1 8 MEMOIR. 



drove down through the shelter of the Altyre woods ; and the way 

 was shortened to me by my companion telling story after story 

 of sport and adventure, or answering with wonderful precision my, 

 questions about birds, beasts, and fishes. He stayed with me that 

 night, and when we were alone after dinner, 1 broached a subject 

 which had often come into my head since we were so much in 

 each other's society. Why should he not give the world the 

 benefit of his fresh enjoyment of sport his accurate observation 

 of the habits of animals ? At first he ridiculed the idea. He had 

 never written anything beyond a note of correspondence didn't 

 think he could write, etc. etc. But at length he listened to some 

 arguments. It was very true he had too much idle time, espe- 

 cially in winter nothing he so much regretted as that he was an 

 idle man. He had some old journals that might be useful. He 

 could note down every day's observations, too. In short, he would 

 try his hand on some chapters next winter. And so it came to 

 pass, that during next winter I was periodically receiving little 

 essays on mixed sport and natural history, which it was a great 

 pleasure to me to criticise ; and no one could take the smooth and 

 the rough of criticism more good-naturedly than St John. As 

 these chapters gathered size and consistency, it became a question 

 how to turn them to account, and this was solved by accident. 

 At that time I was in the habit of writing an article occasionally 

 for the Quarterly, and I put together one on Scotch sport, using as 

 my material some of St John's chapters, especially the story of the 

 Muckle Hart of Benmore. The paper pleased Mr Lockhart. " It 

 would itself be sufficient " (he said) " to float any number. . . . 

 Whether the capital journal laid under contribution be your own 

 or another's I don't know, but everyone will wish to see more of 

 it." : I received the Editor's letter at Knockomie, and, next day, 

 the reading of it to St John served for seasoning as we took our 

 shooting lunch together beside the spring among the whins on the 

 brae of Blervie. Our course was now plain. I divided the money 

 produce of the Quarterly article with St John, who rejoiced greatly 

 in the first money he had ever made by his own exertions ; and, on 



* Letter from J. G. Lockhart, 20th September 1845. 



