Corpus of Modern Scottish Writing (CMSW) - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk/cmsw/ Document : 215 Title: Letter from Hogg to Murray, 19 Jan 1815 Author(s): Hogg, James Edin Janr 19th 1814 1815 (on postmark) Dear Sir I wrote to you a good while ago but I have heard nothing from you since and believe me I write in as high chagrin to day as can well be — I thought I was too much delighted with you at [first] to [lie] long so and in that I judged [aright] — After waiting impatiently for 7 weeks the advertisement of my new poem and the Wake first met my eyes yesterday and nothing could have displeased me worse — Blackwood is the publisher (his name being first) — not you — this was not generous to a poor shepherd. I considered your name of greater importance to the success of the work than mine — What do you mean by A New Edition ? If I understand right it means neither more nor less than the Second edition. Now as two editions had been fairly sold off and 600 of the 3d before I bought up the remainder it was very degrading to bring it back to a 2d edition again — It is the 3d edi. which is reviewed by Jeffery as you will see and sold by Goldie and Collins so that this must be the fourth Edition am I to lose the credit of two fair all future times editions [¿] in your d—d [New Edition] — When do I receive my pittance of £50 it has been due these six weeks — By the by I should have made an apology for this pencil writing. The truth is I have been confined to my bed these many days by an inflamatory fever and am obliged to write this without lifting my head from the pillow. This will haply account for more things in the letter than the pencil writing — I have indeed been very ill and shall not be very soon well I fear if ever. Why wont you write to me and tell me the literary news of London and in particular what is thought of the Lord of the isles — I confess I was pleased with it save the plot and augured good of it but I have heard very different breathings of late and some of those from head quarters but the Scots are chagrined at the fear he has shown of giving offence to the English in his description of the final battle and they maintain that he is himself the English bard who was taken captive and compelled to celebrate the Scotish victory [right] strong effort is not made to support Scott at this time Like the snow on the mountain Like the foam on the river Like the bubble on the fountain He is gone! and for ever! A friend brought me in the last Quarterly last night which I looked at tho' but slightly as yet not being able There are by far too little variety in it though I think some of the articles good — I have always been afraid your Review would lose all character of independance by the system of one friend reviewing another but I never before thought you would suffer a poet to review himself I would not do it if you were to request me you have again neglected me — I am extremely astonished at the late neglect of Lord Byron I am afraid I have offended him by these cursed dedications I suppose his lordship knows that I am a being that knows nothing about punctilios in life and save a few of the blues who will always be taking a poet as he ought to be not as he is no body expects them of me. Lord Byron surely has more sense than to take any thing ill where the contrary was intended the man who would do so ought to be kicked out of society I should be almost mad to hear that he was offended at me though not for my own sake I know I am a blundering fellow and constantly [running] out of one mistake into another but mine are always errors of judgement never of the heart I never look over a letter after I have written it I know there is something very ill natured in this — I wish you would ascribe it to the [true cause] great dibility and indisposition if however you feel inclined to do otherwise it is of no great consequence — I have not seen Blackwood I have forgot how long — he has never sent to ask for me while some of his brethren have sent every day Let me hear from you soon it will please me to hear from London in any wise and believe me your highly obliged and very hum servt James Hogg Mr. John Murray Bookseller Albemarle Street London Murray 60