Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-04-28

J., -H' odtC say you're fignt alter a.
sand the Shepherd, with sagacious shake
o. nus mead: dave say you're right but
doAyou Ken, the thing never struck me,
man."
In 1915, Mr.. Hcgg again appeared before
lne public ~ the Pilgrims Of the sm;v a
work 81 unequal merit altogether possessing
some splendid passages, well worthy of the
new-estaohshed fame ofthe poet. This work
most singularly, was bargained for bv Con.
STABLE and Manners and Miller, and also by
Murray OF London; but at last appeared with
Mr. blackwood's name on the title-page. It's
success at home was comparatively trifling;
ous m America two successive reprints were
made Of it, and ten thousand copies circula-
ted through that country. Soon after the
date Of the " Pilgrims Of the Sun " appeai :
ed =" Mador Of the Moon" a work in the
Suspenserian stanza, Tut gradually inferior
to its predecessor, both in conception and in
execution. The success of this work not be-
ing very satisfactory, Mr. Hogg now set
himself down to collect pieces from the great
living bards of Britain; but the refusal ofthe
late Sir Walter Scott, coupledIwith other un-
towards circumstances. determined him on
charg NC his original plan, and yenturing on
the bold step ofwriting limitations of the whole
himself Thus originated "The Poetic Mir
ror." singular work, composing many pieces
OF iirst-ratc excellence; more especially Il e
lmtatIonsof Wordsworth, Wilson, and Cole
ridge. This work passed into second
edition, and together was highly success
full.
"Dramaiic Tales" in two volumes, succee-
ded 1.-The Mirror" but, with the exception Of
"The Hunting of Badlewe," the volume con-
tains little surprising the ordinary standard.
Not so, however, though Mr.. Hogg; who lay
ing the iau't at the door Of the public, and as
cnbing its failure entirely to bad taste on their
part, abandoned poetry for the the time, and
set himself down seriously to excel in prose.
"The Brownie of Bodsbeck and other Tales
was the result OF this attempt; but while we
must say little for the main story, we will mark
with our strongest need of appreciation 9The
Wool Gatherers," which, through the lone
lapse Of time since we read the story, vet
remains in It's every incident fresh and dis
tnct m our memory; a sure criterion bv
which to Judge Of the merits of any produc-
ton.
1t was not until 1919 that Mr.. II. again an.
peared before the public; when he produced
the first volume of "The Jacobite Relics" a
work ofgreat talent and considerable research.
The second volume of this collection did not
come forth until 1921; but IN every point If
fulfilled the expectation created by its prede-
cessor: in the latter part of it, composed cf
modern limitations of Jacobite ballads, there
are some ofMr. Hogg's bes;Ilvrics, and among
the rest, "Donald M'Gillvray," one ofhis han.
piest songs. Very shortly after the publca-
ton Of this last volume, "Winter Evening
Tales" made their appearance. This work.
comprises all his earliest efforts in prose, and
here and there sprnkled with legendary bal.
lad, is one of his most successful publications.
The stories of"Donald Campbell and "Basi
Lee" arc among the best prose tales we know:
especially the latter, which contains in the
episode of the "Wandering Willie's Tale" by
far the finest piece of diabIerie in modern lite
raturc.
On the occasion ofthe Kings visit to Scot
land IN 1872, Mr.. Hogg welcomed his sove-
reign IN 1.-The Royal Jubilee, a Scottish Mas
que In this poem there is an absurd blend
ing OF the serious with the ludicrous: but there
are some line touches, and not a few of his
best songs are scattered throughout its pares.
The Shepherd now took it into his head 10 be-
come novelist IN right earnest; and in that
capacity commenced for the London market.
but any one who has waded through 3Tbe
PtrIs OF Man," the "Perils of Woman" and
"The Confessions Of Justified Sinner must
have marked them only for the absurd pictures
Of human feelings aud manners with Which
heir pages are Imbued. Many passengers no
iou6t there are of much power and beauty, but
oombast and fustian predominate and we
cannot view them as adding in anv decree
o the lame OF the author OF the "Queen's
Wake"
Turning again from the beaten path ofprose
o the flowery fields ofpoetry, Mr.. Hoco came
orth in an epic entitled "Queen Hynde." NOT
lne OF hs happiest efforts, however. the story
being too confused, and shrouded in a mvsiery
rom beginning to end, from which the reader
never gets fairly cleared. Notwithstanding
The line bursts of imaginative feelings, and the
scattered passages of high poetical excellence
that here and there enrich the poem, we must
still consider It, as, onthe whole, more in The
hight OF failure, than as any addition to his
literary reputation.
We must now advert to a brighter era in
The Shepherds career,-the collection of his
pros e Sketches under the title Of "The Shep-
herds Calendar" by far the most finished and
interesting, with the .expection of the "QueeD's
Wake" ofall his works. There the Shepherd
IS at home; recounting the deeds of the early
days; or the creduous chronicler of past events
stamping with the rich impress of his genius
y most hoTneiy human episodes an6I e ldearing
them TO our recollection by many fine nassa7
ges ofquoted pastoral beauty. These cbanters
appeared originally in the pages of BIact1
woods Magazine, and had been much admired
long before the idea ofcoliecting them into a
separate and distinct volume occurred TO their
author.
IT rs needless to particular arise the later
productions of the Shepherd: suffice # to saw
that, except the collection of his songs, many
OF which are quite exquisite, none ofthem con-
tributed much to the fame of the author If tho
"Queen's Wake"
In 1882 Mr.. Hogg visited London; and dur
ing his short sojourn there was the lion of the
day. lie was dined, and bepraised, and fat
tered by the great: every one exhibiting more
anxiety than another how to show his kindness
and extend his patronage.
In personal appearance Mr.. Horr was a
well-built, active, and muscular man: about
the middle height; with a sharp, lively orav
eye, an expansive forehead, and sandy hair.
with fresh and ruddy colour on his cheek
the concometantuf a sound constitution and
good health. Attimes when he DOTTED the
plaid, and visited the city in his suit OF sables
he had something in his appearance akin TO the
homely and benevolent minister nfsome Quiet
country parish, far away among the hills: but
when IN his yellow vest and his brown coat.
with the hearty shake of the hand, and the
gruff, homely and heartfelt inquiry after ga At
hame," we had the warm-heated sheep-ar-
mer "a lover Of out-of-door exploits, and atb-
letic exercises; can angler by the streams, and
a hunter on the hills"