Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-11-22

ANECDOTES OF SIR WALTER ScorT-
Sir Walter always disliked the acrimony
of disputation; he never, like DIR. john
son, entered The lists as n champion for
the plan of conversational honor; he never
talked for victory, but rather as a relaxa-
tion from scverer studies, and in order to
amuse and promote kindly feelings; and
he was always remarkably attentive to
those who were diflident, gently ereeur-
aging them and drawing them on to take
"A share in the conversation, with kind
ness and consideration that was truly ad-
mrable. AS public speaker, he was
graceful, easy, and fluent. He was in
the habit of composing with singular case
and fucncy, and he seldom altered his
first ideas or language. He generally
finished about sheet or sixteen pages
Of the novels per day, and the original
manuscript is in fair and legible hand,
with scarcely any alterations. The most
brilliant scenes and dialogues in "Guy
Manncring," the "Antiquary," "Tales
OF my Landlord" SC. are written out in
this manner with scarcely any intcrlinea-
tions, and apparently without any hesta-
ton. The full flood of his ideas seems
to have been poured forth from his excl
ted mind with wonderful freedom and ia
E cility; and or one occasion, it is related
of him, that when he was debating TO Il
friend (bcing unable to write from recent
, indispostion) one Of the dialogues in
= Ivanhoe, in which Front de Bnuf is the
+ hero, he rose up from his chair, in the
animation Of his fancy, and acted the
4, scene which he was describing, giving
that part Of the dialogue which belonged
TO Front do BGuf with extraordinary
force and vivacity, and with every suita-
; bic accompaniment Of tone, gesture, and
manner. lie evinccd the same facility
in the composition of his poetry. Like
many other great men he was distrustiul
i Of his own talents, and not at all con-
: scious Of their wonderful extent; or rath-
4 er he tried his performances by the Sc
s we're test of his own exquisite taste, and
! was more BUNDLED by the deficiencies
!, which he discovered than exalted by what
- he had actually performed. Sir Walter
Scott's father was cut off by the same
n. malady, and about the same age as his
- son, who, it is singular, had always a
80 dread, which the event has unhappily
ne realised, that his disease would overtake
him in the decline of life. Yet he was
Of of a remarkably strong constitution, en-
. joyed in general robust health, was o
~, moderate habits, and took regular cxer
an else. 1t was his practice to rise in thu
us morning about seven or earlier, and
,a with the interval of break fast, to apply {,
70 his literary studies until one or two o.
n clock, when he went out to walk with hi
g. dogs, with whose gambols he was mucI
N amused; nor was he in the habit of al
n, lowing his valuable time to be much in
de terrupted by visitcrs, who, though the
his were treated with extreme courte sy
an were allowed after the first day to fin
lor their own amusements. lie took gre,
es. interest in adorning the grounds aroun
tes Abbotsiord, by planting, &c. and in III
cs course Of his walks he always CAREFUL
IN surveyed the progress of these improv,
el- ments.- Edinburgh Erening Courani.