FAREWELL FEAST OF ANGLING CLUB. 201 



To return to James Hogg. He was in many 

 particulars a good example of the old Border anglers. 

 His notions concerning our rights were liberal in the 

 extreme, and strong in their opposition to the narrow, 

 selfish, and oppressive systems in force among northern 

 aristocrats. He was persevering and enthusiastic, fond 

 of adventure, and regardless of peril. He had a frank 

 and generous disposition, warm feelings, and unequalled 

 good-humour. With him there was no grumbling at 

 the caprices of fortune, and he encountered her hardest 

 rubs with singular indifference. Perhaps, indeed, this 

 easy and immoveable temper of his was rather a failing 

 than a virtue. 



Happening to be at St. Mary's Loch, during the 

 time of an event, by no means a happy one in the 

 experience of Hogg, I was afforded an opportunity 

 of judging with what calmness he encountered re- 

 verses of a distressful nature. It was at the period 

 of his removal from Mount Benger to Altrive Lake 

 a circumstance attended, as his personal friends 

 may recollect, with considerable grievances. Almost 

 during the very progress of his removal, or but 

 a day or two after, he walked up to the head of 

 St. Mary's Loch with his rod in hand, and actually 

 spent the night at Mrs. Eichardson's cottage, nor was 

 I able to discover the smallest abatement from his 

 usual good spirits and cheerfulness. He conversed, 

 laughed, and projected schemes of amusement, as if 



nothing had happened. 



14 



