work.

Sir Leonard Tilley for many years had suffered from an incurable
disease, which had been mitigated by rest and medical treatment, but not
removed. It was the knowledge of the fact that his days would be
shortened if he continued in active political life that compelled him
to leave the government in 1885. For many years before his death the
malady had been so far subdued that it gave him comparatively little
trouble, but any unusual exertion on his part was almost certain to
arouse it again to activity, so that he was prevented on many occasions
from taking part in public functions which, under other circumstances,
he would have been glad to attend. Still, he always contrived to take
his daily walk, and few who saw him ever suspected that he was
constantly menaced by death. For three or four years before his decease
his strength had been failing, he stooped more as he walked, and it was
evident that he was not destined to enjoy many more years of life. Yet
during the spring of 1896 there was nothing whatever to indicate that
the end was so near, for he went about as usual, and was able to preside
at the annual meeting of the Loyalist Society which was held during the
last week in May. On that evening he appeared very bright and cheerful,
and he entered with much interest into the discussion of the details of
an outing which it was proposed the society should hold during the
summer. "Man proposes, God disposes." Sir Leonard had gone to Rothesay
early in June to spend a few weeks in that pleasant spot, and he
appeared to be in his usual health until the night of June 10th, when he
began to suffer great pain from a slight cut which he had received in
the foot. The symptoms became alarming and gave indications of blood
poisoning, a condition due to the disease from which he had suffered so
many years. On June 11th, he was taken to Carleton House, his town
residence, and from that time the doctors gave no hope of his recovery.
It was one of the sad features of his illness that his life-long friend
and physician for many years, Dr. William Bayard, was unable to attend
him, being himself confined to his bed by illness.

{LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH}

After Sir Leonard Tilley reached his home in St. John he never rallied,
and he was well aware that his end was near. He was attended by Dr.
Inches and Dr. Murray McLaren, but he was beyond medical aid, and
therefore the people of St. John, for several days before the event too