Corpus of Modern Scottish Writing (CMSW) - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk/cmsw/ Document : 242 Title: Letter from Hogg to Byron, 14 Aug 1814 Author(s): Hogg, James August 11th 1814 My Lord I have had such a pleasant morning perusing here to day that I cannot resist the impulse of writing to you and telling you so. The last Canto of it is much the best thing you ever wrote —there are many pictures in it which the heart of man can scarcely brook. It is besides more satisfactorily and better w[¿]d up than any of your former tales and the images rather more perceptible. You are constantly improving in this Your figures from the very first were strong without a parallel but in every new touch of your pencil they are better and better relieved. In the first Canto there is haply too much painting of the same and too close on that so much dwelt on in the Corsair; yet still as it excels the rest in harmony of numbers I am disposed to give it the preference to any of them By the by the Spenserian or blank verse are those which the model and cast of your poetry suits above all others and the next that you write in any of these has a great chance to be the best that you ever wrote in your life. If I were you I would not try a drama as the Reviewers advise for in the first place it would be [¿]t that you should be expose to a public rabble all of whom that could discern your beauties possessed of a little hidden envy which every bungling player has it in his power to draw down damnation. Besides I can predict with infallibility that the first drama you write will not be fit for representation for the exuberance of your genius will hand you into such d—d long speeches that it will only turn out a dramatic poem not properly a drama I have been extremely puzzled to find out who Sir Ezzelin is sometimes I have judged him to be some sea captain at others Medora's uncle or parent from whom the Corsair had stole her but I have at last pleased myself by concluding that Lord Byron does not know himself — What a wretched poet Mr Rogers is. You are truly very hardly set for great original poets in England at present when such as he must be extolled. I could not help smiling at his Jacqueline. For God's sake come and leave those leaf eaters for a season or two — they have ruined the genius of Campbell and if you do not take care they will do the same with you. A review of your native mountains, of their heights of grey sublimity, and their dark woody glens would now inspire you with more noble enthusiasm than all the [¿] and classic shores of Greece. I have been thinking my lord that Norway would be a fine [¿] for romance, nay I am sure of it if the m[¿] of this country are as appropriate as the shores, [¿]as mountains and primitive inhabitants are. I wish you would make the tour of it and take me with you. Constable and Manners and Miller have bought the first edition of the poem I was mentioning to to you. But they demurred on the periodical work I could not help smiling at the simplicity of the men especially when I thought of my matt[er] from old Ogilvie — — “Each single name's an host “Fit to command the fortunes of the time “Should they combine then God defend our right” But the truth is that as London is the great mart for such things a London bookseller must [¿] either in whole or in part. If you liked I would fain inscribe my poem now in the press to you but it is of no consequence if you do not affect it. I sent a splendid copy of The Queen's Wake to the Bishop of Salisbury to present to his Royal ward but his Lordship never thought proper so much as to acknowledge the receipt of it. Mr Jeffery [Pott] and all my friends here were surprised at for they represent him as a man of genius but I never could be induced to repeat the enquiry. Pray did you ever correspond with a Mr. Barnard Burton or do you know aught of him or where he is I remain your Lordship's most humble and obedt servt James Hogg To Lord Byron