Grampian Club > Leaves from my autography

268 LEAVES FROM MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
placed Mrs Hogg's name on the civil list for a pension
of £50. Mrs Hogg called upon me, bearing the Pre-
mier's letter; she also brought me a gift of silver
plate in recognition of my services. But the pension
should have been £100 ; to that amount I attempted
to get it raised, but failed. Lord Palmerston subse-
quently granted the poet's eldest daughter a pension
of £40. Paragraphs which I had inserted in leading-
Scottish journals proved serviceable in a quarter least
expected. From Cincinnati Mr Robert Chambers
received a letter in the following terms :
" Cincinnati, Ohio, December 7, 1853.
" Dear Sir, — Seeing several notices in the piibhc prints of the
destitute cii-cumstances of the widow of James Hogg, the Ettrick
Shepherd, some few of the Scotsmen of this city have under-
taken to collect a little sum, and remit it to her as a free-will
offering to gladden her heart and soothe her declining years ;
and as a token of regard for the memory of her late husband,
whose sweet songs and well-told tales will ever be remembered
with delight by Scotsmen, in whatever part of the world their
lot may be cast. The notices we have seen do not mention Mrs
Hogg's present place of residence, nor do we know to whose care
we ought to remit our offering. We know of no one in Scot-
land to whom we can apply with better assurance of attention
than to yourself. Your known public spirit and sympathy with
distress embolden us to take this liberty. You will oblige us
much if you can inform us to whom we may address for her ;
and any information with reference to her will be gladly received.
We have sent our subscription papers to the principal cities of
the West, and hope to have good accounts from them by the
beginning of the year.
" Peter Thomson, \
" Walter Paterson, I Committee."
"Egbert Clarke, j