Stephenson: The Ettrick Shepherd 



103 



with Mr. Blackwood. It was to find a publisher that he set 

 out in 1832 for London. The visit was a continuous ovation 

 to Hogg and did much to gratify his vanity if it did not fill his 

 purse. S. C. Hall, in his Retros'pects of a Long Life, thus 

 speaks of Hogg's visit to the metropolis. 



The visit of the Ettrick Shepherd to London took place in the year 

 1832. It is scarcely too much to say that the sensation he produced in 

 literary circles may be likened to that which might have been created 

 by the temporary presence of Ben Nevis on Blackheath. A striking 

 sight it was to see the Shepherd feted in aristocratic salons, mingling 

 with the learned and polite of all grades — clumsily, but not rudely. He 

 was rustic without being coarse ; not attempting to ape the refinement 

 to which he was unused; but seeming perfectly aware that all eyes were 

 upon him, and accepting admiration as a right. 



Almost enough has already been said about the projection 

 of the Altrive Tales. Hogg set out having no doubt of his 

 ability to find a publisher, tho the easily found publisher was 

 one whose later career showed him to be unworthy of trust. 

 It may here be noticed that Hogg was not only unsuspicious, 

 but also generous to a fault. Tho Cochrane failed after the 

 publication of the first volume of the Altrive Tales, Hogg 

 trusted him again in 1835 with the bringing out of The Tales 

 of the Wars of Montrose. The kind desire to help Cochrane 

 by entrusting to him the publication of a work that promised 

 success influenced Hogg. Cochrane failed again, but not till 

 a short time after the Shepherd's death. 



When volume one of the Altrive Tales appeared, all the re- 

 viewers commented in favorable terms upon the tale of Cap- 

 tain John Lockij, but most of them concerned themselves 

 chiefly with the new version of the Memoir which contained 

 the passages so offensive to Mr. Blackwood. 



At last adversity began to tell upon the lively spirit of the 

 Ettrick Shepherd. He had returned to Altrive Lake before 

 the news of Cochrane's failure. When it came he was con- 

 siderably affected and ill for some time, tho he soon recovered 

 his accustomed spirits. During the whole of the last two 

 years of his life, however, he was far from well. 



In 1832, soon after the death of Scott, appeared Hogg's 

 brief life of the author of Waverley. It has already been dis- 

 cussed in detail, but it may be of interest to add a few words 

 concerning the long friendship between these two men, espe- 

 cially from Scott's side. Hogg writes, with himself in mind. 



