nner forced me to give them fragments of these enchanted
garments: I have, however, retained a small portion for you, which I
send along with this, being a piece of his plaid, and another of his
waistcoat breast, which you will see are still as fresh as that day
they were laid in the grave.

"His broad blue bonnet was sent to Edinburgh several weeks ago, to the
great regret of some gentlemen connected with the land, who wished to
have it for a keep-sake. For my part, fond as I am of blue bonnets, and
broad ones in particular, I declare I durst not have worn that one.
There was nothing of the silver knife and fork discovered, that I heard
of, nor was it very likely it should; but it would appear he had been
very near run out of cash, which I daresay had been the cause of his
utter despair; for, on searching his pockets, nothing was found but
three old Scotch halfpennies. These young men meeting with another
shepherd afterwards, his curiosity was so much excited that they went
and digged up the curious remains a second time, which was a pity, as
it is likely that by these exposures to the air, and the impossibility
of burying it up again as closely as it was before, the flesh will now
fall to dust."

The letter from which the above is an extract, is signed JAMES HOGG,
and dated from Altrive Lake, August 1st, 1823. It bears the stamp of
authenticity in every line; yet so often had I been hoaxed by the
ingenious fancies displayed in that Magazine, that when this relation
met my eye I did not believe it; but, from the moment that I perused
it, I half formed the resolution of investigating these wonderful
remains personally, if any such existed; for, in the immediate vicinity
of the scene, as I supposed, I knew of more attractive metal than the
dilapidated remains of mouldering suicides.

Accordingly, having some business in Edinburgh in September last, and
being obliged to wait a few days for the arrival of a friend from
London, I took that opportunity to pay a visit to my townsman and
fellow collegian, Mr. L--t of C--d, advocate. I mentioned to him Hogg's
letter, asking him if the statement was founded at all on truth. His
answer was: "I suppose so. For my part I never doubted the thing,
having been told that there has been a deal of talking about it up in
the Forest for some time past. But God knows! Hogg has imposed as
ingenious lies on the public ere now."

I said, if it was within reach, I should like exceedingly to