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Indiana University Studies 



Although so shy of his name and literary assistance, which, indeed, 

 he would not grant to anyone, on any account, save to Lockhart, yet 

 to poor men of literary merit, his purse strings were always open, as 

 far as it was in his power to assist them. 



Scott writes in his Diary, February 15, 1826: 



Poor James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, came to advise with me 

 about his affairs, — he is sinking under the times; having no assistance 

 to give him, my advice, I fear, will be of little service. I am sorry for 

 him, if that would help him, especially as, by his own account, a couple 

 of hundred pounds would carry him through. 



(May 14, 1826.) Hogg was here yesterday in danger from having 

 obtained an accommodation of 100 pounds from Mr. Ballantyne, which 

 he is now obliged to repay. I am unable to oblige the poor fellow, 

 being obliged to borrow myself. But I long ago remonstrated against 

 the transaction at all, and gave him 50 pounds out of my pocket to 

 avoid granting the accommodation, but it did no good. 



(February 3, 1827.) James Hogg writes that he is to lose his farm, 

 on which he laid out, or rather threw away, the profits of all his pub- 

 lications. 



(May 11, 1827.) Hogg called this morning to converse about get- 

 ting him on the pecuniary list of The Royal Literary Society. Cer- 

 tainly he deserves it if genius and necessity could do so. But I do not 

 belong to the society, nor do I propose to enter it as a coadjutor. I 

 don't like your royal academies of this kind; they almost always fall 

 into jobs, and the members are seldom those Vv^ho do credit to the liter- 

 ature of a country. . . . Yet I wish sincerely to help poor Hogg, 

 and have written to Lockhart about it. 



Concerning another reference in the Journal to Hogg the 

 editor writes the following: 



As this is the last reference to the Ettrick Shepherd in the Journal, 

 it may be noticed that Sir Walter, as late as March 23, 1832, was still 

 desirous to promote Hogg's welfare. In writing from Naples he says, 

 in reference to the Shepherd's social success in London, "I am glad 

 Hogg has succeeded so well. I hope he will make hay while the sun 

 shines; but he must be aware that the Lion of this season always be- 

 comes the Boar of the next. ... I will subscribe the proper sum, 

 i.e. what you think right, for Hogg, by all means; and I pray God keep 

 farms and other absurd temptations likely to beset him out of his way. 

 He has another chance for comfort if he will use common sense with 

 his very considerable genius." 



Hogg thus describes his last meeting with Sir Walter : 



The last time I saw his loved and honored face was at the little inn 

 on my own farm in the autumn of 1830. He sent me word that he was 

 to pass on such a day, on his way from Drumlanrig Castle to Abbots- 

 ford, but he was sorry he could not call at Altrive to see Mrs. Hogg 



