Corpus of Modern Scottish Writing (CMSW) - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk/cmsw/

Document : 265

Title: Letter from Hogg to Murray, 11 Aug 1818

Author(s): Hogg, James

Altrive Lake

August 11th 1818
My dear Sir

Yours with the £50 note
to the Brownie of Bodsbeck inclosed came
safe to hand just as luck would have it when
Mr. Walter Scott and two friends of his were
here with me. I showed him the note
at which he laughed heartily and I likewise
read those parts of the letter which related
to Jeffery himself again and the Queen's
Wake in both of which he heartily acquiesced.
He is gone to Drumlanrig for a few
days with his wife daughter and Capt Ferguson
and they honoured me with a visit and
breakfasted with me en passant. From
thence they go to Rakeby where they will
tarry some weeks. I am told Gifford has
a hard prejudice against me but I cannot
believe it. I do not see how any man
can have a prejudice against me; he
may indeed consider me as an intruder
in the walks of literature but I am only
a [saunterer] and [molest] no body who
chooses to let me pass



I have no news as indeed I can have none
from this wilderness. My house is roofed in
and has the appearance of being comfortable
I hope yet to see one in it who has thus
lent me a hand with the moving of it so
readily. I was going to say before but forgot
and said quite another thing that if Mr.
Gifford would point out any light work
for me to review for him I'll bet a M.S.
poem with him that I'll write it better
than he expects

I am dear Sir
Yours ever most Sincerely
James Hogg



Murray


John Murray Esq
50 Albemarle Street
London




1818 Aug 11
Hogg J