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372 LESTER I/ESTRANGE some of his most imaginative works in this de- partment of art, including his " Scene in the Eifel," are referred to this period of his life. " The Tyrant Ezzelino in Captivity refusing the Exhortations of the Monks," exhibited in 1838, was his first important historical picture in the new style. It was followed by " Huss before the Council of Constance," "The Seizure of Pope Paschal II.," "The Martyrdom of Huss," and many others, under the influence of which the school of Diisseldorf has divested itself of the strictly Roman Catholic spirit by which it was previously characterized, and has adopt- ed a bolder and more dramatic manner, and a greater freedom in the choice of subjects. Lessing however is distinguished from his as- sociates by depth of thought, energy of ex- pression, and vivid dramatic conception, at the same time that his pictures exhibit the hardness of outline and defective coloring peculiar to the Diisseldorf school. In 1858 he was appointed by the grand duke of Baden director of the gallery of paintings at Carlsruhe. Since that time he has painted a number of landscapes and portraits, among the latter those of the grand duke and many members of the eourt ; and since 1866 he has been engaged on a large composition representing the disputation be- tween Luther and Eck at Leipsic in 1519. LESTER, Charles Edwards, an American au- thor, born in Griswold, Conn., July 15, 1815. He was admitted to the bar, but spent two years at the Auburn theological seminary, and was duly licensed to preach. But he had to abandon the pulpit on account of frequent haemorrhages from the lungs, and go abroad for his health. In 1840 he visited Great Brit- ain, and soon after was appointed United States consul at Genoa, where he remained six years. Since his return from Europe he has resided in New York, devoting his attention to literature. Besides contributing largely to the American and European periodical press, he has edited various journals and magazines. His principal works are: "The Glory and Shame of England " (2 vols. 12mo, New York, 1841); "Condition and Fate of England" (1842); "The Artist, Merchant, and States- man " (1846) ; " Life and Voyages of Americus Vespucius" (1846); "Artists of America" (1846); "My Consulship" (2 vols., 1851); and "The Napoleon Dynasty, a History of the Bonaparte Family, by the Berkeley Men" (1852). He has published translations of Alfieri's "Autobiography" (1845), Massimo d'Azeglio's "Challenge of Barletta" (1845), Machiavelli's "Florentine Histories" (2 vols., 1846), and Cebaz's "Citizen of a Republic." His latest works are " Life and Public Services of Charles Simmer " (1874), and " Our First Hundred Years" (1874 et seq.}. LESTOCQ, Jean Herman, count, a physician and favorite of Elizabeth of Russia, born in Celle, Hanover, about 1695, died in Livonia, June 23, 1767. He was the son of a French Protestant surgeon, studied medicine, and in 1713 went to Russia to seek his for- tune. He was first employed by Peter the Great, who, being soon disgusted with the shameful laxity of his morals, exiled him to Kazan in 1718. Catharine I., on her accession in 1725, recalled him, and appointed him phy- sician in the household of her second daughter Elizabeth. In 1732 Augustus II. of Poland gave him the title of count. He soon gained an influence over the mind of the young prin- cess, and when the imperial title devolved upon the boy Ivan, son of Anna Carlovna, he per- suaded her that the only way of saving her own life was to seize upon the crown. She yielded to his suggestions, appealed to the Preobrazhenski regiment, Dec. 6, 1741, im- prisoned the young czar, and seated herself on his throne. Lestocq was appointed privy councillor (which gave him the rank of gen- eral), physician in ordinary to her majesty, and president of the medical college. His prosperity lasted but a few years. Charged by the chancellor Bestuzheff with treasonable projects, he was arrested in 1748 with his wife, confined in the citadel of St. Petersburg, strip- ped of his offices and titles, knouted, and ex- iled to Uglitch on the Volga, whence he was sent in 1753 to Ustyug in the government of Vologda. Peter III. on his accession re- called him, and restored his titles and some of his property; and Catharine II. bestowed upon him a small estate in Livonia, where he passed the rest of his life in retirement L'ESTRAME, Sir Roger, an English author, born at Hunstanton hall, Norfolk, in 1616, died in London, Dec. 11, 1704. He was the youngest son of Sir Hamond L'Estrange, and is believed to have been educated at Cambridge. During the civil war he was a zealous royalist, and in 1644, soon after the earl of Manchester had reduced the town of Lynn in Norfolk, L'Estrange received a commission from the king appointing him governor of the place if he could take it. He failed through the treach- ery of two of his associates, and being taken prisoner was sent to London, where he was condemned to death as a traitor. He was however reprieved, and remained a captive four years, until 1648, when he escaped to Kent. Here he attempted to raise an insur- rection, but failing fled to the continent, where he remained until the dissolution of the long parliament (1653), when he returned to Eng- land, claiming that he was entitled to the ben- efit of the act of indemnity. His claim was not allowed ; but having the boldness to apply to Cromwell in person, he was permitted to live unmolested. After the restoration he received the appointment of licenser or censor of the press. In 1663 he started a newspaper called the "Public Intelligencer," in which he warm- ly supported the crown. After the popish plot he published (1679-'87) another newspaper called the " Observator," which was intended to vindicate the measures of the court. On the accession of James II. he was knighted, and