Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/401

Rh the Lockhart family, this oak, in 1796, was 750 years old. A larch tree also, at Lee, which was planted when King George the Third was born, measured, in 1782, ten feet four inches in circumference. There is also an avenue called the Velvet Walk, shaded by the finest ash and lime trees I ever saw; their spreading branches form a canopy over the walk, which entirely excludes the rays of the sun. The house is like the surrounding scene, very ancient (though not gloomy), with a face of calm dignity, repose, and quietness, suitable to the venerable aspect of age.

There is at Lee a curiosity of many virtues, called the Lee Penny. The good lady of Lee suffered me to take a copy of its history, which is as follows:

"That curious piece of antiquity, called the Lee Penny, is a stone of a dark red colour, and triangular shape; and its size about half an inch each side. It is set in a piece of silver coin, which (though much defaced,) by some letters still remaining, is supposed to be a shilling of Edward the First. The cross too is very plain on this shilling. It has been, by tradition, in the Lee family since the year 1320,