ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 181 



nesses. But this art was never understood by James 

 Hogg. He delighted in the broad exposure of his 

 frailties; and a natural conceit (for such it must be 

 acknowledged he possessed) made him too careless 

 of the censure and advices of others. He hated 

 the trammels of criticism, and disclaimed the saga- 

 cious precepts of the lettered inquisitor. Most of 

 his productions were rapidly thrown off their exe- 

 cution kept pace with their conception ; according- 

 ly, they remain full of crudenesses and contradic- 

 tions. These defects, however, are overlooked in the 

 fancy and originality of the Shepherd Poet ; the 

 drossy and faulty surface is concealed among the 

 ignitions of his genius. 



For one of the self-taught, Hogg shone wonderfully. 

 His best honours were gathered without the aid of pa- 

 tronage. He climbed the obelisk of fame alone not 

 that officious advisers kept altogether aloof, but he 

 rebutted with vigour their sacrilegious suggestions. 

 In none of his poetical compositions was the Ettrick 

 Shepherd an imitator of the Ayrshire Ploughman. 

 His songs differ in their fabric and melody from 

 those of Burns. They are wrought of a lighter and 

 more fanciful material, but they want the strength 

 and judgment the severe beauty of execution 

 the felicity of thought and language. Among them, 

 however, there are many lovely and soul-stirring 

 ditties, pastoral harmonies, and Arcadian airs. 

 Hogg was a master in rural poetry. He had an eye 

 and heart for all the operations of nature, and re- 



