Letter from Hogg to Murray, 2 Jun 1821

Author(s): Hogg, James

Altrive Lake

June 2d 1821
My dear Sir

I sincerely regret and condole with
you on your severe family loss one before which all
temporal and petty concerns must for a time decay
I was just beginning to say to myself Mr Murray is
surely altered for I though if there was a man in Britain
whom I could have depended on it was he whether
he had owed me ought or not if I had been in a
great pinch. I told you how absolutely I needed a little
money at the [term] and having relied solely on a certain
sum I had no other I therefore resolved on applying
to Sir Walter Scott to advance it for you which I
knew he would not refuse. But before I did so I advised
with one friend whom I always consult and laid the
state of the case before him. He advised me not to do
it nor to divulge the trifling matter to any one for says
he “M[¿] Murray may object to a part of the debt, if the
Brownie is not sold or nearly sold off. I would therefore
draw on him for the price of the edition of the
Queen's Wake, about which there can be no dispute
There is little doubt that such a man as Murray will
settle both that and the other in good time.” I therefore
did so and on the 23d last a day that will always be
remembered in your family with heaviness of heart




I drew on you at Galashiels a branch of the Leith
bank for fifty pounds at 30 days hoping still in
that time to have heard from you. I hope you
will approve of what I have done. I would rather
have had your own order but necessity has no law
My friend informs me that you are coming to
Scotland this summer. If so which I think is
probable I claim your promise of a visit and I am
Dear Sir Yours most truly
James Hogg
Altrive Lake by Selkirk

To John Murray Esq
Albemarl Street London







J Hogg Esq
June 2. 1821






John Murray Esq.
Albemarle Street
London

Letter from Hogg to Murray, 2 Jun 1821

Document Information

Document ID	221
Title	Letter from Hogg to Murray, 2 Jun 1821
Year group	1800-1850
Genre	Personal writing
Year of publication	1821
Place of publication	Selkirk
Wordcount	366

Author information: Hogg, James

Author ID	234
Forenames	James
Surname	Hogg
AKA	The Ettrick Shepherd
Gender	Male
Year of birth	1770
Place of birth	Ettrick, Selkirkshire, Scotland
Occupation	Author, farmer, journalist
Father's occupation	Farmer
Education	Little formal schooling
Locations where resident	Ettrick, Edinburgh