Hoy, James (1747 — 1828)

Burns met Hoy at Castle Gordon during his Highland tour, on the occasion when, to plcate Nicol, the poet had to forgo 'dining with the Duke and Duchess'. Burns referred to the incident when he wrote to Hoy from Edinburgh on the 20^th October 1787: 'I shall certainly, among my legacies, leave my latest curse to that unlucky predicament which hurried me, tore me away from Castle Gordon. May that obstinate sn of Latin Prose be curst to Scotch-mile periods, and damn'd to seven league paragraphs; while Declension and Conjugation, Gender, Number, and Time, under the ragged banners of Dissonance and Disarrangement eternally rank against him in hostile array!!!!!!'

The main purpose of Burn's letter, however, was to acquaint Hoy with the Scots Musical Museum, and to make a request: 'My request is; "Cauld Kail in Aberdeen" is one intended for this Number; and I beg a copy of His Grace of Gordon's words to it, which you were so kind as to repeat to me. You may be sure we wont prefix the Authors name, except you like; tho' I look on it as no small merit to this work that the names of the Authors of our old Scotch Songs, names almost forgotten, will be inserted.'

Burns wrote to Hoy again on 6^th November, when the librarian had complied with his request. Said Burns: 'The Duke's song, independent totally of his Dukeship, charms me....I could name half-a-dozen Dukes that I guess are a devilish deal worse employed; nay, I question if there are half-a-dozen better.'