Dark Restless Borderers: Walter Scott and James Hogg

Dr. Valentina Bold’s lecture, explored the relationship between James Hogg and Sir Walter Scott, focusing on their shared Borders identity and how their friendship evolved over time. The title comes from Hogg’s Poetic Mirror (1816), in which he humorously imitated Scott’s style, referring to a "dark restless Borderer", a phrase Bold used to examine both men’s literary and personal connections.

Summary:

1. The Early Relationship Between Hogg and Scott

• James Hogg (1770-1835) and Walter Scott (1771-1832) first met around 1801-1802.
• Hogg was a self-taught shepherd-poet, deeply rooted in Borders oral tradition, while Scott was a lawyer and literary antiquarian.
• Their friendship was built on a shared love of balladry and Borders folklore, with Hogg’s family contributing songs to Scott’s Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.

2. The First Meeting at Ramsaycleuch (Borders)

• Hogg claimed to have met Scott at Ramsaycleuch, near his birthplace in Ettrick, where his mother, Margaret Laidlaw, recited Old Maitland for Scott.
• Hogg’s mother famously criticized Scott for "spoiling" the ballads by printing them instead of preserving them for oral recitation.
• Scott admired her performance, reinforcing the idea that Hogg’s family viewed ballads as living traditions, while Scott approached them as literary artifacts.

3. Their Different Literary Identities

• Scott was an aristocratic intellectual who ‘collected’ traditions and reworked them for his novels.
• Hogg was a genuine Borders poet and storyteller, writing from within the tradition rather than about it.
• Hogg’s Poetic Mirror (1816) included an affectionate imitation of Scott’s style, "Wat o' the Cleuch," which humorously captured Scott’s ballad motifs and dramatic storytelling.

4. The Shift in Their Friendship

• Hogg always saw Scott as a literary equal and a fellow Borderer, but Scott’s attitude became more distant over time.
• Hogg was warmly admiring of Scott, writing later about his great generosity and kindness.
• Scott, however, grew irritated by Hogg’s rustic directness, sometimes mocking him privately.

5. The Literary and Social Divide

• Hogg was never fully accepted by Edinburgh’s literary elite, despite Scott’s initial support.
• Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine’s "Noctes Ambrosianae" caricatured Hogg as a drunken, foolish shepherd.
• Scott, though amused by Hogg, kept a social distance, referring to him as "the Boar of the Forest".

6. Hogg’s Lasting Affection for Scott

• Despite the inequality in their friendship, Hogg remained deeply fond of Scott, considering it an honour to have been his friend.
• Scott’s last meeting with Hogg in 1830 was deeply emotional—Scott, physically weak, leaned on Hogg for support, which Hogg later recalled with pride.
• Hogg’s final reflections on Scott were full of warmth, calling him “the greatest man in the world.”

Interesting Points from the Lecture

1. Hogg’s Playful Imitation of Scott
2. In Poetic Mirror, Hogg parodied Scott’s dramatic, ballad style in "Wat o’ the Cleuch," proving his deep understanding of Scott’s writing.
3. Hogg’s Mother’s Rebuke
4. Margaret Laidlaw told Scott that he had "spoiled the ballads" by printing them instead of preserving their oral tradition.
5. Hogg’s Literary Influence on Scott
6. Hogg claimed that Scott’s Old Mortality (1816) borrowed ideas from his Brownie of Bodsbeck, though they may have developed the concept simultaneously.
7. Hogg’s "Social Clumsiness"
8. Lockhart’s account of Hogg calling Scott’s wife "Charlotte" at dinner suggested that Hogg overstepped social norms, though this may have been exaggerated for comic effect.
9. Scott’s Last Words to Hogg
10. In their final meeting, Scott, weakened by illness, leaned on Hogg and told him, "You have written a great deal that might be made available with proper attention."
11. Hogg remained proud of their friendship, despite the tensions.

Conclusion

Dr. Bold presented a nuanced, affectionate portrayal of the Hogg-Scott relationship, showing how:

• Hogg admired Scott throughout his life, valuing their shared Borders heritage.
• Scott initially supported Hogg but grew distant, partly due to social and literary divides.
• Their friendship, though unequal, was genuine—Scott benefitted from Hogg’s authentic knowledge of Borders traditions, while Hogg gained access to literary circles through Scott.
• Hogg never wavered in his devotion to Scott, even when Scott was less appreciative in return.

The lecture ended fittingly with a return to "Wat o’ the Cleuch", reminding the audience that, despite everything, both men remained restless Borderers, bound by their love of storytelling and the wild spirit of the Scottish Borders.