ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 193 



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 perse- 

 vering 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 this removal, 

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

 of St Mary's Loch with his rod in hand, arid actually 

 spent the night at Mrs Richardson's cottage, nor 

 was I able to discover the smallest abatement from 

 his usual good spirits and cheerfulness. He con- 

 versed, laughed, and projected schemes of amuse- 

 ment, as if nothing had happened. 



