Corpus of Modern Scottish Writing (CMSW) - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk/cmsw/ Document : 699 Title: Letter from Hogg to Murray, 24 Mar 1821 Author(s): Hogg, James Grieve & Scott's Edin. March 24th 1821 My dear sir I think shame for having been so long in writing to you and now when I am writing that it should be about myself. But the truth is that I have been so much engaged with courting, marrying, and nameleſs other inter-esting subjects, that I have not had much leisure to write to distant friends however kindly I thought about them. Our mutual friend Sir Walter Scott will have been telling you that I have got a very extensive farm from my noble master, and perhaps likewise that I would be straitened of money to stock it. I have therefore to request that you will be so kind as settle with me for the Brownie and the Queen's Wake. The bargain of the Brownie was £50. each of you, in advance, which I received from both, and the rest was left to yourselves to be paid accor-ding as the work sold. In settling with Blackwood this day he referred me entirely to you saying he was quite willing to give exactly what you gave therefore for my sake you must be as liberal as you can for it counts to me double. The last edition of the Wake needs no counting for that was stipulated at £100. being £50. each which I always thought was rather little Be just like yourself therefore and order me to draw on you for £100 at once which will be winding up the matter rather respectably At all events let me hear from you with your very first conveniency, and tell me how you are and if I may hope for a new edition of any thing for believe me I have very much need of it at present. Blackwood acknowledges that The Brownie. Pilgrims of the Sun. and Mador of the Moor are all very nearly out of print if not quite but he does not encourage new editions Tell me as a friend rather than a man of business what you think. If you see Sir Walter Scott quietly; there is a work of which he knows; a certain Border Romance in three vols. which he was going to lend the author a hand in disposing of. Tell him that author is now perfectly free to dispose of it as he pleases and that perhaps he would like as well that it made its app-earance in Albemarle Street as in any other street in the world. The conditions between two such men should never be enquired about; but by all means get him to promise to give it a touch here and there himself One genius can do much; but two combined. “think of that Mr. Ford!” He will also inform you what kind of a wife I have got but perhaps he does not know that she brought me a nice young [port] on Sunday last Mrs. Lockhart is quite well again and goes out to dinner Constable is very ill. said to be dangerously so I have no more but that I am Yours most affectionately James Hogg [Murray NB] [¿]John Murray Esq. 50 Albemarle Street London J Hogg Esq March 24/21