Then he visited London, and became largely known for his ballads, and his love of ballads.

In his eighth year at the bar he accepted a small permanent appointment, with 300_l._ a year, as sheriff of Selkirkshire; and this occurring soon after his marriage to a lady of some means, no doubt diminished still further his professional zeal.

For one third of the time during which Scott practised as an advocate he made no pretence of taking interest in that part of his work, though he was always deeply interested in the law itself.

In 1806 he undertook gratuitously the duties of a Clerk of Session--a permanent officer of the Court at Edinburgh--and discharged them without remuneration for five years, from 1806 to 1811, in order to secure his ultimate succession to the office in the place of an invalid, who for that period received all the emoluments and did none of the work.

Nevertheless Scott's legal abilities were so well known, that it was certainly at one time intended to offer him a Barony of the Exchequer, and it was his own doing, apparently, that it was not offered.