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Among other eminent clergymen who befriended Dr Lee in the 
outset of his career, special mention ought also to be made of Dr 
Finlayson, of whom he always spoke in terms of the warmest regard, 
and to whose memory he has dedicated one of the painted windows 
now put up in the Old Greyfriars’ Church. 
About the same early period, Dr Lee came to be for some time 
connected with the late Sir John Lowther Johnstone of Westerhall, 
in the capacity of tutor or guardian, and was thus brought into con- 
tact with several eminent public men, with whom Sir John was on 
familiar terms. I have heard that Sir John made to Dr Lee two 
offers, either of which, if accepted, would have materially altered his 
future course in life. One was, to bring him into Parliament for 
one of Sir John’s burghs ; the other, to procure him a commission 
in the Guards. These offers, if made, were certainly declined ; but 
he retained his ward’s friendship and respect, and, from his gratitude, 
derived, during life, a pension of L.100 a year, which Sir John 
settled on him. 
After taking his medical degree, he seems to have entertained 
some idea of following medicine as a profession ; and he has been 
heard to say, that at one time, when a young man, he had three 
medical appointments in his possession or power ; one, as as- 
sistant surgeon to a regiment ; another, as surgeon’s mate on board 
a ship; and a third, as a surgeon in the East India Company’s 
Service. Finally he rejected all thoughts of the medical profession, 
and fixed upon the Church as the field to which he should dedicate 
his life. 
In 1807 Dr Lee became minister of a Scotch Chapel in London, 
and, in the same year, he was presented to the parish of Peebles. 
He continued there till 1812, when he became Professor of Church 
History in St Mary’s College, St Andrews, where he remained till 
1821. A portion of the lectures he then delivered, embracing the 
History of the Church of Scotland from the Reformation, is now 
announced for publication, and cannot fail to excite a lively and 
general interest. 
In 1820, before quitting his chair at St Andrews, he was ap- 
pointed Professor of Moral Philosophy in King’s College, Aberdeen, 
where he lectured for one session, chiefly by a deputy, to whom 
he transmitted his lectures daily by post. He speedily resigned 
his chair at Aberdeen, and in 1821 was removed to the charge of 
