Thy crimson moon, and azure eye,
Cock of the heath, so wildly shy!" etc.]

{p.193} The next letter refers to the Duke of Buccleuch's preparations
for a cattle-show at Bowhill, which was followed by an entertainment
on a large scale to his Grace's Selkirkshire neighbors and tenantry,
and next day by a fox-hunt, after Dandie Dinmont's fashion, among the
rocks of the Yarrow. The Sheriff attended _with his tail on_; and
Wilkie, too, went with him. It was there that Sir David first saw
Hogg, and the Shepherd's greeting was graceful. He eyed the great
painter for a moment in silence, and then stretching out his hand,
said: "Thank God for it. I did not know that you were so young a man!"

TO THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH, ETC., ETC., ETC., DRUMLANRIG CASTLE.

MY DEAR LORD DUKE,--I am just honored with your Grace's of
the 27th. The posts, which are as cross as pie-crust, have
occasioned some delay. Depend on our attending at Bowhill on
the 20th, and staying over the show. I have written to Adam
Ferguson, who will come with a whoop and a hollo. So will
the Ballantynes--flageolet[77] and all--for the festival,
and they shall be housed at Abbotsford. I have an inimitably
good songster in the person of Terence Magrath, who teaches
my girls. He beats almost all whom I have ever heard attempt
Moore's songs, and I can easily cajole him also out to
Abbotsford for a day or two. In jest or earnest, I never
heard a better singer in a room, though his voice is not
quite full enough for a concert; and for an after-supper
song, he almost equals Irish Johnstone.[78]

[Footnote 77: The _flageolet_ alludes to Mr. Alexander
Ballantyne, the third of the brothers--a fine musician,
and a most amiable and modest man, never connected with
Scott in any business matters, but always much his
favorite in private.]

[Footnote 78: Mr. Magrath has now been long established
in his native city of Dublin. His musical excellence was
by no means the only merit that attached Scott to his
society while he remained in Edinburgh.]

Trade of every kind is recovering, and not a loom idle
{p.194} in Glasgow. The most faithful respects of this
family attend the Ladies and all at Drumlanrig. I ever am
your Grace's truly o