Memoir uj the late Joltn Towlerton Leather. 227 



lie had increased his lauded property by the purchase — first of 

 Holburn, aud then of Hetton, in both of which he carried on 

 the same improvements in draining, planting, and building, 

 which he had completed at Middleton. The result was hundreds 

 of acres planted, scores of cottages built, with farm-houses and 

 steadings, models of their kind. So the face of the country was 

 substantially changed for the better. 



Mr Leather was deservedly popular among all classes ; a 

 friendly and hospitable neighbour, a considerate and generous 

 landlord, and last but not least a constant employer of the work- 

 ing classes. Simple and unassuming in his address, he never 

 boasted of his engineering achievements ; but if he alluded to 

 them at all, it was to imply that others could have done them 

 equally well. His evident wish was to live according to the 

 tenour of his family motto, Nil nisi quod honestum. His declining 

 years were happily spent in domestic life — out of doors among 

 his improvements, indoors with his lathe and his books. He 

 had a valuable library of his own collecting, rich in county 

 history, and other antiquarian lore — a study in which he took 

 delight. As a good churchman and a promoter of religious 

 education, he erected a handsome school on the outskirts of his 

 grounds, for the children of the cottagers ; and here provision 

 was made for divine service on the Sunday. The last cheque lie 

 ever drew was to build a chancel for Lowick Church, a parish iu 

 which he had property. 



Full of days and honours he died at the ripe age of 80 years, 

 to the great regret of all friends, acquaintances, and dependents 

 round about Middleton Hall. 



Mr Leather served, the office of High Sheriff of Northumber- 

 land, A.D. 1874, and was a Magistrate and Deputy Lieutenaut of 

 the county. 



J. E. 



Mv Leather joined the Club, Sept. 29th, 1801, and took much 

 interest in the " Proceedings." In 188.'5 he defrayed the expense 

 of several of the illustrations ; and he was one of those earnest 

 for the re-production of Vol. I., and would willingly have guar- 

 anteed any loss on the venture, The following particulars are 

 communicated by one of his daughters : — 



" My father had a very good collection of old coins. Ho was 

 especially fond too of the country, and at this season of the year 

 he watched the trees coining out, and took such an interest in 



