Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-05
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
From .aYm C,nningham's Biographical
Sketches of Scott.


He was widely and generally beloved-hi.
great genius hardly equalied the kindness Of hi.
heart, and the generosity OF his nature. do nO
mean that he stood foremost in all subscript
which were likely to be advertised I mean tina,
he aided the humble and the deserving; he as
sumed no patronizing airs, and wished rather Il
be thought doing an act of kindness to himself,
than to oblige others. To his friendship owe
80 much, that know not the extent of what
owe; through him, two Of my sons are Engineer
officers in the East India Company's service; and
he did this, because, said he, complimenting and
obliging me in the same sentence, "One Scot
fish Maker poet should aid another" | ne.
yer heard him say an unkind word OF any one.
and IL he said sharp one, which on some coca.
sions he did, he instantly softened the impression
by relating some kindly trait. The sternest
words ever heard him utter were concerning a
certain poet: That man." he said, "has had
much in his power, but he never befriended rs.
ing genius yet" could not say anything to the
contrary. He delighted in looking at old ruins,
and he loved to converse with old people OF any
station, but particularly shepherds.
He had great respect for landmarks: he
knew and could describe every battle field in
Britain; he had visited the scenes of the best
Scottish songs, and had drinking cups from the
Bash aboon Traquair, the Broom the Cowden.
knowes, and Alloway's auld haunted kirk. He
disliked to see a stone displaced on an old cas-
tie wall or field pIoushed up which was famed
ia story; and was told, he was never seen
moved o anger. save once, and thstwas against
a clergyman, who unthnkingly began to remove
one Of the large grey stones which mark the ira
yic event, recorded in that mourEfui ballad
GThe Dowje Deus of YarrOw'
Of his habits as an author, know little, save
what he happened to tell me, or what casually
gathered from men intimate with him He told
me that he was an early riser: have since learn
ell. that his usual hour Of beginning to write was
seven o'clock in the morning; that he continued
il. saving the brief hour of breakfast. till one,
and sometimes two-0'clock; then shaved. dress
Ell, and went TO the hills with his fa,orte dogs
two tall rough strong hounds, fit to pull down
a stag, and, after some hours exercise. returned
to see such friends az chance or invitation brought
to his door
Bv this mode of econOmizing time, he march,
ed fast on with romance; as lie was always in
spired alike when in health, he had no occasion to
wait for the descent IF the muse, but dashed
away at the rate OF sixteen pages of print daily.
He wrote freely and without premeditatnn; and
his corrections we're beyond all example. When
he wrote fastest he wrote best, because his heart
vas in trim. Though the most accomplished au
thor Of his day. yet he had none of the airs Of
authorship; and when ne came forth from his stu {.
DIV, he laid aside The poets mantle and put on
the dress Of the country gentleman who knew
the world, and loved to practise courtesy and in
duge in hospitality. He was proud man-not
proud poet, or historian. or novelist; he loved
to be looked on as a gentleman of old family,
who built Abbotsford, and laid out it, gardens
and planted ITS avenues, rather than genius.
whose works Influenced mankind and ditfused
happiness among millioDs.
Ii was not Of the builder or the planter. that
the people Of Glasgow thought, when they low.
cred their colors IN the Clyde shipping half-mast
high, the moment they heard Of h's death; but
perhaps the truest compliment ever uttered, was
by the west country weaver: "The only conso.
la6on which have" said he, "in these times Of
depression, is in reading Walter Scott's novel;.