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Indiana University Studies 



Hogg elsewhere says that Scott never drank to excess ; and, 



He had a clear head as well as a benevolent heart; was a good man; 

 an anxiously kind husband; an indulgent parent, and a sincere, forgiv- 

 ing friend; a just judge and a punctual correspondent. I believe that he 

 answered every letter sent to him, either from rich or poor, and gen- 

 erally not very shortly. Such is the man we have lost, and such a man 

 we shall never see again. He was truly an extraordinary man — the 

 greatest man in the world. What are kings and emperors compared with 

 him? Dust and sand! And, unless when connected with literary men, 

 the greater part of their names either not remembered at all or only 

 remembered with detestation. But here is a name which, next to that 

 of William Shakspere, will descend with rapt admiration to all the ages 

 of futurity. And is it not a proud boast for an old shepherd, that for 

 thirty years he could call this man friend, and associate with him every 

 day and hour that he chose.^ 



However ill-timed Hogg's figure of drunkenness, this pas- 

 sage shows that there was no intention to offend. The other 

 offensive passage is more to be lamented. 



Who was Lady Scott originally? I really wish anybody would tell 

 me, for surely somebody must know. There is a veil of mystery hung 

 over that dear lady's birth and parentage which I have been unable to 

 see through or lift up ; and there have been more lies told to me about it, 

 and even published in all the papers of Britain, by those who ought to 

 have known than ever was told about any woman that ever was born. 

 I have, however, a few cogent reasons for believing that the present Sir 

 Walter's grandfather was a nobleman of very high rank. 



However one may interpret this, one may be sure that Hogg 

 considered that he had said nothing especially disparaging 

 about the character of Lady Scott. On the previous page he 

 lauds her to the skies for her beauty, tenderness, and other 

 excellent qualities. The quotation of a few further passages 

 will make more clear the attitude of Hogg towards his patron 

 and at the same time illustrate many details of his character. 



I was indebted to him for the most happy and splendid piece of bal- 

 lad poetry that I ever wrote. He said to me one day after dinner, "It 

 was but very lately, Mr. Hogg, that I was drawn by our friend Kirk- 

 patrick Sharpe to note the merits of your ballad The Witch of Fife. 

 There never was such a thing written for such a genuine humorous 

 humour, but why in the name of wonder did you suffer the gude auld 

 man to be burnt skin and bone by the English at Carlisle? (for in the 

 first and second editions that was the issue). I never saw a piece of 

 such bad taste in all my life. What had the poor old carl done to 

 deserve such a fate? Only taken a drappy o' drink too much, at an- 

 other man's expense: w^hich you and I have done often. It is a finale 



3 Page 118. 



