presented by Mr. Rogerson, with a bust of Sir Leonard, on which occasion C. A. Everett, then M.P. for the city, who had known him from boyhood, delivered an address in which he sketched his career, and spoke in the most complimentary terms of his great public services. It may also be stated that before Sir Leonard entered upon his duties as lieutenant-governor, he sent the following farewell letter to his constituents, addressed to the Hon. T. R. Jones, M.L.C., chairman of the Conservative Election Committee, in St. John, in the following kindly tones: —

St. Andrews, Nov. 9, 1885.—My Dear Mr. Jones,—I understand there is to be a meeting of our friends in the city to-morrow night, to select a candidate for the vacancy caused by my resignation. I avail myself of the opportunity thus offered to address a few words to the electors who may there be present. When in 1882 the electors of the city returned me to parliament for another term, I then intimated to them that it was probably the last time that I would be a candidate for their suffrages, but I then hoped that I would be spared, and my health permit of my remaining in parliament and in the government until the next general election. But I had not taken into account the wear and tear to body and mind, to which I would necessarily continue to be subjected in the discharge of my parliamentary and departmental duties. My health was completely broken down last winter, but after a serious operation there was a hope that I might continue my work for a short time longer. I regret that my symptoms of late have been such that I have been forced to the conclusion that my only chance of a measure of health, and possibly a few more years of life, is in taking comparative rest and relief from the mental strain to which I have of late years been subjected. I feel certain that my many indulgent friends would cheerfully, in view of my long service, accord me that rest. It is difficult to find words to express the very great regret that I have felt, and still feel, at being compelled to take that course. I took great pleasure in the work of my department, and I flatter myself that I have been able to perform it in a way that was acceptable to a majority of the people. My relations with my constituents were pleasant, and I may be pardoned if I at this time remark that recent events have given evidence that my regard for them is reciprocated. To say good-bye to the men who have been so true and faithful to me for more than a third of a century is not pleasant, but it must be said. My colleagues in the government have placed me in a position where my responsibilities are not great, but where I hope I may still be able to do something for my native province and for my country. Thanking one and all for their unwavering confidence in the past, I still wish to be considered as their friend. By causing this to be read you will much oblige,

Yours sincerely,

(Sd.) S. L. Tilley.

Sir Leonard and Lady Tilley visited Toronto, the Queen City of the West, in May, 1887, and spent a week among their many friends there, who were overjoyed at Sir Leonard’s improved health, and while here they took part in the festivities so lavishly bestowed on the Governor-General, Lord Lansdowne, and his party, who, at the time, were enjoying the hospitality of the citizens. Sir Leonard Tilley has been twice married, first to Julia Ann, daughter of James T. Hanford, of St. John, N.B.; and second, in 1867, to Alice, eldest daughter of Z. Chipman, of St. Stephen, N.B. Sir Leonard Tilley’s career has been an honour to his country, and one that young men who aim to do well in public life should seek to remember and imitate.