RIDING. 257 



808. In conformity to this practice, Sir Waiter Scott 

 used to produce twenty-four pages of quarto manuscript 

 between the time of rising, and ten o'clock in the morning, 

 when the court opened, and at which time his office re- 

 quired his presence. This was closely written, in a small 

 hand, and ready for the press. It is probable, however, 

 that no authorities were consulted during this time, 

 and that he previously had the matter all ready in his 

 mind, otherwise such performances, if continued for any 

 length of time, must be considered as little less than 

 miraculous. 



809. We have cited Scott to show the necessity, and 

 the practice of active amusements in a man of letters, be- 

 cause his writings are generally known, and because it 

 might be supposed by some, that the great number of his 

 productions, and the rapidity with which they followed 

 each other, precluded the possibility of his spending any 

 considerable portion of time in bodily exercise, whereas 

 we see, that this was, at least for a time, the very means 

 by which he was enabled to perform such extraordinary 

 mental efforts. Nor was Scott an exception in this respect, 

 to the practice of other British authors, and especially 

 those of Scotland, who, whatever their ages, or offices 

 may be, are in the habit of making play a part of their 

 daily duties. 



810. But notwithstanding Scott understood so well the 

 principles which ought to govern students with respect to 

 muscular exercise, and for a long time reduced them to 

 practice, still his pecuniary embarrassments forced him to 

 such unparalleled mental exertions as finally to affect the 

 cerebral and nervous functions in such a manner as to in- 

 duce a morbid condition of the whole system, from which 

 he never recovered. So that the noble part by which he 

 distinguished the age in which he lived, finally became 

 the instrument by which he was destined to perish. A 

 striking commentary on the principle that the equilibrium 

 of the nervous and muscular systems cannot be deranged 

 with impunity. 



811. It has been not unaptly observed, by more than 

 one of our transatlantic brethren, on visiting this country, 

 and noticing our manners and habits, that, " the Americans 



22* 



