Stephenson: The Ettrick Shepherd 



57 



Mrs. Garden quotes another interesting letter, which not 

 only alludes to Hogg's next important work, The Poetic 

 Mirror, but also details in amusing fashion his relation to Lord 

 Bj'ron. 



London, April 10, 1815. 



My Dear Friend, 



I entreat you not to ascribe to inattention the delay which has oc- 

 curred in my answer to your kind and interesting letter. Much more, 

 I beg you not to entertain for a moment a doubt about the interest 

 which I take in your w^ritings, or the exertions which I shall ever make 

 to promote their sale and popularity. I can express no word of praise 

 equal to my estimation of the The Queen's Wake, w^hich is, I believe, 

 not less admired by all who have read it. . . . 



They are each selling every day, and I have no doubt that they will 

 both be out of print in two months. It is really no less absurd than 

 malicious, to suppose that I do not advertise, and by every other means 

 strive to sell these works, in which I am so much interested. 



Eespecting the collection of poems, I really think Lord Byron may, 

 in a little time, most certainly be relied on as a contributor. He con- 

 tinued to be exceedingly friendly to ycu in all respects; and it will be 

 reciprocity of kindness in you to make large allowance for such a man. 

 Newly married — consider the entire alteration Avhich it has occasioned 

 in his habits and occupations, and the flood of distracting engagements 

 and duties of all kinds which have attended it. He is just come to 

 town, and is in every respect, I think, very greatly improved. I wish 

 you had been with me on Friday last, when I had the honour of pre- 

 senting Scott to him for the first time. This I consider as a commemora- 

 tive event in literary history, and I sincerely regret that you were not 

 present. I wish you had dashed up to London at once, and if you will 

 do so immediately, I Avill under'-ake to board you, if you will get a bed, 

 which can easily be obtained in my neighborhood, and everybody will 

 be glad to see you. 



Could you not write a poetical epistle, a lively one, to Lady Byron, 

 congratulating her on her marriage? She is a good mathematician, 

 writes poetry, understands French, Italian, Latin, and Greek — and tell 

 her that, as she has prevented Lord Byron from fulfilling his promise 

 to you, she is bound to insist upon its execution; and to add a poem of 

 her own to it by way of interest. She is a most delightful creature, 

 and possesses excellent temper and a most inordinate share of good 

 sense. . . . 



Your faithful friend 



Jno. Murray. 



Mr. James Hogg. 



In this year occurred another momentous change in the 

 Shepherd's life, namely, his permanent return to the vale of 

 Yarrow. Shortly before, he had dedicated The Forest Min- 

 strel to the Duchess of Buccleugh, not without hope of patron- 



