The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-17
PORTRAITS OF SIR WALTER.
Wizard Of the North a. Sketched
by a Contemporary Artist.


Two unpublished portraits of Sir
Walter Scott are printed in the July
Century" with a brief sketch by John
Thomson of the artist who drew them
"a well known character in the Edin-
burgh of a hundred years ago.
John Sheriff was better known as
"Dr. Syntax," which cognomen he de-
rived from his bearing a striking re-
semblance to the caricatures by the
celebrated Rowlandson which adorn
the book Cat that time we'll known, "A
Tour in Search of the Picturesque by
DR.. Syntax." Sheriff was conspicu-
Gus character in Edinburgh during the
first half of the present century, and
after the publication of the book re-
ferred to, was universally denominated
and recognized as "Dr. Syntax.'
DR.. Syntax lacked stability and
steadiness of purpose, with the result
that he never attained to fame or
worldly success. Tall and almost gaunt
in appearance, with much quaintness
and oddly Of manner, and dressing in
a style completely out of touch with
the fashions of the time, he naturally
attracted attention. He was of a
quiet and inoffensive disposition, but
though in most respects a pronounced
eccentric, he was recognized as having
great aptitude in sketching the human
face and figure. He followed no regu-
lar occupation, and, lacking means, he
was not infrequently the recipient Of
a kindly charity bestowed on him by
friends, who, despite his peculiarities,
We're affectionately drawn to him. His
time was largely spent in visiting the
places of public report such as the
law courts. the city churches, the
classes in the university, public meet
ings, and, when sitting, the General AS
sembly, his purpose being to take notes,
but more especially to sketch the va
rious speakers or other prominent per-
sons that might take his fancy. He
was engaged in this work for about
thirty years, and during that period
produced a very large number of
sketches. Many of these, it is to be
regretted, have been lost, but close on
a thousand still remain. The greater
number are in pen and ink, some in
pencil and few in water color. These
embrace the more prominent Edin-
burgh professors, Judges, clergymen,
doctors and town Councillors of his
time, including notables in other parts
of Scotland. The doctor was privileged
with easy access to the university
classes, and many of his favorite pro-
fessors are reproduced in various atti-
tudes. A few of the sketches may, per-
haps, be regarded as somewhat stiff
and lacking in artistic beauty, but if
such defects exist, they are largely
compensated for by the realism that
marks the doctors productions. The
various subjects were depicted while
all unconscious of the artists opera
tions; and thus in the absence of pose
and preparation, they were delineated
exactly as he saw them.
A peculiar interest attaches to the
second sketch of Scott that we give,
inasmuch as the sketch was completed
on what must be regarded as mem
orable occasion, namely, during the
last appearance of Scott in his position
as clerk to the Court of Session. This
important fact is ascertained, as will
be seen, from the following inscription
on the portrait: s"Sir Walter SCOTS two
last sittings as Clerk of Session in the
Parliament House, Edinburgh, 9th and
10th July, 1880. Drawn by John