THE LAKES OF SCOTLAND. 49 



bringing to our minds many pleasing reminiscences of our boyish 

 years ; for, being the birth-day of George the Third, we used 

 always on that day to escape from Mavor, our copperplate copy, 

 Cocker, Euclid, Virgil, and all the other Juggernauts of the school, 

 and engage in the more congenial task of kindling bonfires in proof 

 of our juvenile loyalty to that monarch. It was the afternoon of this 

 day before we reached Loch Leven. The weather was unusually 

 fine. The sky was unclouded : there was a fine gentle breeze from 

 the east just as much, and no more, as was sufficient to neutralise 

 the otherwise oppressive rays of the sun. A scene, therefore, which 

 is beautiful in no ordinary degree at any time and under any cir- 

 cumstances, was pre-eminently so when it first met our vision. The 

 lake was calm and tranquil in the distance ; and even on nearing it, 

 it was but slightly ruffled by the zephyrs which played over its 

 surface. The surrounding scenery owes much of its beauty to the 

 variety of objects grouped into it. On the west and north-west side 

 of the lake, is the charming vale of Kinross, environed by hills in 

 the distance ; while the foreground is enriched by plantations, plea- 

 sure-grounds, and fields luxuriant with pasture. On the margin of 

 the lake, on the same side, is the burgh of Kinross, with its nu- 

 merous orchards and gardens. Not far distant, in an easterly direc- 

 tion, stands the dilapidated castle of Burleigh. The rugged western 

 termination of the Lomond Hills overhangs the north-east extremity 

 of the water : on the south side it is similarly overhung by the hill of 

 Binarty. Towards the east is a level piece of carse ground, at least 

 three miles in length, and fully one in breadth. There are several 

 islands in the lake, but only two of any extent. The most imposing 

 one is that adjoining the shore in the neighbourhood of Kinross. 

 The islands contribute essentially to the effect of the scene : on one 

 of these are still to be seen the ruins of the castle in which the un- 

 fortunate Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned ; made still more 

 celebrated by the singular circumstances under which, assisted by 

 the boy Douglas, she effected her escape from it. The lake is about 

 eleven miles in circumference. We luxuriated among the beauties of 

 its surrounding scenery until the declining sun admonished us that it 

 was time to seek, in the adjoining town of Kinross, a place of repose 

 for the night. 



The origin of the name Loch Leven is somewhat curious. It arose 

 from the circumstance of the number eleven occurring often in matters 

 connected with the lake. As already mentioned, it is eleven miles 

 in circumference : there were lands belonging to eleven lairds which 

 embraced its margin : there are eleven rivers and streams which run 

 into it : it contains eleven kinds of fish ; and in the adjoining plant- 

 ations were eleven kinds of wood. The name was, therefore, ori- 

 ginally, Loch Eleven ; but in the course of time the E was omitted 

 as at present. 



The celebrated Loch Lomond was the next of the Scottish lakes 

 whither we directed our steps. It is appropriately called the 

 Queen of Scottish lakes. It is entitled to the appellation whether 

 as respects the length, and breadth, and depth of its waters, or the 

 grandeur and magnificence of the adjoining scenery. It is thirty 

 M.M. No. 7, G 



