the text I have urged that Leyden did not know Hogg. I am able now
to prove that Hogg and Leyden never met till after Laidlaw gave the
manuscript of Auld Maitland to Hogg.

The fact is given in the original manuscript of Laidlaw's
Recollections of Sir Walter Scott (among the Laing MSS. in the
library of the University of Edinburgh). Carruthers, in publishing
Laidlaw's reminiscences, omitted the following passage. After Scott
had read Auld Maitland aloud to Leyden and Laird Laidlaw, the three
rode together to dine at Whitehope.

"Near the Craigbents," says Laidlaw, "Mr. Scott and Leyden drew
together in a close and seemingly private conversation. I, of
course, fell back. After a minute or two, Leyden reined in his horse
(a black horse that Mr. Scott's servant used to ride) and let me come
up. 'This Hogg,' said he, 'writes verses, I understand.' I assured
him that he wrote very beautiful verses, and with great facility.
'But I trust,' he replied, 'that there is no fear of his passing off
any of his own upon Scott for old ballads.' I again assured him that
he would never think of such a thing; and neither would he at that
period of his life.

"'Let him beware of forgery,' cried Leyden with great force and
energy, and in, I suppose, what Mr. Scott used afterwards to call the
SAW TONES OF HIS VOICE."

This proves that Leyden had no personal knowledge of "this Hogg," and
did not supply the shepherd with the traditions about Auld Maitland.

Mr. W. J. Kennedy, of Hawick, pointed out to me this passage in