He divided himself between law and literature, and in his rather short life rose to a Professorship in the latter and a Sheriffdom in the former, deserving the credit of admirably stimulating influence in the first capacity and competent performance in the second.
"A History of Nineteenth Century Literature (1780-1895)"
George Saintsbury
In 1800, apparently, while Scott made only brief flying visits from the little inn of Clovenfords, on Tweed, to his Sheriffdom, he found a coadjutor.
"Sir Walter Scott and the Border Minstrelsy"
Andrew Lang