180 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



amber ground, which, shaded off towards the belly, 

 became gradually like mother-of-pearl. The head 

 was small, the back curved, and the fins yellow, as a 

 newly minted guinea. 



THE ETTRICK SHEPHEED. 



But not for the loss of these is it, that I shall never 

 visit Yarrow any more ; it is because the genius 

 loci the Ettrick Shepherd has departed ! Alas I 

 gentlemen, I have too many angling associations 

 connected with James Hogg, ever to endure again 

 the sight of his favourite Yarrow. Times without 

 number have we traversed its banks together, our 

 slender wands bending alternately with the weight of 

 a struggling trout ; and on St Mary's too, and 

 Loch Skene, and Meggat-water, have we twain 

 fashioned our thoughts and converse to the wild, mys- 

 tic, unviolated scenery around us. But those thoughts 

 and that converse may not be renewed; from the 

 crushings of the mould there is no rescue, and na- 

 ture's ordinance cannot be disturbed by any turbu- 

 lent aspiration of ours. 



The Ettrick Shepherd was a singular character 

 a combination of many virtues with some defects- 

 genius mingled up with its foibles; and these latter 

 the more conspicuous, seeing that no measures were 

 ever put in force to conceal them. In the sphere 

 where most men of talent move, they learn the art 

 of hiding, by a splendid hypocrisy, their other weak- 



