Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-05-28
PICTURE OF SCOTLAND.

work, recently issued from the Scottish,
Edinburgh Press, and which certai.ly
possesses more than usual merits. From
its pages we copy the annexed selection,
descriptive Of a Talisman, which we
think will afford the reader, pretty gen.
eral idea Of the whole performance.
About three miles below Lanark, on
the north brink of the Clyde, is the Lee,
the patrlmonial estate Of the family Of
Lockhart, so distinguished during the
seventeenth century for their eminenco
in the Scottish Courts of Law. Lee
House is very fine mansion, lately
modernised in the castellated style. 1t
contains many good portraits, among
which may be mentioned a bust of CLAW
erhouse, full lengths of Maria Theresa
and Joseph II. of Germany, Oliver Crom-
well, President Lockhart, the great law
yer of the time OF Cromwell. The Lock-
harts were distinguished by arms long
before they had become SO eminent in
the law. Simon Locard accompanied
the good Sir James Douglas to Pales-
tine, bearing the heart Of Bruce encIos-
ed in locked case, on which account
his name was changed to Lockhart, and
he obtained for his armorial bearings, a
heart attached to a lock, with the motto
of Corde serrata pando." Engaging
in the wars of the Holy Sepulchre, this
hero had the good fortune to make a
Saracen Of rank his prisoner. The lady
of the warrior came to pay his ransom,
and was counting out the money, when
she happened to drop from her purse a
small Jewel which che Immediately has
tened to pick up with an air of careful
solitude. Lockhart eagerly inquired the
nature of the jewel, and learning that it
was a medicatory talsman, refused to
deliver up his captive unless it were ad
ded to the sum previously stipulated
The lady was obliged to comply, and
Simon brought it home to Scotland,
where it has ever since continued in the
possession Of his descendants, perhaps
the only existing memorial Of the cru
sades in this country. 1t is called The
Lee Penny, on account ofits being set in
the centre Of an old English Coin. Tri-
angular in shape, it measures about one
third Of an inch each way, and is Of a
dark red colour, but perfectly transpa-
rent The nature Of the stone cannot
be determined by lapidaries, being ap-
parcn,ly different in all respects from any
known in this quarter Of the world
TO the edge ofthe stone small silver
chain has been attached, and the whole
is deposited in a gold box which the
Empress Louisa presented TO the late
Count Lockhart. The Leo Penny did
not lose its taismanic property on being
transferred to a country of Christians
On the contrary, 1t has been all along,
even to the present day, remarkable for
medical virtue. 1t is especially sovereign
in the diseases of horned cattle. The
mode Of administering it is this. Hold
ing it by the chain, it is three times
pumped down into quantity of water,
and once drawn round - three dips and q
sceil, as the country people fondly ex-
| press it-and on the cattle or others af-
fected drinking thus water, the cure is
speedy and efectual Even at this day
rife as the gospel is now said or sup
posed to be, people sometimes come
from great distances, with vessels, which
| they fill with water charmed in the man.
ner described, and which they take home
in order to administer it to their bestial
In the reign of Charles |. the people OF
Newcastle, being afflicted with the
plague, sent for, and obtained loan oil
the Lee Penny, leaving the sum ol
5000 pounds sterling in its place as O
pledge. They found it so efiectual, OIL
were impressed with so high an opinion
its virtues, that they proposed to keeF
it and forfeit the money; but the Lairo
of Lee would not consent to part with
so venerable and so gifted an heirloom
The Laird of that time was high cava
lier, and one Of the charges brought
against him by the enlightened part,
whom he had to oppose, was that he el.
fected cures by means OF necromancy
One other remarkable instance Of its { fiji
cacy is recorded. About the beginning
of the last century, Lady Baird o
Saughtonhill, having been bit by mac
dog, and exhibited all the symptoms o
hydrophobia, obtained loan of tn,
talisman, and having drink and batheo
in water which it had sanctiGed, 60
completely better.
That this transaction really took place
seems indubhable, for an ancient fcmal
member Of the Lee Family who die,
lately, remembered hearing the Lair,
who lent the Penny to Lady Baird, de
scribe how he and his dame had beel
invited to Straightforward, aud splendid
entertained, in gratitude for the use 0
the tnlisman. Being now visited by a