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diff --git a/19463-h/19463-h.htm b/19463-h/19463-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f0302f --- /dev/null +++ b/19463-h/19463-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10960 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of James Fenimore Cooper by Thomas R. Lounsbury</title> + + +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- + +body {font-size: 1em; text-align: justify; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} + +h1 {font-size: 1.4em; text-align: center; margin-top: 4em;} + +h2 {font-size: 1.2em; text-align: center; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +h3 {font-size: 1em; text-align: center; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + + +.pagenum {visibility: hidden; position: absolute; right:0; font-size: smaller; text-align: right; +color: #C0C0C0; background-color: inherit;} + + +.quotega {margin-left: 5%;} +.quotedr {margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 5%;} + + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 0.9em;} + + +.figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + + + + +.quotega0 {margin-left: 10%; margin-top: 0em;} +.quotemi {margin-left: 20%;} +.quotedr0 {text-align: right; margin-left: 40%; margin-right: 20%; margin-top: 0em;} + + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} + +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of James Fenimore Cooper, by Thomas R. Lounsbury + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: James Fenimore Cooper + American Men of Letters + +Author: Thomas R. Lounsbury + +Release Date: October 4, 2006 [EBook #19463] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAMES FENIMORE COOPER *** + + + + +Produced by Christine P. Travers and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<p>[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected. +The original spelling has been retained.]</p> + +<h1><i>American Men of Letters.</i></h1> + +<h3>Edited By</h3> + +<h3>CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER.</h3> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img001.jpg" width="550" height="740" alt="Cooper" title=""> +</div> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img002.jpg" width="550" height="101" alt="Signature" title=""> +</div> + + + +<h2><i>American Men of Letters.</i></h2> + +<h1>JAMES FENIMORE COOPER.</h1> + +<h3>By</h3> + +<h2>THOMAS R. LOUNSBURY,<br> +Professor Of English In The Sheffield Scientific School,<br> +Yale College.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img003.jpg" width="100" height="101" alt="arms" title=""> +</div> + + +<h3>BOSTON:<br> +HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY.<br> +New York: 11 East Seventeenth Street.<br> +The Riverside Press, Cambridge.<br> +1884.</h3> + + + +<h3>Copyright, 1882,<br> +By THOMAS R. LOUNSBURY</h3> + +<h3><i>All rights reserved.</i></h3> + +<h3><i>The Riverside Press, Cambridge</i>:<br> +Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Co.</h3> + + + + + + +<h2>PREFATORY NOTE.</h2> + + +<p>When Cooper lay on his death-bed he enjoined his family to permit no +authorized account of his life to be prepared. A wish even, that was +uttered at such a time, would have had the weight of a command; and +from that day to this pious affection has carried out in the spirit as +well as to the letter the desire of the dying man. No biography of +Cooper has, in consequence, ever appeared. Nor is it unjust to say +that the sketches of his career, which are found either in magazines +or cyclopędias, are not only unsatisfactory on account of their +incompleteness, but are all in greater or less degree untrustworthy in +their details.</p> + +<p>It is a necessary result of this dying injunction that the direct and +authoritative sources of information contained in family papers are +closed to the biographer. Still it is believed that no facts of +importance in the record of an eventful and extraordinary career have +been omitted or have even been passed over slightingly. A large part +of the matter contained in this volume has never been given to the +public in any form: and for that reason among others no pains have +been spared to make this narrative absolutely accurate, so far as it +goes. Correction of any errors, if such are found, will be gratefully +welcomed.</p> + + + + +<h2>JAMES +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page001" name="page001"></a>(p. 001)</span> +FENIMORE COOPER.</h2> + + + + +<h2>Chapter I.</h2> + +<h3>1789-1820.</h3> + + +<p>In one of the interior counties of New York, less than one hundred and +fifty miles in a direct line from the commercial capital of the Union, +lies the village of Cooperstown. The place is not and probably never +will be an important one; but in its situation and surroundings nature +has given it much that wealth cannot furnish or art create. It stands +on the southeastern shore of Otsego Lake, just at the point where the +Susquehanna pours out from it on its long journey to the Chesapeake. +The river runs here in a rapid current through a narrow valley, shut +in by parallel ranges of lofty hills. The lake, not more than nine +miles in length, is twelve hundred feet above tide-water. Low and +wooded points of land and sweeping bays give to its shores the +attraction of continuous diversity. About it, on every side, stand +hills, which slope gradually or rise sharply to heights varying from +two to five hundred feet. Lake, forest, and stream unite to form a +scene of quiet but picturesque beauty, that hardly needs the +additional charm of romantic association which has been imparted to +it.</p> + +<p>Though it was here that the days of Cooper's childhood were +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page002" name="page002"></a>(p. 002)</span> +passed, it was not here that he was born. When that event took place +the village had hardly even an existence on paper. Cooper's father, a +resident of Burlington, New Jersey, had come, shortly after the close +of the Revolutionary War, into the possession of vast tracts of land, +embracing many thousands of acres, along the head-waters of the +Susquehanna. In 1786 he began the settlement of the spot, and in 1788 +laid out the plot of the village which bears his name, and built for +himself a dwelling-house. On the 10th of November, 1790, his whole +family--consisting, with the servants, of fifteen persons--reached the +place. The future novelist was then a little less than thirteen months +old, for he had been born at Burlington on the 15th of September of +the year before. His father had determined to make the new settlement +his permanent home. He accordingly began in 1796, and in 1799 +completed, the erection of a mansion which bore the name of Otsego +Hall. It was then and remained for a long time afterward the largest +private residence in that portion of the State. When in 1834 it came +into the hands of the son, it still continued to be the principal +dwelling in the flourishing village that had grown up about it.</p> + +<p>On his father's side Cooper was of Quaker descent. The original +emigrant ancestor had come over in 1679, and had made extensive +purchases of land in the province of New Jersey. In that colony or in +Pennsylvania his descendants for a long time remained. Cooper himself +was the first one, of the direct line certainly, that ever even +revisited the mother-country. These facts are of slight importance in +themselves. In the general disbelief, however, which fifty years ago +prevailed in Great Britain, that anything good could come out +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page003" name="page003"></a>(p. 003)</span> +of this western Nazareth. Cooper was immediately furnished with +an English nativity as soon as he had won reputation. The same process +that gave to Irving a birthplace in Devonshire, furnished one also to +him in the Isle of Man. When this fiction was exploded, the fact of +emigration was pushed merely a little further back. It was transferred +to the father, who was represented as having gone from Buckinghamshire +to America. This latter assertion is still to be found in authorities +that are generally trustworthy. But the original one served a useful +purpose during its day. This assumed birthplace in the Isle of Man +enabled the English journalists that were offended with Cooper's +strictures upon their country to speak of him, as at one time they +often did, as an English renegade.</p> + +<p>His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Fenimore, and the family to +which she belonged was of Swedish descent. Cooper himself was the +eleventh of twelve children. Most of his brothers and sisters died +long before him, five of them in infancy. His own name was at first +simply James Cooper, and in this way he wrote it until 1826. But in +April of that year the Legislature of New York passed an act changing +the family name to Fenimore-Cooper. This was done in accordance with +the wish of his grandmother, whose descendants in the direct male line +had died out. But he seldom employed the hyphen in writing, and +finally gave up the use of it altogether.</p> + +<p>The early childhood of Cooper was mainly passed in the wilderness at +the very time when the first wave of civilization was beginning to +break against its hills. There was everything in what he saw and heard +to impress the mind of the growing boy. He was on the border, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page004" name="page004"></a>(p. 004)</span> +if indeed he could not justly be said to be in the midst of +mighty and seemingly interminable woods which stretched for hundreds +of miles to the westward. Isolated clearings alone broke this vast +expanse of foliage, which, covering the valleys and clinging to the +sides and crowning the summits of the hills, seemed to rise and fall +like the waves of the sea. The settler's axe had as yet scarcely +dispelled the perpetual twilight of the primeval forest. The little +lake lay enclosed in a border of gigantic trees. Over its waters hung +the interlacing branches of mighty oaks and beeches and pines. Its +surface was frequented by flocks of wild, aquatic birds,--the duck, +the gull, and the loon. In this lofty valley among the hills were also +to be found, then as now, in fullest perfection, the clear atmosphere, +the cloudless skies, and the brilliant light of midsummer suns, that +characterize everywhere the American highlands. More even than the +beauty and majesty of nature that lay open to the sight was the +mystery that constantly appealed to the imagination in what might lie +hidden in the depths of a wilderness that swept far beyond glance of +eye or reach of foot. This, indeed, may have affected the feelings of +only a few, but there were numerous interests and anxieties which all +had in common. The little village had early gone through many of the +trials which mark the history of most of the settlements in regions to +which few travelers found their way and commerce seldom came. Remote +from sources of supply, and difficult of access, it had known the time +when its population, scanty as it was, suffered from the scarcity of +food. Sullivan's successful expedition against the Six Nations did not +suffice to keep it from the alarm of savage attack that never came. +The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page005" name="page005"></a>(p. 005)</span> +immense forest shutting in the hamlet on every side had +terrors to some as real as were its attractions to others. Its +recesses were still the refuge of the deer; but they were also the +haunt of the wildcat, the wolf, and the bear. All these +characteristics of his early home made deep impression upon a nature +fond of adventure, and keenly susceptible to the charm of scenery. +When afterward in the first flush of his fame Cooper set out to revive +the memory of the days of the pioneers, he said that he might have +chosen for his subject happier periods, more interesting events, and +possibly more beauteous scenes, but he could not have taken any that +would lie so close to his heart. The man, indeed, never forgot what +had been dear to the boy; and to the spot where his earliest years +were spent he returned to pass the latter part of his life.</p> + +<p>The original settlement, moreover, was composed of a more than usually +singular mixture of the motley crowd that always throngs to the +American frontier. The shock of convulsions in lands far distant +reached even to the highland valley shut in by the Otsego hills. +Representatives of almost every nationality in Christendom and +believers in almost every creed, found in it an asylum or a home. Into +this secluded haven drifted men whose lives had been wrecked in the +political storms that were then shaking Europe. Frenchmen, Dutchmen, +Germans, and Poles, came and tarried for a longer or shorter time. +Here Talleyrand, then an exile, spent several days with Cooper's +father, and, true to national instinct, wrote, according to local +tradition, complimentary verses, still preserved, on Cooper's sister. +An ex-captain of the British army was one of the original merchants of +the place. An ex-governor of Martinique was +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page006" name="page006"></a>(p. 006)</span> +for a time the +village grocer. But the prevailing element in the population were the +men of New England, born levelers of the forest, the greatest wielders +of the axe the world has ever known. Over the somewhat wild and +turbulent democracy, made up of materials so diverse, the original +proprietor reigned a sort of feudal lord, rather by moral qualities +than by any conceded right.</p> + +<p>Cooper's early instruction was received in the village school, carried +on in a building erected in 1795, and rejoicing in the somewhat +pretentious name of the Academy. The country at that time, however, +furnished few facilities for higher education anywhere; on the +frontier there were necessarily none. Accordingly Cooper was early +sent to Albany. There he entered the family of the rector of St. +Peter's Church, and became, with three or four other boys, one of his +private pupils. This gentleman, the son of an English clergyman, and +himself a graduate of an English university, had made his ways to +these western wilds with a fair amount of classical learning, with +thorough methods of study, and as it afterwards turned out, Cooper +tells us, with another man's wife. This did not, however, prevent him +from insisting upon the immense superiority of the mother-country in +morals as well as manners. A man of ability and marked character, he +clearly exerted over the impressionable mind of his pupil a greater +influence than the latter ever realized. He was in many respects, +indeed, a typical Englishman of the educated class of that time. He +had the profoundest contempt for republics and republican +institutions. The American Revolution he looked upon as only a little +less monstrous than the French, which was the sum of all iniquities. +Connection +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page007" name="page007"></a>(p. 007)</span> +with any other church than his own was to be +shunned, not at all because it was unchristian, but because it was +ungentlemanly and low. But whatever his opinions and prejudices were, +in the almost absolute dearth then existing in this country of even +respectable scholarship, the opportunity to be under his instruction +was a singular advantage. Unfortunately it did not continue as long as +it was desirable. In 1802 he died. It had been the intention to fit +Cooper to enter the junior class of Yale College; that project had now +to be abandoned. Accordingly he became, at the beginning of the second +term of its freshman year, a member of the class which was graduated +in 1806. He was then but a mere boy of thirteen, and with the +exception of the poet Hillhouse, two weeks his junior, was the +youngest student in the college.</p> + +<p>Cooper himself informs us that he played all his first year, and +implies that he did little study during those which followed. To a +certain extent the comparative excellence of his preparation turned +out a disadvantage; the rigid training he had received enabled him to +accomplish without effort what his fellow-students found difficult. +Scholarship was at so low an ebb that the ability to scan Latin was +looked upon as a high accomplishment; and he himself asserts that the +class to which he belonged was the first in Yale College that had ever +tried it. This may be questioned; but we need not feel any distrust of +his declaration, that little learning of any kind found its way into +his head. Least of all will he be inclined to doubt it whom extended +experience in the class-room has taught to view with profoundest +respect the infinite capability of the human mind to resist the +introduction of knowledge.</p> + +<p>Far <span class="pagenum"><a id="page008" name="page008"></a>(p. 008)</span> +better than study, Cooper liked to take solitary walks +about the wooded hills surrounding New Haven, and the shores of the +bay upon which it lies. These nursed the fondness for outdoor life and +scenery which his early associations had inspired. In these communings +with nature, he was unconsciously storing his mind with impressions +and images, in the representation and delineation of which he was +afterward to attain surpassing excellence. But the study of scenery, +however desirable in itself, cannot easily be included in a college +curriculum. No proficiency in it can well compensate for failure in +studies of perhaps less intrinsic importance. The neglect of these +latter had no tendency to recommend him to the regard of those in +authority. Positive faults were in course of time added to negative. A +frolic in which he was engaged during his third year was attended by +consequences more serious than disfavor. It led to his dismissal. The +father took the boy's side, and the usual struggle followed between +the parents and those who, according to a pretty well worn-out +educational theory, stand to the student in place of parents. In this +particular case the latter triumphed, and Cooper left Yale. In spite +of his dismissal he retained pleasant recollections of some of his old +instructors; and with one of them, Professor Silliman, he kept up in +later years friendly personal relations and occasional correspondence.</p> + +<p>It had been a misfortune for the future author to lose the severe if +somewhat wooden drill of his preparatory instructor. It was an +additional misfortune to lose the education, scanty and defective as +it then was, which was imparted by the college. It might not and +probably would not have contributed anything to Cooper's intellectual +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page009" name="page009"></a>(p. 009)</span> +development in the way of accuracy of thought or of +statement. It would not in all probability have added materially to +his stock of knowledge. But with all its inefficiency and inadequacy, +it would very certainly have had the effect of teaching him to aim far +more than he did at perfection of form. He possibly gained more than +he lost by being transferred at so early an age to other scenes. But +the lack of certain qualities in his writings, which educated men are +perhaps the only ones to notice, can be traced pretty directly to this +lack of preliminary intellectual drill.</p> + +<p>His academical career having been thus suddenly cut short, he entered +in a little while upon one better suited to his adventurous nature. +Boys are sent to sea, he tells us in one of his later novels, for the +cure of their ethical ailings. This renovating influence of ocean life +he had at any rate a speedy opportunity to try. It was decided that he +should enter the navy. The position of his father, who had been for +several years a representative in Congress, and was a leading member +of the Federalist party, naturally held out assurances that the son +would receive all the advancement to which he would be legitimately +entitled. At that time no naval school existed. It was the custom, in +consequence, for boys purposing to fit themselves for the position of +officers to serve a sort of apprenticeship in the merchant marine. +Accordingly in the autumn of 1806, Cooper was placed on board a vessel +that was to sail from the port of New York with a freight of flour to +Cowes and a market. The ship was named the Sterling, and was commanded +by Captain John Johnston, of Wiscasset, Maine, who was also part +owner. Cooper's position and prospects were well known; but he was +employed regularly +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page010" name="page010"></a>(p. 010)</span> +before the mast and was never admitted to +the cabin. The vessel cleared from the port of New York on the 16th of +October. The passage was a long and stormy one; forty days went by +before land was seen after it had once been left behind. The ship +reached the other side just at the time when the British Channel was +alive with vessels of war in consequence of one of the periodical +anticipations of invasions from France. It went to London, and stayed +for some time there discharging its cargo and taking in new. Cooper +embraced the opportunity to see all the sights he could of the great +metropolis. "He had a rum time of it in his sailor rig," said +afterward one of his shipmates, "but hoisted in a wonderful deal of +gibberish, according to his own account of the cruise."</p> + +<p>The Sterling sailed with freight in January, 1807, for the Straits of +Gibraltar. It took on board a cargo of barilla at Aguilas and Almeria, +and returned to England, reaching the Thames in May. Both going and +coming the voyage was a stormy one, and during it several of the +incidents occurred that Cooper worked up afterward into powerful +passages in his sea novels. In London the vessel lay several weeks, +discharging its cargo and taking in more, which this time consisted of +dry goods. Towards the end of July, it left London for America, and +reached Philadelphia on the 18th of September, after another long and +stormy passage of fifty-two days.</p> + +<p>This was Cooper's introduction to sea life. During the year he had +spent in the merchant vessel he had seen a good deal of hard service. +His preparatory studies having been completed after a fashion, he now +regularly entered the navy. His commission as midshipman bears +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page011" name="page011"></a>(p. 011)</span> +date the 1st of January, 1808. On the 24th of the following +February he was ordered to report to the commanding naval officer at +New York. But the records of the government give little information as +to the duties to which he was assigned during the years he remained in +its service. The knowledge we have of his movements comes mainly from +what he himself incidentally discloses in published works or letters +of a later period. The facts we learn from all sources together, are +but few. He served for a while on board the Vesuvius in 1808. During +that year it seemed as if the United States and Great Britain were +about to drift into war. Preparations of various kinds were made; and +one of the things ordered was the dispatch to Lake Ontario of a party, +of which Cooper was one, under the command of Lieutenant Woolsey. The +intention was to build a brig of sixteen guns to command that inland +water; and the port of Oswego, then a mere hamlet of some twenty +houses, was the place selected for its construction. Around it lay a +wilderness, thirty or forty miles in depth. Here the party spent the +following winter, and during it the Oneida, as the brig was called, +was finished. Early in the spring of 1809 it was launched. By that +time, however, the war-cloud had blown over, and the vessel was not +then used for the purpose for which it had been constructed. More +permanent results, however, were accomplished than the building of a +ship. The knowledge and experience which Cooper then gained was +something beyond and above what belonged to his profession. It is to +his residence on the shores of that inland sea that we owe the vivid +picture drawn of Lake Ontario in "The Pathfinder" and of the +wilderness which then surrounded it on every side.</p> + +<p>After +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page012" name="page012"></a>(p. 012)</span> +the completion of the Oneida, Cooper accompanied +Lieutenant Woolsey on a visit to Niagara Falls. The navy records show +that on the 10th of June, 1809, he was left by his commander in charge +of the gunboats on Lake Champlain. They further reveal the fact that +on the 27th of September of this same year he was granted a furlough +to make a European voyage. This project for some reason was given up, +as on the 13th of November, 1809, he was ordered to the Wasp, then +under the command of Lawrence, who afterwards fell in the engagement +between the Shannon and the Chesapeake. To this officer, like himself +a native of Burlington, he was very warmly attached. The next notice +of him contained in the official records is to the effect that on the +9th of May, 1810, permission was granted him to go on furlough for +twelve months. Whether he availed himself of it is not known. An event +soon occurred, however, that put an end to his naval career as +effectively as one had previously been put to his collegiate. An +attachment had sprung up some time before between him and a Miss +DeLancey. On the 1st of January, 1811, the couple were married at +Mamaroneck, Westchester County, New York. Cooper was then a little +more than twenty-one years old; the bride lacked very little of being +nineteen.</p> + +<p>His wife belonged to a Huguenot family, which towards the end of the +seventeenth century had fled from France, and had finally settled in +Westchester. During the Revolutionary War the DeLanceys had taken the +side of the crown against the colonies. Several of them held positions +in the British army. John Peter DeLancey, whose daughter Cooper had +married, had been himself a captain in that service. After the +recognition of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page013" name="page013"></a>(p. 013)</span> +American independence he went to England, +but, having resigned his commission, returned in 1789 to this country, +and spent the remainder of his life at his home in Mamaroneck. The +fact that his kinsmen by marriage had belonged to the defeated party +in the Revolutionary struggle led Cooper in his writings to treat the +Tories, as they were called, with a fairness and generosity which in +that day few were disposed to show, at least in print. This tenderness +is plainly to be seen in "The Spy," written at the beginning of his +career; it is still more marked in "Wyandotte," produced in the latter +part of it, when circumstances had made him profoundly dissatisfied +with much that he saw about him. One of the last, though least heated, +of the many controversies in which he was engaged was in regard to the +conduct on a particular occasion of General Oliver DeLancey, a cousin +of his wife's father. This officer was charged unjustly, as Cooper +believed, with the brutal treatment of the American General Woodhull, +who had fallen into his hands. The discussion in regard to this point +was carried on in the "New York Home Journal" in the early part of +1848.</p> + +<p>It seldom falls to the lot of the biographer to record a home life +more serene and happy than that which fell to the share of the man +whose literary life is the stormiest to be found in the history of +American men of letters. Cooper, like many persons of fiery +temperament and strong will, was very easily managed through his +affections. In theory he maintained the headship of man in the +household in the extremest form. He gives in several of his works no +uncertain indication of his views on that point. This only serves to +make more conspicuous the fact, which forces itself repeatedly upon +the attention, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page014" name="page014"></a>(p. 014)</span> +that his movements were largely, if not +mainly, controlled by his wife. This becomes noticeable at the very +beginning of their union. She was unwilling to undergo the long and +frequent separations from her husband that the profession of a naval +officer would demand. Accordingly, he abandoned the idea of continuing +in it. The acceptance of his resignation bears date the 6th of May, +1811. He had then been regularly in the service a little less than +three years and a half.</p> + +<p>After quitting the navy Cooper led for a long time a somewhat +unsettled life. For about a year and a half he resided at Heathcote +Hall, Mamaroneck, the residence of his wife's father. He then rented a +small cottage in the neighborhood, and in this remained about a year. +His early home, however, was the spot to which his heart turned. To +Cooperstown, in consequence, he went back in 1814, taking up his +residence at a place outside the village limits, called Fenimore. He +purposed to devote his attention to agriculture, and accordingly began +at this spot the building of a large stone farm house. While it was in +process of construction his wife, anxious to be near her own family, +persuaded him to go back to Westchester. Thither in 1817 he went, +leaving his dwelling at Fenimore unfinished, and in 1823 it was +completely destroyed by fire. In Westchester, a few months after his +return, he took up his residence, in the town of Scarsdale, on what +was called the Angevine farm, from the name of a French family that +had occupied it for several generations. The site of his dwelling was +a commanding one, and gave from the south front an extensive view of +the country about it and of Long Island Sound. It remained his home +until +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page015" name="page015"></a>(p. 015)</span> +the literary profession, upon which he unexpectedly +entered, forced him to leave it for New York city.</p> + +<p>Great changes had occurred during these years, or were occurring, in +his personal surroundings. His father had died in 1809, and his mother +in 1817. Before 1820 five daughters had been born to him. The first of +these did not live to the age of two years; but the others all reached +maturity. The second, Susan Augusta, herself an authoress, became in +his later years his secretary and amanuensis, and would naturally have +written his life, had not his unfortunate dying injunction stood in +the way. A son, Fenimore, born at Angevine, in 1821, died early, and +his youngest child, Paul, now a lawyer at Albany, was not born until +after his removal to New York city. Surrounded by his growing family, +he led for the two or three years following 1817 a life that gave no +indication of what was to be his career. His thoughts were principally +directed to improving the little estate that had come into his +possession. He planted trees, he built fences, he drained swamps, he +planned a lawn. The one thing which he did not do was to write.</p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER II. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page016" name="page016"></a>(p. 016)</span></h2> + +<h3>1820-1822.</h3> + + +<p>Cooper had now reached the age of thirty. Up to this time he had +written nothing, nor had he prepared or collected any material for +future use. No thought of taking up authorship as a profession had +entered his mind. Even the physical labor involved in the mere act of +writing was itself distasteful. Unexpectedly, however, he now began a +course of literary production that was to continue without abatement +during the little more than thirty years which constituted the +remainder of his life.</p> + +<p>Seldom has a first work been due more entirely to accident than that +which he composed at the outset of his career. In his home at Angevine +he was one day reading to his wife a novel descriptive of English +society. It did not please him, and he suddenly laid down the book and +said, "I believe I could write a better story myself." Challenged to +make good his boast, he sat down to perform the task, and wrote out a +few pages of the tale he had formed in his mind. The encouragement of +his wife determined him to go on and complete it, and when completed +the advice of friends decided him to publish it. Accordingly, on the +10th of November, 1820, a novel in two volumes, entitled "Precaution," +made its appearance in New York. In this purely haphazard way did the +most prolific of American authors begin his literary life.</p> + +<p>The +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page017" name="page017"></a>(p. 017)</span> +work was brought out in a bad shape, and its +typographical defects were unconsciously exaggerated by Cooper in a +revised edition of it, which was published after his return from +Europe. In the preface to the latter he said that no novel of modern +times had ever been worse printed than was this story as it originally +appeared. The manuscript, he admitted, was bad; but the proof-reading +could only be described as execrable. Periods turned up in the middle +of sentences, while the places where they should have been knew them +not. Passages, in consequence, were rendered obscure, and even entire +paragraphs became unintelligible. A careful reading of the edition of +1820 will show something to suggest, but little to justify, these +sweeping assertions. But the work has never been much read even by the +admirers of the author; and it is a curious illustration of this fact, +that the personal friend, who delivered the funeral discourse upon his +life and writings, avoided the discussion of it with such care that he +was betrayed into exposing the lack of interest he sought to hide. +Bryant confessed he had not read "Precaution." He had merely dipped +into the first edition of it, and had been puzzled and repelled by the +profusion of commas and other pauses. The non-committalism of cautious +criticism could hardly hope to go farther. Punctuation has had its +terrors and its triumphs; but this victory over the editor of a daily +newspaper must be deemed its proudest recorded achievement. The poet +went on to say that to a casual inspection the revised edition, which +Cooper afterward brought out, seemed almost another work. The +inspection which could come to such a conclusion must have been of +that exceedingly casual kind which contents itself with contemplating +the outside of a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page018" name="page018"></a>(p. 018)</span> +book, and disdains to open it. As a matter +of fact the changes made hardly extended beyond the correction of some +points of punctuation and of some grammatical forms; it was in a few +instances only that the construction of the sentences underwent +transformation. Not an incident was altered, not a sentiment modified.</p> + +<p>Such ignorance on the part of a contemporary and personal friend, if +it proves nothing else, shows certainly the little hold this novel has +had upon the public taste. Nevertheless, the first work of any +well-known author must always have a certain interest belonging to it, +entirely independent of any value the work may have in itself. In this +case, moreover, the character of the tale and the circumstances +attending its production are of no slight importance, when taken in +connection with the literary history of the times. It was accident +that led to the selection of the subject; but as things then were, +Cooper was not unlikely, in any event, to have chosen it or one very +similar. The intellectual dependence of America upon England at that +period is something that it is now hard to understand. Political +supremacy had been cast off, but the supremacy of opinion remained +absolutely unshaken. Of creative literature there was then very little +of any value produced: and to that little a foreign stamp was +necessary, to give currency outside of the petty circle in which it +originated. There was slight encouragement for the author to write; +there was still less for the publisher to print. It was indeed a +positive injury ordinarily to the commercial credit of a bookseller to +bring out a volume of poetry or of prose fiction which had been +written by an American; for it was almost certain to fail to pay +expenses. A sort of critical literature was struggling, or rather +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page019" name="page019"></a>(p. 019)</span> +gasping, for a life that was hardly worth living; for its most +marked characteristic was its servile deference to English judgment +and dread of English censure. It requires a painful and penitential +examination of the reviews of the period to comprehend the utter +abasement of mind with which the men of that day accepted the foreign +estimate upon works written here, which had been read by themselves, +but which it was clear had not been read by the critics whose opinions +they echoed. Even the meekness with which they submitted to the most +depreciatory estimate of themselves was outdone by the anxiety with +which they hurried to assure the world that they, the most cultivated +of the American race, did not presume to have so high an opinion of +the writings of some one of their countrymen as had been expressed by +enthusiasts, whose patriotism had proved too much for their +discernment. Never was any class so eager to free itself from charges +that imputed to it the presumption of holding independent views of its +own. Out of the intellectual character of many of those who at that +day pretended to be the representatives of the highest education in +this country, it almost seemed that the element of manliness had been +wholly eliminated; and that along with its sturdy democracy, whom no +obstacles thwarted and no dangers daunted, the New World was also to +give birth to a race of literary cowards and parasites. With such a +state of feeling prevalent, a work of fiction that concerned America +might seem to have small chance of success with Americans themselves. +It would not, therefore, have been strange, under any circumstances, +that in beginning his career as an author Cooper should have chosen to +write a tale of English social life. The fact +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page020" name="page020"></a>(p. 020)</span> +that he knew +personally nothing about what he was describing was in itself no +insuperable objection. That ignorance was then and has since been +shared by many novelists on both sides of the water, who have treated +of the same subject. Relying upon English precedent, he might in fact +feel that he was peculiarly fitted for the task. He had cruised a few +times up and down the British channel, he had caught limited views of +British manners and customs by walking on several occasions the length +of Fleet Street and the Strand. Knowledge of America equivalent to +this would then have been regarded in England as an ample equipment +for an accurate treatise upon the social life of this country, and +even upon its existing political condition and probable future.</p> + +<p>But much more than the choice of a foreign subject did the pretense of +foreign authorship prove the servility of feeling prevailing at that +time among the educated classes. This was in the first place, to be +sure, the result of the freak that led Cooper originally to begin +writing a novel; but it was a freak that would never have been carried +out, after publication had been decided upon, had he not been fully +aware of the fact that the least recommendation of a book to his +countrymen would be the knowledge that it was composed by one of +themselves. "Precaution" was not merely a tale of English social life, +it purported to be written by an Englishman; and it was so thoroughly +conformed to its imaginary model that it not only reėchoed the cant of +English expression, but likewise the expression of English cant. To +talk about dissenters and the establishment was natural and proper +enough in a work written ostensibly by the citizen of a country in +which there was a state church. But Cooper went much farther than +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page021" name="page021"></a>(p. 021)</span> +this in the reflections and moral observations which are +scattered up and down the pages of this novel. These represent fairly +views widely held at the time in America, and may not impossibly +express the personal opinions he himself then entertained. He speaks +in one place, in his assumed character of an Englishman, of the +solidity and purity of our ethics as giving a superior tone to our +moral feelings as contrasted with the French. He goes out of his way +to compliment George III. One of the personages in the novel was +tempted to admit something to his credit that he did not deserve. The +love of truth, however, finally prevailed. But it was not because the +man himself had any innate love of truth, but because "he had been too +much round the person of our beloved monarch not to retain all the +impressions of his youth." Passages such as these are remarkable when +we consider the sentiments in regard to England that Cooper +subsequently came to express. If they do not show with certainty his +opinions at that time, they do show the school in which he had been +brought up: they mark clearly the extent and violence of the reaction +which in after years carried him to the opposite extreme.</p> + +<p>In its plan and development "Precaution" was a compromise between the +purely fashionable novel and that collection of moral disquisitions of +which Hannah More's Cœlebs was the great exemplar, and still +remained the most popular representative. As in most tales of high +life, nobody of low condition plays a prominent part in the story, +save for the purpose of setting off the dukes, earls, baronets, +generals, and colonels that throng its pages. A novelist in his first +production never limits his creative activity in any respect; and +Cooper, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page022" name="page022"></a>(p. 022)</span> +moreover, knew the public well enough to be aware +that a fictitious narrative which aimed to describe aristocratic +society might perhaps succeed without much literary merit, but would +be certain to fail without an abundance of lords. The leading +characters, however, whether of higher or lower degree, are planned +upon the moral model. They either preach or furnish awful examples. It +would certainly be most unfair to an author to judge him, as in this +case, by a work which he had begun without any view to publication, +and which he afterward learned to think and to speak of slightingly. +Still, though, compared with many of his writings, "Precaution" is a +novel of little worth, it is, in some respects, a better guide to the +knowledge of the man than his better productions. The latter give +evidence of his powers; in this are shown certain limitations of his +nature and beliefs. Peculiarities, both of thought and feeling, which +in his other writings are merely suggested, are here clearly revealed. +Some of them will appear strange to those whose conception of his +character is derived from facts connected with his later life, or +whose acquaintance with his works is limited to those most celebrated.</p> + +<p>Cooper was, by nature, a man of deep religious feeling. This +disposition had been strengthened by his training. But there is +something more than deep religious feeling exhibited in his first +novel. There runs through it a vein of pietistic narrowness, which +seems particularly unsuited to the man whom popular imagination, +investing him somewhat with the characteristics of his own creations, +has depicted as a ranger of the forests and a rover of the seas. Yet +the existence of this vein is plainly apparent, though all his +surroundings would +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page023" name="page023"></a>(p. 023)</span> +seem to have been unfavorable to its +birth and development. He shared, to its fullest extent, in the +jealousy which at that time, far more than now, prevailed between the +Middle States and New England. He was strongly attached to the +Episcopal Church, and he had, or fancied he had, a keen dislike to the +Puritans and their manners and creeds. To these "religionists," as he +was wont to call them, he attributed a great deal that was ungraceful +in American life, and a good deal that was disgraceful. But the +Puritan element is an irrepressible and undying one in English +character. It can be found centuries before it became the designation +of a religious body. It can be traced, under various and varying +appellations, through every period of English history. It is not the +name of a sect, it is not the mark of a creed; it is the +characteristic of a race. It is, therefore, never long put under ban +before it comes back, and takes its turn in ruling manners and +society. The revolt against it in the eighteenth century had stripped +from religion everything in the shape of sentiment, and left it merely +a business. The reaction which brought the Puritan element again to +the front was so intensified by hostility to what were called French +principles that the minor literature of the latter half of the reign +of George III. exhibits a cant of intolerance from which many of its +greatest writers were rarely great enough to be wholly free. This +influence is clearly visible in the earliest work of Cooper. There is +no charge, probably, he would have denied sooner or disliked more, but +in his nature he was essentially a Puritan of the Puritans. Their +faults and their virtues, their inconsistencies and their +contradictions, were his. Their earnestness, their intensity, their +narrowness, their intolerance, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page024" name="page024"></a>(p. 024)</span> +their pugnacity, their +serious way of looking at human duties and responsibilities, all these +elements corresponded with elements in his own character. His, also, +were their lofty ideas of personal purity and of personal obligation, +extending not merely to the acts of the life, but to the thoughts of +the heart. Like them, moreover, he was always disposed to appeal +directly to the authority of the Supreme Being. Like them, he had +perfect confidence in the absolute knowledge he possessed of what that +Being thought and wished. Like them, he considered any controverted +question as settled, if he could once bring to bear upon the point in +dispute a text beginning, "Thus saith the Lord." No rational creature, +certainly, would think of contesting a view of the Creator, or acting +contrary to a command coming unmistakably from Him. But at this very +point the difficulty begins; and in nothing did Cooper more resemble +the Puritans than in his incapacity to see that there was any +difficulty at all. It never occurred to him that there might possibly +be a vast difference between what the Lord actually said and what +James Fenimore Cooper thought the Lord said. It is hardly necessary to +add, however, that this characteristic of mind has its advantages as +well as disadvantages.</p> + +<p>It was not unnatural, accordingly, that "Precaution" should exemplify +in many cases that narrowness of view which seeks to shape narrow +rules for the conduct of life. For its sympathy with this, one of the +most distinguishing and disagreeable features of Puritanism, the novel +has an interest which could never be aroused by it as a work of art. +Extreme sentiments are often expressed by the author in his own +person, though they are usually put into the mouths of various actors +in the story. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page025" name="page025"></a>(p. 025)</span> +Their especial representative is a certain +Mrs. Wilson, who was clearly a great favorite of her creator, though +to the immense majority of men she would seem as disagreeably +strong-minded as most of Cooper's female characters are disagreeably +weak-minded. This lady is the widow of a general officer, who, the +reader comes heartily to feel, has, most fortunately for himself, +fallen in the Peninsular war. From her supreme height of morality she +sweeps the whole horizon of human frailties and faults, and looks down +with a relentless eye upon the misguided creatures who are struggling +with temptations to which she is superior, or are under the sway of +beliefs whose folly or falsity she has long since penetrated. In her, +indeed, there is no weak compromise with human feelings. The lesson +meant to be taught by the novel is the necessity of taking precaution +in regard to marriage. One point insisted upon again and again is the +requirement of piety in the husband. It is the duty of a Christian +mother to guard against a connection with any one but a Christian for +her daughters: for throughout the whole work the sovereign right of +the parent over the child is not merely implied, it is directly +asserted. "No really pious woman," says Mrs. Wilson, "can be happy +unless her husband is in what she deems the road to future happiness +herself." When she is met by the remark that the carrying out of this +idea would give a deadly blow to matrimony, she rises to the occasion +by replying that "no man who dispassionately examines the subject will +be other than a Christian, and rather than remain bachelors they would +take even that trouble." Nor in this was the author apparently +expressing an opinion which he did not himself hold in theory, however +little he might have regarded +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page026" name="page026"></a>(p. 026)</span> +it in practice. He takes up +the same subject in another place, when speaking in his own person. +"Would our daughters," he says, "admire a handsome deist, if properly +impressed with the horror of his doctrines, sooner than they would now +admire a handsome Mohammedan?" On the matter of Sunday observance the +narrowest tenets of Puritanism were preached, and the usual ignorance +was manifested that there were two sides to the question. Some of the +incidents connected with this subject are curious. One of the better +characters in the novel asks his wife to ride out on that day, and she +reluctantly consents. This brings at once upon the stage the +inevitable Mrs. Wilson, who always stands ready to point a moral, +though she can hardly be said to adorn the tale. She draws from the +transaction the lesson that it is a warning against marrying a person +with a difference of views. In this particular instance the respect of +the man for religion had been injurious to his wife, because "had he +been an open deist, she would have shrunk from the act in his company +on suspicion of its sinfulness." It is justice to add that many of +these extreme opinions, at least in the extreme form stated in this +work, the author came finally to outgrow if in fact he held them +seriously then.</p> + +<p>There are certain other peculiarities of Cooper's beliefs that +"Precaution" exemplifies. He has been constantly criticised for the +unvarying and uninteresting uniformity of his female characters. This +is hardly just; but it is just in the sense that there was only one +type which he ever held up to admiration. Others were introduced, but +they were never the kind of women whom he delighted to honor. Of +female purity he had the highest ideal. Deference for the female sex +as a sex +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page027" name="page027"></a>(p. 027)</span> +he felt sincerely and expressed strongly. Along +with this he seemed to have the most contemptible opinion of the +ability of the female individual to take care of herself. On the other +hand, if she had the requisite ability, the greater became his +contempt; for helplessness, in his eyes, was apparently her chiefest +charm. The Emily Moseley of his first novel is the prototype of a long +line of heroines, whose combination of propriety and incapacity places +them at the farthest possible remove from the heroic. She is worthy of +special mention here, only because in this novel he describes in +detail the desirable qualities, which in the others are simply +implied. He furnishes us, moreover, with the precise training to which +she had been subjected by her aunt, Mrs. Wilson. Accordingly, we learn +both what, in Cooper's eyes, it was incumbent for a woman to be, and +what she ought to go through in order to be that woman. A few +sentences taken at random will show the character of this heroine. She +was artless, but intelligent; she was cheerful, but pious; she was +familiar with all the attainments suitable to her sex and years. Her +time was dedicated to work which had a tendency to qualify her for the +duties of this life and fit her for the life hereafter. She seldom +opened a book unless in search of information. She never read one that +contained a sentiment dangerous to her morals, or inculcated an +opinion improper for her sex. She never permitted a gentleman to ride +with her, to walk with her, to hold with her a tźte-ą-tźte. Nor was +this result achieved with difficulty. Though she was natural and +unaffected, the simple dignity about her was sufficient to forbid any +such request, or even any such thought in the men who had the +pleasure, or, as the reader +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page028" name="page028"></a>(p. 028)</span> +may think, the grief, of her +acquaintance. In short, she was not merely propriety personified; she +was propriety magnified and intensified. This particular heroine, who +could not consistently have read the book in which her own conduct is +described, finally disappears as the wife of an equally remarkable +earl. Her story, as it is told, however, strikingly exemplifies the +carelessness in working up details which is one of Cooper's marked +defects. The novel received its name, as has already been implied, +because it aimed to set forth the desirability of precaution in the +choice of husband or wife. What it actually taught, however, was its +undesirability. The misunderstandings, the crosses, the distresses, to +which the lovers were subjected in the tale all sprang from excess of +care, and not from lack of it; from exercising precaution where +precaution did nothing but harm.</p> + +<p>The work excited but little attention in this country. In the +following year it was printed in England by Colburn, and was there +noticed without the slightest suspicion of its American authorship. In +some quarters it received fairly favorable mention. It could not be +hid, however, that the novel, as regarded the general public, had been +a failure. Still, it was not so much a failure that the author's +friends did not think well of it and see promise in it. They urged him +to renewed exertions. He had tried the experiment of depicting scenes +he had never witnessed, and a life he had never led. He had, in their +opinion, succeeded fairly well in describing what he knew nothing +about; they were anxious that he should try his hand at the +representation of manners and men of which and whom he knew something. +Especially was it made a matter of reproach that he, in heart +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page029" name="page029"></a>(p. 029)</span> +and soul an American of the Americans, should have gone to a +foreign land to fill the imagination of his countrymen with pictures +of a social state alien both in feeling and fact to their own. This +was an appeal of a kind that was certain to touch Cooper sensibly; for +with him love of country was not a sentiment, it was a passion. As a +sort of atonement, therefore, for his first work, he determined to +inflict, as he phrased it, a second one upon the world. Against this +there should be no objection on the score of patriotism. He naturally +turned for his subject to the Revolution, with the details of which he +was familiar by his acquaintance with the men who had shared +prominently in its conduct, and had felt all the keenness of a +personal triumph in its success. The very county, moreover, in which +he had made his home was full of recollections. Westchester had been +the neutral ground between the English forces stationed in New York +and the American army encamped in the highlands of the Hudson. Upon it +more, perhaps, than upon any other portion of the soil of the revolted +colonies had fallen the curse of war in its heaviest form. Back and +forth over a large part of it had perpetually ebbed and flowed the +tide of battle. Not a road was there which had not been swept again +and again by columns of infantry or squadrons of horse. Every thicket +had been the hiding-place of refugees or spies; every wood or meadow +had been the scene of a skirmish; and every house that had survived +the struggle had its tale to tell of thrilling scenes that had taken +place within its walls. These circumstances determined Cooper's choice +of the place and period. Years before, while at the residence of John +Jay, his host had given him, one summer afternoon, the account of a +spy that had +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page030" name="page030"></a>(p. 030)</span> +been in his service during the war. The +coolness, shrewdness, fearlessness, but above all the unselfish +patriotism, of the man had profoundly impressed the Revolutionary +leader who had employed him. The story made an equally deep impression +upon Cooper at the time. He now resolved to take it as the foundation +of the tale he had been persuaded to write. The result was that on the +22d of December, 1821, the novel of "The Spy" was quietly advertised +in the New York papers as on that day published.</p> + +<p>The reader, however, would receive a very wrong idea of the feelings +with which the author began and ended this work of fiction, should he +stop short with the account that has just been given. The +circumstances attending its composition and publication are, as a +matter of fact, almost as remarkable as the story itself. They +certainly present a most suggestive picture of the literary state of +America at that time. Cooper, for his part, had not the slightest +anticipation of the effect that it was going to have upon his future. +In writing it he was carrying out the wishes of his friends full as +much as his own. Nor, apparently, did they urge the course upon him +because they conceived him capable of accomplishing anything very +great or even very good. They felt that he could produce something +that was not discreditable, and that was all that could reasonably be +expected of an American. There was no other novelist in the field. +Charles Brockden Brown had been dead several years. Irving and +Paulding were writing only short sketches. John Neal, indeed, in +addition to the poems, tragedies, reviews, newspaper articles, +indexes, and histories he was turning out by wholesale, had likewise +perpetrated a novel; but it was never known enough +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page031" name="page031"></a>(p. 031)</span> +to justify the mention of it as having been forgotten. Here, +consequently, was a vacant place that ought to be filled. Cooper was +never the man who would be eager to take a place because there was no +one else to occupy it; and the way he went at the task he had +undertaken gives indirectly a clear insight into an American author's +feelings sixty years ago. He entered upon the work not merely without +the expectation of success, but almost without the hope of it. The +novel was written very hastily; the sheets passed into the hands of +the type-setter with scarcely a correction; and so little heart had he +in the task that the first volume was printed several months before he +felt any inducement to write a line of the second. The propriety of +abandoning it entirely, under the apprehension of its proving a +serious loss, was debated. "Should chance," he said, in a later +introduction to the book, "throw a copy of this prefatory notice into +the hands of an American twenty years hence, he will smile to think +that a countryman hesitated to complete a work so far advanced, merely +because the disposition of the country to read a book that treated of +its own familiar interests was distrusted." In this respect the +difficulty of his position was made more prominent by its contrast +with that of the great novelist who was then occupying the attention +of the English-speaking world. Scott, in writing "Waverley," could +take for granted that there lay behind him an intense feeling of +nationality, which would show itself not in noisy boastfulness, but in +genuine appreciation; that with the matter of his work his countrymen +would sympathize, whatever might be their opinion as to its execution. +No such supposition could be made by Cooper; no such belief inspired +him to exertion. He +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page032" name="page032"></a>(p. 032)</span> +might hope to create interest; he could +not venture to assume its existence. One other incident connected with +the composition of this work marks even more plainly the almost +despairing attitude of his mind. While the second volume was slowly +printing, he received an intimation from his publisher that the work +might grow to a length that would endanger the profits. The author +hereupon adopted a course which is itself a proof of how much stranger +is fact than fiction. To placate the publisher and set his mind at +rest, the last chapter was written, printed, and paged, not merely +before the intervening chapters had been composed, but before they had +been fully conceived. It was fair to expect failure for a work which +no bookseller had been found willing to undertake at his own risk, and +which the author himself set about in a manner so perfunctory. The +indifference and carelessness displayed, he said afterward, were +disrespectful to the public and unjust to himself; yet they give, as +nothing else could, a vivid picture of the literary situation in +America at that time.</p> + +<p>The reluctance and half-heartedness with which Cooper began and +completed this work stand, indeed, in sharpest contrast to the +existing state of feeling, when it is only the prayers of friends and +the tears of relatives that can prevent most of us from publishing +some novel we have already written. But almost as it were by accident +he had struck into the vein best fitted for the display of his natural +powers. In it he succeeded with little effort, where other men with +the greatest effort might have failed. The delicate distinctions that +underlie character where social pressure has given to all the same +outside, it was not his to depict. Still less could +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page033" name="page033"></a>(p. 033)</span> +he +unfold the subtle workings of motives that often elude the observation +of the very persons whom they most influence. Such a power is +essential to the success of him who seeks to delineate men as seen in +conventional society; and largely for the lack of it his first novel +had been a failure. It was only at rare intervals, also, that he +showed that precision of style and pointed method of statement which, +independent of the subject, interest the reader in men and things that +are not in themselves interesting. It was the story of adventure, +using adventure in its broadest sense, that he was fitted to tell: and +fortunately for him Walter Scott, then in the very height of his +popularity, had made it supremely fashionable. In this it is only +needful to draw character in bold outlines; to represent men not under +the influence of motives that hold sway in artificial and complex +society, but as breathed upon by those common airs of reflection and +swept hither and thither by those common gales of passion that operate +upon us all as members of the race. It is not the personality of the +actors to which the attention is supremely drawn, though even in that +there is ample field for the exhibition of striking characterization. +It is the events that carry us along; it is the catastrophe to which +they are hurrying that excites the feelings and absorbs the thoughts. +There can be no greater absurdity than to speak of this kind of story, +as is sometimes done, as being inferior in itself to those devoted +exclusively to the delineation of manners or character, or even of the +subtler motives which act upon the heart and life. As well might one +say that the "Iliad" is a poem of inferior type to the "Excursion." +Again, it is only those who think it must be easy to write what it is +easy to read who +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page034" name="page034"></a>(p. 034)</span> +will fall into the mistake of fancying that +a novel of adventure which has vitality enough to live does not owe +its existence to the arduous, though it may be largely unconscious, +exercise of high creative power. No better correction for this error +can be found than in looking over the names of the countless imitators +of Scott, some of them distinguished in other fields, who have made so +signal a failure that even the very fact that they attempted to +imitate him at all has been wholly forgotten.</p> + +<p>"The Spy" appeared almost at the very close of 1821. It was not long +before its success was assured. Early in 1822 the newspapers were able +to assert that it had met with a sale unprecedented in the annals of +American literature. What that phrase meant is partly indicated by the +fact that it had then been found necessary to publish a second +edition. In March a third edition was put to the press; and in the +same month the story was dramatized and acted with the greatest +success. Still in the abject dependence upon foreign estimate which +was the preėminent characteristic of a large portion of the educated +class of that day, many felt constrained to wait for the judgment that +would come back from Europe before they could venture to express an +opinion which they had the presumption to call their own. Contemporary +newspapers more than once mention the relief that was afforded to many +when Cooper was spoken of in several of the English journals as "a +distinguished American novelist." This, it has been implied, was then +a condition of the public mind that no writer could dare wholly to +disregard. When the project of abandoning this novel, already half +printed, was under discussion, the principal reason that finally +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page035" name="page035"></a>(p. 035)</span> +decided the author to persevere was the fact that his previous +work had received a respectful notice in a few English periodicals. It +was thought, in consequence, that in his new venture he would be +secure from loss. Still, it is due to his countrymen to say that it +was to them alone he owed his first success. In later years the +declaration was often made that he would never have been held in honor +at home, had it not been for foreign approbation. The assertion he +himself indignantly denied. "This work," he said afterward, in +speaking of "The Spy," "most of you received with a generous welcome +that might have satisfied any one that the heart of this great +community is sound." Certain it is that the success of the novel was +assured in America some time before the character of its reception in +Europe was known.</p> + +<p>The printed volume was offered to the London publisher Murray, and for +terms he was referred to Irving, who was then in England. Murray gave +the novel for examination to Gifford, the editor of the "Quarterly." +By his advice it was declined,--a result that might easily have been +foretold from the hostility of the man to this country. He had made +his review an organ of the most persistent depreciation and abuse of +America and everything American. A new writer from this side of the +ocean was little likely to meet with any favor in his sight, +especially when his subject was one that from its very nature could +not be flattering to British prejudices. Murray having refused, +another publisher was found in Miller, who had also been the first to +bring out Irving's "Sketch Book." Early in 1822 the work appeared in +England. There its success was full as great as it had been in +America. This novel, in +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page036" name="page036"></a>(p. 036)</span> +fact, made Cooper's reputation both +at home and abroad. It is important to bear this in mind, because it +is a common notion that it was his delineations of Indian life that +brought him his European fame. They established it, but they did not +originate it. "The Spy" was a tale of a war, which in character was +not essentially different from any other war. So far as the story +painted the incidents of a struggle in which the English had been +unsuccessful, it could have no right to expect favor from the English +public unless there was merit in the execution of the work independent +of the subject. The interest with which it was read by a people who +could not fail to find portions of it disagreeable, who were moreover +accustomed to look with contempt upon everything of American origin, +was the best proof that a novelist had arisen whose reputation would +stretch beyond the narrow limits of nationality. This was even more +strikingly seen, when it came to be translated. If the English opinion +was favorable, the French might fairly be called enthusiastic. A +version was made into that tongue in the summer of 1822, by the +translator of the Waverley Novels. In the absolute ignorance that +existed as to its authorship, the work was ascribed by several of the +Parisian papers to Fanny Wright, who subsequently achieved a fame of +her own as a champion of woman's privileges and denouncer of woman's +wrongs. In spite of its anonymous character and of some extraordinary +blunders in translation, it was warmly received in France. From that +country its reputation in no long space of time spread in every +direction; translations followed one after another into all the +cultivated tongues of modern Europe; and in all it met the same degree +of favor. Nor has lapse of time shaken seriously its +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page037" name="page037"></a>(p. 037)</span> +popularity. The career of success, which began sixty years ago, has +suffered vicissitudes, but never suspension; and to this hour, +whatever fault may be found with the work as a whole, the name of +Harvey Birch is still one of the best known in fiction. No tale +produced during the present century has probably had so extensive a +circulation; and the leading character in it has found admirers +everywhere and at times imitators. Of this latter statement a striking +illustration is given in the memoirs of Gisquet, a prefect of the +French police under Louis Philippe. In his chapter on the secret +agents employed by him during his administration, he tells the story +of one who by the information he imparted rendered important services +in preventing the outbreak of civil war. He thus describes the motives +which led the man to pursue the course he did. "Struck with the +reading," he writes, "of one of Cooper's novels called 'The Spy,' he +aspired to the sort of ambition which distinguished the hero of that +work, and was desirous of playing in France the part which Cooper has +assigned to Harvey Birch during the American war of independence.... +Harvey Birch--for he adopted this name in all his reports--never +belied his professions of fidelity. He rendered services which would +have merited a competent fortune; but when the term of them ended, he +contented himself with asking for a humble employment, barely enough +to supply his daily necessities." The belief in the reality of the +hero has, indeed, been part of the singular fortune of the book. In +his account of Nicaragua, published in 1852, Mr. E. G. Squier +furnished incidentally interesting testimony to the truth of this +statement as well as to the wide circulation of the tale itself. At La +Union, the port of San Miguel, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page038" name="page038"></a>(p. 038)</span> +he stayed at the house of the +commandant of the place. His apartments he found well stocked with +books, and among them was this particular novel. "The 'Espy,'" he went +on to say, "of the lamented Cooper, I may mention, seems to be better +known in Spanish America than any other work in the English language. +I found it everywhere; and when I subsequently visited the Indian +pueblo of Conchagua, the first alcalde produced it from an obscure +corner of the cahildo, as a very great treasure. He regarded it as +veritable history, and thought 'Seńor Birch' a most extraordinary +personage and a model guerillero."</p> + + + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER III. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page039" name="page039"></a>(p. 039)</span></h2> + +<h3>1822-1826.</h3> + + +<p>Cooper would have been more or less than mortal if the unexpected +success achieved by "The Spy" had not incited him to renewed effort. +It definitely determined his career, though at the time he did not +know it. As yet he was not sure in his own mind whether the favor his +book had met was the result of a lucky hit or was due to the display +of actual power. There can be no question as to the honesty of his +assertion when he published his third novel, that it depended upon +certain contingencies whether it would not be the last. But from this +time on he wrote incessantly. From 1820 to 1830, including both years, +he brought out eleven works. In many respects this was the happiest +period of his literary life as well as the most successful. During it +he produced many of his greatest creations. One decided failure he +made; but with this exception if each new story did not seem to +exhibit any new power, it at least gave no sign of weakness, or +misdirection of energy. This period is in fact so supremely the +creative one of Cooper's life as regards the conception of character +and scene that nearly all he did demands careful examination.</p> + +<p>He first set about a task that lay near his heart. This was to +describe the scenes, the manners and customs of his native land, +especially of the frontier life in which +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page040" name="page040"></a>(p. 040)</span> +he had been +trained. In 1823, accordingly, appeared "The Pioneers," itself the +pioneer of the five famous stories, which now go collectively under +the name of the "Leather-Stocking Tales." It was a vivid and faithful +picture of the sights he had seen and the men he had met in the home +of his childhood, where as a boy he had witnessed the struggles which +attend the conquest of man over nature. In it appear in comparatively +rude outlines the personages whose names and exploits his pen was +afterwards to make famous throughout the civilized world. They are in +this work of a far less lofty type than in those which followed. "The +Pioneers," in truth, though not a poor story, is much the poorest of +the series of which it forms a part. The almost loving interest he +took in the matter about which he was writing tempted the author to +indulge his recollections at the expense of his judgment. His first +novel, he said in the prefatory address to the publisher which +appeared in this one, had been written to show that he could write a +grave tale, and it was so grave that no one would read it; the second +was written to overcome if possible the neglect of the public; but the +third was written exclusively to please himself. The story as a story +suffered in consequence from the very fascination which the subject +had for his mind. So subordinate was it made, especially in the first +half, to the description of the scenes, that the details at times +become wearisome and the interest often flags.</p> + +<p>The expectation with which the appearance of this work was awaited is +a striking proof of the impression that the previous novel had made. +It was to have been brought out as early as the autumn of 1822. But +during the summer of that year the yellow fever ravaged New +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page041" name="page041"></a>(p. 041)</span> +York and largely broke up for a time all kinds of business, including +printing. Causes beyond control still further delayed the publication, +and it was not until the first of February, 1823, that the book +appeared. The public curiosity, however, had been fully excited. +Extracts from it--according to a custom then prevalent in England--had +been furnished in advance to some of the newspapers, and though these +were not the most striking passages, they served to direct attention +and awaken expectation. At the close of January, announcement of the +precise date of publication was made. Success was certain from the +start; but the degree of it outran all anticipation. The evening +papers of the first of February were able to state that up to twelve +o'clock that day there had been sold three thousand five hundred +copies. Even at this period, with a population more than five times as +numerous, such a half day's sale, under similar circumstances, would +be remarkable. It is little wonder, therefore, that the newspapers of +that period felt that only largeness of type and profusion of +exclamation points could suitably record such a success.</p> + +<p>"The Pioneers" was the first work to display a peculiarity of the +author's character, which came afterwards into marked prominence. +Cooper in a sense belonged to the school of Scott; and he was so far +from denying it that in one place he speaks of himself as being +nothing more than a chip from the former's block. But his life would +have been far happier and his success much greater had he followed in +one respect the example of him he called his master. Scott ordinarily +did not read criticisms upon his own writings; and when he did, he was +careful not to let his equanimity be seriously disturbed +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page042" name="page042"></a>(p. 042)</span> +even by the severest attacks. Much of this was no doubt due to +prudence; but a good deal of it to contempt. For of all the rubbish +that time shoots into the wallet of oblivion, contemporary criticism +runs about the least chance of being rescued from the forgetfulness +into which it has been thrust. This is a result entirely independent +of its goodness or badness. If the criticism is both destructive and +just, the very death of the subject against which it is directed +causes it to perish in the ruin it has brought about. If it is unjust, +it is certain to be speedily forgotten, unless he who suffers from it +takes the pains to perpetuate its memory, or some later investigator +drags it from its obscurity for the sake of pointing out its +absurdity. The creative literature of the past is the utmost the +present can be expected to read. Its critical literature, however +celebrated in its day, is looked upon with contempt, or at best with a +patronizing approval, by the following age, which is always confident +that it at least has reached the supreme standard of correct taste, +and asks no aid in making up its judgments from those who have gone +before. But the philosophy which shows this to be true never lessened +one iota the pain which the man of sensitive nature suffers. The +extent to which Cooper was affected by hostile criticism is something +remarkable, even in the irritable race of authors. He manifested under +it the irascibility of a man not simply thin-skinned, but of one whose +skin was raw. Meekness was never a distinguishing characteristic of +his nature; and attack invariably stung him into defiance or +counter-attack. Unfriendly insinuations contained in obscure journals +could goad him into remarks upon them, or into a reply to them, which +at this date is the only means +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page043" name="page043"></a>(p. 043)</span> +of preserving the original +charge. It was in his prefaces that he was apt to express his +resentment most warmly, for he well knew that this was the one part of +a book which the reviewer is absolutely certain to read. In these he +frequently took occasion to point out to the generation of critical +vipers the various offenses of which they were guilty, the stupidities +that seemed to belong to their very nature, and that utter lack of +literary skill which prevented them from giving a look of sense to the +most plausible nonsense they concocted. By Cooper, indeed, the preface +was looked upon not as a place to conciliate the reader, but to hurl +scorn at the reviewer. In his hands it became a trumpet from which he +blew from time to time critic-defying strains, which more than made up +in vigor for all they lacked in prudence. This characteristic was +early manifested. In the short preface to the second edition of "The +Spy," he could not refrain from referring to the friends who had given +him good advice, and who had favored him with numberless valuable +hints, by the help of which the work might be made excellent. But it +is the letter to the publisher, with which "The Pioneers" originally +opened, that was the first of his regular warlike manifestoes. Though +not very long, two thirds of it was devoted to the men who had +publicly found fault with his previous works. He pointed out their +discrepancies in taste and the metaphysical obscurity of their +opinions. At the conclusion he wrote a sentence which some of them +never forgot. He told his publisher that to him alone he should look +for the only true account of the reception of his book. "The critics," +said he in continuation, "may write as obscurely as they please, and +look much wiser than they are; the papers may puff and abuse +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page044" name="page044"></a>(p. 044)</span> +as their changeful humors dictate; but if you meet me with a smiling +face I shall at once know that all is essentially well."</p> + +<p>Little notice, however, was taken at the time of Cooper's preference +of the public opinion which showed itself in buying his books, to that +which made it its chief aim to teach him how they ought to be written. +The country was too pleased with him and too proud of him to pay any +special attention to these momentary ebullitions of dissatisfaction. +On his part so great had now become his literary activity, that before +"The Pioneers" was published he had set to work upon a new novel, of a +kind of which he can justly be described as the creator, and in which +he was to be followed by a host of imitators.</p> + +<p>At a dinner party in New York in 1822, at which Cooper was present, +the authorship of the Waverley Novels, still a matter of some +uncertainty, came up for discussion. In December of the preceding year +"The Pirate" had been published. The incidents in this story were +brought forward as a proof of the thorough familiarity with sea-life +of him, whoever he was, that had written it. Such familiarity Scott +had never had the opportunity to gain in the only way it could be +gained. It followed, therefore, that the tale was not of his +composition. Cooper, who had never doubted the authorship of these +novels, did not at all share in this view. The very reasons that made +others feel uncertain led him to be confident. To one like him whose +early life had been spent on top-gallant yards and in becketing +royals, it was perfectly clear that "The Pirate" was the work of a +landsman and not of a sailor. Not that he denied the accuracy of the +descriptions so far as they went. The point +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page045" name="page045"></a>(p. 045)</span> +that he made was +that with the same materials far greater effects could and would have +been produced, had the author possessed that intimate familiarity with +ocean-life which can be his alone whose home for years has been upon +the waves. He could not convince his opponents by argument. He +consequently determined to convince them by writing a sea-story.</p> + +<p>We who are familiar with the countless hosts of novels of this nature +that have swarmed and are still swarming from the press, cannot +realize the apparent peril which at that time existed in this +undertaking. No work of the kind, such as he now projected, had ever +yet been published. Sailors, indeed, had been introduced into fiction, +notably by Smollett, but in no case had there been exhibited the +handling and movements of vessels, and the details of naval +operations. During the last half-century we have been so surfeited +with the sea-story in every form, that most of us have forgotten the +fact of its late origin, and that it is to Cooper that it owes its +creation. That he created it was not due to any encouragement from +others. He had plenty of judicious friends to warn him from the +undertaking. Sailors, he was told, might understand and appreciate it, +but no one else would. Minute detail, moreover, was necessary to +render it intelligible to seamen, and to landsmen it would be both +unintelligible and uninteresting on account of the technicalities +which must inevitably be found in minute detail. A reputation already +well established would be sunk in the treacherous element he was +purposing to describe. Cooper persisted in his purpose, but he could +not fail to be disturbed by the unfavorable auguries that met him on +every side. These naturally had the more weight, as they came from men +who <span class="pagenum"><a id="page046" name="page046"></a>(p. 046)</span> +were attached to him personally, and who were honestly +solicitous for his fame. He was at one time almost inclined to give up +the project. But a critical English friend to whom he submitted a +portion of the manuscript was delighted with it. In this man's +judgment and taste Cooper felt so great confidence that he was induced +to persevere. Moreover, to try the effect upon the more peculiar +public of seamen, he read an extract to one of his old shipmates, who +was also a relative. This was the account of the war-vessel working +off shore in a gale. The selection was certainly a happy one. The +literature of the sea presents no more thrilling chapter than that +which, describing the passage of the great frigate through the narrow +channel, gives every detail with such vividness and power that the +most unimaginative cannot merely see ship, shore, and foaming water, +but almost hear the roaring of the wind, the creaking of the cordage, +and the dashing of the waves against the breakers. As he read on the +listener's interest kept growing until he was no longer able to remain +quiet. Rising from his seat he paced up and down the room furiously +until the chapter was finished. Then half ashamed of the excitement +into which he had been betrayed, he avenged himself just as if he were +a professional reviewer by indulging in a bit of special criticism: +"It's all very well," he burst out, "but you have let your jib stand +too long, my fine fellow." For once Cooper heeded advice. "I blew it +out of the bolt-rope," said he, "in pure spite;" and blown out of the +bolt-rope the jib appears in the tale.</p> + +<p>He now felt reasonably confident of success, and any doubt that might +have lingered in his mind was at once swept away by the favorable +reception the work met when +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page047" name="page047"></a>(p. 047)</span> +it came out. Its publication was +for a while delayed. Early in the summer of 1823 the first volume had +been finished and a portion of the second, but any further progress +was checked for the time by an affliction that then befell the author. +On the 5th of August his youngest child, Fenimore, then little less +than two years old, died at the family residence in Beach Street, New +York, and this calamity was followed by illness of his own. "The +Pilot," in consequence, though bearing the date of 1823, was not +actually furnished to the trade until the 7th of January, 1824. Its +success, both in this country and in Europe, was instantaneous. +Far-sighted men saw at once that a new realm had been added to the +domain of fiction. "The Pilot" is indeed not only the first of +Cooper's sea-stories in point of time, but if we regard exclusively +the excellence of detached scenes, it may perhaps be justly styled the +best of them all. At any rate its place in the highest rank of this +species of fiction cannot be disputed, and in spite of the multitude +of similar works that have followed in its wake and which have had +their seasons of temporary popularity, its hold upon the public has +never been lost.</p> + +<p>Cooper was without question exceptionally fortunate in the materials +with which he had to deal. He was never under the necessity of getting +up with infinite toil what the modern novelist terms his local +coloring. This existed for him ready made. He had only to call to mind +the men he had himself met, the hazards he had run, the life he had +lived, to be furnished with all the incidents and scenes and +characters that were capable of being wrought into romance. His +descriptions both of forest and of sea have all that vividness and +reality which cannot well be given save by him who has threaded +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page048" name="page048"></a>(p. 048)</span> +at will every maze of the one and tossed for week after week upon +the billows of the other. Moreover, in this particular case, while he +satisfied his patriotic feeling in the choice of the time, he +displayed great judgment in the selection of the hero. The pilot, +though never named, we know to be the extraordinary and daring +adventurer, John Paul Jones, and the period is of course the American +Revolution. In his literary art, likewise, Cooper has never been +equaled by his imitators. Provided he could create the desired effect, +he dared to let the reader remain in ignorance of the details he +introduced. Enough of technicality was brought in to satisfy the +professional seaman, but not so much as to distract the attention of +the landsman from the main movement of the story. Contented with this +the author did not seek to explain to the latter what he could not +well understand without having served personally before the mast. From +this rule he never varied, save in the few cases where the interest of +the tale could be better served by imparting information than by +withholding it. He had a full artistic appreciation of the +impressiveness of the unknown. For, in stories of this kind, the +vagueness of the reader's knowledge adds to the effect upon his mind, +because, while he sees that mighty agencies are at work in perilous +situations, his very ignorance of their exact nature deepens the +feeling of awe they are of themselves calculated to produce. The wise +reticence of Cooper in this respect can be seen by contrasting it with +the prodigality of information, contained in more than one modern +sea-novel, in which the whole action of the story is arrested to +explain a technical operation with the result that the ordinary reader +finds the explanation more unintelligible than the technical operation +itself.</p> + +<p>Still, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page049" name="page049"></a>(p. 049)</span> +in spite of the excellence of the tales which had +followed it, "The Spy" continued with the majority of readers to be +the most popular of his works. This fact, coupled with his intense +love of country, led him to turn once more for a subject to his native +land and to the period in the description of which he had won his +first fame. He formed, in fact, a plan of writing a series of works of +fiction, the scenes of which should be laid in the various colonies +that had shared in the Revolutionary struggle. In pursuance of this +scheme, his next work was projected. In February, 1825, appeared +"Lionel Lincoln, or the Leaguer of Boston." The first edition had a +preliminary title-page, which contained the inscription, "Legends of +the Thirteen Republics," followed by this quotation from Hamlet--</p> + +<p class="quotega"> + "I will fight with him upon this theme<br> + Until my eyelids will no longer wag." +</p> + +<p>When the plan he had conceived was given up, this addition naturally +disappeared with it. Nothing that industry could do was spared by +Cooper to make this work a success. On this account as well as for its +reception by the public it stands in marked contrast to "The Spy." In +the preparation of it he studied historical authorities, he read state +papers, he pored over official documents of all kinds and degrees of +dreariness. To have his slightest assertions in accordance with fact, +he examined almanacs, and searched for all the contemporary reports as +to the condition of the weather. He visited Boston in order to go over +in person the ground he was to make the scene of his story. As a +result of all this labor he has furnished us an admirable description +of the engagement at Concord Bridge, of the running fight of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page050" name="page050"></a>(p. 050)</span> +Lexington, and of the battle of Bunker's Hill. Of the last, it is, +according to the sufficient authority of Bancroft, the best account +ever given. At this point praise must stop. New England was always to +Cooper an ungenial clime, both as regards his creative activity and +his critical appreciation. The moment he touched its soil, his +strength seemed to abandon him. Whatever excellencies this particular +work displayed, they were not the excellencies of a novel. Accuracy of +detail, even in historical romance, is only a minor virtue. The modern +reader is, indeed, often inclined to doubt whether it is a virtue at +all now that modern research is constantly showing that so much we +have been wont to look upon as fact is nothing more than fable. So +superior is the imagination of man turning out to his memory that one +is tempted to fancy that instead of going to history for our fiction +we shall yet have to turn about and go to fiction for our history.</p> + +<p>"Lionel Lincoln" is certainly one of Cooper's most signal failures. In +writing it he had attempted to do what it did not lie in the peculiar +nature of his powers to accomplish. It is the story of crime long +hidden from the knowledge of men, but dogging with unceasing activity +the memories of those concerned in it. But the secret chambers of the +soul into which the guilty man never looks willingly, Cooper could +neither enter himself nor lay bare to others. Remorse that gnaws +incessantly at every activity of the spirit, the consciousness of sin +that haunts the heart and hangs like a burden upon the life, can never +well be depicted save by him whose words suggest more than they +reveal. Cooper was not a writer of this kind. He belonged to that +class of literary artists who convey their precise meaning by +exactness and fullness +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page051" name="page051"></a>(p. 051)</span> +of detail. The vagueness and +indefiniteness with which this story abounds is not, therefore, that +impressive obscurity which springs from the mysterious; it is, on the +contrary, the obscurity of the unintelligible and absurd. In all of +Cooper's novels, it is a fault that the characters are often +represented as acting without sufficient motive. In the story of +adventure this can be pardoned, or at least overlooked; for freak +plays an important part in determining the movements of many of us. It +is not so, however, in tales containing a plot similar to that of +"Lionel Lincoln." The mind revolts at finding the actors in the drama +represented as having committed monstrous crimes, without any reason +that is worth mentioning. This radical defect in the plan is not +counterbalanced by any felicity in the execution. Many of the +incidents are more than improbable, they are impossible. The style, +likewise, is labored, and the conversations combine the two +undesirable peculiarities of being both stilted and dull. The +characters, female or male, are in no case successfully drawn. The +inferior ones, introduced to amuse, serve only to depress the reader. +The hero in the course of the tale does several absurd things; but he +finally surpasses himself by hurrying away from the woman he loves, +without her knowledge, immediately after he has been joined to her in +marriage. The representation of the half-witted Job--a character upon +which the author clearly labored hard--neither arouses interest nor +touches the heart. It is, indeed, impossible to feel much sympathy +with one particular imbecile, no matter how patriotic, in a story +where most of the actors are represented as acting like idiots.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, his reputation and the real excellence of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page052" name="page052"></a>(p. 052)</span> +the +battle scenes, saved this work from seeming at the time so much of a +failure as it actually was. Certainly whatever loss of credit he may +have sustained as the result of writing "Lionel Lincoln," was much +more than made up by the success of the tale that followed. In 1824 he +had gone on an excursion to Saratoga, Lake George, and Lake Champlain, +with a small party of English gentlemen. One of these was Mr. Stanley, +the future Lord Derby. As they reached Glens Falls and were examining +the caverns made by the river at that spot, Mr. Stanley told Cooper +that here ought to be laid the scene of a romance. In reply, the +novelist assured him that a book should be written in which these +caverns should have a place. The promise was fulfilled. On the 4th of +February, 1826, "The Last of the Mohicans" made its appearance. It was +composed the previous year in a little cottage then situated in a +quiet, open country, on which now stands the suburban village of +Astoria. A severe illness attacked Cooper during its progress; but +whatever effect it had upon his physical frame, it certainly did not +impair in the slightest his intellectual force. The success of the +work was both instantaneous and prodigious. Owing, perhaps, to the +novelty of the scenes and characters, it was even greater in Europe +than in America. But there was no lack of appreciation in his own +land. In the estimation of his countrymen, the novel at once took its +place at the head of his productions. An incidental fact will not only +make clear its success, but the state of the book trade at that time. +The demand for the work soon became so great and so persistent, that +in April it was decided to stereotype it.</p> + +<p>It deserved fully the success it gained. Of all the novels +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page053" name="page053"></a>(p. 053)</span> +written by Cooper, "The Last of the Mohicans" is the one in which the +interest not only never halts, but never sinks. It is, indeed, an open +question, whether a higher art would not have given more +breathing-places in this exciting tale, in which the mind is hurried +without pause from sensation to sensation. But this is a fault, if it +be a fault, which the reader will always forgive, whatever the critic +may say. The latter, indeed, can see much to blame if he look at the +work purely as an artistic creation. He can find improbability of +action, insufficiency of motive, and feebleness of outline in many of +the leading characters. But these are minor drawbacks. They sink into +absolute insignificance when compared with the wealth of power +displayed. As they are unable to retard the unflagging interest with +which the story is read, so they do not essentially modify the +estimation of it after it has been read.</p> + +<p>In this work two great achievements were accomplished by Cooper. The +first was the idealization of the white hunter whom he had described +in "The Pioneers." No one can read the two novels in succession +without seeing at once how much Leather-Stocking has gained in +dignity. In thought and feeling and habits he is essentially the same; +but there was given to his character a poetic elevation which raised +it at once to the front rank of the creations of the imagination, and +will make it imperishable with English literature. As he appears in +"The Pioneers" he is merely an old man who has made his home in the +hills in advance of the tide of settlement. He is the solitary hunter +who views with dislike clearings and improvements, who cannot breathe +freely in streets, who hates the sight of masses of men, who looks +with especial loathing upon the civilization whose first +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page054" name="page054"></a>(p. 054)</span> +work is to fell the trees he has learned to love, whose first exercise +of power is to draw the network of the law around the freedom and +irresponsibility of forest life. Though full of a simple and somewhat +sententious morality, he is querulous, irritable, ignorant. But in +"The Last of the Mohicans," while the man continues the same, the +aspect he presents is wholly different. All that is weak in his +character is in the background; all that is best and strongest comes +to the front. He is in the prime of life. Ignorant he still remains of +the ways of the world as found in the settlements; but there is no +trace of discontent or fretfulness. He has full room for the exercise +of his native virtues, and in the character of the acute and daring +scout he finds no superior. To him forest and sky are an open book. +Knowledge is conveyed to his ears in every sound that breaks the +stillness of the summer woods; and to his eyes scarred rock and riven +pine and the deserted nest of the eagle have made the paths of the +wilderness as plain as the broadest highway. Nor are his moral +qualities inferior to his purely professional. His coolness never +deserts him, his resources never fail him, and along with the +versatility that is never at a loss in the presence of the unexpected +is the resolution that never flinches at the approach of the perilous.</p> + +<p>This delineation has always met with unqualified praise. But the +idealization of the Indian character as seen in Chingachcook and Uncas +has been the subject of much controversy. This is not the place to +express an opinion upon the truth of the representation. It is enough +to say here that the view Cooper took was not hastily formed, nor was +it the result of accidental prejudices. He studied all the sources of +information accessible at +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page055" name="page055"></a>(p. 055)</span> +that time which threw light upon +the Indian character. He visited the deputations from the various +tribes that passed through the state of New York on their way to the +national capital. In some instances he followed them to Washington. It +is obvious that to a man of his poetic temperament they may have +appeared in a different light from what they did to the ordinary +government agent. Certainly he never found reason to modify his views, +though he was familiar with the criticism made upon them. Toward the +close of his life he took occasion to reaffirm them. It is also to be +added that if he gave especial prominence to certain virtues, real or +imaginary, of the Indian race, he was equally careful not to pass over +their vices. Most of the warriors he introduces are depicted as +crafty, bloodthirsty, and merciless. But whether his representation be +true or false, it has from that time to this profoundly affected +opinion. Throughout the whole civilized world the conception of the +Indian character, as Cooper drew it in "The Last of the Mohicans" and +still further elaborated it in the later "Leather-Stocking Tales," has +taken permanent hold of the imaginations of men. Individuals may cast +it off; but in the case of the great mass it stands undisturbed by +doubt or unshaken by denial. This much can be said in its favor +irrespective of the question of its accuracy. If Cooper has given to +Indian conversation more poetry than it is thought to possess, or to +Indian character more virtue, the addition has been a gain to +literature, whatever it may have been to truth.</p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER IV. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page056" name="page056"></a>(p. 056)</span></h2> + +<h3>1826-1830.</h3> + + +<p>With the publication of "The Last of the Mohicans," Cooper's +popularity was at its height. His countrymen were proud of him, proud +that he had chosen his native land as the scene of his stories, proud +that he had in consequence extended among all cultivated peoples its +fame as well as his own. His works were more than read. They were in +most cases dramatized and acted as soon as published. Artists vied in +making incidents depicted in them the subjects of their paintings. +Poems, founded upon them or connected in some way with them, made +their appearance in the newspapers. If in many cases these things were +in themselves of no value, they at least served to show the widespread +popular interest which his writings had aroused. Moreover, his +reputation was far from being limited to his own land. No other +American, before or since, has enjoyed so wide a contemporary +popularity. Irving may have been on the whole a greater favorite in +England; but if so, it was largely due to the fact that the subjects +upon which he was employed were of special interest to English +readers, and his manner of treating them was flattering to English +prejudices. But the Continental fame of Cooper was unrivaled, and +indeed could fairly be said to hold its own with that of Walter Scott. +Long before he went to Europe himself, his +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page057" name="page057"></a>(p. 057)</span> +works appeared +simultaneously in America, England, and France. They were speedily +translated into German and Italian, and in most instances soon found +their way into the other cultivated tongues of Europe. Everywhere his +ability had been recognized by those whose approbation, if it could +not confer immortality, was certain to bring with it temporary +applause. The admiration expressed for him was far less marked in +England than upon the Continent; but even there it could often be +termed cordial. It came, too, from those who, whatever estimation we +may give to their praise, did not praise lightly. From Miss Edgeworth +he received personally a tribute to his success in delineating the +characters in which her own reputation had been largely won. On +reading "The Spy," she sent him a message, that she liked Betty +Flanigan particularly, and that no Irish pen could have drawn her +better. Scott had been much struck by the scenes and personages +depicted in "The Pilot," the novel he first read, and predicted at +once the success of the sea-story and of its creator. Many there were, +even in England, who looked upon Cooper as being equal to the great +master of historical romance. "Have you read the American novels?" +wrote in November, 1824, Mary Russell Mitford to a friend. "In my mind +they are as good as anything Sir Walter ever wrote. He has opened +fresh ground, too (if one may say so of the sea). No one but Smollett +has ever attempted to delineate the naval character; and then his are +so coarse and hard. Now this has the same truth and power with a deep, +grand feeling.... Imagine the author's boldness in taking Paul Jones +for a hero, and his power in making one care for him! I envy +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page058" name="page058"></a>(p. 058)</span> +the Americans their Mr. Cooper.... There is a certain Long Tom who +appears to me the finest thing since Parson Adams." Subsequently, in +July, 1826, she spoke thus of "The Last of the Mohicans," in a letter +to Haydon: "I like it," she wrote, "better than any of Scott's, except +the three first and 'The Heart of Mid-Lothian.'" The praise, indeed, +given both then and at a later period, may often seem extravagant. In +a passage written in 1835, Barry Cornwall, not merely content with +putting Cooper at the head of all American authors, added that he may +"dare competition with almost any writer whatever."</p> + +<p>It need hardly be said that opinions such as these were not to be +found generally in the English literary periodicals. Cooper's name was +not even mentioned in the great reviews until his fame had been +secured without their aid. The success which he won in Great Britain +was not due in the slightest to the professional critics. These men +fancied they had exhausted the power of panegyric when they went so +far as to term him the American Scott. This fact was triumphantly +paraded at a later period by a writer in Blackwood, presumably Wilson, +as one of the convincing proofs of the untruthfulness of the charge +made by Barry Cornwall, that authors from this country were treated +with systematic unfairness in English reviews. "Were we ever unjust to +Cooper?" he asked. "Why, people call him the American Scott." This +sort of patting on the back was thought a proud illustration of the +generosity of the British character, and as putting the recipient of +it under obligations of everlasting gratitude.</p> + +<p>There is no doubt, indeed, that the reputation of Cooper suffered all +his life by the constant comparison that +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page059" name="page059"></a>(p. 059)</span> +was made between +him and the great Scotch writer. It was to a certain extent +inevitable; but it was none the less unfortunate. He could never be +judged by what he did; it was always by the fanciful test of how some +one else would have done it. This was even more true of his own +country than of England. Scott's popularity was greater here than it +was anywhere else. There was a feeling akin almost to moral +reprobation expressed against any one who should presume to fancy that +the best work of any native author could equal the poorest that Scott +put forth. The Continental opinion which at that time often reckoned +the American novelist as equal, if not superior to his British +contemporary, seemed to men here like a profanation. It was, indeed, +so said in direct terms.</p> + +<p>Comparison with Scott, therefore, always put the one compared at a +great disadvantage. This, however, is a method of judging that is +necessary to some and easy to all. Genuine appreciation demands study +and thought. For these comparison is a cheap substitute. To call +Cooper the American Scott in compliment in the days of his popularity, +and in derision in the days of his unpopularity, was a method of +criticism which enabled men to praise or undervalue without taking the +trouble to think. Stories were invented and set in circulation of how +he himself rejoiced in being so designated. Great, accordingly, was +the indignation felt and expressed by these gentry at the presumption +of the American author, when at a later period he asserted that so far +from taking pride in the title, it merely gave him just as much +gratification as any nickname could give a gentleman.</p> + +<p>It would be, moreover, far from truth to say that in +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page060" name="page060"></a>(p. 060)</span> +this +most prosperous portion of his career his popularity was unmixed in +his own country. Even then his success had aroused a good deal of +envy. In 1823 he was attacked, in common with many prominent citizens +of New York, in a satire called "Gotham and the Gothamites." This was +the work of a man of the name of Judah, who, in 1822, had published a +dramatic poem styled "Odofried the Outcast." The title was ominous of +the fate which the production met. The author naturally felt that the +age was unappreciative. To relieve his mind he wrote eleven or twelve +hundred lines of fresh drivel, in which he assailed everything and +everybody. The satire was of that dreadful kind which requires notes +and commentaries to point out who is hit and what is meant; and the +annotation, as is usual in such cases, took up much more space than +the text. This work--for which the author was sent to jail, though a +lunatic asylum would have been a far fitter place--is only of interest +here because it bears direct and positive evidence to the fact that at +this time Cooper was the most widely read of American authors.</p> + +<p>But jealousy of his fame could be found among men of much higher +pretensions than this wretched poetaster. "The North American Review" +had at that time been ponderously revolving through space for several +years. It was then a periodical respectable, classical, and dull, all +three in an eminent degree. Towards Cooper it struggled in a feeble +way to be just, but for all that it was the exponent of a distinctly +unfriendly feeling. Among individuals a conspicuous representative of +this hostility was the poet Percival. He could not endure the +reputation which the novelist had acquired. Percival was a man of a +good deal of ability, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page061" name="page061"></a>(p. 061)</span> +of a great deal of knowledge, and of +an inexhaustible capacity of spinning out verse, never rising much +above, nor falling much below mediocrity, which, if mere quantity were +the only element to be considered, would have justified him in +contracting to produce enough to constitute of itself a national +literature. As he invariably proved himself entirely destitute of +common sense in his ordinary conduct, he was led to fancy that he was +not merely a man of ability, but a man of genius; and during the whole +of his life he perpetually posed as that most intolerable of literary +nuisances, a man of unappreciated genius. In spite of the fact that he +had been hospitably entertained and befriended by Cooper, he could not +be satisfied, because their common publisher looked upon the latter as +the "greatest literary genius in America." The reception given by the +public to the "long, dirty, straggling tales" of the novelist +disgusted him. "I ask nothing," he wrote in April, 1823, "of a people +who will lavish their patronage on such a vulgar book as "The +Pioneers." They and I are well quit. They neglect me, and I despise +them." In a later letter he returned to this work. "It might do," he +said, "to amuse the select society of a barber's shop or a +porter-house. But to have the author step forward on such stilts and +claim to be the lion of our national literature, and fall to roaring +himself and set all his jackals howling (S. C. & Co.) to put better +folks out of countenance--why 'tis pitiful, 'tis wondrous pitiful at +least for the country that not only suffers it but encourages it." +Percival, indeed, his biographer tells us, was subsequently urged to +contribute to "The North American Review" a critical article on "The +Prairie," in which simple justice was to be done to Cooper--which +phrase <span class="pagenum"><a id="page062" name="page062"></a>(p. 062)</span> +had, of course, its usual meaning, that injustice was +to be done him. The poet's customary indecision prevailed, however; +the country was spared this exhibition of spiteful incapacity, and the +novelist was left to stumble along in uncertainty as to his precise +position among men of letters.</p> + +<p>Not but there were plenty of men anxious to show it. Especially was +this true of that class which looked upon it as the supreme effort of +critical judgment to exaggerate the value of everything written in +Europe and depreciate everything of native origin. There was a +prevailing belief among those who mistook their own individual +impotence for the incapacity of a whole people, that nothing good +could come out of America. Many showed their faith by their conduct. +In 1834, Cooper himself said that he knew of several instances in +which persons had not read anything he had written for the avowed +reason that nothing worth reading could be written by one of their +countrymen. To all of these it was a subject of some perplexity and of +more annoyance that his works should be, if anything, more popular in +Europe than they were in his native land. To account for this fact +various sage reasons were early suggested and are still occasionally +heard. One of these has always been particularly common. This was that +it was the novelty of the scenes and characters depicted that +attracted attention and not the ability shown in depicting them. At +any rate, they wished it understood that if he satisfied the European, +he did not satisfy the native world: for if creative power had been +denied us, we could at least show that as a compensation we had been +supplied with a double portion of refined taste. Speaking in behalf of +the American people, these critics expressed +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page063" name="page063"></a>(p. 063)</span> +anxiety that +neither at home nor abroad should Cooper be regarded as obtaining the +unqualified admiration or attaining the lofty ideal of "all of us." +Against any such impression they entered their humble protest. All +that lay in their power should be done to counteract it. This is no +one-sided statement of opinions then expressed. These very sentiments +in almost these very words can be found in reviews of that period.</p> + +<p>Cooper at the time of writing his first novel was dwelling at +Angevine. When the success of the second made it probable that he +would continue for a while his career as an author, and possibly +devote his life to it, the necessity arose of changing his residence. +His country home was about five and twenty miles from the city, but +twenty-five miles in those days of limited mail facilities and limited +means of communication was a distance not to be tolerated. +Accordingly, in 1822 he moved into New York. Either there or in its +suburbs he dwelt until his departure for Europe. Here his youngest +child, Paul, was born in 1824, and here, as has already been +mentioned, his infant son Fenimore died. His talents and his +reputation gave him at once a leading position in society. Nor were +his associates inferior men. He founded a club which included on its +rolls the residents of New York then best known in literature and law, +science and art. The names of many will be even more familiar to our +ears than they were to those of their contemporaries. All forms of +intellectual activity were represented. To this club belonged, among +others, Chancellor Kent the jurist; Verplanck, the editor of +Shakespeare; Jarvis the painter; Durand the engraver; DeKay the +naturalist; Wiley the publisher; Morse the inventor of the electric +telegraph; Halleck and Bryant, the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page064" name="page064"></a>(p. 064)</span> +poets. It was sometimes +called after the name of its founder; but it more commonly bore the +title of the "Bread and Cheese Lunch." It met weekly, and Cooper, +whenever he was in the city, was invariably present. More than that, +he was the life and soul of it. Though kept up for a while after his +departure from the country, it was only a languishing existence it +maintained, and even this speedily ended in death.</p> + +<p>His pecuniary situation had been largely improved by his literary +success. The pressure upon his means had in fact been one of the main +reasons, if not the main reason, that had led him to contemplate +pursuing a literary life. The property left by his father had +gradually dwindled in value, partly through lack of careful +uninterrupted management. His elder brothers, on whom the +administration of the estate had successively devolved, had died. The +result was, that he found himself without the means which in his +childhood he might justly have looked forward to possessing. So far +from being a man of wealth he was in the earlier part of his literary +career a poor man. From any difficulties, however, into which he may +have fallen he was more than retrieved by the success of what he +wrote. Precisely what was the sale of his books, or how much he +received for their sale, it would be hard and perhaps impossible now +to tell. He was careless himself about preserving any records of such +facts. But, besides this natural indifference, he seemed to resent any +public reference to the price paid him for his writings as an +unauthorized intrusion into his personal affairs. Allusions even to +the amount of his receipts he apparently regarded as springing not so +much from a feeling of pride in his success, as from a desire to +represent him as being under +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page065" name="page065"></a>(p. 065)</span> +great obligations to his +countrymen. In some instances he was certainly correct in so regarding +it. On one occasion after his return from Europe, he denied the truth +of an assertion made in a newspaper, as to the amount he derived from +the sale of each of his novels. "It remains for the public to decide," +said he, "whether it will tolerate or not this meddling with private +interests by any one who can get the command of a little ink and a few +types." In the prefatory address to the publisher which appeared in +the first edition of "The Pioneers," he made the statement, that the +success of "The Spy," should always remain a secret between +themselves. This reticence and dislike of publicity continued +throughout the whole of his career. It extended to everything +connected with his writings. Our knowledge on these points is, +therefore, both scanty and uncertain. The size of the editions has +never been given to the public. The sale of "The Pioneers" on the +morning of its publication has already been noticed; and there are +contemporary newspaper statements to the effect that the first edition +of "The Red Rover" consisted of five thousand copies, and that this +was exhausted in a few days. But it is only from incidental references +of this kind, which can rarely be relied upon absolutely, that we at +this late day are able to gain any specific information whatever.</p> + +<p>He was unquestionably helped in the end, however, by what in the +beginning threatened to be a serious if not insuperable obstacle. He +was unable to get any one concerned in the book trade to assume the +risk of bringing out "The Spy." That had to be taken by the author +himself. In the case of this novel, we know positively that Cooper was +not only the owner of the copyright, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page066" name="page066"></a>(p. 066)</span> +but of all the edition; +that he gave directions as to the terms on which the work was to be +furnished to the booksellers, while the publishers, Wiley & Halsted, +had no direct interest in it, and received their reward by a +commission. It is evident that under this arrangement his profits on +the sale were far larger than would usually be the case. Whether he +followed the same method in any of his later productions, there seems +to be no means of ascertaining. Wiley, however, until his death, +continued to be his publisher. "The Last of the Mohicans" went into +the hands of Carey & Lea of Philadelphia; and this firm, under various +changes of name, continued to bring out the American edition of his +novels until the year 1844. It was from the sales in this country that +most of the income from his books was derived. England, indeed, +brought him a large sum, at least up to the passage of the copyright +law of 1838; but he gained little pecuniary benefit from the wide +circulation of his works on the European continent, whatever may have +been the renown. In regard to France, he said in 1834 after his +return, that he had paid in taxes to the government of that country, +during his different residences in it, considerably more money than +was obtained from the sales of the sheets of fourteen books. In +Germany, where his writings had an immense circulation, his receipts +were still less.</p> + +<p>But whatever may have been the precise amount acquired by the sale of +his works, it was sufficient to pay off heavy debts incurred by +others, but which he was compelled to assume, to put him in an +independent position and justify him in determining to fulfill a +long-cherished desire of spending some time in Europe. Accordingly on +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page067" name="page067"></a>(p. 067)</span> +the 1st of June, 1826, he sailed with his family--consisting, +with the servants, of ten persons--from the port of New York. On the +5th of November, 1833, he landed there on his return. His original +intention was to be gone for but five years. To the fixing of this +particular time he was apparently influenced by a remark of Jefferson, +that no American should remain away for a longer period from the +country, because if he did, so rapid were the changes, its facts would +have got wholly beyond his knowledge. His absence actually extended to +a little less than seven years and a half. Most of this time was spent +in France. From Henry Clay, then Secretary of State, he had received +the appointment of consul at Lyons. He had asked for it, because he +did not wish to have the appearance of expatriating himself; for as +the service was then conducted, such a post involved no duties and +brought in no returns. His commission bears date the 10th of May, +1826. Even this nominal position he gave up after holding it between +two and three years. No resignation of his is on file in the State +Department; but a successor was appointed on the 15th of January, +1829. He threw up the place because he had come to entertain the +conviction that gross abuses existed in the system of foreign +appointments, and it became him to set an example of the principles he +professed.</p> + +<p>It may be well at this point to furnish an outline sketch of his +various residences in Europe. The voyage from America lasted about a +month; and after staying a few days in England he passed over to +France, on the soil of which he first set foot on the 18th of July, +1826. Either in Paris or its immediate neighborhood he remained until +February, 1828, when he crossed over +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page068" name="page068"></a>(p. 068)</span> +to England. Leaving +London early in June, he went back to France by the way of Holland and +Belgium. In July, 1828, he left Paris for Switzerland, and took up his +residence near Berne. After spending some weeks in making excursions +from that point, he crossed the Alps in October by the Simplon Pass. +The following winter and spring he spent in Florence and its vicinity. +In the summer of 1829 he sailed down the Italian coast to Naples, and +after staying a few weeks in that city, made a home for himself and +his family at Sorrento for nearly three months. The winter of 1829-30 +he spent in Rome. In the spring of 1830 he went to Venice. From that +place he journeyed to Munich by the Tyrol, and finally settled down in +Dresden. From his temporary home in Saxony, however, the July +revolution speedily drew him to Paris, and that city he made mainly +his residence from that time until his return to America in 1833. +There he was, and there he stood his ground during the terrible +cholera ravages of 1832. Occasional expeditions he made, and of one in +particular, up the Rhine and in Switzerland, he has published a full +account.</p> + +<p>It was eminently characteristic of Cooper, that though he brought with +him letters of introduction, he found himself unwilling to deliver a +single one of them. Yet, certainly, if any American could be pardoned +the use of a custom that has been so much abused, he was the man. But +after he had resided quietly in France for a few weeks, he happened to +attend a diplomatic dinner given by the United States minister to +Canning, then on a visit to Paris. This was the occasion of making his +presence known to those who had long before made the acquaintance of +his writings. He was at once sought out +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page069" name="page069"></a>(p. 069)</span> +and welcomed by the +most distinguished men of the most brilliant capital in the world. The +polish, the grace, the elegance, and the wit of French social life +made upon him an impression which he not only never forgot, but which +he was afterwards in the habit of contrasting with the social life of +England and America, to the manifest disadvantage of both, and with +the certain result of provoking the hostility of each. He himself says +very little of the reception he met; but we know from other sources +how cordial and even deferential it was. He was not a man, indeed, to +enjoy being lionized, to be set up, as he expressed it, at a +dinner-table as a piece of luxury, like strawberries in February or +peaches in April. But he was in a capital where attention is always +paid to ability, though rarely with noisy demonstration. He received +his full share of it. Without mentioning numerous other evidences, the +conspicuous position he held is evident from the way Scott speaks of +him in his diary. He mentions meeting him one evening at the Princess +Galitzin's in November, 1826. "Cooper was there," said he, "so the +Scotch and American lions took the field together."</p> + +<p>But of all the countries in which he resided he grew to be fondest of +Italy. This was partly due to the fact that there he could indulge to +the full extent two passions that had come to be a part of his +nature--the love of fine skies, and of beautiful scenery. His feelings +in regard to this country and to France he expressed on one occasion +with a courtliness that was wholly free from the insincerity of the +courtier's art. In November, 1830, shortly after his return to Paris +from Germany, he was presented to the royal family. The Queen of Louis +Philippe, who was the daughter of Ferdinand I., of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page070" name="page070"></a>(p. 070)</span> +the Two +Sicilies, asked him of all the lands visited by him which he most +preferred. "That in which your majesty was born," was the reply, "for +its nature, and that in which your majesty reigns for its society." +There was not in this the slightest compliment, if by compliment +anything is meant inconsistent with the severest truth. "Switzerland," +he said afterward, "is the country to astonish and sometimes to +delight; but Italy is the land to love." During the nearly two years +he remained there, its scenery, its climate, its recollections, and +also its people, were constantly gaining a hold upon his heart. No +country did he ever leave with so much regret; and when he came to +take his final departure, his feelings were such as are experienced by +him who is on the point of bidding farewell to a much-loved home. When +he passed into the valley of the Adige on his journey to the Tyrol, in +1830, he reversed the usual practice of the traveler who has his eyes +fixed only on what is to come. He turned around to cast a last +lingering glance at the land he was about to leave behind. Italy was +the only country, his wife told him, that she had ever known him to +quit looking over the shoulder. His regard for the people was, +perhaps, intensified by the reaction against the estimation in which +he had been wont to hold them. "The vulgar-minded English,"--he said +in one of those deliciously irritating and double-acting sentences he +was afterward in the habit of frequently uttering--"talk of the damned +Italians, and the vulgar-minded American, quite in rule, imitates his +great model." Certainly his prejudices against the inhabitants of that +country were soon swept away. He contrasted them favorably with all +their neighbors. They were +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page071" name="page071"></a>(p. 071)</span> +more gracious than the English, +more sincere than the French, and infinitely more refined than the +Germans. In grace of mind, and in love, and even knowledge of the +arts, a large portion of the common Italians were, in his opinion, as +much superior to the Anglo-Saxons as civilization is to barbarism. He +came in time to have a sort of fondness even for the professional +mendicants. He furnishes us a curious picture of the beggars who +assembled about his residence daily in Sorrento, to whom he invariably +gave a grano apiece. The company, starting out from one or two, had +been steadily reinforced by recruits from far and near, till it ran up +to the neighborhood of a hundred men, who regularly presented +themselves for their pittance. There is no more graphic description in +his writings than his account of the scene which took place when a +new-comer among the beggars had the indiscretion, on receiving his +grano, to wish the giver only a hundred years of life; the indignation +of the king of the gang at this exhibition of black ingratitude; the +tumult with which the blunder was corrected, and the shouts and +outcries with which the pitiful hundred was changed into a thousand +years, and long ones at that.</p> + +<p>During this time his literary activity was unceasing. Before the close +of 1830 he had completed four novels: "The Prairie," "The Red Rover," +"The Wept of Wish-ton-Wish," and "The Water Witch,"--all of which were +devoted to the delineation of scenes and characters belonging to his +native land. Before he started for Europe he had begun a new Indian +story. This was finished during his early residence in Paris. He had +felt it to be a hazardous venture to bring into "The Last of the +Mohicans" the personages who had been previously drawn +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page072" name="page072"></a>(p. 072)</span> +in +"The Pioneers." But so great had been his success, and so strongly had +the characters taken hold of him, that he determined to renew the +experiment for a third time. Leather-Stocking, accordingly, was +introduced as living in extreme old age on the Western prairies, and +the book ends with his death. The idea of transferring the home of the +worn-out hunter to these vast solitudes was suggested, it is fair to +infer from Cooper's own words, by the actual career of Daniel Boone, +the Kentucky pioneer. The simple story of this man's life was +sufficiently remarkable; but in the exaggerated accounts of it that +were then current, he was represented as having emigrated, in his +ninety-second year, to an estate three hundred miles west of the +Mississippi, because he found a population of ten to the square mile +inconveniently crowded.</p> + +<p>On the 17th of May, 1827, "The Prairie" was published. It did not meet +with the extraordinary success of "The Last of the Mohicans," nor has +it ever been as great a favorite with the general public. It was +written in a far more quiet and subdued vein. It never keeps up that +prolonged strain upon the feelings which characterizes the work that +preceded it, and which while a defect in the eyes of some is to most +readers its special charm. There are, indeed, in many of Cooper's +stories, situations more thrilling and scenes more stirring than can +be found in "The Prairie," though in it there is no lack of these. But +of all his tales it is much the most poetical. Man sinks into +insignificance in the presence of these mighty solitudes; for +throughout the whole book the immensity of nature hangs over the +spirit like a pall. Nor were the characters of the principal +personages out of harmony with the atmosphere that envelopes +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page073" name="page073"></a>(p. 073)</span> +the scenes described. In the lonely hunter, now nearing his grave, +there is a pathetic grandeur, which is a natural development, and not +an artificial addition. Though he has hurried as far away as possible +from the din of the settlements, he is no longer querulous and +irritable as in his old age in the Otsego hills. He has learned to +recognize the inevitable. While he does not cease to regret, he has +ceased to denounce. He knows that the majestic solitude of nature will +not long remain undisturbed, nor its more majestic silence unbroken; +for in every wind that blows from the East he hears the sound of axes +and the crash of falling trees that herald the march of civilization +across the continent. He sorrows at the ruin impending on all that is +dearest to his heart; but he awaits it in dignified submission. In +fine contrast to him stands the man who has likewise sought the +solitude of the wilderness, not because he loves the beauty and the +majesty of primeval nature, but because he hates the restraints that +human society has thrown about the indulgence of human passions. +Criticism has rarely done justice to the skill and power with which +Cooper has drawn the squatter of the prairies, who holds that land +should be as free as air; who has traveled hundreds of miles beyond +the Mississippi to reach a place where title-deeds are not registered +and sheriffs make no levies; who neither fears God nor regards man; to +whom the rule of the rifle is the supremest law; and yet who, with all +his detestation of the safeguards which society has erected for its +security, has a moral code and a rough wild justice of his own.</p> + +<p>"The Prairie" was followed by "The Red Rover," which came out on the +9th of January, 1828. During the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page074" name="page074"></a>(p. 074)</span> +years that followed the +publication of "The Pilot," the reputation of that work had been +steadily increasing. Time had more than confirmed the first favorable +impression. Not only had any lingering prejudice against the sea-story +as a story been entirely swept away, but tales of this kind were +beginning to be the fashion. Imitators were springing up everywhere. +It was natural, therefore, for Cooper to turn his attention once more +to a kind of fiction to the composition of which he himself had +originally opened the way. After leaving the navy he had become one of +the owners of a whaling vessel, and in it had made one or two voyages +to Newport. In the harbor of that place he fixed the introduction of +his new story of the sea. He had taken up his residence during the +summer of 1827 in the little hamlet of St. Ouen on the Seine, not far +from Paris. There, in the space of three or four months, "The Red +Rover" was written. From the date of its appearance to the present +time it has always been justly one of the most popular of his +productions, and perhaps, considered as a whole, stands at the head of +his sea-tales.</p> + +<p>On the 6th of November, 1829, succeeded an Indian story of King +Philip's war, under the name of "The Wept of Wish-ton-Wish." The +fanciful title puzzled, and did not altogether please, the public. As +a matter of fact it was used only in this country. In England the +novel was called "The Borderers;" in France "The Puritans of America, +or the Valley of Wish-ton-Wish." This work was begun during his +residence in Switzerland in 1828, and was completed at Florence. It +has never been popular, particularly in America. The tale is a tragic +one throughout, and the prevailing air of sombreness is rarely +lightened by any success in the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page075" name="page075"></a>(p. 075)</span> +management of minor +incidents. The introduction too was marked by one of Cooper's +besetting faults, intolerable prolixity. But the main cause of his +failure lay in his inability to delineate the Puritan character. It +was not knowledge that was wanting, it was sympathy; or perhaps it is +better to say that it was his lack of sympathy which prevented his +having any genuine knowledge. He tried in all honesty to depict the +men who had founded New England, the men of hard heads and iron +hearts, in whom piety and pugnacity were, as in himself, so intimately +blended that the transition from the one to the other is a vanishing +line whose discovery defies the closest scrutiny. Paradoxical as the +assertion may seem, he was too much like the Puritans to do them +justice. His character was essentially the same as their own; but the +influences under which he had been trained were altogether different. +Upon their manners, their ideas, and even their appearance he had +early learned to look with aversion; and he had not the power to +project his mind out of the circle of notions and prejudices in which +he had been brought up. The very name of the Reverend Meek Wolf which +he bestowed in this story upon his clergyman, revealed of itself the +existence of feelings which put him at once out of that pale of +sympathetic thought, which enables the novelist or historian to look +with the insight of the spirit upon men and motives which his +intellect acting by itself would prompt him to distrust and dislike.</p> + +<p>To this tale succeeded "The Water Witch." This was begun at Sorrento +and finished at Rome, a city which he subsequently used often to speak +of as the precise moral antipodes of the capital of the New World, in +the harbor of which he had laid much of the scene +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page076" name="page076"></a>(p. 076)</span> +of this +story. It was not till he reached Dresden, however, that he was +enabled to have it put in print. On the 11th of December, 1830, it +made its appearance in this country. With it ended for a time his +fictions that dealt with American life and manners. He now turned to +new fields and wrote with different aims.</p> + +<p> * * * * *</p> + +<p>During all these years his popularity had continued unabated, though +his last two novels could hardly be said to have met with the favor +which had been accorded to most of those which had preceded them. It +is certainly a convincing proof of the wide reputation he had gained +before he went to Europe, that five editions of "The Prairie," the +first work he wrote after his arrival, were arranged to be published +at the same time. Two were to come out in Paris, one in French and one +in English; one in London; one in Berlin; and one in Philadelphia. But +even this success was soon surpassed. It is hard to credit the +accounts that are given on unimpeachable testimony. One statement, +however, is too important to be overlooked, coming from the source it +does. In the controversy going on in this country in 1833, in regard +to the part Cooper had taken in the finance discussion, which will be +mentioned in its proper place, Morse, the inventor of the electric +telegraph, published a letter in defense of his absent friend. In it +he bore witness in the following words to the popularity of the +novelist in the Old World: "I have visited, in Europe, many +countries," said he, "and what I have asserted of the fame of Mr. +Cooper I assert from personal knowledge. In every city of Europe that +I visited the works of Cooper were conspicuously placed in the +windows <span class="pagenum"><a id="page077" name="page077"></a>(p. 077)</span> +of every bookshop. They are published as soon as he +produces them in thirty-four different places in Europe. They have +been seen by American travelers in the languages of Turkey and Persia, +in Constantinople, in Egypt, at Jerusalem, at Ispahan."</p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER V. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page078" name="page078"></a>(p. 078)</span></h2> + +<h3>1830.</h3> + + +<p>The month of December, 1830, which saw the publication of "The Water +Witch," closed the first and far the most fortunate decade of Cooper's +literary life. In the decade which followed began that career of +controversy which lasted, with little intermission, until his death. +By it his reputation and his fortunes were profoundly affected. It +worked a complete revolution both in the sentiments with which he +regarded others, and in the sentiments with which others regarded him. +The most intense lover of his country, he became the most unpopular +man of letters to whom it has ever given birth. For years a storm of +abuse fell upon him, which for violence, for virulence, and even for +malignity, surpassed anything in the history of American literature, +if not in the history of literature itself. Nor did the effect of this +disappear with his life. The misrepresentations and calumnies, which +were then set in motion, have not ceased to operate even at this day. +Full as marked, still, was the influence which the controversies, in +which he was engaged, had upon his literary reputation. A direct +result of them at the time was not only to impair the estimation in +which his previous writings had been held, but to cause the later +productions of his pen to be treated with systematic injustice. Both +in England and America the effect of this hostile criticism has not +yet died away.</p> + +<p>On <span class="pagenum"><a id="page079" name="page079"></a>(p. 079)</span> +the other hand, it was no one-sided contest that took +place. If Cooper was attacked, he, in turn, did his part in attacking. +No man has ever criticised his own country more unsparingly, and in +some instances more unjustly, than did he, who, in foreign lands, had +been its stoutest and most pronounced defender. Nor, in the +controversies that followed his return from Europe, did one side +conduct itself with perfect righteousness, and the other with +deliberate villainy. Had the parties but seen fit to act in this +manner, the duties of a biographer would have been sensibly lightened. +A fair and dispassionate account of the circumstances that led to the +unpopularity which clouded, though it could hardly be said to darken, +Cooper's later life, demands a full and careful examination of many +facts which, in some instances, seem to have no relation to the +subject. Especially is a knowledge of the European estimate of America +during the period that the novelist resided abroad a matter of first +importance. But even of as great importance is a knowledge of certain +traits of his character and of certain sentiments which he strongly +felt, and of certain beliefs which he earnestly held. To bring out +these points clearly, it is necessary for a while to arrest the +progress of the narrative.</p> + +<p>It is to be remarked at the outset that the first impression which +Cooper made upon strangers was rarely in his favor. To this we have +the concurrent testimony of those who knew him slightly, and of those +who knew him well. It was due to a variety of causes. He had infinite +pride, and there was in his manner a self-assertion that often +bordered, or seemed to border, upon arrogance. His earnestness, +moreover, was often mistaken for brusqueness and violence; for he was, +in some measure, of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page080" name="page080"></a>(p. 080)</span> +that class of men who appear to be +excited when they are only interested. The result was that at first he +was apt to repel rather than attract. Without referring to other +evidence, we need here only to quote the guarded statement of one of +his warmest friends in describing the beginning of their acquaintance. +"I remember," says Bryant, "being somewhat startled, coming, as I did, +from the seclusion of a country life, with a certain emphatic +frankness in his manner which, however, I came at last to like and to +admire." But besides this he had other characteristics which, to the +majority of men, could not be agreeable. Thoroughly grounded in his +own convictions, positive and uncompromising in the expression of +them, he had no patience with those--and the number is far from being +a small one--who embrace their views loosely, hold them halfheartedly, +or defend them ignorantly. The opinions of such he was not content, +like most men of ability, with quietly and unobtrusively despising. +The contempt he felt he did not pay sufficient deference to human +nature to hide. It was inevitable that the self-love of many should be +offended by the arbitrariness and imperiousness with which he overrode +their opinions, and still more by the unequivocal disdain manifested +for them. It must be conceded, also, that to those for whom he felt +indifference or dislike, he had in no slight degree that capacity of +making himself disagreeable which reaches, and then only in rare +instances, the ripened perfection of offensiveness in him who has +breathed from earliest youth the social air of England. These were +traits that were sure to make him enemies in private life. In public +life, moreover, the ardor of his temperament was such as to hurry him +into controversy; and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page081" name="page081"></a>(p. 081)</span> +the number of those hostile to him on +personal grounds, was always liable to receive accessions from men who +had never seen him face to face. No gage of battle could be thrown +down which he did not stand ready to take up. Opposition only inflamed +him; it never daunted him. He had not the slightest particle of that +prudence which teaches a man to keep out of contests in which he can +gain no advantage, or in which success will be only a little less +disastrous than defeat. It hardly needs to be said that a politic line +of conduct is usually the very last which a person of such a +temperament follows. But when to all these characteristics is added a +peculiar sensitiveness to criticism, it is evident that if proper +opportunities are offered, personal unpopularity will be certain to +result from the ample materials existing for its development.</p> + +<p>Against this view of his character, it is fair to add here that he had +many qualities which would tend to bring about an entirely opposite +result. He was more than ordinarily generous; and gave with a +liberality that went at times beyond what most men would look upon as +prudence. He was prompt to relieve merit that stood in need of help. +Many cases of this kind there are unpublished and unknown out of a +very small circle; for Cooper was not one to let his left hand know +what his right hand was doing. One fact, however, has been so often +mentioned, that it is violating no sanctity of private life to repeat +it here. He was the first to discover the excellence of Greenough and +to make that sculptor known to his countrymen. "Fenimore Cooper saved +me from despair," wrote the latter in 1833, "after my second return to +Italy. He employed me as I wished to be employed; and has up to this +moment been +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page082" name="page082"></a>(p. 082)</span> +a father to me in kindness." To this generosity, +it is to be added that his sense of personal honor was of the loftiest +kind. It was sometimes, indeed, carried to an extreme almost Quixotic; +so that men morally fat-witted could not even comprehend his +principles of action, and men who contented themselves with +conventional morality resented his assertion of them as a reflection +upon themselves. His loyalty to those who had become dear to him was, +moreover, just as conspicuous as his loyalty to what he deemed right. +It withstood every chance of change, every accident of time and +circumstance, and only gave way on absolute proof of unworthiness. +Intimate acquaintance was sure to bring to Cooper respect, admiration, +and finally affection. Few men have stood better than he that final +test of excellence which rests upon the fact that those who knew him +best loved him most. Yet even these were often forced to admit, that +it was necessary to know him well to appreciate how generous, how +true, and how lofty-minded he was.</p> + +<p>Besides these traits of character, it is important to understand some +of Cooper's political and social opinions. He was an aristocrat in +feeling, and a democrat by conviction. To some this seems a +combination so unnatural that they find it hard to comprehend it. That +a man whose tastes and sympathies and station connect him with the +highest class, and to whom contact with the uneducated and unrefined +brings with it a sense of personal discomfort and often of disgust, +should avow his belief in the political rights of those socially +inferior, should be unwilling to deny them privileges which he claims +for himself, is something so appalling to many that their minds strive +vainly to grasp it. But this feeling was +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page083" name="page083"></a>(p. 083)</span> +so thoroughly +wrought into Cooper's nature that he almost disliked those of his +countrymen whom he found not to share in it. "I confess," he wrote at +the time when he was generally denounced as an aristocrat, "that I now +feel mortified and grieved when I meet with an American gentleman who +professes anything but liberal opinions as respects the rights of his +fellow-creatures." He went on to explain that by liberal opinions he +meant "the generous, manly determination to let all enjoy equal +political rights, and to bring those to whom authority is necessarily +confided under the control of the community they serve." He despised +the cant that the people were their own worst enemies. So far from it, +he believed in widening the foundations of society by making +representation as real as possible, and thereby giving to every +interest in the state its fair measure of power; for no government, in +his eyes, could ever be just or pure in which the governors have +interests distinct from those of the governed. These opinions he put +sometimes in an extreme form. "I have never yet been in a country," he +said, "in which what are called the lower orders have not clearer and +sounder views than their betters, of the great principles which ought +to predominate in the control of human affairs." At the same time his +belief in democracy was not in the least one of unmixed admiration. He +was far from looking upon it as a perfect form of government. It was +only the one that, taking all things into consideration, was attended +with fewer evils and greater advantages than any other. It had faults +and dangers peculiar to itself. His liberal opinions, he took frequent +care to say, had nothing in common with the devices of demagogues who +teach the doctrine, that the voice of the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page084" name="page084"></a>(p. 084)</span> +people is the +voice of God; that the aggregation of fallible parts, acting, too, +with diminished responsibilities, forms an infallible whole.</p> + +<p>Along with this clear understanding of the advantages and +disadvantages of democracy there was mingled, however, a weakness of +feeling on the subject of position, which occasionally degenerated +into an almost ridiculous pettiness. This was especially true of his +later life. His utterances were sometimes so apparently contradictory, +however, that it is hard to tell whether justice has been done to his +real meaning on account of the difficulty of ascertaining what his +real meaning was. But he spoke often of "the gentry of America," as if +there were or could be here a class of gentlemen outside and +independent of those engaged in professions or occupations. He seemed +at times to attach that supreme importance to descent which we are +usually accustomed to see exhibited in this country only by those who +have little or nothing else to boast of. His contempt of trade and of +those employed in it had frequently about its expression a spice of +affectation. Moreover, he subjected himself to much misrepresentation +and ill-will by the manner in which he lectured his countrymen on the +distinctions that must prevail in society. There are certain things +which are everywhere recognized and quietly accepted: they only become +offensive when proclaimed. A man may unhesitatingly acquiesce in his +inferiority, socially, to one who is politically only his equal; but +he will very naturally resent a reference, by the latter, to the fact +of his social inferiority. A good deal of Cooper's later writings was +deformed by solemn commonplaces on the inevitable necessity of the +existence of class distinctions. This drew upon him the condemnation +of many who did +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page085" name="page085"></a>(p. 085)</span> +not look upon the expression of such views +as an offense against truth, but as an offense against good manners. +To correct the folly of fools was itself folly; and wise men, no +matter what their station in life, did not thank him for the +instruction, the very giving of which implied an insult to their +intelligence. His remarks on the subject were never heeded, if indeed +they were ever read, by those for whom they were specially designed. +But to his enemies they furnished ample opportunities for +misrepresentation and abuse.</p> + +<p>But any account of Cooper would be of slight value that failed to take +notice of his love of country. No other man of letters has there been +in America, or perhaps in any other land, to whom this has been a +passion so absorbing. It entered into the very deepest feelings of his +heart. Even in the storm of calumny, which fell upon him in his later +years, if the flame of his patriotism seemed at times to die away, any +little circumstance was sure to revive it at once. No proclaimer of +"manifest destiny" ever had more faith than he in the imperial +greatness and grandeur to which the republic was to attain. All that +in vulgar minds took the shape of braggart boasting, was in his +idealized and glorified by his lofty conception of the majestic part +which his country was to play in deciding the destinies of mankind. In +spite of short-comings he deplored, of perils that he feared, firm in +his heart was the conviction that here was to be the home of the great +new race that was to rule the world. Other lands might look to the +future with hope or doubt; his own was as sure of it as if it lay +already in its grasp. This was a confidence that survived all changes, +and despised all forebodings. The question of slavery certainly +disturbed him, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page086" name="page086"></a>(p. 086)</span> +but it did not shake his trust. The +prophecies of the dissolution of the Union, current in Europe, he +laughed to scorn. Even in the days of nullification his faith never +wavered one jot. To no one, more justly than to him, could perpetual +thanks have been voted, because he never despaired of the republic.</p> + +<p>Cooper's lofty views of his country he soon found were essentially +different from those entertained abroad. The knowledge of America even +now possessed in Europe is not burdensomely great. But in 1830 its +ignorance was prodigious; and the nearest approach to interest was +usually the result of something of that same vague fear which haunted +the citizens of the Roman Empire at the possible perils to +civilization that might lie hid in the boundless depths of the German +forests. On the Continent the ignorance was greater than it was in +England, and Cooper had plenty of opportunities of witnessing the +exhibition of it. In the case of the common people he was amused by +it. That the whites who had emigrated to America had not yet become +entirely black; that it was reasonable to expect that time, while it +could not restore their original hue to these deteriorated Europeans +tanned to ebony, might in the revolution of the suns elevate them to a +fair degree of civilization; these, and similar sage opinions, did not +disturb him when uttered by the philosophers of the lower classes. Yet +their ignorance, great as it was, he found not to surpass materially +that of men who ought to have known better, so long as they pretended +to know at all. That the colonies had been settled by convicts, was a +common impression among the best educated. While residing in Paris +Cooper had the gratification of having his country quoted in the +French Chamber +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page087" name="page087"></a>(p. 087)</span> +of Deputies as an example of the possibility +of forming respectable communities by the transportation of criminals. +Even men who sympathized with republican institutions, he informs us, +did not think of denying the fact; they denied merely the inference. +The brilliant publicist, Paul Courier, had asserted it would be as +unjust to reproach the modern Romans with being descendants of +ravishers and robbers, as it would be to reproach the Americans with +being descendants of convicts. All could not be expected, however, to +be so liberal as this constitutional reformer. The gross vices which +in foreign opinion distinguished the inhabitants of the United States, +were held to be the natural consequences of their settlement by +felons. Cooper subsequently took care to furnish the sons of the +Puritans with all needful information as to the light in which their +fathers were viewed in Europe. At the time, however, it was far +different. Keenly sensitive to his country's honor, and knowing the +morals of his countrymen to be far higher than those of the men of any +other land, derogatory statements of this kind were galling in the +extreme.</p> + +<p>But it was the English opinion that Cooper resented most bitterly. +This was partly because he believed from the community of origin and +speech it ought to be better informed, and partly because he looked +upon it as responsible for many of the absurd and erroneous +impressions that prevailed in the rest of Europe. His feelings were +rendered still keener by the direct contact with English prejudice +which he had personally during his residence abroad. The attitude of +the Continent towards America was that of supreme ignorance and +indifference. But there was at the time something besides that +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page088" name="page088"></a>(p. 088)</span> +in the attitude of England, so far certainly as it was +represented by its periodical literature. In the most favorable cases +it was supercilious and patronizing, an attitude which never permits +the nation criticising to understand the nation criticised. There was +never any effort to penetrate into the real nature of the social and +political movements that were taking place on this side of the water. +Men were contented with the examination of mere external phenomena, +which, whether good or bad in themselves, belonged to a period of +growth and were certain to pass away. Not the slightest sympathy +existed with the feelings and aspirations of a people closely allied +in blood and speech, and the lack of desire involved the lack of +ability to enter into the spirit of their institutions. There was no +idea that there could be other types of character than those found on +British soil, or any room or reason for the play of other social and +political forces than were at work in British communities.</p> + +<p>At the time, however, that Cooper took up his residence in Europe +there was more than supercilious indifference in the character of +English criticism. There was steady misrepresentation and abuse, due +in a few cases to design, in more to ignorance, in most to that +disposition on the part of all men to believe readily what they wish +ardently. It made little difference whether the writer were Whig or +Tory. If anything the open dislike of the latter was preferable to the +patronizing regard of the former. In 1804 the poet Moore visited +America. He wrote home a number of poetical epistles, in which he told +his friends that he had found us old in our youth and blasted in our +prime. The demon gold was running loose; everything and everybody +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page089" name="page089"></a>(p. 089)</span> +was corrupt; truth, conscience, and virtue were regularly made +matters of barter and sale. A succession of English travelers repeated +from year to year the same dismal story, and their statements were +caught up and paraded and dwelt upon in the English periodical press. +In "The Quarterly Review," in particular, our condition was constantly +held up as an awful example of the results of democratic institutions +and universal suffrage. Certain facts and predictions had been +repeated so often that they came to be accepted and believed by all. +We spoke a dialect of the English tongue; our manners were bad, if we +could be said to have any at all; loyalty we could know nothing about, +because we had no king; religion we were entirely devoid of, because +there was no established church; the federation was steadily tending +towards monarchy; the wealthy were longing to be nobles; and the Union +could not last above a quarter of a century. Worse than all, intrigue +and bribery were sapping the national life; or to use a still favorite +phrase of the newspapers, though the repetition of a hundred years has +now made it somewhat stale, corruption was preying upon the vitals of +the republic.</p> + +<p>There is not the slightest exaggeration in these statements. Their +truth any one familiar with the periodical literature of that period +will least of all doubt. There was a perfect agreement between those +who visited us and described us and those who drew their description +from their imaginations. Nothing distinguished the English traveler or +the English reviewer so much as his piety, and his profound conviction +that religion could not exist where it was not carefully watched over +by an established church. Besides this inevitable moral destitution, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page090" name="page090"></a>(p. 090)</span> +we were irreclaimably given over to vulgarity. Manners there +could not be in a land abandoned to an unbridled democracy. In the +most praiseworthy instances even, men lacked that repose, that fine +tact, which were found universally in the higher orders in the mother +country. The defect was ineradicable, according to most; for it had +its baleful origin in popular institutions themselves. In justice it +must be added that there were some who, in consequence of the American +passion for traveling, entertained a mild hope that in time this +rudeness would wear away, and this total ignorance of good breeding +would be enlightened by the polish and refinement that would be picked +up from the quantity to be found scattered about foreign courts. The +published correspondence of that period is delicious in its frankness. +The Englishman, writing to his American friend, never descends from +his lofty position of censor both of great and petty morals. The +inferiority of manners in this country is a point insisted upon by the +former with an assiduity and assurance that are sufficient of +themselves to make clear how high was the breeding to which he himself +had attained. It makes little difference who write the letters. They +all express the same sentiments. They all offer advice as to the best +method America can take to retrieve the good opinion of Europe which +it has lost. They are careful to say that they entertain the kindest +of feelings to the United States; that they neglect no occasion of +doing justice to the good and wise that had found there a home. +Unfortunately these are few in number; and with a lofty sense of +justice they never fail to express disapprobation in strong terms of +the vast amount to be condemned in a land which had fallen under the +sway of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page091" name="page091"></a>(p. 091)</span> +a reckless democracy and a godless church. One +English gentleman in the British military service, after being some +time in this country, writes, after his return, to an American friend, +and thus cheerfully records his impressions. "The frightful effects +produced by an unrestrained democracy," he says, "the demoralizing +effects produced by universal suffrage never appeared to me so odious +as they do now by contrast with the good breeding, the order and +mutual support which all give to each other in this country, from the +highest to the lowest." This letter belongs to the year 1839, and it +only continues a line of remark common for the half-century previous. +Everything that came from America, if praised at all, was praised with +a qualification. Not a compliment could be uttered of an individual +without an implied disparagement of the land that gave him birth. The +record of every man who was well received in English society will bear +out this assertion. Scott wrote to Southey in 1819, that Ticknor was +"a wondrous fellow for romantic lore and antiquarian research, +<i>considering his country</i>." Even words of genuine affection were often +accompanied with an impertinence which has a delightfulness of its own +from the utter unconsciousness on the part of the writer or speaker of +having said anything out of the way. They were compliments of the kind +which intimated that the person addressed was a sort of redeeming +feature in a wild waste of desert. "You have taught us," writes in +1840 Mrs. Basil Montagu to Charles Sumner, "to think much more highly +of your country--from whom we have hitherto seen no such men."</p> + +<p>There is nothing to be gained in raking over at this day the ashes of +dead controversies and revilings. Americans +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page092" name="page092"></a>(p. 092)</span> +no longer read +the writings of the kind described, and Englishmen have largely +forgotten that they were ever written. The new commentators on our +habits and customs have taken up a new line of remark, and the new +prophets of woe foresee an entirely new class of calamities. But it +has been necessary to revive here the memory of the old charges and +forebodings, in order to show the state of feeling that would be +developed by them in a man of a peculiarly sensitive and proud nature, +such as was the subject of this biography. Rubbish as they may seem +now, they were to the men of that time a grievous sore. Whatever may +have been Cooper's feelings previously, it was not until after he had +resided for a while in Europe that any hostility towards England is +seen in his works. But there it soon began to manifest itself, though +at first rather in the way of defense than attack. As time went on it +increased rather than diminished. It largely affected his own fortunes +by the personal hostility it provoked in return. To some extent, +without doubt, his oft-repeated declaration was true, that in the +dependence then existing here upon foreign opinion, every American +author held his reputation at the mercy of the British reviewer. It +would be unjust to say that it seemed at one period almost as if +Cooper had sworn towards England undying hate. But it is certainly a +fact that he gave utterance to his inmost feelings when he described +it as a country that cast a chill over his affections, a country that +all men respected but that few men loved. Yet he had been brought up +in the school of the Federalist party, in which admiration for the +literature, policy, and morals of the motherland was taught as a duty; +in which every door was thrown open to visitors from England as an act +of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page093" name="page093"></a>(p. 093)</span> +hospitality due to kinsmen separated merely by the +accident of position. He himself tells us how, an ardent boy of +seventeen, he leaped for the first time upon the soil of Great +Britain, feeling for it a love almost as devoted as that which he bore +the land of his birth, and looking upon every native of it in the +light of a brother. It did not take him long to find out that the +fancied tie of kinship was not recognized, that it was even despised; +and that if he made friends, it must be in spite of his country, and +not because of it. His connection with the navy had also led him to be +keenly sensitive to the injustice and indignities connected with the +impressment of seamen. In his first voyage in a merchant ship he had +seen two native Americans taken from the vessel and forced into the +British service. His own captain even had on one occasion been seized, +though speedily liberated. There had also been an attempt to press a +Swede belonging to the crew, on the ground that his country and +England were in alliance, and the latter had therefore a right to his +help. These were not the acts to inspire devotion towards the people +who committed or who authorized them. The keen resentment Cooper felt +for the wrongs then perpetrated upon the American marine he afterward +expressed in his novels of "Wing-and-Wing" and "Miles Wallingford." He +never forgot those early experiences. When he came to reside in Europe +he was as little disposed to forgive the depreciation of his country +which he imputed, whether justly or unjustly, to English influence. +Distrust became dislike, and dislike deepened into hostility.</p> + +<p>There is little doubt that with a man of Cooper's nature the revulsion +from his original feelings would tend to swing him to the opposite +extreme; that, as a consequence +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page094" name="page094"></a>(p. 094)</span> +of that, he would often +fancy insult where none was intended, and impute to design conduct +that was the result of chance or even of personal timidity. But making +full allowance for this inevitable source of error, there was plenty +of reason furnished for offense to a man whose personal pride was +equal to that of the whole British aristocracy, and whose pride in his +country exceeded even his personal pride. The ignorant criticism which +amused most Americans was apt to make him indignant. No compliment, in +particular, could be paid with safety to him individually at the +expense of his country. This was a practice, however, which the +Englishmen of that day seemed to regard as the consummate crown of +adulation. Depreciation of America of any sort he resented at once. If +conversation touched upon matters discreditable to the United +States--which was far from being an uncommon topic--it was very much +his practice, instead of listening to it patiently, to bring up +matters discreditable to Great Britain. There was unquestionably ample +material on both sides with which each could blacken the other. But +while this tended to make the conversation less monotonous, it +likewise tended to make the converser less popular. Cooper lost early +by his bearing in English society much of the favor which he had won +from his writings. To this we have positive evidence. It is +specifically mentioned in the sketch of his life, which along with his +portrait appeared in 1831 in Colburn's "New Monthly Magazine." The +article went on, after mentioning this fact, to pay a tribute to his +somewhat aggressive patriotism. "Yet he seems," it said, "to claim +little consideration on the score of intellectual greatness; he is +evidently prouder of his birth than of his genius; and looks, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page095" name="page095"></a>(p. 095)</span> +speaks, and walks as if he exulted more in being recognized as an +American citizen than as the author of 'The Pilot' and 'The Prairie.'"</p> + +<p>To a man whose heart was thus full of the future glories of the +republic, the indifference and neglect with which it was regarded +could not but be galling. Still this was nothing to the positive +contempt which often manifested itself in social slights that could be +felt but could not well be resented. This was especially noticeable in +the case of the legations, the conduct of which was largely under the +control of the home government. The English policy was here in marked +contrast to that of Russia, which, even at that early day, cultivated +almost ostentatiously friendship with America. Between the legations +of these two countries there was always the best of understandings. +The direct contrary often prevailed between the ministers of Great +Britain and of the United States. The influence of the former was +frequently thought to be exerted to the social injury of the latter. +Whether true or false, this was generally believed. Cooper certainly +credited it and looked forward to the time when the whole attitude of +England would be altered. We were then less than twelve millions in +population; but the day would come when we should be fifty millions. +The existing state of things would then be changed. You and I may not +live to see it, he wrote substantially to his friends, but our sons +and grandsons will. They may not like us any better, but they will +take care to hide their feelings. Strong resentment sometimes drove +him into taking up positions he would not in his cooler moments have +maintained. "As one citizen of the republic," he wrote, "however +insignificant, I have no notion of being blackguarded and vituperated +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page096" name="page096"></a>(p. 096)</span> +half a century and then cajoled into forgetfulness at the +suggestion of fear and expediency, as circumstances render our +good-will of importance." Not one of these slights and insults would +he have the fifty millions forget. He did not bear in mind that fifty +millions could not afford to remember. It was like asking the man of +middle life to revenge upon the sons the indignities which the boy had +received from the fathers.</p> + +<p>Cooper's residence in England was only for a few months during the +first half of the year 1828. With his feelings towards that country +and with the feeling entertained in it toward his own, nothing could +have made his stay highly pleasant. But it is one of the numerous +minor falsehoods that came to be connected with his life, that it was +unpleasant. On the contrary, his company was sought by many of the +most distinguished men, though in accordance with his usual custom he +carried no letters of introduction. At a later period he said that in +no country had he been personally so well treated as in England; he +was as strongly convinced as his worst enemy, that as an author he had +been extolled there beyond his merits; nor had he failed to receive +quite as much substantial remuneration as he could properly lay claim +to. But the social atmosphere there prevailing was not the atmosphere +he loved. The poet Moore relates in his diary a story told him by +Sydney Smith of the "touchiness" of "the Republican"--so the American +novelist is styled--as evinced by the indignation of the latter at the +conduct of Lord Nugent. This nobleman, it appears, invited Cooper to +take a walk with him to a certain street. Arriving there he +unceremoniously entered the house +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page097" name="page097"></a>(p. 097)</span> +of a friend and left his +companion to make his way back alone. Cooper's resentment of the +treatment may have been unwisely shown; for though often termed an +aristocrat, he never exhibited in the slightest degree that reticence +which is or is supposed to be the peculiar characteristic of +aristocracy. But few would now be found to deny that his indignation +was both natural and just, and that the act of Lord Nugent was the act +of a boor and not of a gentleman. It was certainly unreasonable to +expect that a society which could rejoice in this method of rebuking +republican pretension could itself be agreeable to a republican. +Cooper could not but be offended by the prejudices he found existing +against his country and the dislike usually felt and sometimes +expressed for it. The only man he met whom he thought well informed +about America was Sir James Mackintosh. The ignorance of some of his +friends was so great that even to him it caused amusement rather than +anger. Many readers will have heard of the practice of "gouging," with +which, according to the veracious English traveler of early days, the +native American gave the charm of diversity and diversion to a life +whose serious thoughts were wholly absorbed in the acquisition of +pelf. Some will remember the definition given of it in Grose's +"Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue:" "to squeeze out a man's eye with +the thumb; a cruel practice used by the Bostonians in America." A +curious illustration of the belief in this myth occurred to Cooper. +One of his friends in England was an amiable and pleasant man of +letters, named William Sotheby, little heard of in these days; and +even in his own days he had to endure the double degradation of being +called a small poet by the small poets themselves. He +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page098" name="page098"></a>(p. 098)</span> was at +this time an old gentleman of over seventy, and was preparing to make +a creditable close to his career by performing the task, which seems +to assume the shape of a duty to every literary Englishman of leisure, +of translating the Iliad and the Odyssey. Not unnaturally he was more +familiar with the way the wrath of Achilles manifested itself than +with the shape taken by the wrath of the men of his race beyond the +sea. On one occasion he condoled with Cooper because of the +quarrelsomeness and fighting prevalent in America, making during this +expression of his sympathy an obvious allusion to gouging. It was +useless to attempt setting him right. His interest in ancient fiction +had not been so absorbing as to close his mind to the acquisition of +modern fact; and to Cooper's denial of what he had implied he listened +with a polite but incredulous smile.</p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VI. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page099" name="page099"></a>(p. 099)</span></h2> + +<h3>1828-1833.</h3> + + +<p>Misrepresentation and abuse of his native land it was not in Cooper's +nature to bear in silence. His resentment for the imputations cast +upon his country began to show itself soon after he had taken up his +residence abroad. In "The Red Rover," which appeared in 1827, there +are satirical references to the benevolence and piety of the moral +missionaries which England had sent among us, and to the correctness +and wisdom of current foreign opinion. In the next novel, "The Wept of +Wish-ton-Wish," his feelings are still more fully expressed. In this +work he puts into the mouth of one of the characters, a physician, an +elaborate disquisition upon the degeneracy of man in America. In the +course of it the leech informs his opponent that the science and +wisdom and philosophy of Europe had been exceedingly active in the +investigation of this matter of colonial inferiority, that they had +proved to their own perfect satisfaction, which was the same thing as +disposing of the question without appeal, that man and beast, plant +and tree, hill and dale, lake, pond, sun, air, fire, and water were +all wanting in some of the perfectness of the old regions. It was +plain we could never hope to reach the exalted excellence they enjoy; +and while he respected the patriotism that held the contrary view, he +could not, out of deference to it, afford to doubt what had +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page100" name="page100"></a>(p. 100)</span> +been demonstrated by science and collected by learning.</p> + +<p>It was not in this indirect way, however, that he could content +himself with defending his country. No sooner had he lived in Europe +long enough to become acquainted with the erroneous impressions there +prevalent, in regard to America, than he set out to prepare a work +which should expose their falsity. In it he determined to lay the +precise facts before a public which was indisposed to believe anything +to the credit, and disposed to believe everything to the discredit of +democratic institutions. On the face of it, this was a futile +undertaking, no matter how praiseworthy its motive. Nations, no more +than individuals, are convinced by what other nations say of +themselves; it is only by what they do. In this particular case the +difficulty was rendered more insurmountable by the fact that these +erroneous impressions prevailed among those who did not care enough +about the matter to investigate it seriously, and who would be certain +in most cases to refrain from investigating it at all, had they a +suspicion that their preconceived beliefs would be overthrown or even +shaken, as a result of their examination. The question naturally +arises, whether such men could be convinced by facts and arguments, +and if so, whether they were worth the trouble of convincing. Why +grudge the adherents of a dying cause the dismal enjoyment they +receive from contemplating the ruin that is always being wrought, or +is always to be wrought, by Democracy to Democracy? Experience led +Cooper subsequently to see the uselessness of the experiment he, in +this instance, tried. When asked at a later period why some efforts +were not made to correct the false notions prevalent in +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page101" name="page101"></a>(p. 101)</span> +Europe in regard to America, he answered with perfect truth then, that +no favorable account would be acceptable; that it would not be enough +to confess our real faults, but we should be required to confess the +precise faults that, according to the opinions of that quarter of the +world, we were morally, logically, and politically bound to possess. +By the wide circulation of his fictions he, in truth, did more to +remove wrong impressions, dissipate prejudices, and open the eyes of +Europe to a knowledge of American life and manners, than could have +been accomplished by the longest and most ponderous array of +indisputable facts.</p> + +<p>Facts, however, he at this time purposed to furnish. Accordingly, on +the 13th of August, 1828, appeared a work entitled, "Notions of the +Americans, Picked up by a Traveling Bachelor." Whatever its actual +success, it was a relative failure. Cooper himself tells us that it +occasioned him a heavy pecuniary loss. Manner and matter, both +foredoomed it to the fate which it met. The plan of it was an +unfortunate one as well as a purely artificial one. The views and +observations and statements of fact are put into the mouth of a +European traveling bachelor, a member of a club of cosmopolites, who, +in consequence of meeting an American, named Cadwallader, is persuaded +to visit and see for himself the new world. Arriving there he writes +letters to his friends, giving an account of his impressions. The +fiction of foreign authorship was the first mistake. It could not +mislead any one, nor was it intended to mislead any one. But a grave +didactic treatise which was designed to convey a truthful impression, +lost something and gained nothing by being connected with any +artifice, even though not meant to impose upon the reader. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page102" name="page102"></a>(p. 102)</span> +Nor was the work interesting to one not specially interested in the +subject. To the American it gave the strongest assurances of loyalty +to republican institutions on the part of her most widely-known man of +letters; but it added little or nothing to the information of which he +was already in possession. On the other hand, the laudatory style in +which this country was invariably spoken of was certain to be +offensive to those whom it was the design of the work to enlighten. +The weight of matter, moreover, was not rendered any more endurable by +lightness of treatment. At the present day the work is chiefly +interesting for the keen observations that are found in it, and for +its remarks upon the future of the country rather than upon its then +existing state. Cooper's predictions were concerned with the minutest, +as well as the greatest subjects. They ranged all the way from the +indefinite assurance, that New York must eventually become the +gastronomic capital of the globe, to the precise statement, as to the +exact number of the population there would be in the United States +fifty years from the time in which he was writing. This last prophecy, +it is to be said, has turned out singularly true. He fixed the number +at fifty millions. That this was no chance guess, but a carefully +worked out computation, is evident from the fact that he repeats it +several times in this work and occasionally in later ones. He, +moreover, assigned definitely forty-three millions to the whites and +seven millions to the blacks.</p> + +<p>It is not for an American to find fault with the laudatory tone of a +work which reflects the ardent love of country felt by the writer. Yet +in many respects it is a singular production. In manner it is calm, +grave, almost +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page103" name="page103"></a>(p. 103)</span> +philosophical; there is not the slightest +effort at fine writing; the tone can never be said to be even fervid. +Yet it must be confessed that not in the most exalted of Fourth of +July orations does the national eagle scream with a shriller note, or +wing his way with a more unflagging flight. Any one who formed his +notions of this country exclusively from this book, would be sure to +fancy that here at last paradise was reopening to the children of a +fallen race. After this remark, it may seem ridiculous, and yet it is +perfectly just to say, that Cooper, so far from giving way to +exaggeration in his assertions, kept himself well within the bounds of +the truth. In the exercise of that duty which presses heavily upon +every reviewer, to seem, if not to be wiser than his author, many of +the English periodicals, even those most favorable to America, +undertook to doubt his statements of fact, to sneer at his prophecies +of the future as ludicrous exaggerations, and to term them striking +and whimsical instances of Yankee braggadocio, and of the love of +building castles in the air. Cooper could not well overstate the +material prosperity and progress of the country, nor the inability of +men trained under different conditions either to believe it or to +comprehend it. Reality soon outran some of his most daring +anticipations. His most extravagant statements were speedily more than +confirmed by the operation of agencies whose mighty results he could +not foresee, because, when he wrote, the agencies themselves did not +exist. He had carefully guarded himself in one instance, by saying +that he did not expect that the Northwest would be settled within an +early period. The precaution was unnecessary. He had been brought up +in a town, founded in the wilderness, at a distance of less than +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page104" name="page104"></a>(p. 104)</span> +one hundred and fifty miles from the commercial capital of the +republic. He lived long enough to see the frontiers of civilization +pushed one thousand miles west of the line it had held in his +boyhood's home.</p> + +<p>Any wrong impression, therefore, which the work conveyed was not due +to the spirit of braggadocio pervading it, as asserted and commented +upon by the English reviewers. No false statement was made +intentionally; there were very few that were made mistakenly. But +though Cooper purposed to tell nothing but truth about his country, he +did not feel himself under obligation to tell all the truth. The +attention was almost exclusively directed to that side of the national +character which lent itself most readily to favorable treatment. What +was unfavorable was either omitted altogether, or was very lightly +passed over. One letter alone, and that not a long one, was devoted to +slavery. It is plain that he was annoyed by it; to some extent, in +spite of his confidence, disquieted by it, though the dangers he +feared were not the dangers that actually came. Even at that early day +there was enough to trouble the lover of his country in the criticism +it encountered, for the glaring contrast between its professions of +liberty and its practice; but far more in the dimly-seen shape of that +gigantic struggle which, though itself vague and undefined, was +already beginning to cast its lowering shadow over the future of the +republic. So in a similar manner the literature, architecture, and art +of America were passed over in a few pages, while letter after letter +was given up to a description of its progress in wealth and comfort. +Yet no one knew better than Cooper,--at a later period he took care +his countrymen should not forget it,--that of all standards by which +to test national glory, the material standard +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page105" name="page105"></a>(p. 105)</span> +is in itself +the lowest and most vulgar; and that the difference in real greatness +between two places can never be measured by the comparative amount of +sugar, or salt, or flour sold in each. Yet he remembered then, what +later he seemed to forget, that the necessity of conquering the +continent, of making it inhabitable for man, was at the time and must +continue long to remain a very positive hindrance to the development +of literary and artistic ability, because by the immense rewards it +offered it attracted to the development of material resources the +intellect and vigor of the entire land.</p> + +<p>Cooper tells us, as has been said, that he lost money on this work. +But there was something more than pecuniary failure that attended it. +There were in it statements which met with disfavor at home. More +important than these, however, were remarks that aroused personal +hostility abroad. He made several references, in particular, to the +people of England, and they were not of a kind to conciliate regard +for himself and his work. In one place he spoke of the society of that +country as being more repulsive, artificial, and cumbered, and, in +short, more absurd and frequently less graceful than that of any other +European nation. Theoretically, the English care nothing for foreign +opinion. They have said it so often among themselves that most of them +look upon it as a point which has been settled by the consent of +mankind. But like many other beliefs it has become an article of faith +without having become an article of practice. To this extent it is +true that they care nothing for the remarks of obscure men of which +they never hear. On the other hand, no nation is more sensitive to +contemporary foreign opinion, coming from +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page106" name="page106"></a>(p. 106)</span> +writers of +distinction. There will be plenty of instances furnished in this one +biography to prove fully this assertion. Cooper's attack was never +forgotten or forgiven. From this time there was a distinctly hostile +feeling manifested toward him in many of the English periodicals. Even +before his next work appeared, London correspondents of American +newspapers announced that it was going to be severely criticised, +inasmuch as the novelist had made himself unpopular in England by the +comments made and the views put forth in the "Notions of the +Americans." If this were not true, it was at least believed to be +true. Certainly the fact of hostility steadily increasing from this +period, on the part of the British press, cannot be denied, whatever +we may think of the causes that brought it about. Nor did it stop +short with depreciation of his works. Literary criticism, even if +based merely upon personal dislike, can always resort with safety to +the cheap defense that it is honest. But there were reviewers who went +farther, who framed for Cooper imaginary feelings and then proceeded +to assail him for having them. He was accused, especially, of pluming +himself highly upon the title of the "American Scott." Hazlitt, for +instance, seeing him strutting, as he terms it, in the streets of +Paris, was enabled to detect by the way the novelist walked the way he +felt upon this special matter, and afterward to state the conclusion +at which he had arrived as a positive fact. Similar specimens of fine +critical insight into Cooper's motives and sentiments can be found +scattered up and down the pages of English journals.</p> + +<p>At the time he was bringing out "The Water Witch" in Germany, the +revolution in France took place +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page107" name="page107"></a>(p. 107)</span> +that resulted in the +expulsion of the Bourbons and the calling of Louis Philippe to the +throne. Paris became at once the Mecca to which the lovers of liberty +throughout Europe resorted. Thither Cooper hastened from his home in +Dresden. He reached the city in August, 1830. There he watched with +the profoundest interest the political movements that were going on +about him. The reactionary tendencies that early began to manifest +themselves in the rule of the Citizen King, brought to him the same +disappointment and the same disgust that it did to all the ardent +republicans of the Old World. There is much in what he says to remind +the reader of the feelings expressed by Heine, who had likewise +hurried to Paris after the July revolution, and who was venting his +indignation and contempt in the columns of the Augsburg "Allgemeine +Zeitung." Occasional passages bear even a close similarity. Cooper on +one occasion describes Louis Philippe walking about among his subjects +wearing a white hat, carrying a red umbrella, and evidently laboring +to act in an easy and affable manner. "In short," he said in a phrase +that might have been written by the great German, "he was +condescending with all his might."</p> + +<p>Close upon the revolution in France followed the revolt of Poland. The +insurrection lasted about ten months, and during its progress the +feelings of Cooper were profoundly stirred in behalf of that people. +With this his personal friendship with the Polish poet, Mickiewicz, +had probably a great deal to do; for at Rome a close intimacy had +sprung up between him and that author. At a meeting, held in Paris on +the 4th of July, 1831, at which Cooper presided, a sum of money was +contributed to aid the revolters in their struggle. He presided +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page108" name="page108"></a>(p. 108)</span> +also at other meetings to advance the same cause, and acted as +chairman of a committee to raise funds to assist the Polish soldiers +who were fighting for independence, and when this failed, to relieve +the exiles in their distress. Two addresses to the American people +signed by him in his official capacity--one written in July, 1831, and +the other in June, 1832--appeared in the American papers of those +years; and the fervor that characterizes them both leaves little doubt +as to their authorship.</p> + +<p>Into the great struggle going on in Europe, either openly or silently +between aristocracy and democracy, he now, indeed, threw himself with +his whole heart. In certain respects this was a disadvantage. Whenever +Cooper's feelings on political subjects were aroused, his literary +work betrayed the obtrusion of interests more dominating than those +which belong to it legitimately. This was manifested in the three +tales which followed. In them the scene of action was not only +transferred to European soil, but a direct attempt was avowedly made +to apply American principles to European facts. These novels were "The +Bravo," which appeared November 29, 1831; "The Heidenmauer," which +appeared September 25, 1832; and "The Headsman," which appeared +October 18, 1833. The purpose of all these was the direct exaltation +of republican institutions, and likewise the exposure of those which +paraded in the garb of liberty without possessing its reality. The +scenes of two were accordingly laid in the aristocratic cities of +Venice and of Berne. The first of the three is generally spoken of as +the best, especially by those who have read none of them at all. +Little difference will be found, as a matter of fact, between "The +Bravo" and "The +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page109" name="page109"></a>(p. 109)</span> +Headsman" as regards literary merit. "The +Heidenmauer" is, however, distinctly inferior, and is in truth one of +the most tedious novels that Cooper ever wrote. All were, however, +animated by the same spirit. They all assailed oligarchical, and +lauded democratic institutions. They were full of denunciations of the +accommodating stupidity of patricians who were never able to see +anything beneficial to the interests of the state in what was +injurious to the interests of their own order. In particular, the +doctrine was held up to derision, that while to the ignorant and the +low there was ample power given to suffer, there was no power given to +understand; and that consequently it was their duty always to obey and +never to criticise.</p> + +<p>In writing this series Cooper was undertaking what was on the face of +it a hazardous experiment. The peril was not, as thoughtless criticism +has had it, in transferring his scenes and characters to a foreign +soil. Human nature suffers no material change in passing from America +to Europe. The danger lay in the fact that these were novels written +with a purpose. The story was not told for its own sake, but for the +sake of enforcing certain political opinions. It required, therefore, +unusual skill in its construction and in the management of its +details. For whatever may be the exact truth contained in the doctrine +of art for art's sake, this is certainly clear, that in a work of +fiction designed to advance successfully any cause, or support any +theory, the didactic element must be made entirely subordinate to the +purely creative element. Otherwise we impart to the novel the +tediousness of a homily without its accepted authority. Art must be +wooed as a mistress; she can never be commanded as a slave. He, +therefore, who +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page110" name="page110"></a>(p. 110)</span> +seeks to press fiction into a work so foreign +to its nature as the inculcation of political opinions, must, if he +hopes to succeed, make the story suggest the lesson without conveying +it obtrusively. Above all is there need of delicate touch and skillful +handling, if the aim be to affect those who are prejudiced against the +views expressed, or whose interests are involved in the fate of those +attacked. But Cooper's was never a delicate touch. What he thought he +never insinuated; what he believed himself he never allowed to make +its way indirectly into the minds of others. He always uttered it +boldly, and sometimes offensively. Effective this assuredly is in +compositions of a certain class; but it is entirely out of place in a +work of fiction. In the case of these particular novels the purpose is +avowed openly and repeatedly. Cooper, indeed, takes care never to let +it escape the reader's attention. He may almost be said to stand by +his shoulder to jog him if he once happens to forget that the story +has a moral. American institutions, especially, were constantly held +up as models in which the best results were seen, and which it was the +policy of all other countries to imitate. The course taken was a mark +of patriotism; but it was not the way to gain converts. It is, in +truth, the misfortune of the novelist, burdened with a moral purpose, +that the reader usually feels the burden and is not affected by the +moral. It was not by methods like these that Scott threw about +chivalry and aristocracy that glamour which outlasts the most minute +acquaintance with the reality, and influences the imagination in spite +of the protest of the judgment.</p> + +<p>But another result that followed from writing novels with a purpose, +had a more direct influence upon his reputation. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page111" name="page111"></a>(p. 111)</span> +It made it +impossible that his work should any longer be criticised fairly. This +was immediately seen in the case of "The Bravo." This novel had far +more success in Europe than in America. But the success was not of a +legitimate kind. Parties were at once arrayed for it or against it, +not because it was a good or bad production from a literary point of +view, but according as men sympathized with or were hostile to the +political principles it advocated. It was not the merit of the work +that came under consideration, but the merit of the cause. This at +once destroyed almost entirely the value of any criticism which the +story received.</p> + +<p>A little while before "The Bravo" appeared, Cooper was unwillingly led +to take part in a controversy which, according to his own view, was +the remote cause of the hostility he afterwards encountered in his own +land. It was at the time that the movement began on the part of Louis +Philippe to separate himself from the liberals, of whom Lafayette was +the chief representative. A discussion had arisen, in the French +Chamber of Deputies, on the desirability of a reduction in the +expenses of government. It gave rise to a controversy which extended +much beyond the body in which it originated. Lafayette had advocated +greater economy. In the course of the debate mentioned, he had +referred to the United States as being a country which was cheaply +governed, and at the same time well governed. The periodical press at +once took up the question. M. Saulnier, one of the editors of the +"Revue Britannique," came out with an article, the direct object of +which was to prove that a government of three powers, such as was the +limited monarchy recently established, was not so expensive as +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page112" name="page112"></a>(p. 112)</span> +that of a republic. In particular, he claimed that the tax levied +per head on the citizens of France was less than that similarly levied +on the citizens of the United States. This was a direct attack upon +Lafayette, who had for forty years been maintaining that the +government of this country was the cheapest known. The attention of +Cooper was called to this article, and he was asked to reply. He +declined. A little later it was made clear to him that the object with +which it was written was to injure Lafayette. The matter then assumed +another aspect. To that statesman Cooper was bound by ties of intimate +personal friendship and by a common love of this country. At a public +dinner, which had been given to Lafayette on the 8th of December, +1830, by the Americans in Paris, Cooper had presided, and in a speech +of marked fervor and ability, he had dwelt upon the debt due from the +United States to the gallant Frenchman, who had ventured fortune and +life to aid a nation struggling against great odds to be free. It was +not in his nature to have his deeds give the lie to his words. The +fact above mentioned at once overcame his reluctance to engage in the +controversy. Accordingly in December, 1831, appeared a "Letter to +General Lafayette," preceded by a letter from Lafayette to himself, +dated the 22d of November. This was a pamphlet of fifty pages, in +which he went into the subject of the cost of the United States +government. It produced an immediate reply from M. Saulnier, who went +over the ground again, and with a fine air of candor affected to +revise his previous statements. As a result he made the cost of the +American government a little larger than he had done before. To this +Cooper replied in a series of letters published in the "National." +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page113" name="page113"></a>(p. 113)</span> +The controversy would have ended sooner than it did, had it +not been for the appearance of a fresh actor on the scene. This was a +certain Mr. Leavitt Harris. He nominally belonged to New Jersey, but a +large share of his life had been spent in Russia, and his political +notions had apparently become acclimated to that region. He wrote an +article on the subject in the shape of a letter to M. Francois +Delassert, the vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies. In it he +took ground opposite to that taken by Cooper, controverted his facts, +and denied his inferences. So great weight was attached to it by the +French government party that it was published as a supplementary +number of the "Revue Britannique." Mr. Harris had once been left as +<i>chargé d'affaires</i> at St. Petersburg during the absence of John Adams +at the peace negotiations at Ghent. His letter was accordingly dwelt +upon as the production of an American who had been intrusted by his +government with high diplomatic position. We who know out of what +stuff our foreign agents are sometimes made, would not be likely to +attach much weight to the mere fact. But to a foreign nation the +opinion of an official seemed naturally more trustworthy than that of +a private citizen.</p> + +<p>To the letter of Mr. Harris, Cooper replied on the 3d of May, 1832. +This closed the discussion, at least so far as he was +concerned.<a id="notetag001" name="notetag001"></a><a href="#note001">[1]</a> +But the controversy was followed by circumstances of a mortifying +character. After the return to America of the United States minister, +William <span class="pagenum"><a id="page114" name="page114"></a>(p. 114)</span> +C. Rives, Mr. Harris was nominated by the President, +and confirmed by the Senate early in March, 1833, as <i>chargé +d'affaires</i>; and this office he held until the arrival of Edward +Livingston, who was appointed minister on the 3d of May of the same +year. Previously to this discreditable act, the Department of State +had committed one of imbecility. It had issued a circular to the +different local authorities of the Union with avowed reference to the +finance controversy. Its purport was a request for them to furnish +information in regard to the amount of public expenditures over which +they had control. Against this course Cooper protested at once in a +long and vigorous letter to the American people, written on the 10th +of December, 1832, from Vevay, Switzerland, and first printed in the +Philadelphia "National Gazette." He took the ground that in such a +discussion local burdens ought not to be included. It was, in fact, by +confusing various kinds of taxation, and taxation for various objects, +that the French government party had been able to make any showing for +their own side. The letter was widely circulated, and seems to have +served its purpose in suppressing the information that had been asked.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately it was not the administration alone that displayed a +lack of proper sentiment in this controversy. It is far from being a +creditable thing in the history of the country that Cooper was +subjected to constant attack, and even abuse, in the American +newspapers, for his conduct in this finance discussion. He had been +particularly careful to confine his remarks to the cost of government +in the United States. He had not touched at all upon the cost of +government in France. Yet he was charged with having overstepped the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page115" name="page115"></a>(p. 115)</span> +reserve imposed upon foreigners, and of having attacked the +administration of a friendly country. The accusation was constantly +made against him that he went about "flouting his Americanism +throughout Europe," and in this particular case that he had overrated +the importance of the controversy, and also the importance of the part +he had taken in it. He had, in fact, aroused the hostility of that +section of Americans, insignificant in number and ability, but +sometimes having social position, who prefer the conveniences of +despotism to the inconveniences of liberty. To such men Cooper's +intense nationality was a standing reproach. His reputation, moreover, +made their own littleness especially conspicuous. Depreciation of him, +and of his rank as a man of letters, was a necessity of their case. As +they did not express openly their real feelings, they carried on at +advantage a war against a man who never had the prudence to hide what +he thought. Yet among the better class of Americans abroad, Cooper's +attachment to his native land received the recognition it merited. +"Cooper's new book, 'The Bravo,'" wrote Horatio Greenough, from Paris, +to Rembrandt Peale, in November, 1831, "is taking wonderfully here. If +you could transfuse a little of that man's love of country and +national pride into the leading members of our high society, I think +it would leaven them all."</p> + +<p>But the attacks in the American newspapers made a painful impression +upon a mind that was morbidly sensitive to criticism even from the +most insignificant of men. For an act of generous patriotism for which +he deserved the thanks of all his countrymen he had received +vilification from many of them. These things embittered him. They made +him distrustful of the spirit that prevailed in +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page116" name="page116"></a>(p. 116)</span> +his own +land. He began to fancy that the country had gone back instead of +forward in national feeling during the years of his absence. He had +determined to return, because he was unwilling to have his children +brought up on foreign soil and under foreign influences. But for +himself he resolved to abandon literature. As soon as he had finished +the manuscript he had in hand, he would give up all further thought of +writing. "The quill and I are divorced," he wrote to Greenough in +June, 1833, "and you cannot conceive the degree of freedom, I could +almost say of happiness, I feel at having got my neck out of the +halter." Longings for his old sea-life often came over him. "You must +not be surprised," he wrote, half-jestingly, to the same friend, "if +you hear of my sailing a sloop between Cape Cod and New York." But he +had no definite plans marked out. The only thing about which his mind +was made up was not to write any more.</p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VII. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page117" name="page117"></a>(p. 117)</span></h2> + +<h3>1833-1838.</h3> + + +<p>On the fifth of November, 1833, Cooper landed at New York. For a few +winters that followed he made that city his place of residence. The +summers he spent in Cooperstown. To this village he paid a visit in +June, 1834, after having been away from it entirely for about sixteen +years. The recollections of his early life had always endeared it to +his memory, and in it he now determined to take up his permanent +abode. Accordingly he acquired possession of his father's old place, +which for a long period had remained unoccupied. The house had +received from the inhabitants the name of Templeton Hall, with a +direct reference to "The Pioneers." Everything about it was rapidly +hastening to ruin. Cooper at once began repairs upon it, and after +these had been fully completed he made it his only residence. It was +in this little village, upon the shore of the lake which his pen has +made famous, that he spent the remainder of his life. There he wrote +nearly all the works which he produced after his return to his native +land. Its seclusion and quiet gave him ample opportunities for +undisturbed literary exertion; the beauty of the surroundings +ministered constantly to his passion for scenery; and of the world +outside he saw sufficient to satisfy his wishes in the frequent +journeys which business compelled him to make to the great cities.</p> + +<p>Yet, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page118" name="page118"></a>(p. 118)</span> +though his latter days were spent in the country, the +life he led henceforward deserves anything but the name of a pastoral. +With the return from Europe begins the epic period of Cooper's career. +The next ten years, in particular, were years of battle and storm. He +had been criticised harshly and unjustly; he came back prepared and +disposed to criticise. His feelings found expression at once. The +America to which he had returned seemed to him much worse than that +from which he had gone. In his opinion nearly everything had +deteriorated. Manners, morals, the whole spirit of the nation, struck +him as being on a lower level. Yet the change was not really in the +people; it was in himself. The country had been moving on in the line +of its natural bustling development; he, on the contrary, had been +going back in sentiment. In one particular there was a certain +justification for the dislike expressed by him for the novel things he +saw. The business of the entire land was in a feverish condition. The +Erie Canal, completed the year before his departure for Europe, had +opened an unbroken water way from the Atlantic sea-board to the +farthest shores of the great lakes. To this stimulus to population and +trade was added the expected stimulus of the railroad system, then in +its infancy. Both together were disclosing, though more to the +imagination than to the eye, the wealth that lay hid in the unsettled +regions of the West. They were active agents, therefore, in creating +one of those periods of speculative prosperity which are sure to recur +when any new and unforeseen avenue to sudden fortune is laid open. The +immense field for endeavor revealed by the prospective establishment +of flourishing communities reacted unfavorably upon +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page119" name="page119"></a>(p. 119)</span> the +intellectual movement which had begun in a feeble way to show itself +twenty years before. The attraction of mighty enterprises which held +out to the hope promises of the highest temporal triumphs, was a +competition that mere literary and scholastic pursuits, with their +doubtful success and precarious rewards, could not well maintain. The +country certainly went back for a time in higher things in consequence +of that rapid material progress which drew to its further development +the youthful energy and ability of the entire land. To make money and +to make it rapidly seemed to be the one object of life.</p> + +<p>Such a fever of speculative prosperity wholly absorbing the thoughts +and activities of men in the acquisition of wealth, would have been +viewed by Cooper at any time with indifference, even if it did not +inspire disgust. But a greater change than he knew had come over him. +It is clear that he had now grown largely out of sympathy with the +energy and enterprise which were doing so much to build up the +prosperity and power of his country. His nature had come into a +profound sympathy with the quiet, the culture, and the polish of the +lands he had left behind. His spirit could no longer be incited by the +romance that lay hid in the fiery energies of trade. In the +tumultuousness of the life about him, he could see little but a +restless and vulgar exertion for the creation of wealth. The perpetual +bustle and change were not to his taste. He spoke of it afterwards, in +one of his works, with a certain grim humor peculiarly his own. +America he said, was a country for alibis. The whole nation was in +motion; and everybody was everywhere, and nobody was anywhere.</p> + +<p>Feelings of this kind had begun to come over him long +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page120" name="page120"></a>(p. 120)</span> before +his return from abroad. He had been affected by his surroundings to an +extent of which he was only vaguely conscious. While in Europe he +admitted that he found growing in his nature a strong distaste for the +common appliances of common life. He had not been long in Florence +before these sentiments found utterance. "I begin to feel," he wrote, +"I could be well content to vegetate here for one half of my life, to +say nothing of the remainder." He drew sharp distinctions between +commercial towns and capitals. Even in Italy, Leghorn with its growing +trade, its bales of merchandise, its atmosphere filled with the breath +of the salt sea mixed with the smell of pitch and tar, seemed mean and +vulgar after the refinement and world-old beauty of Florence. He +acknowledged that the languor and repose of towns which glory simply +in their collections and recollections, were far more suited to his +feelings than the activity and tumult of towns whose glory lies in +their commercial enterprises. This preference is not uncommon among +cultivated men. But it is too much to ask of a nation that it shall +exist for the sake of gratifying the ęsthetic emotions of travelers. +The process of achieving greatness can never be so agreeable to the +looker-on as the sight of greatness achieved; but it is unhappily +often the case that many things, which the visitor regards as a charm, +the native feels to be a reproach.</p> + +<p>Besides the change of view in himself, there were some actual changes +in the country that were not temporary in their nature. The +constitution of society had altered at home during his residence +abroad, or was rapidly altering. The influence of the old colonial +aristocracy was fast dying out. New men were pushing to the wall +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page121" name="page121"></a>(p. 121)</span> +the descendants of the families that had flourished before the +Revolution, and had sought after it to keep up distinctions and +exclusiveness which the very success of the struggle in which they had +been concerned doomed to an early decay. This was especially +noticeable in New York. In such a city social rank must tend, in the +long run, to wait upon wealth. The result may be delayed, it cannot be +averted. Wealth, too, in most cases, will find its way to the hands of +those carrying on great commercial undertakings. That this class would +eventually become a controlling one in society, if not the controlling +one, was inevitable. It was not likely that men, who were bent on the +conquest of the continent, who revolved even in their dreams all forms +of the adventurous and the perilous, whose enterprise stopped short +only with the impossible, would be content long to submit to a +fictitious superiority on the part of those whose thoughts were so +taken up with the consideration of what their fathers had been or had +done that they forgot to be or to do anything themselves. Yet the +latter composed no small share of the class with which Cooper's early +associations had lain. He naturally sympathized with them rather than +with those who were displacing them. Trade began to seem to him +vulgar, and it was doubtless true that many engaged in it, who had +become rapidly rich, were vulgar enough. But he made no distinction. +He longed for the restoration of a state of things that had gone +forever by. He was disposed to feel dissatisfaction with much that was +taking place, not because it came into conflict with his judgment, but +because it jarred upon his tastes and prejudices.</p> + +<p>A residence in Europe for a few years had, indeed, done +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page122" name="page122"></a>(p. 122)</span> for +him what the coming-on of old age does for most. He had become the +eulogist of times past. The views which he expressed in private and in +public, during the decade that followed his return to America, were +not of the kind to make him popular with his countrymen. The manners +of the people were, according to him, decidedly worse than they were +twenty or thirty years before. The elegant deportment of women had +been largely supplanted by the rattle of hoydens and the giggling of +the nursery. The class of superior men of the quiet old school were +fast disappearing before the "wine-discussing, trade-talking, +dollar-dollar set" of the day. Under the blight of this bustling, +fussy, money-getting race of social Vandals, simplicity of manners had +died out, or was dying out. The architecture of the houses, like the +character of the society, was more ambitious than of old, but in far +worse taste; in a taste, in fact, which had been corrupted by +uninstructed pretension. The towns were larger, but they were tawdrier +than ever. The spirit of traffic was gradually enveloping everything +in its sordid grasp. There had taken place a vast expansion of +mediocrity, well enough in itself, but so overwhelming as nearly to +overshadow everything that once stood out as excellent.</p> + +<p>In most of these remarks I am giving Cooper's sentiments, as far as +possible, in his own words. They stung the national vanity to the +quick. The bitter resentment they evoked at the time could hardly be +understood now; and a great deal of wrath was then kindled at what +would meet with assent, at the present day, on account of its justice, +or excite amusement on account of its exaggeration. Thurlow Weed, in +1841, expressed a general sentiment about Cooper, with much affluence +of capital letter +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page123" name="page123"></a>(p. 123)</span> +and solemnity of exclamatory punctuation. +"He has disparaged, American Lakes," wrote that editor, "ridiculed +American Scenery, burlesqued American Coin, and even satirized the +American Flag!" Cooper could hardly have expected his strictures to be +received with applause, but he was clearly surprised at the outcry +they awoke. Yet he had had plenty of opportunities to learn that other +countries were as sensitive to criticism as his own. One singular +illustration of this feeling had been exhibited at Rome. He had +completed his novel of "The Water Witch" and wished to print and +publish it in that city. The manuscript was accordingly sent to the +censor. It was kept for days, which grew to weeks. It was at last +returned with refusal, unless it were subjected to thorough revision. +Almost on the opening page occurred a highly objectionable paragraph. +"It would seem," Cooper had written, "that as nature has given its +periods to the stages of animal life, it has also set limits to all +moral and political ascendency. While the city of the Medici is +receding from its crumbling walls, like the human form shrinking into +'the lean and slippered pantaloon,' the Queen of the Adriatic sleeping +on her muddy isles, and Rome itself is only to be traced by fallen +temples and buried columns, the youthful vigor of America is fast +covering the wilds of the West with the happiest fruits of human +industry." This passage, the censor quietly but severely pointed out, +laid down a principle that was unsound, and supported it by facts that +were false. A rigid pruning could alone make the work worthy of a +license. The consequence was that Cooper carried the manuscript with +him to Germany, and it was first published in Dresden, in a land where +men were not sensitive to anything that might be said, at any rate +about Italy.</p> + +<p>But <span class="pagenum"><a id="page124" name="page124"></a>(p. 124)</span> +the personal unpopularity he brought upon himself by his +censorious remarks will not wholly account for the unpopularity as a +writer, which it was his fortune, in no short time, to acquire. There +were other agencies at work besides those which affected the feeling +towards him as a man. Throughout the English-speaking world there had +been a literary reaction. Men had begun to tire of the novel of +adventure. It was not that it had lost its hold upon the public; it +had lost the supreme hold which for twenty years it had maintained. +The mighty master was dead; to some extent his influence had died +before him. The later work he did, had in several instances detracted +from, rather than added to the fame he had won by the earlier. +Cooper's own ventures in the field of foreign fiction, whatever their +absolute merit, could not be compared with those in which he had drawn +the life of the ocean, or the streams and forests of his native land. +But outside of any effect produced by poorer production, there could +be no doubt of the fact of a change in the public taste. The hero of +action had gone by. In his place had come the hero of observation and +reflection, who did not do great things, but who said good things. The +exquisite and the sentimentalist were the fashion, to be speedily +followed, according to the law of reaction, by the boor and the +satirist. At the time when Cooper returned from Europe, Bulwer was the +popular favorite. Both in England and America he was styled the prince +of living novelists; and nowhere was enthusiasm, in his behalf, +crazier than in this country. The revolution in taste, moreover, +worked directly in his favor in more ways than one. Scott and Cooper's +heroes, whether intelligent or not, were invariably moral. But of this +sort <span class="pagenum"><a id="page125" name="page125"></a>(p. 125)</span> +of men readers were tired. No character could please +highly the popular palate in which there was not a distinct flavor of +iniquity. More ability and less morality was the opinion generally +entertained, though probably not often expressed. Hence it was not +unnatural that the sentimental dandies and high-toned villains of +Bulwer's earlier novels should have been the heroes to captivate all +hearts.</p> + +<p>The comparatively low estimate into which the novel of adventure had +sunk, undoubtedly had a marked effect upon Cooper's reputation. Some +of his later work is superior to his earlier from the artistic point +of view. Yet it was never received with the same praise, at least in +English-speaking countries. More than that, the criticism it received +was often excessively depreciatory; nor was this all due to personal +unpopularity, though a good deal of it certainly was. He simply wrote +in a style which the age had temporarily left behind, and fancied it +had outgrown. All that Cooper had to do, all that under any +circumstances he could do, was to keep on producing the best that lay +in his power; sure to find a certain body of readers in sympathy with +him; sure also that some time in the future the revolution of taste +would bring him into fashion if he had written anything that really +deserved to live.</p> + +<p>These facts and considerations must, however, be borne in mind in +order to understand the gradual growth of the ill-feeling that sprang +up between Cooper and his countrymen. To the change of view in himself +and to the change of taste in the public, were soon added special +circumstances that tended to bring about or increase alienation. But +there did not exist toward him, when he came back from Europe, any +hostility on the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page126" name="page126"></a>(p. 126)</span> +part of his countrymen. Circumstances had +led him to suspect such a feeling; but it was mainly the creation of a +nature that was morbidly sensitive to criticism. He was not, to be +sure, the popular idol at his return that he had been at his +departure. But this decline, outside of the causes already mentioned, +was due to ignorance rather than dislike. A new generation had, during +his absence, come on the scene of active life. To it the influence of +his personal presence was unknown. He had been away so long that many +looked upon him with the indifference with which foreigners are +regarded by the majority; on the other hand, the fact of his being a +native prevented others from feeling that interest in him which a +foreigner has to some. Whatever hostility actually existed sprang +mainly from causes creditable to himself. If Cooper disliked England +for its depreciation of America, he hated with a hatred akin to +loathing, the recreant Americans who mistook the relation they bore to +their native land, and apologized for its character and existence, +instead of apologizing for their own. For these men he made no effort +to hide the contempt he felt. This class, far larger then in numbers +than now, came mainly from the great cities. Many of them had wealth +and social position to make up for their lack of ability; some of them +were attached to the legations. They naturally resented the low +opinion entertained and expressed of them by their countryman, and had +doubtless done him some harm, though far less than he supposed. +Besides these, however, there were certainly a pretty large number by +whom his aggressive patriotism was felt to be a positive bore. To this +feeling there had been a good deal of expression given in the +newspaper press. Cooper, who never could learn how +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page127" name="page127"></a>(p. 127)</span> +little +effect of itself hostile criticism has upon the reputation of a +popular writer, gave to these attacks far more weight than they +deserved.</p> + +<p>It was, therefore, with exaggerated and unnecessary feelings of +distrust that he had returned to his native land. He looked for +indifference and aversion. Men seldom fail to find in such cases what +they expect. He was present at a reception given, a few days after his +return, to Commodore Chauncey. Men whom he knew, but had not seen for +years, did not come up to speak with him; those who did, addressed him +as if he had been gone from the city a few weeks. So much was he +chilled by this apparent coldness that he left the room before the +dinner was half over. He did not appreciate his own reserve of manner. +The indifference which he found was, in many cases, due not to any +lack of cordiality in others, but to hesitation at the way in which +advances would be received by himself. There was a brusqueness in his +address, an apparent assumption in his manner, which had nothing +consonant to them in his feelings. But it was only those who knew him +intimately that could venture, after long separation, to break in upon +this seeming unsociableness and hauteur.</p> + +<p>On Monday, May 29 1826, just before his departure for Europe, a dinner +had been given to Cooper at the City Hotel by the club which he had +founded. It partook almost of the nature of an ovation. Chancellor +Kent had presided. De Witt Clinton, the governor of the state, General +Scott, and many others conspicuous in public life, had honored it with +their presence. Charles King, the editor of the "New York American," +and subsequently president of Columbia College, had addressed him in a +speech full of the heartiest interest in his future and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page128" name="page128"></a>(p. 128)</span> of +pride in his past. The Chancellor had voiced the general feeling by +toasting him as the "genius which has rendered our native soil classic +ground, and given to our early history the enchantment of fiction." No +one, in fact, had ever left the country with warmer wishes or more +enthusiastic expressions of admiration and regard. It was but little +more than a week after his return when another invitation to a public +dinner was offered him by some of the most prominent citizens of New +York. In this they expressly asserted that he had won their esteem and +affection, not merely by his talents, but by his manly defense, while +abroad, of the institutions of his country. The invitation seemed to +surprise Cooper as well as the language in which it was couched. He +thanked the proposers warmly, but he declined it. The refusal was +perhaps unavoidable. If so, it was unfortunate; if not, it was a +mistake. Had the dinner taken place, it would have shown him the +estimation in which he was really held, and would have modified or +destroyed any prejudices entertained towards him by others, if any +such existed.</p> + +<p>Up to this period in his public career, Cooper had certainly not done +anything to undermine his popularity. He now entered upon a line of +conduct which it is charity to call blundering. He began, or at any +rate pursued, a controversy, in which nothing was to be gained and +everything to be risked, if not actually lost. He not only set himself +to defend a course that needed no defense, he replied to attacks, real +or imaginary, which could only be raised into importance by receiving +from him notice. These attacks were a criticism on "The Bravo" which +had appeared in the "New York American;" a criticism on his later +writings which was found in +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page129" name="page129"></a>(p. 129)</span> +the columns of the "New York +Commercial Advertiser;" and an editorial article in the "New York +Courier and Enquirer." He could not have done a more foolish thing. He +knew perfectly well that no writer could be written down save by +himself. He has quoted the very remark. But a hundred similar sayings, +condensing in a line the wisdom of ages, could never have kept him +quiet when an attack was made upon himself. A popular writer has +always immense odds in his favor in any controversy he may have with +inferior men. He is ordinarily sure of the verdict of posterity, for +his is likely to be the only side that will reach its ears. Even +during his own time there will always be a large body of admirers who +will defend him with more fervor, and advocate his cause with more +effect than he has it in his own power to do. But it can and will be +done only in the case that he does little or nothing himself. If +Cooper had lost any ground in the estimation of the public, all he had +to do, in order to regain it, was to remain quiet. The one thing that +Cooper could not do was to remain quiet. He determined to set himself +right before his countrymen. He speedily had full opportunity to +ascertain the results that are pretty sure to follow experiments of +this kind.</p> + +<p>In June, 1834, appeared Cooper's "Letter to His Countrymen." Its +publication was no sudden freak, for the year before he had announced +the preparation of it. The work is a thin octavo of a little more than +one hundred pages; but the damage it wrought him was out of all +proportion to its size. The first half of it was taken up with a reply +to the comments and criticisms made in the New York journals already +mentioned. This was of itself sufficiently absurd, for it revived what +had already been +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page130" name="page130"></a>(p. 130)</span> +forgotten, and gave importance to some +things that had not been worth reading, let alone remembering. But to +this blundering was added a wrongheadedness, of which Cooper's later +life was to afford numerous illustrations. The article from the +"Courier and Enquirer" is quoted in full in the book. Some of its +statements are inaccurate; but no one can read it now without seeing +at once that it was written in a spirit that was the very reverse of +hostile. To attack a powerful journal for comments clearly dictated by +friendly feeling, betrayed more than a lack of prudence; it betrayed a +lack of common sense. Moreover, there were other serious defects in +the Letter. He criticised at some length certain forms of expression +used by one of his assailants. Cooper's remarks on language are almost +invariably marked by the pretension and positiveness that characterize +the writers on usage who are ignorant of their ignorance; but in this +case they are in addition frequently puerile. His personal references +were not especially objectionable. But the best that can be asserted +of them is, that he said with good taste what it would have been +better taste not to say at all. He, however, so contrived to state his +position that he laid himself open to the charge that he looked upon +the unfavorable opinion expressed of "The Bravo" as being instigated +by the French government, and that, in consequence, the ill reception +here accorded to his book was not due necessarily to any inferiority +in the work itself, but to the machinations of foreign political +enemies. He did not so mean it. He meant to imply that there was no +limit to the volunteer baseness of men who stand ready to gratify +power by doing for it what it would gladly have done, but would never +ask to have done. But the other was +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page131" name="page131"></a>(p. 131)</span> +a natural inference, and +it was used against him with marked effect.</p> + +<p>Worse even than all this, he succeeded in accomplishing in the latter +half of his Letter. A most exciting controversy was going on at the +time between the President and the Senate of the United States. The +bitterness had been aggravated into fury by the removal of the +deposits. The Senate had passed a resolution declaring the conduct of +the President unconstitutional. Against this resolution Jackson had +published a protest. The whole country was in a flame. Into the purely +personal controversy in which he was engaged, Cooper lugged in a +discussion of the political question that was agitating the nation. He +remarked, in the course of it, that if the Union were ever destroyed +by errors or faults of an internal origin, it would not be by +executive but by legislative usurpation. In order apparently to have +neither of the two parties in full sympathy with him, he criticised +the appointing power of the President, and his action in filling +embassies. It is by the most strained interpretation of the danger to +our institutions from imitation of those found in foreign countries, +that the political discussion was dragged into this production. The +force of folly could hardly go farther.</p> + +<p>The inevitable result followed. The work pleased nobody, and irritated +nearly everybody. Three influential journals were at once made open +and active enemies, and in their wake followed a long train of minor +newspapers. More than that was effected. The Letter called down upon +him the wrath of a great political party, which in the North embraced +a large majority of the educated class; and its hostility followed him +relentlessly to the grave. Unwise as the work was, however, there +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page132" name="page132"></a>(p. 132)</span> +was nothing in it to justify the abuse that in consequence fell +upon its author. To his statement of the danger of legislative +usurpation Caleb Cushing made a dignified, though somewhat rhetorical +reply; but while controverting his opinions, he spoke of Cooper +personally with great respect. But such was not the treatment he +generally received. The language with which he was assailed was of the +most insulting and grossly abusive kind. In those days it was called +appalling severity. It reads now like very dreary and very vulgar +billingsgate. One example will suffice. The "New York Mirror" was then +supposed to be the leading literary paper in New York. It was +nominally edited by Morris, Willis, and Fay, though the two last were +at that time in Europe. Morris is still remembered by two or three +songs he wrote. Besides being an editor, he held the position of +general of militia; accordingly he was often styled by his admirers, +"he of the sword and pen," which was just and appropriate to this +extent, that he did as much execution with the one as with the other. +His paper intimated that Cooper was willing to transform himself into +a baboon for the sake of abusing America, and that his inordinate +ambition prompted him to distance all competitors, whether the race +were fame or shame. It is proper to add that the tone of the "Mirror" +in regard to Cooper was radically changed after the return of Willis +from Europe.</p> + +<p>In his Letter Cooper announced publicly, what he had long before said +to his friends, that he had made up his mind to abandon authorship. +Such resolutions are mainly remarkable for the fact that they are +never kept. But the howl of denunciation that immediately arose would +never have suffered him to keep still. From this time +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page133" name="page133"></a>(p. 133)</span> +dates +the beginning of the long and gallant fight he carried on with the +American people. Gallant it certainly was, whatever may be thought of +its wisdom; for it was essentially the fight of one man against a +nation. In politics he had joined the Democratic party, but with some +of their tenets he was not in the slightest sympathy. He was, for +example, a fierce protectionist, and neglected no opportunity to cover +with ridicule the doctrine of free trade. But though practically +standing alone, his courage never faltered. The storm of obloquy that +fell upon him made him in his turn bitter and unjust in many things he +said; but it never once daunted his spirit or shook his resolution. On +the contrary, it almost seems as if he were aiming at unpopularity; at +any rate he could not be accused of seeking the favor of the public. +Its acts he criticised, its opinions he defied. His literary +reputation and the sale of his works were seriously affected by the +course of conduct he pursued and the hostility it provoked. But he was +of that nature that if the certain result of following the path he had +marked out for himself had been the hatred of the world, he would +never have once deviated from it the breadth of a hair.</p> + +<p>He was not a man to remain on the defensive. He at once began +hostilities. His first attempt was unfortunate enough. This was the +satirical novel called "The Monikins," which was published on the 9th +of July, 1835. Of all the works written by Cooper this is most justly +subject to the criticism conveyed in the German idiom, that "it does +not let itself be read." To the immense majority of even the author's +admirers, it has been from the very beginning a sealed book. It is +invariably dangerous to assert a negative. But if a personal reference +may <span class="pagenum"><a id="page134" name="page134"></a>(p. 134)</span> +be pardoned, I am disposed to say, that of the +generation that has come upon the stage of active life since Cooper's +death, I am the only person who has read this work through. The +knowledge of it possessed by his contemporaries did not, in many +cases, approach to the dignity of being even second-hand. The accounts +of it that have come under my own notice, seem often to have been +gathered from reviews of it which had themselves been written by men +who had never read the original. It is no difficult matter to explain +the neglect into which it immediately sank. The work was a satire +mainly upon certain of the social and political features to be found +in England and America, designated respectively as Leaphigh and +Leaplow; though one or two things characteristic of France were +transferred to the former country. But satire Cooper could not write. +The power of vigorous invective he had in a marked degree. But the wit +which plays while it wounds, which while saying one thing means +another, which deals in far-off suggestion and remote allusion, this +was something entirely unsuited to the directness and energy of his +intellect. Moreover, some of his most marked literary defects were +seen here exaggerated and unrelieved. In many of his novels there is +prolixity in the introduction. Still in these it is often compensated +by descriptions of natural scenery so life-like and so enthusiastic +that even the most <i>blasé</i> of novel readers is carried along in a +state of what may be called endurable tediousness. But in "The +Monikins" the introductory tediousness is unendurable. It is not until +we are nearly half-way into the work and have actually entered upon +the voyage to the land of the monkeys, that the dullness at all +disappears. After the country of Leaphigh is reached the story is far +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page135" name="page135"></a>(p. 135)</span> +less absurd and more entertaining; though Cooper's +descriptions are of the nature of caricature rather than of satire. +There are, however, many shrewd and caustic remarks scattered up and +down the pages of the latter part of the work, but they will never be +known to anybody, for nobody will read the book through.</p> + +<p>The work fell perfectly dead from the press. But its failure had not +the least effect in deterring Cooper from continuing in the course +upon which he had started. During the years 1836, 1837, and 1838, he +published ten volumes of travels. In these he repeated, with emphasis, +everything that he had uttered privately or had implied in his +previous publications. The first of these works was entitled "Sketches +of Switzerland." It was divided into two parts. The first, which was +published on May 21, 1836, gave an account of his residence and +excursions in that country during the summer and autumn of 1828. The +second part, which appeared October 8, 1836, was largely taken up with +accounts of matters and things in Paris during the winter of 1831-32, +a journey up the Rhine, and a second visit to Switzerland. These two +parts made four volumes. The remaining six had the general title of +"Gleanings in Europe," and two each were devoted to France, England, +and Italy. The first of these was published March 4, 1837; the second +September 2 of the same year; and the third, May 26, 1838. They were +written in the form of letters, and were pretty certainly made up from +letters actually written or memoranda taken at the time. But they were +likewise largely interspersed with the expression of views and +feelings that he had learned to adopt and cherish since his return to +his native land.</p> + +<p>In the case of England and America, in particular, his remarks +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page136" name="page136"></a>(p. 136)</span> +may have been full of light, but they did not exhibit sweetness. +Probably no set of travels was ever more elaborately contrived to +arouse the wrath of readers in both countries, nor one that more +successfully fulfilled its mission. His keen observation let no +striking traits escape notice. The individual Englishmen he meets and +describes could furnish entertainment only to men that were not +themselves Englishmen. There is, for instance, the sea-captain who +endeavors to compensate for his lack of energy by giving his passenger +an account of the marvelous riches of the nobility and gentry. Even +more graphically drawn is the islander he met in the Bernese Oberland, +who appeared to regard the peak of the Jungfrau with contempt, as if +it did very well for Switzerland; and who, when his attention was +called to a singularly beautiful effect upon a mountain top, began to +tell how cheap mutton was in Herefordshire. Nor were many of his +general remarks flattering. As one descended in the social scale he +thought the English the most artificial people on earth. Large numbers +of them mistook a labored, feigned, heartless manner for +high-breeding. The mass of them acted in society like children who +have had their hair combed and faces washed, to be shown up in the +drawing-room. They were conventional everywhere. The very men whom he +met after his arrival in the streets of Southampton, all looked as if +they had been born with hat-brushes and clothes-brushes in their +hands. As a race, moreover, they had special defects. They lacked +delicacy and taste in conferring obligations or paying compliments. +They were utterly indifferent to the feelings of others. There was a +national propensity to blackguardism; and the English press, in +particular, calumniated its +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page137" name="page137"></a>(p. 137)</span> +enemies, both political and +personal, with the coarsest vituperation.</p> + +<p>These were not the sort of remarks to draw favorable notices from +British periodicals. Cooper soon had an opportunity to verify, in his +own experience, the truth of the last of his observations that have +been cited. Harsh, however, as was his language about England, it bore +little comparison to the severity with which he expressed himself +about America. The attacks on the newspaper press belong not here, but +to the account of the war he waged with it. The omission, however, +will hardly be noticed in the multitude of other matters he found to +criticise. Manners, customs, society, were touched throughout with an +unsparing hand. Common crimes, he admitted, were not so general with +us as in Europe, though mainly because we were exempt from temptation, +but uncommon meannesses did abound in a large circle of our +population. Our two besetting sins were canting and hypocrisy. We had +far less publicity in our pleasures than other nations; yet we had +scarcely any domestic privacy on account of the neighborhood. The +whole country was full of a village-like gossip which caused every man +to think that he was a judge of character, when he was not even a +judge of facts. In most matters we were humble imitators of the +English. All their mistakes and misjudgments we adopted except such as +impaired our good opinion of ourselves. It was a consequence that all +their errors about foreign countries had become our errors also. In a +few cases, indeed, we were compelled to be American; but whenever +there was a tolerable chance we endeavored to become second-class +English. Wherever making money was in view, we had but one soul and +that was inventive enough; +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page138" name="page138"></a>(p. 138)</span> +but when it came to spending it +we did not know how to set about it except by routine. No people +traveled as much as we; none traveled with so little enjoyment or so +few comforts. Taste and knowledge and tone were too little +concentrated anywhere, too much diffused everywhere, to make head +against the advances of an overwhelming mediocrity. Of society there +was but little; for what it suited the caprice of certain people to +call such was little more than the noisy, screeching, hoydenish +romping of both sexes. The taint of provincialism was diffused over +all feelings and beliefs. Of arts and letters the country possessed +none or next to none. Moreover, there was no genuine sympathy with +either. To all this dismal prospect there was slight hope of +improvement, because there was a disposition to resent any intimation +that we could be better than we were at present.</p> + +<p>It would be a gross error to infer the general character of Cooper's +travels from these extracts. They are gathered together from ten +volumes, without any of the attendant statements by which they are +there in many cases modified. Equally erroneous would it be to suppose +that he did not find much to praise as well as to condemn in both +England and America. These extracts, however, explain the almost +savage vituperation with which Cooper was thenceforth followed in the +press of the two countries. The works themselves met with a very +slight sale: none of them ever passed into a second edition. Men were +not likely to read with alacrity, however much they might with profit, +unfavorable opinions entertained of themselves. Cooper himself could +not have hoped for much success for his strictures. In fact, he +expressly declared the contrary. The +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page139" name="page139"></a>(p. 139)</span> +most he should expect, +he said, would be the secret assent of the wise and good, the +expressed censure of the numerous class of the vapid and ignorant, the +surprise of the mercenary and the demagogue, and the secret +satisfaction of the few who should come after him who would take an +interest in his name.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the ferocious criticism with which they were assailed +at the time and the forgetfulness into which they have now fallen, +Cooper's accounts of the countries in which he lived are among the +best of their kind. Books of travel are from their very nature of +temporary interest. It requires peculiar felicity of manner to make up +long for the fresher matter about foreign lands which newer books +contain. Striking descriptions and acute observations will still, +however, reward the reader of Cooper's sketches. There are often +displayed in them a vigor and a political sagacity which of themselves +would justify his being styled the most robust of American authors. +Pointed assertions are scattered up and down his pages. Could, for +instance, one of the dangers of a democracy be more clearly and +ill-naturedly put than by his statement, that the whole science of +government in what are called free states, is getting to be a strife +in mystification, in which the great secret is to persuade the +governed that he is in fact the governor? His books, moreover, while +they reflect his prejudices, show an honest desire to be just. He +undoubtedly preferred the Continent to England. But in his account of +that country, while he had the unfairness of dislike, he never had the +unfairness of intentional misrepresentation. There is nothing of that +exulting yell with which the British traveler of those days fell foul +of some specimen of American ill-breeding or American +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page140" name="page140"></a>(p. 140)</span> +bumptiousness. Nor did he fail to pay a high tribute to what was best +in English society or English character. The gentlemen of that +country, in appearance, in attainments, in manliness, and he was +inclined to add in principles, he placed at the head of their class in +Christendom. His censure of America and the Americans was not at all +in the nature of indiscriminate abuse. The fault he found with his +countrymen was based mainly upon their mistaken opinion of themselves +and of their advantages and disadvantages. You boast, he practically +said to them, of the superiority of your scenery, in which you are not +to be compared with Europe; but you constantly abuse your climate +which is equal to, if not finer, than that of any region in the Old +World. You stand up manfully for your manners and tastes, which you +ought to correct; but you are incessantly apologizing for your +institutions of which you ought to be proud. The defects imputed in +Europe to the inhabitants of the United States, such as the want of +morals, honesty, order, decency, liberality, and religion, were not at +all our defects. These, in fact were, as the world goes, the strong +points of American character. On the other hand, those on which we +prided ourselves, intelligence, taste, manners, education as applied +to all beyond the base of society, were the very points upon which we +should do well to be silent. This is certainly not an extreme +position. But men are far more affected by the blame bestowed upon +their foibles than by the praise given to their virtues; and both in +England and America the censures were remembered and the commendations +forgotten. Other circumstances also came in now to add to his +unpopularity in his own country. A local quarrel in which he +accidently +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page141" name="page141"></a>(p. 141)</span> +became concerned, was followed by consequences +which affected his estimation throughout the whole land; but the +details of this will require a separate chapter.</p> + + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page142" name="page142"></a>(p. 142)</span></h2> + +<h3>1837-1838.</h3> + + +<p>Three miles from Cooperstown, on the western side of Otsego Lake, a +low, wooded point of land projects for some distance into the water. +It combines two characteristics of an attractive resort: beauty of +scenery and easiness of access. On these accounts Cooper's father had +refused to sell it when he disposed of his other lands. He had, in +fact, specially reserved it for his own use, and for that of his +descendants. In 1808, a year before his death, he drew up his will. In +it he made a particular devise of this spot. "I give and bequeath," +ran the words of the document, "my place, called Myrtle Grove, on the +west side of the Lake Otsego, to all my descendants in common until +the year 1850; then to be inherited by the youngest thereof bearing my +name." Two small buildings had been successively erected by him on the +spot. The first he tore down himself, but the second was set on fire +after his death, by the carelessness of trespassers using it, and +burned to the ground. Shortly after 1821, the only representative of +the family living in Cooperstown who was of proper age to be +consulted, gave his consent, so far as he was concerned, to the +erection of a new building by the community. From that time the Point +came to be a place of general resort. To it fishing and picnic parties +were in the habit of repairing. An impression sprang +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page143" name="page143"></a>(p. 143)</span> up, +moreover, that the spot was public property. This impression in the +course of years advanced to the dignity of positive assertion. It +became in time a universally accepted belief in the minds of the +citizens that the place belonged to them. It then only remained to +furnish the explanation of how it had happened to come into their +possession. This was no difficult achievement. The story was soon +generally received that Cooper's father, instead of permitting the +public to use the Point, had actually made a gift of it to the public.</p> + +<p>When Cooper took up his summer residence in the village, after his +return from Europe, he found the notion prevalent that the place in +question belonged to the community. As executor of his father's will +he took pains to correct the error. He informed his fellow-citizens +that the Point was private property, and not public; and that while he +had no desire to prevent them from resorting to it, he was determined +to insist upon the recognition of the real ownership. He might as well +have talked to the winds. The community did not bother itself about +examining the question of title. It had been in the habit of using the +Point without asking any one's consent, and the Point it purposed to +keep on using in the same way.</p> + +<p>Matters reached a crisis in 1837. The building erected on the spot had +become dilapidated. Workmen were sent out to repair it, without going +through the formality of consulting the owners of the property. A tree +was also cut down, which, on account of certain associations connected +with his father, Cooper valued particularly. This was not the way to +win over to the view of the community the executor of the property. He +sent a card at once to the editor of the Democratic newspaper +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page144" name="page144"></a>(p. 144)</span> +of the village, stating that the Point was private property, and +cautioning the public against injuring the trees. Nothing, however, +was said about trespassing. The card came too late for publication +that week and before another number of the paper appeared, rumor of +its existence had got about. Its reported character created +ill-feeling, and messages and even threats were sent to Cooper on the +subject. These had the effect which might have been expected. He +withdrew the original card and published in its stead a simple, +ordinary notice of warning against trespassing on the Point, with a +few additional facts. The notice, which is dated July 22, 1837, reads +as follows:--</p> + +<p>"The public is warned against trespassing on the Three Mile Point, it +being the intention of the subscriber rigidly to enforce the title of +the estate, of which he is the representative, to the same. The public +has not, nor has it ever had, any right to the same beyond what has +been conceded by the liberality of the owners."</p> + +<p>The notice was signed by Cooper as the executor of his father's +estate. Great was the excitement in the village when it was published. +A hand-bill was immediately put into circulation calling a meeting of +the citizens, to take into consideration the propriety of defending +their rights against the arrogant claims and assumed authority of "one +J. Fenimore Cooper." The meeting was accordingly held. There was +little difference of sentiment among those present. All were animated, +according to the newspaper reports, by the determination to use the +Three Mile Point without being indebted to the liberality of Cooper or +any one else. Stirring speeches were made. Two or three persons were +anxious to delay any action until the question of title had been +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page145" name="page145"></a>(p. 145)</span> +examined. This proposition was deemed by the immense majority of +those present to have a truckling character, and consequently met with +no favor. The meeting, accordingly, found immediate relief for its +feelings in the usual American way, by passing a series of +resolutions. The vigor of these was out of all proportion to the +sense. The disposition to defy Cooper shot, in some instances, indeed, +beyond its proper mark, and extended even to the rules of grammar. +After reciting in a preamble the facts as they understood them, the +citizens present went on to express their determination and opinions +as follows:--</p> + +<p>"Resolved, By the aforesaid citizens that we will wholly disregard the +notice given by James F. Cooper, forbidding the public to frequent the +Three Mile Point.</p> + +<p>"Resolved, That inasmuch as it is well known that the late William +Cooper intended the use of the Point in question for the citizens of +this village and its vicinity, we deem it no more than a proper +respect for the memory and intentions of the father, that the son +should recognize the claim of the citizens to the use of the premises, +even had he the power to deny it.</p> + +<p>"Resolved, That we will hold his threat to enforce title to the +premises, as we do his whole conduct in relation to the matter, in +perfect contempt.</p> + +<p>"Resolved, That the language and conduct of Cooper, in his attempts to +procure acknowledgements of 'liberality,' and his attempt to force the +citizens into asking his permission to use the premises, has been such +as to render himself odious to a greater portion of the citizens of +this community.</p> + +<p>"Resolved, That we do recommend and request the trustees of the +Franklin Library, in this village, to remove all +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page146" name="page146"></a>(p. 146)</span> +books, of +which Cooper is the author, from said library.</p> + +<p>"Resolved also, That we will and do denounce any man as sycophant, who +has, or shall, ask permission of James F. Cooper to visit the Point in +question.</p> + +<p>"Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the +chairman and secretary, and published in the village papers."</p> + +<p>Whatever else these proceedings show, they make it clear that the +people of Cooperstown had not well improved the opportunity afforded +by his residence among them, of becoming well acquainted with the +character of their distinguished townsman. Still there was knowledge +enough about him to make the officers of the meeting unwilling to +publish the resolutions as they had been ordered. He was not a man to +be trifled with; and no one cared to make himself personally +responsible for what had been said. As a matter of fact the secretary +of the meeting furnished Cooper with a copy of the resolutions; and it +was the latter that first caused them to be printed. But the story of +the meeting speedily found its way into the newspapers. In the +accounts of the proceedings that were in circulation, it was said that +a resolution had been passed that the works of the novelist should be +taken from the library and publicly burned. This was caught up by the +press and repeated everywhere throughout the country. To this day the +baseless tradition lingers in Cooperstown itself, that this act was +not only determined upon but actually done. The matter doubtless was +discussed among the other sage proposals that were brought forward at +this meeting; and it may be true, as was afterwards suspected, that +the original resolution on this point was modified before it was +allowed to go out to the public.</p> + +<p>Under <span class="pagenum"><a id="page147" name="page147"></a>(p. 147)</span> +the circumstances only one result was possible. The +community were very speedily satisfied that they did not own the +Point, and were equally convinced that their prospect of obtaining +possession of it by clamor was far from good. Two letters, marked by +anything but timidity or amiability, Cooper wrote to the Democratic +newspaper of the village. In them he gave fully all the facts in the +case. To the assertion paraded in many of the Whig journals of the +state, that this meeting showed the spirit of the people in +Cooperstown, he made an indignant reply. Such a remark, he said, was a +libel on the character of the place. The meeting, he declared, was not +composed of a fourth part of the population, or a hundredth part of +the respectability of the village. The resolutions he described as +being the work of presuming boys, who swagger of time immemorial; of +strangers who had lived but a brief time in the county; and of a few +disreputable persons who, bent on construing liberty entirely on their +own side, interposed against palpable rights and sacred family +feelings their gossiping facts, their grasping rapacity, and their +ruthless disposition to destroy whatever they could not control. +"There is but one legal public," he defiantly concluded his first +letter, "and that acts under the obligation of precise oaths, through +prescribed forms, and on constitutional principles. Let 'excitement' +be flourished as it may, this is the only public to which I shall +submit the decision of my rights. So far as my means allow, insult +shall be avenged by the law, violence repelled by the strong hand, +falsehood put to shame by truth, and sophistry exposed by reason."</p> + +<p>It is perfectly clear that on the merits of this controversy Cooper +was wholly in the right. The bluster of these +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page148" name="page148"></a>(p. 148)</span> +resolutions +exhausted all the courage of his opponents. The question of ownership +was at once settled definitely and forever. No one on the spot ever +questioned the point any farther, though the original falsehood was +steadily repeated by newspapers at a distance, and apparently never +once contradicted after its untruth had been shown. Some may think the +result might have been reached by milder means, but the spirit shown +at the meeting renders this more than doubtful. Cooper even had to pay +for the insertion of his letters in the village newspaper. +Unfortunately the ill-feeling aroused did not stop here. It gave rise +to what may be described as a semi-political controversy--that is, a +controversy in which one party attacks a man, and the party to which +he belongs does not think it expedient or worth while to defend him. +The libel suits to which it directly or indirectly led with the Whig +newspapers of the state will demand a separate chapter. Before they +were well under way, however, the novelist made up his mind to right +himself in another manner, and brought out a work of fiction which +seemed expressly contrived to meet the thought of the sacred writer +who wished his adversary had written a book.</p> + +<p>Cooper determined to write a story in which he would set forth the +principles involved in the controversy about the Point. There is +perhaps no subject that cannot be made interesting by the right +treatment. But he was now in a state of mind that would not have +permitted him to discuss any matter of this nature in the spirit that +belongs to the composition of a work of the imagination. The dispute +had embittered his feelings already sore. It had tended to give him a +still more distorted view of the country to which he had come back. So +completely +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page149" name="page149"></a>(p. 149)</span> +had his feelings swung around that he now had an +eye for little but the worst features of the national character. +Passion had largely unbalanced his judgment. Ancient fable has pointed +out the danger of falling under the fascinations of the sirens; but +even that seems preferable to becoming bewitched by the furies.</p> + +<p>Still he could not well make a book out of this one event. It could be +used to suit all his purposes, however, by being introduced as an +incident of an ordinary tale. In this way his side of the story would +travel as far as the false assertions about his conduct in the matter +which had been circulated not only over America but over Europe. He +also set out to bring together in the work he was contemplating all +the things that he looked upon with disapprobation and dislike in the +social life of this country. His original intention was to begin a +story with the landing here of an American family long resident in +Europe. Happily he was induced to give an account of the voyage home, +and this in the end necessitated the division of the work into two +parts. Accordingly on the 16th of August, 1837, appeared the novel of +"Homeward Bound," followed in November of the same year by its sequel, +entitled "Home as Found." The leading characters are the same in both +tales, but the events are entirely unlike. The scene of the first is +laid wholly on the water. In its movement, its variety of incidents, +and the spirit and energy with which they are told, it is one of the +best of Cooper's sea-novels. Nor is this estimate seriously impaired +by the fact that it is in some places marred by controversial +discussions on liberty and equality, and by the withering exposure of +views that no man maintained whose opinions were +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page150" name="page150"></a>(p. 150)</span> +worth +regarding. But these are only occasional blemishes. They do not +materially interfere with the progress of the story, which moves on +with little variation of interest to the end. On the other hand, the +characters are generally as uninteresting as the events are exciting. +The chief ones among them have all reached that supreme refinement +which justifies them in feeling and decisively pronouncing that +whatever is done by anybody but themselves is coarse. But in this work +the personages are so subordinate to the scenes that any failure in +representing the former is more than counterbalanced by the success +shown in depicting the latter.</p> + +<p>The reverse was the fact when the sequel followed. In this the +characters and their views became prominent, and the events were of +slight importance. "Home as Found" was far poorer than "Homeward +Bound" was good. Never was a more unfortunate work written by any +author. This is the fact, whether it be looked at from the literary or +the popular point of view. For the latter it is enough to say that the +opinions about America which have already been given in the account of +his European travels were more than reėnforced. He said again what he +had said before, and he took pains to add a great deal that had been +left unsaid. The new matter surpassed in the energy of invective the +old, and its attack was more concentrated. There were in the novel, to +be sure, the remarks that had now got to be habitual with Cooper upon +the provincialism of the whole country; but it was upon New York city +that the vials of his wrath were especially poured. The town, +according to the view here expressed of it, was nothing more than a +huge expansion of commonplace things. It was a confused and tasteless +collection of flaring red brick houses, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page151" name="page151"></a>(p. 151)</span> +martin-box churches, +and colossal taverns. But the assault made upon its external +appearance bore no comparison to that upon its internal life. The city +in a moral sense resembled, according to Cooper, a huge encampment. It +stood at the farthest remove from the intellectual supremacy and high +tone of a genuine capital as distinguished from a great trading port. +In its gayeties he saw little better than the struggles of an +uninstructed taste, if indeed that could properly be styled gay which +was only a strife in prodigality and parade. The conversation of the +elders was entirely about the currency, the price of lots, and the +latest speculations in towns. The younger society was made up of +babbling misses, who prattled as waters flow, without consciousness of +effort, and of whiskered masters who fancied Broadway the world; and +the two together looked upon the flirtations of miniature +drawing-rooms as the ideal of human life in its loftiest aspects. Upon +the <i>literati</i> the attack was even more savage. He described this +appellation as being given to the most incorrigible members of the +book clubs of New York. These had been laboriously employed in puffing +each other into celebrity for many weary years, but still remained +just as vapid, as conceited, as ignorant, as imitative, as dependent, +and as provincial as ever.</p> + +<p>It is not an easy matter to condense the bitterness of two volumes +into a few sentences. Enough has been given, however, to show the +character of the strictures. Whatever may be thought of their justice, +few will be disposed to deny their vigor. But Cooper, unfortunately +for himself, was not satisfied with demolishing what seemed poor in +his eyes. He undertook the business of reconstruction, and set up an +ideal of how things +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page152" name="page152"></a>(p. 152)</span> +ought to be. His main agents in this +work were the members of the Effingham family, whom he had brought +over from Europe in "Homeward Bound." In these and the train dependent +upon them, we were to find realized that pure and perfect social state +which he contemplated in his own mind. To them were added a few +survivors from the old families, as he termed them, which after a +manner had ridden out the social gale that had made shipwreck of so +many of their original companions. Out of these materials Cooper +attempted to build his ideal framework of a life in which men thought +rationally and lived nobly. It was here he made his mistake, and it +was a signal one. His inability to portray the higher types of +character was an absolute bar to success. This was largely due to his +inability to catch and reproduce the tone of polished conversation. +Never was his weakness in this respect more painfully manifested than +in "Home as Found." He could appreciate such conversation; he could +bear a part in it; but he could not represent it. His characters taken +from low life, whatever critics may say, have usually a marked +individuality. But whenever Cooper sought to draw the men and women of +cultivated society he achieved at best a doubtful success. In this +instance he tried to make them and their words and deeds the vehicle +of reproof and satire. His failure was absolute. Modern culture, we +all know, consists largely in the most refined method of finding +fault. But this his ideal family had not reached. An essentially +coarse method of finding fault was the only one to which it had +attained. Never, indeed, was a more bumptious, conceited, and +disagreeable set of personages created by an author, under the +impression that they were the reverse. The simple-minded, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page153" name="page153"></a>(p. 153)</span> +thoughtful, and upright Mr. Effingham can speedily be dismissed as +merely a mild type of bore. Not so with his daughter Eve, and his +cousin John Effingham. The latter plays the part of critic of his +country and countrymen. It seems hardly possible that in this +narrow-minded, disagreeable, and essentially vulgar character, Cooper +could have fancied he was creating anything but a contemptible boor. +The contrast between what is said of him, and what is said by him, +almost reaches the comic. We read constantly of his caustic satire; we +find little of it in his conversation. His fine face is, according to +the author, always expressing contempt and sarcasm; but the examples +of these that are shown in his speeches are usually specimens of that +forcible-feeble straining to be severe which marks the man of violent +temper and feeble intellect. As represented, he has neither the +feeling, the instincts, nor the manners of a gentleman. He so much +dislikes untruth that he insinuates to a guest, very broadly as well +as very unjustly, that he is lying. In short, he is one of those rude +and vulgar men who fancy that they are frank simply because they are +brutal. No civilized society would long tolerate the presence, if even +the existence, of such an animal as he is here represented to be.</p> + +<p>Even he, however, shines by comparison with the heroine. Of her we +hear no end of praise. Her delicacy, her plastic simplicity, the +simple elegance of her attire, her indescribable air of polish, her +surpassing beauty and modesty of mien, are referred to again and +again. She is simple, she is feminine, she is dignified. To men her +smiles are faint and distant. Across her countenance no unworthy +thought has ever left a trace. Once and once only did she fail to keep +up to the high level of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page154" name="page154"></a>(p. 154)</span> +deportment which she ordinarily +maintained. On one occasion "her little foot moved" in spite of the +fact that "she had been carefully taught, too, that a ladylike manner +required that even this beautiful portion of the female frame should +be quiet and unobtrusive." Something, however, must always be pardoned +to human nature; and Cooper doubtless felt that it would not do to +make his heroine absolutely free from frailty. As a sort of foil to +her was introduced her cousin Grace Van Cortlandt. She, to be sure, +had not had the advantage of foreign travel; but there was a redeeming +feature in her case. She belonged to an old family. She was saved in +consequence from being entirely submerged in that sweltering, foaming +tide of mediocrity, which called itself New York society. Belonging to +an old family did not, however, preserve her from being provincial. +She is taken along with the rest to Templeton. On her way thither she +is steadily snubbed by the masculine element of the party, and +henpecked by the feminine. The reader comes in time to have the +sincerest pity for this unfortunate girl, who is made to pay very +dearly for the misfortune of being akin to a family whose members had +become too superior to be gracious and too polished to be polite.</p> + +<p>In the composition of this work Cooper seems to have lost all sense of +the ridiculous. The personages whom he wished to make particularly +attractive are uniformly disagreeable. A French governess appears in +the story, who is simply insufferable. He brings in an American woman, +Mrs. Bloomfield, as a representative, according to him, of that class +which equals, if it does not surpass, in the brilliancy of its +conversation the best to be found in European salons. She is +introduced discoursing on +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page155" name="page155"></a>(p. 155)</span> +the civilization of the country in +a way that would speedily empty any of the parlors of her native land. +Indeed, throughout the work the characters converse as no rational +beings ever conversed under any sort of provocation. But it is in the +speeches of the heroine that the language reaches its highest +development. She can emphatically be said to talk like a book. She +does not guess, she hazards conjectures. She playfully addresses her +father as "thoughtless, precipitate parent." When she is asked what +she thinks of the country now that an attempt was made to take +possession of the Point, she describes her character, as drawn in this +novel, as no words of another can. "Miss Effingham," she says, "has +been grieved, disappointed, nay, shocked, but she will not despair of +the republic." Indeed the only person in the work who has any near +kinship to humanity is one of the inferior characters, named +Aristobulus Bragg. He is the more attractive because he says bright +things unconsciously; while the heavy characters say heavy things +under the impression that they are light.</p> + +<p>This book had a profound influence upon Cooper's fortunes. From +beginning to end it was a blunder. It cannot receive even the negative +praise of being a work in which the best of intentions was marred by +the worst of taste. Its spirit was a bad spirit throughout. It was +dreadful to think some of the things found in it; but it was more +dreadful to say them. There was a great deal of truth in its pages, +but if the views expressed in it had been actually inspired, the +attitude and tone the author assumed would have prevented his making a +convert. To some extent this had been true of "Homeward Bound." +Greenough expostulated with Cooper, after +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page156" name="page156"></a>(p. 156)</span> +reading that +novel. "I think," he wrote from Florence, "you lose hold on the +American public by rubbing down their shins with brickbats as you do." +The most surprising thing connected with "Home as Found," however, is +Cooper's unconsciousness, not of the probability, but of the +possibility, that he would be charged with drawing himself in the +character of Edward Effingham, and to some extent in that of John +Effingham. The sentiments advanced were his sentiments, the acts +described were in many cases his acts. The absence in a foreign land, +the return to America, the scene laid at Templeton, with a direct +reference to "The Pioneers," the account of the controversy about the +Three Mile Point,--all these fixed definitely the man and the place. +Variations in matters of detail would not disturb the truth of the +general resemblance. Still Cooper not only did not intend to represent +himself, he was unaware that he had done so. Nearly three years after +in the columns of a weekly newspaper he stoutly defended himself +against the imputation. It was useless. From this time forward the +name of Effingham was often derisively applied to him in the +controversies in which he was engaged.</p> + +<p>It was not merely the intemperate spirit exhibited, which destroyed +the effect of the shrewd and just comments often appearing in "Home as +Found." This was full as much impaired by the display of personal +weaknesses. Cooper's foible about descent he could not help exposing. +No thoughtful man denies the desirability of honorable lineage, or +undervalues the possession of it; but not for the reasons for which +the novelist regarded it and celebrated it. There was much in this +single story to justify Lowell's sarcasm, uttered ten years +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page157" name="page157"></a>(p. 157)</span> +later, that Cooper had written six volumes to prove that he was as +good as a lord. He traces his families up to remote periods in the +past. He thereby shows their superiority to the newly-created family +of the English baronet who is brought into the tale. It was to correct +the erroneous impression, prevalent in Europe, that there was no +stability, no permanent respectability in the society of this country, +that he enlarged upon the date to which ancestry could be traced. The +difficulty was to persuade anybody that the men who took the pains to +look up their forefathers had any superiority to those who shared in +the general indifference as to who their forefathers were. He went +farther than this in some instances, and expressly implied that blood +and birth were necessary to gentility. This was provincialism pushed +to an extreme. Whatever we may think of its actual value, English +aristocracy resembles in this gold and silver, that it has an accepted +value independent of the character of its representatives. It is, +therefore, current throughout the civilized world; whereas American +aristocracy is like local paper money: worth nothing except in its own +country, and even there receiving little recognition or circulation +outside of the immediate neighborhood in which it is found. Still, the +subject of blood and birth is a solemn one to those who believe in it, +and they are absolutely incapable of comprehending the feelings of a +world of scoffers, or, if they do, impute them to imperfect mental or +spiritual development. On this point Cooper had the misfortune to say +what some think but dare not express.</p> + +<p>The wrath aroused, especially in New York city, by this particular +novel, had about it something both fearful and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page158" name="page158"></a>(p. 158)</span> +comic. In one +respect Cooper had the advantage, and his critics all felt it. His +work was certain to be translated into all the principal languages of +modern Europe. The picture he drew of New York society would be the +one that foreigners would naturally receive as genuine. By them it +would be looked upon as the work of a man familiar with what he was +describing, the work of a man, moreover, who had been well known in +European circles for his intense Americanism. It was vain to protest +that it was a caricature. The protest would not be heeded even if it +were heard. His enemies might rage; but they were powerless to +influence foreign opinion, and they felt themselves so. Rage they +certainly did; and if the assault made upon him had been as effective +as it was violent, little would have been left of his reputation. Even +as late as 1842, during the progress of the libel suits, some one took +the pains to produce a novel in two volumes called "'The Effinghams, +or Home as I Found It,' by the Author of the 'Victims of Chancery.'" +The whole aim of this tale was to satirise Cooper. Mere malignity, +however, has little vitality; and in spite of the fact that the work +was widely praised by the journals for its "sound American feeling," +and for its hits at "the conceited, disappointed, and Europeanized +writer of 'Home as Found,'" it passed so speedily to the paper-makers +that antiquarian research would now be tasked to find a copy. About +the contemporary newspaper notices there was a certain tiger-like +ferocity which almost justified much that Cooper said in denunciation +of the American press. A specimen, though a somewhat extreme one, of a +good deal of the sort of criticism to which the novelist was +subjected, can be found in the "New Yorker" for the 1st +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page159" name="page159"></a>(p. 159)</span> of +December, 1838. This journal was edited by Horace Greeley, but the +article in question came probably from the pen of Park Benjamin. It +defended Cooper from the charge of vilifying his country in order to +make his works salable in England, but it defended him in this way. No +motive of that kind was necessary to be supposed. He had an inborn +disposition to pour out his bile and vent his spleen. "He is as proud +of blackguarding," the article continued, "as a fishwoman of +Billingsgate. It is as natural to him as snarling to a tom-cat, or +growling to a bull-dog.... He is the common mark of scorn and contempt +of every well-informed American. The superlative dolt!" In this +refined and chastened style did the defenders of American cultivation +preserve its reputation from its traducer.</p> + +<p>Criticism of the kind just quoted, hurts only the man who utters it +and the community which tolerates it. It injured the reputation of the +country far more than the work could that it criticised. "Home as +Found," as a matter of fact, was prevented from doing any harm, partly +by its excessive exaggeration but more by its excessive poorness. As a +story it stood in marked contrast to its immediate predecessor. It was +as difficult to accompany Cooper on land as it had been to abandon him +when on the water. The tediousness of the tale is indeed something +appalling to the most hardened novel-reader. The only interest it can +possibly have at this day is from the opportunity it affords of +studying one phase of the author's character, and of accounting for +much of the bitter hostility with which he was assailed.</p> + +<p>While he was lecturing his countrymen on manners, his own were spoken +of in turn in a way that gave especial delight +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page160" name="page160"></a>(p. 160)</span> +to the +enemies he had made by his criticisms. In 1837 Lockhart's "Life of Sir +Walter Scott" was appearing. In the diary of that novelist were some +references to the American author. "This man," he said, describing his +first interview, "who has shown so much genius, has a good deal of the +manners, or want of manners, peculiar to his countrymen." Cooper's +personal acquaintance with Scott had begun in 1826, just after the +latter had set about his gigantic effort to pay off the load of debt +in which he had involved himself. The American novelist had made then +an attempt to secure for the man he regarded as his master some +adequate return from the vast sale of his works in the United States. +In this he had been foiled. In the "Knickerbocker Magazine" for April, +1838, he gave an account of these fruitless negotiations. In a later +number of the same year he reviewed Lockhart's biography. This work is +well known as one of the most entertaining in our literature. But on +its appearance it gave a painful shock to the admirers of the great +author by the revelations it made of practices which savored more of +the proverbial canniness of the Scotchman than of the lofty spirit of +the man of honor. Equally surprising was the unconsciousness of the +biographer, that there was anything discreditable in what he +disclosed. Cooper criticised Scott's conduct in certain matters with a +good deal of severity. In regard to some points he took extreme, and +what might fairly be deemed Quixotic ground. Yet the general justice +of his article will hardly be denied now by any one who is fully +cognizant of the facts. Nor, indeed, was it then. "I have just read," +wrote Charles Sumner from London to Hillard, in January, 1839, "an +article on Lockhart's 'Scott,' written by +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page161" name="page161"></a>(p. 161)</span> +Cooper in the +"Knickerbocker," which was lent me by Barry Cornwall. I think it +capital. I see none of Cooper's faults; and I think a proper +castigation is applied to the vulgar minds of Scott and Lockhart. +Indeed, the nearer I approach the circle of these men the less +disposed do I find myself to like them." Sumner subsequently wrote, +that Procter fully concurred in the conclusions advanced in the +review. But these were not the prevalent opinions, in this country at +least. Great was the outcry against Cooper for writing this article; +great the outcry against the "Knickerbocker" for printing it. The +latter was severely censured for its willingness to prostitute its +columns to the service of the former in his slanderous "attempts to +vilify the object of his impotent and contemptible hatred." Americans +who were averse to Scott's being honestly paid proved particularly +solicitous that he should not be honestly criticised. They showed +themselves as little scrupulous in defending him after he was dead as +they had been in plundering him while he was living.</p> + +<p>Cooper had previously aroused the resentment of many because he had +failed to express gratification or delight at being termed "the +American Scott." He had then been assured again and again that there +was no danger of the title being applied to him in future; that in ten +years their names would never be coupled together, and that he himself +would be totally forgotten. It could hardly have been deemed a +compliment in a land where scarcely a petty district can exist +peacefully and creditably, with a hill three thousand feet in height, +which is not in time rendered disreputable by being saddled with the +pretentious name of "The American Switzerland." Personal malice alone, +however, could impute +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page162" name="page162"></a>(p. 162)</span> +his disclaimer either to malice or to +envy. His own estimate of his relations to the British novelist, he +had given many times; and indirectly at that very time in his account +in the first "Knickerbocker" article, of his interview with Sir Walter +Scott. The latter had been so obliging, he observed, as to make him a +number of flattering speeches, which he, however, did not repay in +kind. His reserve he thought Scott did not altogether like. In this he +was probably mistaken, but the reason he gave for his own conduct +savored little of feelings of envy or rivalry. "As Johnson," he wrote, +"said of his interview with George the Third, it was not for me to +bandy compliments with my sovereign." No attention was paid to these +and similar utterances of a man whom his bitterest enemies never once +dared to charge with saying a word he did not mean.</p> + +<p>Few at this day will be disposed to deny the justice of a good deal of +the criticism that Cooper passed upon his country and his countrymen. +Even now, though many of his strictures are directed against things +that no longer exist, there is still much in his writings that can be +read with profit. The essential justice of what he said is not +impaired by the fact that he was usually indiscreet and intemperate in +the saying of it. Nor were his motives of a low kind. He loved his +country, and nothing lay dearer to his heart than to have her what she +ought to be. The people were the source of power; and it was his +cardinal principle that power ought always to be censured rather than +flattered. It needed to be told the truth, however unwelcome; and in +his eyes, that man was no true patriot who was not willing to +encounter unpopularity, if it came in the line of duty. At the same +time, while doing full justice to the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page163" name="page163"></a>(p. 163)</span> +purity of his motives, +we cannot shut our eyes to the defects of his method. His abilities, +his reputation, his acquaintance with foreign lands, gave him +inestimable advantages for influencing his countrymen, and of +educating them in matters where they stood sadly in need of it. But +the spirit in which he went to work deprived him of the legitimate +influence he should have exerted. Excitement, and passion, and +indignation led him often to say the wrong thing. More often they +caused him to say the right thing in the wrong way. Nor did he escape +the special temptation which speedily besets him who starts out to +tell his fellow-men unpleasant truths. Duty of this kind soon begins +to have a peculiar fascination of its own. The careful reader cannot +fail to see that in process of time the more disagreeable was the +truth the more delightful it became to Cooper to tell it. Most +unreasonable it certainly was to expect that constant fault-finding +would be looked upon as a proof of special attachment. The means, +moreover, were not always adapted to the end. Men may possibly be +lectured to some extent into the acquisition of the virtues, but they +never can be bullied into the graces.</p> + +<p>Besides all this, in a great deal of Cooper's criticism there were +fundamental defects. He constantly confounded the unimportant and the +temporary with the important and the permanent. Many of his most +violent strictures are devoted to points of little consequence, and +the feeling expressed is out of all proportion to the significance of +the matter involved. Nothing, for instance, seemed to irritate him +more than the preference given by many of his countrymen to the +scenery of America over that of Europe. Especially was he indignant +with +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page164" name="page164"></a>(p. 164)</span> +the "besotted stupidity" that could compare the bay of +New York with that of Naples. He returned to this topic in book after +book. Yet of all the harmless exhibitions of mistaken judgment, that +which prefers the scenery of one's own land is what a wise man would +be least disposed to find fault with; certainly what he would think +least calculated to inspire the wrath of a Juvenal. Cosmopolitanism is +well enough in its way. But that ability to see things exactly as they +are, which enables a man to criticise his mother with the same +impartiality with which he does any other woman, can hardly be thought +to mark a high development of his loftier feelings, however creditable +it may be to the judicial tone of his mind. Undue preference of the +scenery of one's own country is an amiable weakness at which the +philosopher may smile, but the patriot can afford to rejoice.</p> + +<p>There was, moreover, a certain vagueness about much of Cooper's +criticism that deprived it of effect. No more striking illustration of +this could be found than his constant charge of provincialism made +against this country. He repeated it in season and out of season. For +several years he hardly published a work which did not contain a +number of references to it or assertions of its existence. Provincial +enough we certainly were then, if looked at from the point of view of +the present time. We in turn may seem so to our descendants. This +possibility shows at once the somewhat unreal nature of the +accusation. Provincialism, like vulgarity, is a term that defies exact +explanation. It is the indefinite and, therefore, unanswerable charge +that men constantly bring against those whose standard of living and +thinking is different from their own. It depends upon the point +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page165" name="page165"></a>(p. 165)</span> +of view of the speaker full as much as upon the conduct and +opinions of those spoken of. It changes as manners change. Nations not +only impute it to one another, but even to themselves at different +periods of their history. Made by itself, therefore, it means nothing. +Without a specific description of what in particular is meant by +provincialism, the charge cannot and ought not to have any weight with +those against whom it is directed.</p> + +<p>Certain incidental facts mentioned in these observations bring also to +light another marked defect of Cooper's course. This was not in his +views but in his method of enforcing them. He could not refrain from +the constant repetition of the same censures. He had never learned +literary self-restraint; that special criticisms, in order to have +their full weight, must not be forced too often upon the attention, +and especially at unseasonable times. The mind revolts at having the +same exhibition of personal feeling thrust upon it in the most +uncalled-for manner and in the most unexpected places. Even when +originally disposed to agree with the view expressed, it will, out of +a pure spirit of contradiction, take the side opposed to that which is +enforced with exasperating frequency. The fullest sympathizer is sure +to get tired of this everlasting slaying of the slain. A similar +effect is, indeed, likely to be produced upon the victim of the +criticism. Instead of being stirred to reflection, repentance, or even +indignation, he simply becomes bored. After a man has been told a +hundred times that he is provincial, the remark ceases to be exciting. +The things, therefore, that Cooper said incidentally are even now the +only ones that make any deep impression upon the mind. Like all men, +sensitive to the national honor, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page166" name="page166"></a>(p. 166)</span> +he felt keenly the refusal +of Congress to pass a copyright law. It led him to say twice, but both +times very quietly, that in spite of loud profession there was little +genuine sympathy in this country with art, or scholarship, or letters. +The absence of all heat and excitement gives to the remark a weight +that never belongs to his violent utterances and fierce denunciations. +We may hope that we have gained since his time; but even at this day +we have little to boast of, if the average cultivation of the people, +as well as its average morality, finds expression in the laws. The +record in these matters of the highest legislative body in the land is +still the most discreditable of that of any nation in Christendom. To +gratify the greed of a few traders, it has never refused to lay heavy +burdens upon scholarship and letters. It has steadily imposed duties +on the introduction of everything that could facilitate the +acquisition of learning, and further the development of art. It has +persistently stabbed literature under the pretence of encouraging +intelligence. It has never once been guilty of the weakness of +yielding for a moment to the virtuous impulse that would even +contemplate the enactment of a copyright law. If it ever does pass +one, it will do so, not because foreign authors have rights, but +because native publishers have quarrels. Thus consistent in its +unwillingness to do an honest thing from an honest motive, it will +even then grant to selfishness what has been invariably denied to +justice.</p> + +<p>There were other than faults of view or faults of statement that mark +Cooper's writings at this time. The two novels published during the +year 1838 show a radical change in the attitude he assumed to his art. +What had been indicated in the stories whose scenes were +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page167" name="page167"></a>(p. 167)</span> +laid in Europe, was now carried out completely. He may have been +unconscious of the difference of his point of view, but none the less +did it exist. The novel was no longer something in which he could +embody his conceptions of beauty fairer, or truth higher than could +actually be found in nature. It no longer served him as a refuge from +the din of a clamorous, or the hostility of a censorious world. It +became a sort of fortress, from the secure position of which he was +enabled to deal out annoyance and defiance to his foes. He had not now +so much a story to tell as a sermon to preach; and with him, as with +many others, to preach meant to denounce. His spirit for a time became +captive to the prejudices and the heated feelings which had been +aroused by the sense of the injustice with which he had been treated. +Though he at intervals worked himself out of this state of mind, upon +much of his later work rested the shadow of the prison-house which he, +for a season, had made his abiding-place. The result was that a good +deal of what he afterwards wrote was marred by the obtrusion of +personal likes and dislikes, and the taint of controversial +discussion. These things rarely concerned the story in which they +appeared, and they inspired hostility to the writer. Cooper, indeed, +never learned to appreciate the fact that a reader has rights which an +author is bound to respect. By dragging in irrelevant discussions, +moreover, he was taking the surest way to lose the audience he most +sought to influence. A little reflection would have taught him that +there was little use in a prophet's crying in the wilderness, unless +he can succeed in gathering the people together.</p> + +<p>While, therefore, there can be no justification for the ferocity with +which Cooper was assailed, there was some palliation. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page168" name="page168"></a>(p. 168)</span> +His +course from his return to the country had been wanting in prudence, +and at times in common sense. He had plunged at once as a combatant +into one of the bitterest political controversies that ever agitated +the republic. Hard blows were given and taken. He could scarcely +expect that, in the heat of the strife, regard would in all cases be +paid to the proprieties and even the decencies of private life. There +was much in his later productions, moreover, to alienate many who were +honestly disposed to admire him as a writer. Politics we could get at +all times and from everybody. If, again, we were hopelessly +provincial, if we were irreclaimably given over to vulgarity, we could +find out all about it from the latest English traveler, or the review +of his work that had appeared in the latest English periodicals. But +by Cooper the life of the wilderness and of the sea had been told as +by no other writer. Over the fields and forests and streams of his +native land he had thrown the glamour of romantic association and +lofty deeds. There was something unpleasant in witnessing a man who +could do this turning his attention to the discussion of points of +etiquette and manners. Beside the waste of power, which is something +always disagreeable to contemplate, the subject itself could hardly be +called an attractive one. It was a sandy desert to travel over at +best. But even those who thought it a thing worth while to do once, +could hardly help feeling surprise at the spirit which could induce a +man to go over it again and again, enlarge upon its discomforts, its +perpetual sameness and barrenness, and point out its incapacity of +being made much better. There were even worse things than this. It +could scarcely fail to inspire a sentiment almost like disgust to have +the creator of Leather-Stocking +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page169" name="page169"></a>(p. 169)</span> +argue with heat the question +whether it is right for a lady to come into a drawing-room at a party +without leaning upon the arm of a gentleman; or discourse solemnly +upon the proper way of eating eggs, and announce oracularly that all +who were acquainted with polite society would agree in denouncing the +wine-glass or egg-glass as a vulgar substitute for the egg-cup. +Questions like these are usually left to those who have the taste to +delight in them and the mental elevation to grasp the difficulties +involved in them. They were the more disagreeable when met with in +Cooper, because in addition to the pettiness of the subject, there was +an apparent unconsciousness on his part that the limits of his own +preferences and conclusions were not necessarily those of the human +mind.</p> + +<p>Cooper indeed exemplified in his literary career a story he was in the +habit of telling of one of his early adventures. While in the navy he +was traveling in the wilderness bordering upon the Ontario. The party +to which he belonged came upon an inn where they were not expected. +The landlord was totally unprepared, and met them with a sorrowful +countenance. There was, he assured them, absolutely nothing in his +house that was fit to eat. When asked what he had that was not fit to +eat, he could only say in reply that he could furnish them with +venison, pheasant, wild duck, and some fresh fish. To the astonished +question of what better he supposed they could wish, the landlord +meekly replied, that he thought they might have wanted some salt pork. +The story was truer of Cooper himself than of his innkeeper. Nature he +could depict, and the wild life led in it, so that all men stood ready +and eager to gaze on the pictures he drew. He chose too often to +inflict upon them, instead +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page170" name="page170"></a>(p. 170)</span> +of it, the most commonplace of +moralizing, the stalest disquisitions upon manners and customs, and +the driest discussions of politics and theology.</p> + +<p>But the moral injury which Cooper received from these controversial +discussions and their results was far greater than the intellectual. +They swung him off the line of healthful activity. They perverted his +judgment. He looked upon the social and political movements that were +going on about him with the eye of an irritated and wronged man. Years +did not bring to him the philosophic mind, but the spirit of the +opinionated partisan and the heated denouncer. He fixed his attention +so completely on the tendencies to ill that manifested themselves in +the social state, that he often became blind to the counterbalancing +tendencies to good. Hence his later judgments were frequently +one-sided and partial. He too often took up the rōle of prophesying +disasters that never came to pass. Moreover, this habit of looking at +one side not only narrowed his mental vision, but turned it in the +direction of petty objects. No reader of his later novels can fail to +see how often he excites himself over matters of no serious moment; or +which, whether serious or slight, are utterly out of place where they +are. By many of these exhibitions the indifferent will be amused, but +the admirers of the man will feel pained if not outraged.</p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER IX. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page171" name="page171"></a>(p. 171)</span></h2> + +<h3>1837-1842.</h3> + + +<p>By the end of 1837 Cooper had pretty sedulously improved every +opportunity of making himself unpopular. His criticisms had been +distributed with admirable impartiality. Few persons or places could +complain that they had been overlooked. The natural satisfaction that +any one would have felt in contemplating the punishment inflicted upon +his friend or neighbor, was utterly marred by the consideration of the +outrage done to himself. There was scarcely a class of Cooper's +fellow-citizens whose susceptibilities had not been touched, or whose +wrath had not been kindled by something he had said either in public +or in private, and by his saying it repeatedly. The sons of the +Puritans he had exasperated by styling them the grand inquisitors of +private life, and by asserting that a low sort of tyranny over +domestic affairs was the direct result of their religious polity. He +had roused the resentment of the survivors of the old Federalist party +by declaring that its design during the war of 1812 had been disunion, +and that in secret many of them still longed for a restoration of +monarchy, and sighed for ribbons, stars, and garters. He had not +conciliated the party with which he was nominally allied by his +incessant attacks upon the doctrine of free-trade. He had made Boston +shudder to its remotest suburbs, by stating again and again in the +strongest +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page172" name="page172"></a>(p. 172)</span> +terms that it was in the Middle States alone that +the English language was spoken with purity. The New England capital +he had further described as a gossiping country town with a tone of +criticism so narrow and vulgar as scarcely to hide the parochial sort +of venom which engendered it. He had charged upon New Yorkers that +their lives were spent in the constant struggle for inordinate and +grasping gain; that to talk of dollars was to them a source of endless +enjoyment; and that their society had for its characteristic +distinction the fussy pretension and swagger that usually mark the +presence of lucky speculators in stocks. He had attributed to the +whole trading class a jealous and ferocious watchfulness of the +pocket, and a readiness to sacrifice at any time the honor of the +country for the sake of personal profit. To the native merchants he +had denied the name of real merchants. They were simply factors, mere +agents, who were ennobled by commerce, but who did not themselves +ennoble it. The foreign traders resident here fared no better. They +had never read the Constitution of the country they had made their +home, and were incapable of understanding it if they should read it. +Always judging of American facts in accordance with the antiquated +notions in which they had been brought up, they were largely +responsible for the erroneous opinions entertained and blundering +prophecies made in Europe in regard to the condition and future of the +United States. The educated class, above all, he had denounced for its +indomitable selfishness and its hatred of the rights of those socially +inferior. It was entirely behind the fortunes of the country and still +cherished prejudices against democracy that the very stupidest of +European conservatives had begun to +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page173" name="page173"></a>(p. 173)</span> +lay aside. The newspaper +press he had assailed with a pungency and vigor which it in vain +sought to rival. He was spattered by it, however, with almost every +opprobrious term that belongs to the vocabulary of wrath and abuse. +Invention was tasked to furnish discreditable reasons for all that he +said and did. That inexhaustible capacity of devising base motives for +conduct, which is an especial attribute of mean minds, had now +opportunity to put forth its full powers in the way of insinuation and +assertion. It did not go unimproved. A common charge brought against +him after the publication of the "Letter to His Countrymen" was that +it had been written for the sake of gaining office. It was even said +that Van Buren had a hand in it. Then and afterward, the Whig +newspapers represented Cooper as seeking the position of Secretary of +the Navy. Denial availed him nothing. It would certainly have not been +at all to his discredit to have desired the place; for he knew a great +deal about the navy, and its interests were very dear to his heart. +For these very reasons his appointment to it would have been in +violation of the traditional policy of the government. It was probably +never once contemplated by any administration, as it was certainly +never asked by Cooper himself.</p> + +<p>The two extracts that have already been given are doubtless sufficient +to satisfy any curiosity that may exist in regard to the way in which +he was spoken of by the press of America. Yet coarse as was its +vituperation, it was surpassed by that of Great Britain. Englishmen +may have felt, and have felt justly, that Cooper took an unfair view +of their social life and political institutions. National character +sweeps through a range so vast that a man will usually be able to find +in it what he +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page174" name="page174"></a>(p. 174)</span> +goes to seek. Even under the most favorable +conditions the tastes of a coterie or the habits of a class are made +the standard by which to estimate the tastes and habits of a whole +people. Certain it is that the view of any nation is to be distrusted +which is not taken from a station of good-will. But granting that +Cooper was unjust in his observations, there was nothing he said which +afforded the least excuse for the coarse personality with which he was +followed from the time he published his volumes on England. The +remarks of the ordinary journals can be dismissed without comment. But +brutal vituperation was found in abundance in periodicals which +claimed to be the representatives of the highest cultivation and +refinement. According to "Blackwood's Magazine," Cooper was a vulgar +man, who from having been bred to the sea had been enabled to give +some striking descriptions of sea-affairs, and in consequence had +unluckily imagined himself a universal genius. It went on to add, that +on the strength of the trifling reputation he had acquired by stories +descriptive of American life, he had come to Europe, and had since +been partly traveling on the Continent to pick up materials for +novels, and partly residing in England, actively employed in the +effort to introduce himself into society. In this it admitted he might +have been partially successful, for the English were a very yielding +people and did not take much trouble to resist attempts of this kind. +"Blackwood," however, was outdone in this rowdy style of reviewing by +"Fraser's Magazine." From that periodical we learn that Cooper was "a +passable scribbler of passable novels," a "bilious braggart," a +"liar," a "full jackass," "a man of consummate and inbred vulgarity," +"a bore of the first magnitude in society," who went about +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page175" name="page175"></a>(p. 175)</span> +fishing for introductions. "But this," it concluded, speaking of his +England, "was his last kick, and we shall not disturb his dying +moments." Two years later the magazine seemed to think he had some +power of kicking left, for it returned to the charge in consequence of +his review of Lockhart's "Life of Scott." In this article he was +called a "spiteful miscreant," an "insect," a "grub," a "reptile." The +"Quarterly Review" was as virulent and violent as the magazines, but +the attack was more skillful as well as longer and more elaborate. By +garbling extracts it cleverly insinuated a good deal more than it +said, and it so contrived to put several things that the reader could +hardly fail to draw inferences which the writer must have known to be +false. Even these attacks were equaled if not surpassed at a later +period by the "London Times." A nominal review in that journal of "Eve +Effingham," as "Home as Found" was entitled in England, was really +devoted to personal vituperation of the novelist. It ended with the +assertion that he was more vulgar than ever, and was the most +"affected, offensive, envious, and ill-conditioned" of authors. +Altogether Cooper must have been impressed with the effectiveness of +the blow which he had struck by the violence with which it was +resented. It seems hard to believe that remarks such as have been +quoted should have been thought to establish anything but the +vulgarity of the men who wrote them. Yet they apparently answered +their purpose. The very latest notice of Cooper's life which has +appeared in Great Britain, characterizes his work on England as an +"outburst of vanity and ill-temper." It certainly contained some +ill-judged remarks which have been made the most of by his enemies; +but this estimate, like many other assertions in +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page176" name="page176"></a>(p. 176)</span> +the same +sketch, was not got from reading the work itself, but from what +British periodicals had said about it.</p> + +<p>Such was the kind of criticism that the novelist now mainly received +in the two great English-speaking countries. These flowers of +invective do not constitute an anthology which an Englishman or +American of today can read with pleasure, or contemplate with pride. +It was the comments made by his countrymen that naturally touched +Cooper most nearly. His nature was of a kind to feel keenly, and +resent warmly insinuations and charges that impugned the purity of his +motives. Nor was his a disposition to rest quiet under attack or to +assume merely the defensive. He retorted in letters, in works of +fiction, and in books of travel. Finally he resorted to libel suits. +Never, indeed, was a fiercer fight carried on by an individual against +a power more mighty than Cooper carried on with the press. It had a +thousand tongues, he had but one; but it often seemed as if his one +had the force of a thousand. The epithets he applied to newspapers +were not of the kind with which they were in the habit of celebrating +themselves. Their enterprise in obtaining news he described as a +mercenary diligence in the collection and diffusion of information, +whether true or false. Nor were his comments upon those concerned in +carrying them on more favorable. What we should call a reporter he, on +one occasion, mildly spoke of as a "miscreant who pandered for the +press." In the last novel he wrote, he energetically termed this whole +class the funguses of letters who flourished on the dunghill of the +common mind; and that in their view the sole use for which the +universe was created was to furnish paragraphs for newspapers. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page177" name="page177"></a>(p. 177)</span> +Men in the higher grades of the profession fared little better. +Against the political journals, in particular, he brought the charge +that under the pretence of serving the public they were mainly used to +aid the ambition or gratify the spite of their editors.</p> + +<p>Even as early as 1832, Cooper had awakened the indignation of the +press by an incidental remark made in the introduction to "The +Heidenmauer." He was describing a journey through a part of Belgium in +which the Dutch troops had been operating the week before his arrival. +They had been reported as having committed unusual excesses. Of these +excesses he said he could find no trace. He went on to add a sentence +which has apparently only a slight connection with what had gone +before. "Each hour, as life advances," he wrote, "am I made to see how +capricious and vulgar is the immortality conferred by a newspaper." +This remark was warmly resented. It was asserted to be a declaration, +not merely of indifference to the opinion of the press, but of a +preference on his part of its censure to its praise. Its business, +therefore, was to see that his wishes should be carried out.</p> + +<p>After the controversy in regard to the Three Mile Point, the attacks +of the Whig journals increased in bitterness. The state of mind it +caused in Cooper can be seen in a little volume, published by him in +April, 1838, entitled "The American Democrat." This work is made up of +a singular mixture of abstract discussions on liberty and equality, on +the nature of parties, on forms of government, and of remarks on +national habits and manners. It is not an interesting hook. Yet it is +fair to say of it, that it is animated throughout by a lofty +patriotism, and it manifests a clear view of the dangers and duties of +a democracy, with +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page178" name="page178"></a>(p. 178)</span> +its comparative advantages and +disadvantages. But it likewise exhibited some of the most +uncompromising traits of the author's character. In writing it, he was +not aiming at popularity; it might not be much out of the way to say +that he was aiming at unpopularity. The doctrine with which he sets +out is, that in this country power rests with the people, and power +ought always to be chidden rather than commended. He was accordingly +liberal in criticism. But the value of what he said was largely +impaired, if not wholly destroyed by the one-sidedness of view and +tendency to over-statement into which his ardor of feeling now +habitually hurried him. In nothing is this extravagance more +strikingly seen than in the comments in this work upon the press. +There was a great deal of truth in what he said; but the justice of +some of his views was deprived of any effect by the exaggeration and +consequent injustice of others. The substance of his remarks was that +there were more newspapers in this country than in Europe, but they +were generally of a lower character. The multiplication of them was +due to the fact that little capital was required in their creation, +and little intelligence employed in their management. Their number +was, therefore, not a thing to be boasted of but rather to be sorrowed +over, since the quality diminished in an inverse ratio to the +quantity. Nor was there anything in the methods employed by the press +that justified any exultation in its prosperity. It tyrannized over +public men, over letters, over the stage, over even private life. +Under the pretence of preserving public morals, it corrupted them to +the core. Under the semblance of maintaining liberty, it was gradually +establishing a despotism as rude, as grasping, and as vulgar as +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page179" name="page179"></a>(p. 179)</span> +that of any state known. It loudly professed freedom of opinion, +but exhibited no tolerance. It paraded patriotism, but never +sacrificed interest. But its great fundamental failing was the +untrustworthiness of its statements. It existed to pervert truth. Its +conductors were mainly political adventurers. They were unscrupulous, +but they were not so utterly ignorant that they failed to see the +necessity of occasionally making correct assertions. It was, however, +this mixture of fact with fiction that was the chief cause of the evil +influence exerted. The result of it all was that the entire nation, in +a moral sense, breathed an atmosphere of falsehood. He concluded his +indictment by declaring that the American press would seem to have +been expressly devised by the great agent of mischief, to depress and +destroy all that was good, and to elevate and advance all that was +evil.</p> + +<p>This style of remark was certainly not designed to win newspaper favor +or support. But he went even farther in his novels of "Homeward Bound" +and "Home as Found." In those two works he drew the portrait of an +American editor in the person of Steadfast Dodge of the Active +Inquirer. All the baser qualities of human nature were united in this +ideal representative of the press. He was a sneak, a spy, a coward, a +demagogue, a parasite, a lickspittle, a fawner upon all from whom he +hoped help, a slanderer of all who did not care to endure his society. +Such a picture did not rise even to the dignity of caricature. Nor is +it relieved either in this work or elsewhere by others drawn +favorably. The reader of Cooper will search his writings in vain for a +portrait which any member of the editorial profession would be glad to +recognize as his own.</p> + +<p>All <span class="pagenum"><a id="page180" name="page180"></a>(p. 180)</span> +this was vigorous enough, but it could hardly be called +profitable. Cooper had now cultivated to perfection the art of saying +injudicious things as well as the art of saying things injudiciously. +His ability in hitting upon the very line of remark that would still +further enrage the hostile, and irritate the indifferent and even the +friendly, assumed almost the nature of genius. The power of his +attacks could not be gainsaid. But while they inspired his opponents +with respect, they filled his friends with dismay. He was soon in a +singular position. He enjoyed at one and the same time the double +distinction of being reviled in England for his aggressive +republicanism, and of being denounced in America for aping the airs of +the English aristocracy. It hardly seemed a favorable time for +beginning hostilities in a new field. Yet it was then that he entered +upon his famous legal war with the Whig newspapers of the state of New +York.</p> + +<p>A detailed account of the libel suits instituted by Cooper would form +one of the most striking chapters in the history of the American +press; and for some reasons it is to be regretted that the plan he had +of writing a full account of them was never carried out. Here only a +slight summary can be given. It is well to say at the outset that many +assertions ordinarily made about them are utterly false. For certain +of these prevalent misconceptions Greeley is responsible. He spoke of +these trials with some fullness in commenting upon libel suits in his +"Recollections of a Busy Life." But Greeley's life was too busy for +him always to recollect accurately. While he had not the slightest +intention to say anything untrue, what he said was in some instances +of this character; though more often it was misleading rather +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page181" name="page181"></a>(p. 181)</span> +than false. But outside of what Greeley has written, there are +several erroneous assertions current. One of the most common of these +is the statement that Cooper's success in them was mainly due to the +application of the law maxim, that the greater the truth the greater +the libel. There was never any ground for even an insinuation of this +kind. Cooper, when his attention was called to it, treated it with +contempt. "The pretense," he wrote in 1845, "that our courts have ever +overruled that the truth is not a complete defense in a libel suit in +the civil action, can only gain credit with the supremely ignorant." +In criminal indictments the New York statute of 1805 had expressly +declared that the truth might be pleaded in evidence by the defense. +The Constitution of 1821 made this provision part of the fundamental +law, and it was adopted from that into the Constitution of 1846. The +assertion owed its origin wholly to the effort of beaten parties to +explain their defeat on some other ground than that they had been +found guilty of the offense with which they had been charged.</p> + +<p>A more preposterous statement even than this was that the question +involved in these suits was the right of editors to criticise the +productions of authors. In not one of these trials was the literary +judgment passed by the reviewer mentioned as having the slightest +bearing on the case. It ought not to be necessary to say that it was +the attack upon the character of the man that alone came under the +consideration of the courts, and not that upon the character of the +book. The impudent pretense was, however, set up at the time that the +press had a right to go behind the writer's work, and assail him +himself. "Does an author," said "The New +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page182" name="page182"></a>(p. 182)</span> +Yorker" in +February, 1837, "subject himself to personal criticism by submitting a +work to the public? If he makes his work the channel of disparagement +upon masses of men, he does."</p> + +<p>The most marked feature of these trials is that Cooper fought his +battle single-handed. With a very few exceptions,--notably the "Albany +Argus" and the "New York Evening Post,"--the press of the party with +which he was nominally allied, remained neutral. Some of them were +even hostile; for the novelist's criticism of editors had known no +distinction of politics. On the other hand, the press of the +opposition party was united. From East to West they bore down upon +Cooper with a common cry. No event in his life showed more plainly the +fearless and uncompromising nature of the man; nor again did anything +else he was concerned in mark more clearly his versatility and vigor. +In these trials he was assisted by his nephew, Richard Cooper, who was +his regular counsel. But outside of him, in the civil suits, he had +very rarely any help, and in most of them he argued his own cause. +Wherever he appeared in person he seems to have come off uniformly +victorious. Nor were his victories won over inferior opponents. The +reputation of the lawyer is under ordinary conditions limited +necessarily to a small circle. Even in that, considering the amount of +intellectual acuteness and power displayed, it is an exceedingly +transitory reputation. But the men against whom Cooper was pitted +stood in the very front rank of their profession. They were leaders of +the bar in the greatest state in the Union. Nor have times so far +swept by that their names are not still remembered; and stories are +still told of their achievements by those who +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page183" name="page183"></a>(p. 183)</span> +have taken +their places. Cooper, not a lawyer by profession, met these men on +their own ground and defeated them. It was not long, indeed, after +these suits were instituted, that it was claimed by his friends, and +often conceded by his foes, that he was the one man in the country +best acquainted with the law of libel. Our surprise at his success is +increased by the fact that he was not only unpopular himself, but he +was engaged in an unpopular cause. The verdicts he won were usually +small in amount, but they were wrung from reluctant juries, and +frequently in the face of bitter prejudices that had to be overcome +before he could hope for a fair consideration of his own side.</p> + +<p>At the outset the editorial fraternity were disposed to take these +libel suits jocularly. They were looked upon as a gigantic joke. Nor +did this feeling die out when the first trial resulted in Cooper's +favor. It was proposed that the newspapers throughout the country +should contribute each one dollar to a fund to be called "The +Effingham Libel Fund," out of which all damages awarded the novelist +were to be paid. Every additional suit was welcomed with a shout. As +time went on this insolence gave way to apprehension. In nearly every +case the plaintiff was coming off successful. The comments of the +press began to assume an expostulatory tone. Cooper was gravely +informed that were he to be tried in the High Court of Public +Opinion--this imaginary tribunal was usually made imposing by +dignifying its initial letters--for his libels upon his country and +his countrymen, the damages he would have to pay would not only sweep +away the amounts given him by the results in the regular courts, but +even the profits that had accrued from the sale of his novels. These +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page184" name="page184"></a>(p. 184)</span> +remonstrances were often animated also by a new-born zeal for +his literary fame. He was told he was his own greatest enemy. He was +doing himself irreparable injury by the course he was taking. He was +so acting as to lose the reputation he had early won. This feeling +naturally increased in intensity as suits continued to be decided in +his favor. The newspapers at last rose to the full appreciation of the +situation. The liberty of the press was actually in danger. The trials +were said to be conducted in defiance of law as well as justice. The +judges belonged to the Democratic party, and they wrested the statutes +from their true intent in order to oppress the Whig editor. There came +finally to be something exquisitely absurd in the utterances of the +journals on the subject of these suits. One would fancy from reading +them that the plaintiff was a monster resembling the bloodthirsty ogre +of a fairy tale, bullying judges, overawing juries, maliciously bent +on crushing the free-born American who should have the temerity to +express an unfavorable opinion of his writings. Coriolanus, indeed, +never fluttered the dove-cotes in Corioli more effectively than for +some years Cooper did the Whig newspaper offices of the state of New +York.</p> + +<p>The origin of the suits was as follows: An account of the +circumstances connected with the Three Mile Point controversy +appeared, immediately after they had taken place, in the "Norwich +Telegraph," a paper published in the neighboring county of Chenango. +The article began with a reference to Cooper. "This gentleman," it +said, "not satisfied with having drawn upon his head universal +contempt from abroad, has done the same thing at Cooperstown where he +resides." In this spirit +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page185" name="page185"></a>(p. 185)</span> +it went on to give its report of +the events told in the preceding chapter. "So stands the matter at +present," it closed its account, "Mr. J. F. C. threatening the +citizens on the one hand, and being derided and despised by them on +the other." In conclusion it called upon the "Otsego Republican," the +Whig newspaper of Cooperstown, to furnish all the facts in the case.</p> + +<p>The latter journal was edited by a man named Barber. He was not slow +to comply with the request, and in one of the numbers of August, 1837, +he republished the article of the "Chenango Telegraph" with additional +assertions of his own. The latter belonged more to the realm of +fiction than of fact. Three Mile Point he declared had been reserved +expressly for the use of the inhabitants of Cooperstown by the father +of the novelist. When the notice was published depriving them of their +rights, a meeting had been called which had been largely attended. The +room was crowded with the industry, intelligence, and respectability +of the village. Powerful addresses were made and a series of +resolutions were passed. These expressed the feelings of all present. +"The remarks," the newspaper continued, "were of a lucid character, +and the resolutions, full, pungent, and yet respectful."</p> + +<p>Two days after this article had appeared, the editor received a letter +from Cooper's counsel which was to the effect that he would be +prosecuted for libel unless he retracted his statements. On his side +the novelist undertook to make perfectly clear to him that his +assertions were untrue; but he expected, after the real facts had been +set before him and fully examined, that he would take back what he had +said. "No atonement," the letter concluded, "will be accepted, that is +not first approved +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page186" name="page186"></a>(p. 186)</span> +of by the plaintiff in the suit." Barber +was not disposed either to retract or to investigate the accuracy of +the facts he had stated. He published the letter, however, with the +usual solemn declaration that seems to be kept in type in all +newspaper offices, that in doing what he had done he had been actuated +solely by the noblest motives; that he had not published anything +libellous; that if in anything he had been misinformed, he held +himself always ready to make the proper correction. "In conclusion," +he said, "not being sensible of having injured Mr. Cooper, we consider +that we have no atonement to offer." Under these circumstances the +suit went on. It did not come to final trial until May, 1839, at the +Montgomery circuit of the Supreme Court. Joshua A. Spencer was the +principal lawyer for the defense, while Cooper conducted his own case. +The jury returned a verdict of four hundred dollars for the plaintiff. +Eventually the editor sought to evade in various ways the payment of +the whole award, and did succeed in evading the payment of a good part +of it. A terrible outcry was, however, raised against Cooper because +the sheriff levied upon some money that had been carefully laid away +and locked up by Barber in a trunk.</p> + +<p>With this begins the famous series of suits that occupied no small +share of the few following years of the author's life. At the time the +first one was decided, another was pending against the editor of the +"Chenango Telegraph." The leading Whig newspapers naturally took the +side of their associates. For a time they had a good deal to say about +the greatest slanderer of the whole profession pouncing upon one of +the fraternity least able to defend himself, simply because in a +moment of haste and excitement he had been guilty of what they were +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page187" name="page187"></a>(p. 187)</span> +pleased to call a technical libel. It did not seem to occur +to them, that any one could be so foolhardy as to make them the object +of attack. They did not have to wait long to discover that the +influence wielded by a journal was no protection. Besides the +newspapers already mentioned, Cooper prosecuted the "Oneida Whig," +published at Utica. This suit was tried in April, 1842. Though +successful in it, the damages awarded were slight, being but seventy +dollars. A suit, tried little more than six months before against the +"Evening Signal," of New York city, edited by Park Benjamin, had +resulted in the recovery of a larger sum. The amount in this case was +three hundred and seventy-five dollars. With these exceptions his +suits were directed against the "Courier and Enquirer," edited by +James Watson Webb; "the Albany Evening Journal," edited by Thurlow +Weed; the "Tribune," edited by Horace Greeley, and the "Commercial +Advertiser," edited by William Leet Stone. These were the leading Whig +journals in the state, and among the most influential in the whole +country. It could not be said that Cooper hesitated about flying at +high game.</p> + +<p>In the controversy with Webb, Cooper had the least success. This was +partly due to the fact that it was not a civil action that was brought +against the former, but a criminal indictment. Juries might make +editors pay for the privilege of expressing their feelings of contempt +or hate, but they were not inclined to send them to prison. The +indictment in this case was based upon a criticism of "Home as Found." +The review, which was of several columns in length, had appeared in +the "Courier and Enquirer" of November 22, 1838. There was very little +in the way of hostile insinuation and assertion and personal +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page188" name="page188"></a>(p. 188)</span> +depreciation that could not be found in this article and in some which +followed. The attack was moreover a skillful one. It was directed +largely against those points where Cooper had fairly laid himself open +to ridicule. Especially was this the case in the matter of descent and +family. Webb represented the novelist as the son of a humble hawker of +fish through the streets of Burlington, who had afterward become a +respectable though not a first-class wheelwright. By probity, +industry, and enterprise he had finally risen to wealth and position. +The maternal grandmother of the author had, according to this same +story, for more than twenty years occupied a stall and sold fresh +vegetables in the Philadelphia market, and was remarkable for the +superior quality of the articles she kept. Webb praised the father at +the expense of the son. The former had never been ashamed of his +humble origin. On the contrary, he was justly proud of the +intelligence and ability which, unaided by any mere external +advantages, had raised him to a station in life so much higher than he +at first held. Of such a career any child had a right to be proud. +These were statements that could not well be resented, conceding that +they were injurious, nor could they well be corrected, conceding that +they were untrue. Webb, who had recently returned from Europe, +asserted, moreover, that he had been present at a dinner-party in +London, where "Home as Found" came under discussion. On that occasion +he had fallen into a conversation about it with "a nobleman of +distinction." The latter informed him that Cooper's attack upon +English society had materially injured the sale of his works in that +country, and it was evident that he was now seeking to regain the +ground and the market +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page189" name="page189"></a>(p. 189)</span> +he had lost, by praising everything +English at the expense of everything American; but as his base motives +were now fully understood, no one was led astray. The reported +conversation carries internal evidence of its authenticity. It +required a very noble lord to impute to a well-known writer motives so +very noble; and none but an Englishman could have appreciated so fully +the eternal conditions of success in the English market. These remarks +of Webb's are, however, merely incidental. His direct personal attack +on Cooper rivaled that of the British periodicals in ferocity. "We may +and do know him," said he in the only extract for which there is room, +"as a base-minded caitiff who has traduced his country for filthy +lucre and low-born spleen; but time only can render harmless abroad +the envenomed barb of the slanderer who is in fact a traitor to +national pride and national character."</p> + +<p>For this article Webb was indicted by the grand jury of Otsego County, +in February, 1839. In June of the same year a second indictment was +found against him for saying that the first was secured by political +trickery. The trial, for various reasons, did not come off until +November, 1841. Webb made a public retraction of the statements upon +which the second indictment was found; and this was accepted on the +part of the prosecution. On the trial for the first indictment the +jury disagreed. The defendant objected to Cooper's summing up the +case, and this objection the court sustained. It was a wise policy: +for the trials in the civil suits showed that the novelist was full as +effective in addressing a jury orally as he ever was in addressing the +public in his most successful stories. One amusing feature of this +case was that the two volumes of "Home as Found" were read +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page190" name="page190"></a>(p. 190)</span> +to the jury from beginning to end by the plaintiffs counsel, Ambrose +L. Jordan.</p> + +<p>Cooper was not discouraged by the ill result of this trial. The +indictment was still pressed. A second trial took place at Cooperstown +in June, 1843. Again the jury disagreed. A third trial is reported to +have taken place and to have resulted in the acquittal of Webb; but I +find no account of it in the newspapers to which I have had access.</p> + +<p>The suits brought against the "Albany Evening Journal" were, however, +the most striking in this whole contest. They show, too, more clearly +than the others, the spirit and methods with which it was waged on +both sides. Some features are especially marked. One is the +illustration furnished of the onslaughts that were made upon the +novelist's character and reputation, not from any real ill-will, but +from pure wantonness or at least very slight political hostility. +Another is the jaunty superciliousness with which the conductors of +the press at first affected to treat the threats of prosecution. More +noteworthy than anything else, however, is the view given of the +deliberate manner in which Cooper began these suits, and the +relentless tenacity with which he followed them up. The "Evening +Journal," of which Thurlow Weed was then the head, partly from the +political skill of its editor, and partly from its being the organ of +the party at the state capital, was, at that time, the most +influential Whig journal in New York. Weed published in it, in two +different numbers of August, 1837, the articles which had appeared in +the "Chenango Telegraph" and the "Otsego Republican" about the Three +Mile Point controversy. He accompanied them with some comments of his +own in regard to Cooper. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page191" name="page191"></a>(p. 191)</span> +"He was, as is known," said he in +his second notice, "pretty generally despised abroad. He is now +equally distinguished at home." The editor then went on to speak of +the act of meanness, as he termed it, which had excited the contempt +of the novelist's neighbors; and that the more precise account now +furnished by the "Otsego Republican" would rather increase than +diminish the measure of scorn that had been aroused. Much was Weed's +surprise when, on the 18th of April, 1840, he received a letter from +Cooper's counsel requiring a retraction of what had been said in 1837, +and a further statement that it must be made within a certain time or +a suit for libel would be begun. He treated this notice cavalierly. He +was amused by it even more than he was astonished. As it had taken +three years for Cooper to bring the suit, he concluded that he would +take three weeks at any rate to reply to the demand for a retraction. +A second letter from Cooper's counsel, dated the 4th of May, met with +the same neglect. Accordingly on the 25th of that month he had the +pleasure of announcing that he had been sued for libel by "Mr. John +Effingham."</p> + +<p>The case after being put off once on a very frivolous pretext, came to +trial at the Montgomery circuit of the Supreme Court, held at Fonda, +in November, 1841. When it was called Weed was not present, nor was +counsel for him. Cooper consented to have the case go over for a day. +It was then called again. Nothing was seen of the defendant, nothing +had been heard from him. The case was accordingly sent to the jury +with a speech from the plaintiff's counsel. A verdict of four hundred +dollars was returned. Weed arrived at Fonda the evening of that day, +and wrote anonymously to the "New +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page192" name="page192"></a>(p. 192)</span> +York Tribune" an account +of what had taken place. In some of its details it was more +entertaining than accurate. The reason he gave for his absence from +the trial was that he had been kept at home by severe illness in his +family. But the result enabled him to notice in this manner the sum +awarded by the jury.</p> + +<p>"This meagre verdict under the circumstances is a severe and +mortifying rebuke to Cooper, who had everything his own way.</p> + +<p>"The value of Mr. Cooper's character, therefore, has been judicially +determined.</p> + +<p>"It is worth exactly four hundred dollars."</p> + +<p>For the publication of this letter a suit was immediately begun +against the "Tribune." But though he wrote for that journal an amusing +account of the trial, in his own paper Weed gave vent to the anger +which the result had excited. The verdicts gained in his various cases +by "this man Cooper," he said, had made "deep inroads upon a fame once +bright and enviable, but now sadly dim and dilapidated." He then +recited in full the misdeeds of the novelist. "For all this," +concluded the aggrieved editor, "connected with the attempt to deprive +the citizens of a social privilege with which they were invested by +his honored father, we said Mr. Cooper was despised. And for this he +prosecuted us. And now having again said it he may again prosecute us, +if he wants and thinks he can obtain four hundred dollars more."</p> + +<p>Weed did not appreciate the fact that he was not dealing with a +politician, but with a man indifferent to or rather contemptuous of +popular clamor. His challenge was immediately accepted. Early in +December, 1841, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page193" name="page193"></a>(p. 193)</span> +he was able to announce the fact that he had +been sued again. "The sheriff," he said, "has served another writ upon +us for an alleged libel upon Cooper. It remains to be seen how much +longer courts and juries will sanction this legal persecution of a +man, who after libeling his country and calumniating his countrymen, +seeks to muzzle a free press." The jocular tone used at first had all +vanished. Instead it was replaced by a fierce spirit of wrathfulness +and defiance. During the whole of December, 1841, Weed kept constantly +republishing extracts from other newspapers reflecting upon and +attacking Cooper's character and conduct. These were, he said, "sharp +rebukes" of the novelist's "ridiculous and unworthy attempt to +disgrace his own country to gain the favor and smiles of the nobility +abroad." Some of these newspaper comments furnish very amusing reading +now, especially as the impunity of most of the writers was due to +their insignificance. "We rejoice," said one of them, "to witness the +spirit of independence manifested by the conductors of the press. It +proves their incorruptible integrity and their love of principle, +their firm hostility to foreign notions, and their detestation of the +man who seeks to ape the high and aristocratic manners of English +nobility." These valorous declarations came mainly from the country +papers of the state of New York, for the "Evening Journal" was the +Triton of these minnows. Weed, however, eagerly reproduced everything +that came from outside. One article, in particular, from a Chicago +paper, was published, in order that Cooper might see "what +right-minded and unprejudiced people say and think of him far away in +the boundless West."</p> + +<p>The appeal was to deaf ears. Neither contracted East +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page194" name="page194"></a>(p. 194)</span> +nor +boundless West affected Cooper's resolution. As fast as the articles +were republished, they were carefully examined, and prosecutions begun +against the "Evening Journal" for those of them containing libelous +matter. By the middle of December five suits had been commenced, and +more were under consideration. A little later, if contemporary +newspaper reports can be trusted, the number had swelled to seven. The +editor began to appreciate the difficulty and danger of the situation. +His courage, however, did not falter. In fact he looked upon himself +as manfully standing in the gap for freedom of speech. "These suits," +he said "will determine whether an Independent Press is to be +protected in the free exercise of honest opinion, or whether it is to +be overawed and silenced by the persecutions of an inflated, +litigious, soured novelist, who, in his better days by the favor of +the Press, made the money with which he now seeks to oppress its +conductors, and sap its independence." He did not purpose to flinch +from his duty. Accordingly he announced that he should continue +publishing these attacks until Cooper ceased prosecuting.</p> + +<p>In this determination he was encouraged by the result of two suits +tried in April, 1842, in the Otsego County Court. Though he was beaten +in both, the verdict was for small amounts. In one case it was +fifty-five dollars, in the other eighty-seven dollars. This convinced +the press that the tide was turning. Again the country newspapers were +filled with libelous paragraphs. Again the novelist was denounced for +his heartless abuse of his country, and his soulless and contemptible +vanity. Again these strictures were carefully collected from every +quarter, no matter how insignificant, and republished in +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page195" name="page195"></a>(p. 195)</span> +the +columns of the "Evening Journal." But these cheerful anticipations +were speedily dissipated. Another suit, tried at Fonda in the Supreme +Court in May, 1842, resulted in a verdict of three hundred and +twenty-five dollars for the plaintiff. The country papers were +indignant. One of the editors sagely suggested that "if judge and jury +are to carry on this war on the press to gratify individual malignity +much further, it would be well for all editors to unite in petitioning +the legislature to pass a law that judges should discharge their +duties impartially, and juries be composed of honest and intelligent +men." This profound suggestion marks pretty plainly the intellectual +grade to which most of the writers of these paragraphs had attained. +Before it could be acted upon another suit had been decided. In the +September term of the Supreme Court held at Cooperstown, a further +verdict of two hundred dollars was awarded. In the following month a +new suit was begun.</p> + +<p>Weed had fought his fight manfully. But the business of publishing +libelous paragraphs at these rates, low as they were, was ceasing to +be either pleasant or profitable. Besides his own counsel fees, the +adverse verdicts carried with them heavy costs. He concluded to let +the liberty of the press take care of itself. Accordingly, on the 14th +of December, 1842, he published, though with a grumbling comment, a +retraction of all his previous statements. It had been previously +submitted to the eminent lawyer, Daniel Cady, and by him approved. It +withdrew, first, the allegations contained the previous year in a +specific article in the paper. "On a review of the matter and a better +knowledge of the facts," were the words of the retraction, "I feel it +to be my duty to withdraw +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page196" name="page196"></a>(p. 196)</span> +the injurious imputations it +contains on the character of Mr. Cooper. It is my wish that this +retraction should be as broad as the charges. The 'Albany Evening +Journal' having also contained various other articles reflecting on +Mr. Cooper's character, I feel it due to that gentleman to withdraw +every charge that injuriously affects his character."</p> + +<p>The course of instruction had been protracted and expensive, but the +lesson had been learned at last. The independence of the press had +been crushed by the domineering despot of Cooperstown. The controversy +threatened to break out again in 1845, but it seems never to have got +beyond words. There is a comic element introduced into the whole +affair by the fact that the editor of the "Journal" was a profound and +even bigoted admirer of his adversary's novels. So fond was he of +quoting from them, that according to Greeley, jokers at that time +gravely affirmed that Weed had never read but three +authors,--Shakespeare, Scott, and Cooper. In the very heat of the +controversy he was said to have sat up all night reading "The +Pathfinder," which had come out a little while before. Greeley also +asserts that the paragraphs which appeared in the "Evening Journal" +were merely designed as gentle reminders to the novelist of the folly +of the course he was pursuing. This might find belief in a society in +which telling a man that he was an object of universal contempt would +be deemed an expression of friendly interest in his welfare. When he +says, in addition, that there was no shred, no spice of malice in +these assaults, he takes away the sole ground on which a plea of +palliation can be brought. If not due to that they had not even the +poor excuse of weak human nature. They were the wanton +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page197" name="page197"></a>(p. 197)</span> +acts +of a man who attacks another, not from indignation or wrath, but from +the mere desire of inflicting annoyance or pain.</p> + +<p>The controversy with the "Commercial Advertiser" belongs not here but +to the account of the "Naval History." It has already been said that +the "Tribune" had been sued for the publication of Thurlow Weed's +letter describing the trial at Fonda in November, 1841. In December, +1842, this case came off at Ballston. Greeley assumed the conduct of +the defense. He was unsuccessful. The jury brought in against him a +verdict of two hundred dollars and costs. "We went back to dinner," he +wrote, "took the verdict in all meekness, took a sleigh and struck a +bee-line for New York." No sooner had he reached the city than he +published a most entertaining account of the whole trial. It filled +eleven columns of the "Tribune," and the demand for it became so great +that it was found necessary to publish it in pamphlet form. For some +expressions in it Cooper began another suit. In this instance Greeley +gave up the plan of defending himself and intrusted the conduct of his +side to Seward. The case dragged on for years in the New York courts, +and, so far as I have been able to discover, had not been brought to a +final trial before the plaintiff's death.</p> + +<p>By the end of 1843, Cooper had pretty well reduced the press to +silence, so far as comments on his character were concerned. It was +insignificance or remoteness alone that protected the libeler. The +leading newspapers of the state, however much they might abuse his +writings, learned to be very cautious of what they said of him +personally. But it was a barren victory he had won. He had lost far +more than he had gained. That such +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page198" name="page198"></a>(p. 198)</span> +would be the result, he +knew, while he was engaged in the controversy. It affected, at the +time, his literary reputation, and, as a result, the sale of his +writings; and since his death it has been a principal agency in +keeping alive a distorted and fictitious view of his personal +character. A common impression came to be of him something like the +description which Greeley's lawyers gave of the estimation in which he +was held in Otsego County, in some legal papers bearing the date of +July, 1845. This was to the effect that he had acquired and had among +his neighbors "the reputation of a proud, captious, censorious, +arbitrary, dogmatical, malicious, illiberal, revengeful, and litigious +man." This one-sided and hostile view of a strongly-marked character +had just enough of truth in it to cause it to be widely received as an +accurate and complete picture. In a similar way the notion became +current that he sought to ape the manners of the English aristocracy. +Whatever Cooper's foibles were, they were none of them imported. He +was too proud in feeling and too self-centred in opinion ever to think +of aping anything or anybody. But on these points the prejudices and +misrepresentations of that day have lasted down to this.</p> + +<p>The account given makes it clear that the occasion of bringing the +first of these libel suits was accidental. But as time went on the +prosecution of them assumed to Cooper the shape of a duty. When once +it had taken on that character, no possible degree of unpopularity or +odium could have prevented him from persisting in his course. He +treated with disdain the common arguments used to persuade him to +abandon them. To one of these he referred directly in a novel +published in 1844. He was insisting upon the superiority of the past +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page199" name="page199"></a>(p. 199)</span> +to the present, a sentiment which became a favorite burden of +his latter-day utterances. "The public sense of right," he said, "had +not become blunted by familiarity with abuses, and the miserable and +craven apology was never heard for not enforcing the laws that nobody +cared for what the newspapers say." He certainly had some +justification for the hardest things he thought and said of the press. +The newspapers which circulated the false reports about his father's +disposition of the property at Three Mile Point never corrected them +after the precise facts had been published. Many of them continued to +repeat the original statements after they must have known them to be +untrue. Nor did they stop here. As the British press had in his case +done all it could to justify the charge Cooper made against it of +ferocious blackguardism of personal and political foes, so many of the +American editors seemed anxious to realize, so far as it lay in their +power, the picture that had been drawn of them in the character of +Steadfast Dodge. Papers containing offensive paragraphs about Cooper +were carefully sent, not directed to him personally, but to his wife +and daughters. The fear of punishment is the only motive by which +those who commit acts of this kind can possibly be influenced. On the +other hand, it is an idle claim that the character of the press has +been elevated by libel suits that Cooper or any one else has ever +brought. Such prosecutions may be both justifiable and necessary; but +the agencies that form and build up intelligence and taste and high +principle are not of this negative and restraining character.</p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER X. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page200" name="page200"></a>(p. 200)</span></h2> + +<h3>1839-1843.</h3> + + +<p>On the 10th of May, 1839, appeared Cooper's "History of the United +States Navy." The work was one which he had long contemplated writing. +As far back as 1825 there were newspaper reports that he had the +undertaking in mind. He himself, in his parting speech at the dinner +given him in May, 1826, just before his departure for Europe, had +publicly announced his determination of devoting himself to this +subject during his absence abroad. "Encouraged by your kindness," he +said, "I will take this opportunity of recording the deeds and +sufferings of a class of men to which this nation owes a debt of +lasting gratitude--a class of men among whom, I am always ready to +declare, not only the earliest, but many of the happiest days of my +youth have been passed." The necessity of providing for his family and +of paying off debts incurred by others, but for which he was +responsible, had prevented the immediate carrying out of this +resolution. But it had always been in his thoughts. The delay in the +preparation probably added to the value of the history; but its +reception would unquestionably have been far different had it been +brought out in the height of his popularity.</p> + +<p>It was a work which for many reasons it was a hard task to make +accurate, and a still harder one to make interesting. With slight +exceptions the history could be +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page201" name="page201"></a>(p. 201)</span> +little more than a record of +detached combats; and a string of episodes, no matter how brilliant, +can never have the attraction which belongs to unity and grandeur of +movement. These last can alone characterize the operations of great +fleets.</p> + +<p>Still, for the writing of this history Cooper was peculiarly fitted. +He had belonged to the navy in his early life. He had never ceased to +feel the deepest interest in its reputation and prosperity. He had +contributed to the "Naval Magazine," a periodical published during +1836 and 1837, a series of papers connected with the improvement of +its condition. He was, moreover, on terms of intimacy with many of the +officers who had won for it distinction; and through them he had +access to sources of information that could not be gained from written +authorities. He had, besides, the characteristic of loving truth for +its own sake, and the disposition to endure any amount of drudgery and +encounter any sort of toil in order to secure it. To this were added +the special qualifications of the historical eye, which enabled him to +seize the important facts in an infinite mass of detail, and the power +of describing vividly what he saw clearly. Under such circumstances it +was reasonable to expect that his work would satisfy all fair-thinking +men. It is, perhaps, correct to say that it did so. But it also gave +rise to a controversy which stretched over a longer period and +surpassed, in the bitter feelings it aroused, any of the wars in which +the navy itself had ever been engaged.</p> + +<p>There were special difficulties to be encountered with readers on both +sides of the ocean. On the one hand, Englishmen had usually forgotten +to remember that during the war of 1812 there was any naval combat of +importance fought +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page202" name="page202"></a>(p. 202)</span> +except between the Shannon and the +Chesapeake; and even at this day it would be difficult to find in an +English writer any account of the naval operations of that war in +which that particular engagement does not play the principal part. If +any other was forced upon their attention it had become an article of +their creed that an American frigate was little else than a +line-of-battle ship disguised. Moreover, the effective force of the +American vessel was, according to their theory, made up of deserters +from the British service. These two explanations of any failure were +often combined. It is in this way Captain Brenton, one of their naval +historians, calmly shows how it was that the Constitution happened to +capture the Guerričre. "We may justly say," he concludes his account, +"it was a large British frigate taking a small one." On her part +America was not to be outdone in her estimate of national prowess. It +had become matter of firm faith with the inhabitants of the United +States that their side had suffered no losses worth mentioning during +the war of 1812; that the American vessel had been invariably +successful, whenever there was any approach to equality of force; and +that in every case it was the superior seamanship, courage, and skill +of their officers and men that had decided the result in their favor, +and not superiority in weight of metal.</p> + +<p>Neither of these beliefs was of a kind likely to influence Cooper. He +had got to that point of feeling in which he looked upon the public +opinion of both England and America with a good deal of contempt. It +was not to pamper the vanity or flatter the prejudices of either that +he wrote, but to state the truth. For this he neglected nothing that +lay in his power. He studied public +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page203" name="page203"></a>(p. 203)</span> +documents of every kind, +official reports, all the printed and manuscript material to which he +could get access. From officers of the navy who had shared in the +actions described he gathered much information which they alone were +able to communicate. In one sense he was fully satisfied with what he +had done. He did not pretend that in a work which involved the +examination and sifting of an almost infinite number of details he had +not made some errors. It was only that he had made none intentionally, +and that he had put forth his most strenuous exertions to have what he +wrote entirely free from mistake. Nor is it possible for any +unprejudiced mind to read the history now and not feel the truth of +the assertion. Its accuracy and honesty have sometimes been flippantly +questioned, but usually by men who have not spent as many days in the +study of the subject as Cooper did months. During his lifetime +imputations were made in a few cases upon the correctness of his +statements. They met then, however, so speedy and effectual a +refutation that it was not thought worth while to repeat the +criticisms until he was in his grave. Cooper might be wrong in his +conclusions; but it was rarely safe to quarrel with his facts. There +is more, however, in this history than freedom from intentional +perversion of the truth. There are throughout the whole of it the +calmness, the judicial spirit, the absence of partisanship which may +not of themselves add anything to the interest of the narrative, but +are worth everything for the impression of truthfulness it makes.</p> + +<p>Impartiality is a quality, however, little apt to be commended where +our own feelings and interests are concerned. Still, the general +fairness of the work was admitted +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page204" name="page204"></a>(p. 204)</span> +in England, with the +qualification, of course that a perfectly trustworthy history could +not come from this side of the water. A few malignant attacks were +made upon it. One of these, which appeared in the "United Service +Journal" for November and December, 1839, is of the nature of a +prolonged roar rather than a criticism; but it is worth noticing for +the incidental evidence it furnishes of the intense rancor felt +towards Cooper by many in England on account of his strictures upon +that country in the two volumes devoted to it in his "Gleanings in +Europe." The writer made the then usual profession of faith, that the +work referred to had been completely crushed by the "Quarterly;" +moreover, that the novelist had been convicted by it of the blackest +ingratitude for traducing the nation which, we learn from this notice, +had fostered his talents for romance. No critic of Cooper, either in +Europe or in this country, it is to be remarked here, ever seemed +willing to concede that the author had any hand in gaining his own +reputation. In America the newspapers constantly assured him that it +was due entirely to them. Great Britain assumed that it was to her +generous appreciation alone that he was known in either hemisphere. +The European main-land was not behind the island in this feeling. +"Undoubtedly," wrote Balzac, "Cooper's renown is not due to his +countrymen nor to the English: he owes it mainly to the ardent +appreciation of France." This sentiment of the novelist's obligation +to Great Britain was uppermost in the heart of the reviewer in the +"United Service Journal." An uneasy impression, however, weighed upon +his mind lest Cooper, who had now suffered annihilation several times +without injury, might have survived the particular one inflicted +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page205" name="page205"></a>(p. 205)</span> +by the "Quarterly." He honestly confessed, therefore, that he had +waited some months before criticising the "Naval History," so that he +might not look at it with a jaundiced or malignant eye in consequence +of his recollections of the previous work on England.</p> + +<p>It is not worth while to take any further notice of this article, in +which wretched criticism was put into still poorer English. But there +was one of these reviews to which Cooper felt it incumbent on him to +reply. This appeared in the "Edinburgh" for April, 1840. It was +studiously fair in tone. It commended the American author's work in +many respects. While doing so, however, it attacked him for having +made no use of the "Naval History of Great Britain" by William James, +a history which it spoke of in a gushing way as approaching "as nearly +to perfection in its own line as any historical work perhaps ever +did." It also labored heavily to break the force of some of Cooper's +statements by charging him with making assertions without evidence or +against evidence. James was a veterinary surgeon who had come to this +country before the war of 1812 to practice his profession. After the +breaking out of hostilities he left it, or rather, as he says, +"escaped from it, before being taken prisoner into the +interior"--whatever that may mean. In the early part of "the steelyard +and arithmetical war," as Cooper phrased it, which has raged with +extreme violence ever since the peace of Ghent, James bore a gallant +and conspicuous part. He published a pamphlet on the subject, which, +in 1817, came out expanded into a volume. In it he showed conclusively +that his countrymen had been utterly wrong in supposing that they had +met with any naval reverses during the war of 1812. The falsity of +this <span class="pagenum"><a id="page206" name="page206"></a>(p. 206)</span> +assumption he satisfactorily established by explaining +that the Americans were the most inveterate liars upon the face of the +earth. By their deceptive and fraudulent accounts they had beguiled +the English, a self-distrustful and self-depreciating people, into +believing that they had been defeated, where they had really been +victorious. Heroes, indeed, can be overcome by sufficient odds; and +James was always prepared with ample explanations to account for +failure in special cases. He also convicted the officers of the +American navy not merely of lying in their official reports--which was +a duty expected of them both by government and people--but of +cowardice in action, of misconduct in their operations, and of +brutality toward enemies whom the chance of war threw into their +power. A work like this not merely filled a gap in historical +literature, it supplied a national want. It was accordingly received +with such favor that its author went on to produce a history of the +British navy from 1793 to the accession of George IV. In this he +embodied his previous narrative; and a grateful people has never +ceased to cherish a work which showed it that it had succeeded where +previously it had been laboring under the impression that it had +failed.</p> + +<p>For James and his history Cooper had unbounded contempt. This +horse-doctor, as he termed him, he looked upon as being as well fitted +to describe a naval engagement as the proverbial horse-marine would be +to take part in one. Besides being incapable, he regarded him as +eminently dishonest; as vaunting impartiality while elevating +discreditable and improbable hearsay into positive assertion, and +fortifying his falsehoods by a pretentious parade of figures and +official documents. It +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page207" name="page207"></a>(p. 207)</span> +is hardly going too far to say that, +in Cooper's opinion, the remarks of James on American affairs combined +all possible forms of misstatement from undesigned misrepresentation +to deliberate falsehood. There may be difference of opinion on this +point; on another there can be none. The period covered by the British +writer is on the whole the most glorious in the long and brilliant +naval history of the greatest maritime power the world has ever known. +Never was there a greater contrast between the spirit with which +things were done and the spirit with which they were told. In no other +history known to man does tediousness assume proportions more +appalling, do figures seem more juiceless, do the stories of heroic +achievement furnish less inspiration than in this of James. If it be +true, as some modern writers say, that history to be of value must be +void of interest, it may be conceded that this particular work is +entitled to that praise of perfection accorded it by the Edinburgh +Reviewer.</p> + +<p>The judgment that held up such a history as a model was not likely to +impress a man, who was still under the sway of the old-fashioned +notion, that there was no absolutely necessary connection between +dullness and accuracy. To this particular criticism Cooper replied in +the "Democratic Review" for May and June, 1842. In the first article he +exposed the ignorance and dishonesty of James. In the second he +devoted himself to the assertions of the "Edinburgh." The game was +hardly worth the candle. His arguments could not reach the men who +alone needed to know them. In international quarrels of any kind there +are few who read both sides. The feeling exists that it is not safe to +contaminate the purity of one's faith in his country by the doubts +that might +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page208" name="page208"></a>(p. 208)</span> +arise from merely fancying that an opponent has +reasons for his course worth considering. So it was in this case. Few +people in the United States saw the "Edinburgh Review," none believed +what it said. In England fewer knew even of the existence of the +"Democratic Review."</p> + +<p>The controversy that arose in this country was on an entirely +different ground. It was one that could hardly have been foreseen. The +personal hostility which Cooper had succeeded in drawing upon himself +was never so conspicuously shown as in the treatment which his "Naval +History" underwent. At first, indeed, it was received with general +favor, though by many it was thought to give too much credit to the +English. In a short time, however, attacks were made upon it so +virulent, so causeless, and withal so simultaneous, that the mere fact +would of itself afford reason for the suspicion that they were +concerted. This was practically the case. A certain amount of +preliminary detail will make the circumstances clear. The controversy +was entirely about the account of a particular action in the war of +1812, and a work containing over fifty chapters was absolutely +condemned as partisan and worthless for what was found on a few pages +of one chapter.</p> + +<p>The battle of Lake Erie was fought and won by Commodore Perry on the +10th of September, 1813. It presented the peculiarity that the +Lawrence, the flagship of the victorious squadron, had struck to the +enemy in the course of the engagement. There was a feeling prevalent +among many at the time that Elliott, the second in rank, had not been +cordial in his support of his commander, and had left him to bear for +a long while the brunt of the fight without hastening in his vessel, +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page209" name="page209"></a>(p. 209)</span> +Niagara, to his help. This was, in particular, the +general belief among those on board the Lawrence. Perry did not +sanction this view at first. Urged by good-nature, according to the +theory of his friends, he praised Elliott's conduct in his official +report. He went even farther in a letter of the 19th of September. +This was in reply to a note from Elliott stating that rumors were +current that the Lawrence had been sacrificed because of the lack of +proper exertion on the part of the second in command. "I am +indignant," wrote Perry, "that any report should be in circulation +prejudicial to your character as respects the action of the 10th +instant. It affords me pleasure that I have it in my power to assure +you that the conduct of yourself, officers, and crew was such as to +merit my warmest approbation. And I consider the circumstance of your +volunteering and bringing the smaller vessels up to close action as +contributing largely to our victory." Such was the situation at the +time. A few years later, however, a bitter quarrel sprang up between +Perry and Elliott, which apparently owed a good deal of its rancor to +the exertions of good-natured friends of both in communicating to each +remarks made, or supposed to be made, by the other. An envenomed +correspondence took place in 1818. It led to Elliott's challenging +Perry, and Perry preferring charges against Elliott for his conduct at +the battle of Lake Erie. In the letter accompanying the charges he +gave as his reason for changing his opinion as to the behavior of his +second in command, that he had been put into possession of fresh +facts. The government took no action in the matter, and in the +following year Perry died. In 1834 Elliott became the mark of +hostility of the Whig press on account of his putting the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page210" name="page210"></a>(p. 210)</span> +figure of Andrew Jackson at the figure-head of the Constitution, the +war-ship of which he was in command. The old scandal about his conduct +at Erie was revived. Elliott did more than defend himself. A life of +him was published in 1835, written by another, but from materials +evidently that he himself had furnished. It claimed that the success +of the battle of Lake Erie was mainly due to his efforts. It naturally +produced a feeling of intense bitterness among Perry's friends and +relatives. This was the way matters stood at the time that the "Naval +History" was brought out.</p> + +<p>Cooper entered upon the account of the battle of Lake Erie with the +common prejudice against Elliott. Nor were efforts lacking to keep it +alive and strengthen it, when it was reported in naval circles that he +had begun to be uncertain about the justice of his original +impressions. Captain Matthew Perry, the brother of the Commodore, +forwarded him all the sworn documentary evidence that made against +Elliott. He neglected to send any that was given in his favor. Cooper +was not the man to be satisfied with this way of writing history. As +he examined the subject more and more, he was struck by the +conflicting character of the testimony, and the doubt that overhung +the whole question. He came finally to the conclusion that it was not +a matter he could settle, or, perhaps, any one. He accordingly +contented himself with giving as accurate an account of the battle of +Lake Erie as he could without entering at all into the details of the +controversy. He made not the slightest effort to detract from the +praise due to Perry, and, indeed, paid the highest tribute to his +skill and conduct. Nor did he give to Elliott any prominence whatever.</p> + + +<p>He <span class="pagenum"><a id="page211" name="page211"></a>(p. 211)</span> +had committed, however, the unpardonable sin. He had +refused to attack Elliott. He had preferred to accept Perry's original +account of the battle, written within five days after it had taken +place, to the view he took of it not only five years later, but also +after a bitter personal quarrel had sprung up between him and his +former second in command. While Cooper had made no special mention of +the latter, he had spoken of him respectfully. There was a general +feeling that Elliott ought to have been attacked. He was a very +unpopular man, and, perhaps, deservedly so; while Perry was both a +popular favorite and a popular hero. The refusal of Cooper to join in +the general denunciation brought down upon him, not only those who +honestly believed him in the wrong, but the whole horde of his own +personal enemies who knew little and cared less about this particular +subject. In the long list of controversies which the student of +literature is under the necessity of examining, none seems so uncalled +for and so discreditable to the assailants as this. For it is to be +borne in mind that the historian had not made the slightest attempt to +injure Perry in the popular estimation, or to elevate the subordinate +at the expense of the commander. Yet assertions of this kind were +constantly bandied about, though it would not have taken five minutes +reading of the work to have shown their falsity. Cooper was frequently +spoken of by the press as the detractor of American fame and the +slanderer of American character, because he refused to say, on +one-sided evidence, that an officer of the United States navy had been +willing to sacrifice his superior in a hotly contested battle and +imperil the result for the sake of ministering to his own personal +ambition, or of gratifying a feeling of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page212" name="page212"></a>(p. 212)</span> +personal dislike and +envy, of the existence of which at the time there was no proof.</p> + +<p>Space here exists to notice only the elaborate attacks to which Cooper +himself felt constrained to reply. The first of these appeared in four +numbers of the "New York Commercial Advertiser" during June, 1839. The +articles were written by William A. Duer, who had lately been +president of Columbia College. They purported to be a review of the +"Naval History," but nothing whatever was said about that work beyond +the few pages in which the battle of Lake Erie is described. They +were, moreover, so personal in their nature and contained imputations +so gross on his character, that Cooper began a libel suit against the +journal in which they were published. This finally resulted in one of +the most extraordinary trials that has ever been recorded in merely +literary annals. The attack in the "Commercial Advertiser" was +followed by a similar one in the "North American Review." This was +written, however, with more decency, though it again devoted itself +mainly to the battle of Lake Erie. It was the work of Alexander +Slidell Mackenzie, a naval author, who by three books of travel had +gained at the time some literary notoriety. But the notoriety never +rose to reputation; and the history which preserves his name at all, +preserves it in connection with an event it were well for his memory +to have eternally forgotten. It is to be added that he was the +brother-in-law of Captain Matthew Perry, and that Duer was his uncle. +Hardly had his broadside been delivered, when another attack appeared. +The victor of Lake Erie had come from Rhode Island, and Rhode Island +rushed to the fray, not to defend her son--for he had not been +attacked--but to build +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page213" name="page213"></a>(p. 213)</span> +up his reputation by ruining that of +his enemy. Tristam Burges, when the biography of Elliott, already +referred to, had appeared, had delivered a lecture on the battle of +Lake Erie before the Rhode Island Historical Society. It was not +printed at the time; but no sooner was Cooper's work published than, +at the request of Perry's friends and relatives, it was brought out +with documents appended. The lecture reads very much like a stump +speech of the extreme florid type. It is needless to say that in it +Elliott got his full deserts for betraying his commander. It made no +direct reference to Cooper, but the whole object was to discredit the +account of the battle which he had given.</p> + +<p>Even this was not all. Mackenzie prepared a life of Perry, which was +published early in 1841. In it he attacked Elliott with great +bitterness, and was careful to give in an appendix all the sworn +testimony on one side, and leave out all the sworn testimony on the +other. The biography met with general favor. It was styled a noble +work, and the courage manifested by the author in assailing an +unpopular man and celebrating a popular hero was, for some reason hard +now to be understood, highly commended on all sides. The intense +partisanship of the biography can be read on almost every page. But it +was warmly welcomed everywhere, for Elliott had few friends even in +his own profession. The "North American Review" for July, 1841, in an +article written by the late Admiral Charles H. Davis, congratulated +the navy on now having a work which gave a true and faithful report of +the battle of Lake Erie, and stigmatized Cooper's account as false in +spirit, statement, and comment.</p> + +<p>This was, indeed, the general charge. For a while Cooper +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page214" name="page214"></a>(p. 214)</span> +was +under as heavy a bombardment as Perry himself had been in his +flagship. That his feelings were outraged by the injustice of it there +can be no question, but it never daunted his spirit. Yet he took not +the slightest step without being sure of his ground. He went over the +evidence again and again. He talked with officers of the navy who held +views opposed to his own; though he said afterward he rarely found +that they knew anything about the matter beyond common report. With +the exception of a few newspaper articles, however, he published +nothing directly in reply until four years after his history was +published. In the mean while he pressed the suit against William L. +Stone, the editor of the "Commercial Advertiser." That paper at first +took the prosecution in the jocular and insolent way then common with +the press. Under an announcement of "Stand Clear," it informed its +readers early in August, 1839, that "the interesting Mr. J. Effingham +Fenimore Cooper is to bring a libel suit against us. None will +approach it in interest, importance, or amusement." The editor was +telling more truth than he thought. No action, however, was taken by +Cooper for nearly a year to carry out his expressed intention. But he +could always be depended upon. His suits, though sometimes long in +coming, were sure to come at last. Great was the surprise of the +editor when, in May, 1840, a process was served upon him for a libel +printed eleven months before. He was indignant that the prosecutor had +waited so long. A demurrer was filed and argued in July, 1840, at the +Utica term of the Supreme Court. The decision was against the +defendant. Things now began to look more serious; for while the +importance of the suit was increasing, its amusement was diminishing. +It, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page215" name="page215"></a>(p. 215)</span> +however, hung on in the courts for a year and a half +longer. The defendant was naturally unwilling to hasten a trial which +was almost certain to end in an adverse verdict. Negotiations between +the parties in the autumn of 1841 resulted in a novel agreement. +Cooper did not care for damages. It was not money he sought; it was to +vindicate the truth of his history and his character as an historian. +When, therefore, his adversary suggested that an ordinary jury of +twelve men could not well pass upon a question involving the value of +conflicting evidence, and minute technical detail, he seized upon the +occasion to arrange that it should be tried before a body of referees, +consisting of three distinguished lawyers. The proposal was accepted. +Never was the eternal question between author and reviewer settled in +a more singular and a more thorough way. For the referees were to +decide, not merely upon legal points, but upon moral ones. They were +to decide whether the author had written a truthful account of the +battle of Lake Erie, and whether he had written it in a spirit of +truth. On the other hand, they were to decide whether the reviewer had +written matter libelous enough to justify a verdict from a jury, and +whether in the treatment of the subject for which he criticised the +history he had been just and impartial. If the decision were in favor +of the author the defendant was not to pay more than two hundred and +fifty dollars besides the costs. In any case the beaten party was to +publish the full text of the decision, at his own expense, in the +cities of New York, Albany, and Washington. The referees agreed upon +were Samuel Steevens, named by Cooper; Daniel Lord, Jr., named by +Stone; and Samuel A. Foot, chosen by mutual consent. The attendance of +many witnesses was rendered +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page216" name="page216"></a>(p. 216)</span> +unnecessary by the stipulation +that a vast mass of documentary testimony in possession of Cooper +should be taken in evidence.</p> + +<p>The referees met in the United States court room in New York city, on +the afternoon of Monday, May 16, 1842. A large crowd was in +attendance. Public interest had been aroused, not only by the question +involved and the novel character of the suit, but by the fact that the +historian was to assume the principal conduct of his own side. The +trial lasted for five days. After the opening speeches had been made, +the taking of oral testimony began. Among the witnesses for the +defense were Sands, Mackenzie, and Paulding, all officers of the navy. +They were examined in reference to Cooper's account of the battle of +Lake Erie and the diagrams by which he represented the positions of +the vessels during the engagement. Their views were in all respects +opposed to the theory of operations which he had assumed. After the +taking of the oral testimony was ended and certain legal questions had +been argued, the summing up was begun by William W. Campbell of +Otsego, the leading lawyer for the defense. His speech was exceedingly +able and effective. Men who were present at the proceedings asserted, +when it was finished, that there was no possible way in which its +reasoning could be shaken, still less overthrown. At eight o'clock on +Thursday evening Cooper began summing up for the prosecution, and +continued until ten. On Friday he resumed his argument at four in the +afternoon, and six hours had passed before he concluded. His conduct +of the case from the beginning had excited surprise and admiration. +Friends and foes alike bore witness to the signal ability he had +displayed throughout; but +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page217" name="page217"></a>(p. 217)</span> +his closing speech made an +especially profound impression. Its interest, its ingenuity, and its +effectiveness were conceded by the defendant himself. It was for a +long time after spoken of as one of the finest forensic displays that +had ever been witnessed at the New York bar. Among those present at +the trial was Henry T. Tuckerman, who has left us an account of the +circumstances and of the bearing of the man. "A more unpopular cause," +he wrote, "never fell to the lot of a practiced advocate; for the hero +of Lake Erie was and had long been one of the most cherished of +American victors. We could not but admire the self-possession, +coolness, and vigor with which the author, on this occasion, played +the lawyer. Almost alone in his opinion,--the tide of public sentiment +against his theory of the battle, and the popular sympathy wholly with +the received traditions of that memorable day,--he stood collected, +dignified, uncompromising; examined witnesses, quoted authorities, +argued nautical and naval precedents with a force and a facility which +would have done credit to an experienced barrister. On the one hand, +his speech was a remarkable exhibition of self-esteem, and on the +other, a most interesting professional argument; for when he described +the battle, and illustrated his views by diagrams, it was like a +chapter in one of his own sea-stories, so minute, graphic, and +spirited was the picture he drew. The dogmatism was more than +compensated for by the picturesqueness of the scene; his +self-complacency was exceeded by his wonderful ability. He quoted +Cooper's 'Naval History' as if it were 'Blackstone;' he indulged in +reminiscences; he made digressions and told anecdotes; he spoke of the +manœuvres of the vessels, of the shifting of the wind, of the +course +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page218" name="page218"></a>(p. 218)</span> +of the fight, like one whose life had been passed on +the quarter-deck. No greater evidence of self-reliance, of +indifference to the opinion of the world, and to that of his +countrymen in particular, of the rarest descriptive talent, of +pertinacity, loyalty to personal conviction, and a manly, firm, yet +not unkindly spirit, could be imagined than the position thus assumed, +and the manner in which he met the exigency. As we gazed and listened, +we understood clearly why, as a man, Cooper had been viewed from such +extremes of prejudice and partiality; we recognized at once the +generosity and courage, and the willfulness and pride of his +character: but the effect was to inspire a respect for the man, such +as authors whose errors are moral weaknesses never excite."</p> + +<p>On the 16th of June the referees rendered their decision on the eight +points submitted to them for adjudication. In regard to five of these +they were all in full agreement; but in three instances one of the +referees dissented from certain portions of the report made by the +other two.</p> + +<p>The first point was whether, according to the evidence and the rules +of the law the plaintiff would be entitled to the verdict of a jury in +an ordinary suit for libel. They agreed that he would, and accordingly +awarded the damages that had been fixed by the original stipulation.</p> + +<p>The second point was whether in writing his account of the battle of +Lake Erie, Cooper had faithfully fulfilled his obligations as an +historian. The majority of the referees decided that he had so done. +Mr. Foot dissented to this extent, that Cooper had intended to do so, +but that from error of judgment or from some cause not +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page219" name="page219"></a>(p. 219)</span> +impugning the purity of his motives, he had failed in one specified +point. This was that the narrative gave the impression that Elliott's +conduct in the battle had met with universal approbation, which it had +not. The arbitrator added, however, that this was the only particular +in which it appeared to him that the historian had failed in +fulfilling the high trust he had taken upon himself.</p> + +<p>The third point was whether the narrative of the battle of Lake Erie +was true or not in its essential facts, and if untrue, in what +particulars. The majority decided that it was true. Mr. Foot dissented +on the same point, to the same extent, and for the same reason, for +which he had dissented from the second.</p> + +<p>The fourth point was whether the account of the battle was written in +a spirit of impartiality and justice. They all agreed that it was so +written.</p> + +<p>The fifth point was whether the writer of the criticism, upon which +the suit was founded, had faithfully fulfilled the office of a +reviewer. If not they were to give the facts upon which their +conclusion was based. They unanimously agreed that the writer had not +faithfully discharged his obligations as a reviewer; that he had +indulged in personal imputations; that he was guilty of misquotations +which materially changed the meaning; that his statements were +incorrect in several particulars; and that his charge that Cooper had +given to Elliott equal credit with Perry in the conduct of the battle +was untrue. This last assertion, they add, was made after a careful +examination by them of the history itself.</p> + +<p>The sixth point was whether the review was true or not in its +essential facts; and if untrue, in what particulars. They +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page220" name="page220"></a>(p. 220)</span> +all agreed that it was untrue, and gave the particulars.</p> + +<p>The seventh point was whether the review was written in a spirit of +impartiality and justice. The majority decided that it was not so +written. Here again Mr. Foot made a partial dissent. He considered the +review to have been written under the influence of a wakeful +sensibility, inconsiderately and unnecessarily aroused in defense of +the reputation of a beloved and deceased friend.</p> + +<p>The eighth point was to settle which of the two parties should be +required to publish the full text of the decision at his own expense +in newspapers published in New York, Washington, and Albany. The +referees agreed that this was to be done by the defendant.</p> + +<p>Thus ended this suit. For Cooper the result was a great personal +triumph. He had had to contend with the prejudices of a nation. For +months and years he had been persistently assailed with all the +weapons that unscrupulous partisanship or unreasoning family affection +could wield. He had been compelled to identify his own cause with that +of a man who, in addition to unpopularity with members of his own +profession, had drawn upon himself the hostility of a political party. +He had been under the necessity of controverting, in some particulars, +a generally accepted belief. Against him had been arrayed two of the +ablest lawyers of the bar. Naval officers of reputation had on the +witness stand criticised his theory of the battle and contradicted his +statements. He had been assisted in the conduct of the case by his +nephew; but outside of this he had received help from no one. Sympathy +with him, there was little; desire for his success, there was less; +and the referees could +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page221" name="page221"></a>(p. 221)</span> +hardly fail to feel to some extent +the influence that pervaded the whole country. In the face of all +these odds he had fought the battle and won it. He had wrung respect +and admiration from a hostile public sentiment which he had openly and +contemptuously defied. Upon the essential matters in dispute the +verdict of three men, of highest rank in their profession and skilled +in the weighing of conflicting evidence, had been entirely in his +favor.</p> + +<p>Cooper followed up his victory by a pamphlet which appeared in August, +1843, entitled, "The Battle of Lake Erie: or, Answers to Messrs. +Burges, Duer, and Mackenzie." In this he went fully over the ground. +No reply was made to it; there was in fact none to be made. The +popular tradition could best be maintained by silence. Silence at any +rate during his lifetime was preserved, and silence in cases where it +would have been creditable to have said something. It certainly +affords justification additional to that already given, for the +contemptuous opinion expressed by Cooper of the American press, that +the newspapers which had been loudest in the denunciation of his +history, never so much as alluded to the result of the trial brought +to test authoritatively the fairness and impartiality of the narrative +for which he had been condemned.</p> + +<p>After reading patiently all that has been written on both sides of +this question, it seems to me that not only was the verdict of the +arbitrators a just one, but that Cooper was right in the view he took. +Still, where evidence is conflicting there is ample room for +difference of opinion; and in regard to the conduct of Elliott at Lake +Erie the evidence is diametrically opposed. The only secure method, +therefore, of obtaining and maintaining a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page222" name="page222"></a>(p. 222)</span> +comfortable +bigotry of belief on the subject is to read carefully the testimony on +one side and to despise the other so thoroughly as to refrain from +even looking at it. This was then and has since been the course +followed by the thick and thin partisans of Perry. But whether the +conclusion be right or not at which Cooper arrived, there was never +the slightest justification for the gross abuse to which he was +subjected. He had everything to gain by falling in with the popular +tradition and attacking Elliott. Nothing but lofty integrity and love +of truth could have made him take the course he did. If a mistake at +all, it was a mistake of judgment. But the charges brought against him +were based in most instances upon deliberate misrepresentation of what +he had said. This was especially true of the criticisms of Duer and +Mackenzie. The perversion of meaning of one of his foot-notes is a +striking instance of the unscrupulous nature of these attacks. In this +Cooper had spoken of the vulgar opinion which celebrated as an act of +special gallantry Perry's passing in an open boat from one ship to +another as being the very least of his merits; that the same thing was +done in the same engagement by others, including Elliott; that there +was personal risk everywhere; and that Perry's real merit was his +indomitable resolution not to be conquered, and the manner in which he +sought new modes of victory when old ones failed. If this be +depreciatory, it is depreciatory to say that greater honor is due to +him who manifests the skill and fertility of resource of a commander +than to him who exhibits the mere valor of a soldier. But in Duer's +review of the "Naval History," and Mackenzie's "Life of Perry," the +purport of the note was entirely changed. The concluding portion +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page223" name="page223"></a>(p. 223)</span> +was dishonestly omitted, and a paragraph that gave to the victor +of Lake Erie credit for generalship rather than soldiership was +converted into an assertion that the risk he had run was of slight +consequence.</p> + +<p>This controversy brought in its train another libel suit. To the +editor of the "Commercial Advertiser" the result had caused deep +mortification. The reviewer also was naturally dissatisfied with a +decision which left upon him the stigma of a libeler. He offered, if +the case could be brought before a common jury for another trial, to +pay double the amount of damages awarded, provided the result was +against him. With such an arrangement Mr. Stone declined to have +anything to do. He had had, he said, annoyance enough already with the +suit. But he was tempted in a moment of vexation to indulge in remarks +which implied that Cooper was in a hurry to get the sum awarded, with +the object of putting it into Wall Street "for shaving purposes." The +insinuation was uncalled for and unjustifiable; and as the editor +subsequently admitted that it was only made in jest, it may be imputed +to his credit that he had the grace to be ashamed of it. A libel suit, +however, followed. It was at first decided in Cooper's favor. It was +then carried up to the Court of Errors, and in December, 1845, more +than a year after Mr. Stone's death, that tribunal reversed the +decision. The result of the trial was hailed with the keenest delight +by the Whig press of the state. "The Great Persecutor," as he was +sometimes styled, had been finally foiled. "The rights of the press," +said one of the newspapers, "are at last triumphant over the tyranny +of courts and the vile constructions of the law of libel." The value +of the victory, however, was largely lessened by the little respect +in <span class="pagenum"><a id="page224" name="page224"></a>(p. 224)</span> +which the Court of Errors was held. This tribunal, which +consisted in the majority of cases of the Chancellor and of the +members of the state Senate, was swept away by the Constitution of +1846. Its influence had gone long before. Cooper was doubtless giving +expression to the general feeling as well as venting his own +indignation at this particular decision when he spoke of it, as he did +a little later, as a "pitiful imitation of the House of Lords' +system," by which a body of "small lawyers, country doctors, +merchants, farmers," with occasionally a man of ability, were +constituted the highest tribunal in the state.</p> + +<p>Two other results followed incidentally this controversy about the +battle of Lake Erie. One had the nature of comedy, the other partook +rather of that of tragedy. Perry, as has been said, was a Rhode +Islander, and many of the men he had with him had come from that +state. Tristam Burges, in his lecture, had, in many instances, allowed +his eloquence to get the better of his sense. In the preface to it, +when published, he abandoned the latter altogether. He twice asserted, +and gave his reasons for it, that "the fleet and battle of Erie" were +to be regarded "as a part of the maritime affairs of Rhode Island." +Apparently, however, the whole state took the same view. There seemed +to be a feeling prevalent in it that its own reputation lay in +destroying the reputation of Perry's second in command. In 1845 +Elliott had a medal struck in honor of Cooper. It bore on one side the +head of the author surrounded by the words, "The Personification of +Honor, Truth, and Justice." At the suggestion of John Quincy Adams +copies were sent to the various historical societies of the country. +That statesman himself undertook their transmission. Accordingly +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page225" name="page225"></a>(p. 225)</span> +one was forwarded among the rest to the Rhode Island Society. It +reached its destination in March. It threw that body into a tumult of +excitement. The trustees reflected upon it anxiously. They referred it +to a committee. After prolonged brooding the committee gave birth to a +preamble and two resolutions. These were reported to the Society at +the meeting of the 10th of September. In one of the resolutions the +letter of Adams was embodied, and he was thanked for the care and +attention he had displayed in the discharge of the trust committed to +him by Commodore Elliott. The second resolution recited substantially +that Cooper had not been conducting himself properly in the matter, +and had published opinions which the Society could not adopt or +sanction. It therefore declined to accept the medal in his honor, and +directed the president to transmit it to Adams with the request to +return it to Commodore Elliott. Vigorous as this action may now seem, +it did not then come up to the level of offended justice. There was to +be no tampering with iniquity, even in high places. Elliott was not to +succeed in his impudent effort to skulk behind the character of Adams, +nor was Adams to escape reproof for the base uses to which he had +allowed himself to be put. A motion was accordingly made to strike out +the resolution conveying to that statesman the thanks of the Society. +It was carried unanimously. The medal was accordingly returned to him +with the request that he send it to Elliott with an attested copy of +the resolution. Adams's conception of an Historical Society was +different from that then entertained in Rhode Island. He clearly +thought it no part of their business to be officially engaged in +upholding the reputation of favorite sons, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page226" name="page226"></a>(p. 226)</span> +or defending the +character of heroes. His reply was curt, not to say tart. "I decline +the office," he wrote, "requested of me by the Historical Society of +Rhode Island, and hold the medal and the copy of the resolution, which +they request me to transmit to Commodore Elliott, to be delivered to +any person whom they, or you by their direction, may authorize to +receive them."</p> + +<p>Cooper apparently said nothing about this action at the time. He had +before been solemnly warned by the Providence newspapers not to risk a +controversy with Burges, or, as they more graphically expressed it, +not to "get into the talons of the bald-headed eagle of Rhode Island." +The threatened danger, however, had not deterred him from exposing the +absurdities into which even eagles fall when they use their pinions +for writing and not for flying. Not even did he have the fear of the +Historical Society itself before his eyes. In 1850 he took occasion to +pay his respects to that body. He was then bringing out a revised +edition of his novels. In the preface to "The Red Rover," he mentioned +the stone tower at Newport, and referred to the way in which he had +been assailed for his irreverence in calling it a mill. He repeated +this assertion as to its character. He expressed his belief that the +building was more probably built upon arches to defend grain from mice +than men from savages. "We trust," he added, "this denial of the +accuracy of what may be a favorite local theory will not draw upon us +any new evidence of the high displeasure of the Rhode Island +Historical Society, an institution which displayed such a magnanimous +sense of the right, so much impartiality, and so profound an +understanding of the laws of nature and of the facts +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page227" name="page227"></a>(p. 227)</span> +of the +day, on a former occasion when we incurred its displeasure, that we +really dread a second encounter with its philosophy, its historical +knowledge, its wit, and its signal love of justice. Little +institutions, like little men, very naturally have a desire to get on +stilts; a circumstance that may possibly explain the theory of this +extraordinary and very useless fortification. We prefer the truth and +common sense to any other mode of reasoning, not having the honor to +be an Historical Society at all." No reply, at least no public reply, +came from that quarter during his life, to the views he had expressed. +It was only when he was unable to defend himself that he was again +assailed. In February, 1852, an account of the battle of Lake Erie was +delivered before the Rhode Island Historical Society by Usher Parsons, +who had been assistant surgeon on board the Lawrence. His testimony +had been somewhat severely criticised by Cooper. Now that the latter +was in his grave he took occasion to cast imputations upon the motives +of the historian, and asperse the honesty of his statements. Parsons +added nothing new of moment to the discussion, for what he said was +merely a rehash, made in a very bungling way, of the old facts and +assertions. But the spirit in which he wrote and the insinuations in +which he indulged furnish ample justification for the low opinion +which Cooper held of the evidence he had previously given.</p> + +<p>With the parting shot in the preface to "The Red Rover," the +controversy, on Cooper's part, concluded. He had, however, been +concerned in another matter, in which the fortunes of his own work and +the fortunes of one of its critics were strangely blended. In 1841 an +abridged edition of his "Naval History" was brought out +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page228" name="page228"></a>(p. 228)</span> +in +one volume. The publisher was desirous of having it included in the +list of books purchased for the district school libraries of New York. +With this object in view he offered it, without Cooper's knowledge, to +the Secretary of State, John C. Spencer, who was also superintendent +of public instruction. To him was confided, by virtue of his office, +the selection of the works which should constitute these libraries. He +rejected the proposal with uncomplimentary brevity. He would have +nothing to do, he informed the publisher, with so partisan a +performance. Soon after this he emphasized his opinion of its +partisanship by directing the purchase of Mackenzie's "Life of +Perry"--a work which was almost avowedly one-sided. There was a +retribution almost poetical in the tragedy that followed; for the same +lack of mental balance and judgment that had been exhibited in this +biography of Perry was to show itself under circumstances peculiarly +harrowing. In October, 1841, Spencer joined the administration of John +Tyler as Secretary of War. In December, 1842, Mackenzie, then in +command of the United States brig Somers, gave a still further proof +of his impartiality by hanging on the high seas Spencer's son, an +acting midshipman, for alleged mutiny. It was done without even going +through the formality of a trial. It was an act of manslaughter, not +committed, indeed, from any feeling of malice, but merely from the +same lack of judgment that he had displayed in the literary +controversy in which he had been engaged. Mackenzie was brought before +a naval court-martial, and succeeded with some difficulty in securing +an acquittal. In 1844 the proceedings of the trial were published, and +annexed to them was an elaborate review of the case by Cooper. It was +written in +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page229" name="page229"></a>(p. 229)</span> +a calm and temperate tone, but it practically +settled the question of the character of the act.</p> + +<p>Cooper's interest in the navy led him also to write a series of lives +of officers who had been prominent in its history. The first of these +appeared originally in "Graham's Magazine" for October, 1842, and the +others are scattered through the volumes of that year and the years +succeeding. In 1846 they were published in book form. Among them was a +life of Perry. In this he took occasion to reaffirm what he had +previously said about the battle of Lake Erie. But the injustice which +had been done to him did not lead him to treat with injustice the man +whose life he was writing, though it was impossible for him to say +what would be satisfactory to Perry's partisans without falsifying +what he believed to be the truth.</p> + +<p>In spite of the numerous attacks made upon it the "Naval History" was +successful, as success is measured in technical works of this kind. A +second edition, revised and corrected, appeared in April, 1840, and in +1847 a third edition was published. At the time of his death Cooper +was projecting a continuation of it, and had gathered together +materials for that purpose. The original work ended with the close of +the last war with Great Britain. He intended to bring it down to the +end of the Mexican War. This was done by another after his death. In +1853 a new edition of the "Naval History" appeared with a continuation +prepared by the Reverend Charles W. McHarg. The matter that Cooper +had collected was used, but there was very little in what was added +that was of his own composition. Of the original work, it is safe to +say, that for the period which it covers it is little likely to be +superseded as +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page230" name="page230"></a>(p. 230)</span> +the standard history of the American navy. +Later investigation may show some of the author's assertions to be +erroneous. Some of his conclusions may turn out as mistaken as have +his prophecies about the use of steam in war vessels. But such +defects, assuming that they exist, are more than counterbalanced by +advantages which make it a final authority on points that can never +again be so fully considered. Many sources of information which were +then accessible no longer exist. The men who shared in the scenes +described, and who communicated information directly to Cooper, have +all passed away. These are losses that can never be replaced, even +were it reasonable to expect that the same practical knowledge, the +same judicial spirit, and the same power of graphic description could +be found united again in the same person.</p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XI. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page231" name="page231"></a>(p. 231)</span></h2> + +<h3>1840-1850.</h3> + + +<p>No man could go through the conflicts which Cooper had been carrying +on for so many years unharmed or unscarred. For the hostility +entertained and expressed toward him in England he cared but little. +But though too proud to parade his sufferings, the injustice done him +in his own land aroused in his heart an indignation which had in it, +however, as much pain as anger. He could not fail to see that he was +in a false position, that his motives were misunderstood where even +they were not deliberately misrepresented. The generation which had +shared in his early triumphs and had gloried in his early fame had +largely passed away. From some who survived he had been parted by a +separation bitterer than that of death. To the new generation that had +come on he appeared only as the captious and censorious critic of his +country. His works were read in every civilized country. To many men +they had brought all the little knowledge they possessed of America; +to certain regions they could almost be said to have first carried its +name. But the land which he loved with a passionate fervor seemed +largely to have disowned him. It would be vain to deny his +sensitiveness to this hostility. Traces of his secret feeling crop out +unexpectedly in his later works. They reveal phases of his character +which would never be inferred from his acts; they show the existence +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page232" name="page232"></a>(p. 232)</span> +of sentiments which he would never have directly avowed. +"There are men," says the hero of "Afloat and Ashore," "so strong in +principle as well as in intellect, I do suppose, that they can be +content with the approbation of their own consciences, and who can +smile at the praise or censure of the world alike: but I confess to a +strong sympathy with the commendation of my fellow-creatures, and a +strong distaste for their disapprobation." Especially marked is the +reference to himself in the words he puts into the mouth of Columbus +in his "Mercedes of Castile." "Genoa," says the navigator, "hath +proved but a stern mother to me: and though nought could induce me to +raise a hand against her, she hath no longer any claim on my +services.... One cannot easily hate the land of his birth, but +injustice may lead him to cease to love it. The tie is mutual, and +when the country ceases to protect person, property, character, and +rights, the subject is liberated from all his duties."</p> + +<p>It was the attacks connected with the controversy about the "Naval +History" that more than anything else embittered Cooper's feelings. He +had striven hard to write a full and trustworthy account of the +achievements of his country upon the sea. Because he had refused to +pervert what he deemed the truth to the gratification of private +spite, he had been assailed with a malignity that had hardly stopped +short of any species of misrepresentation. Rarely has devotion to the +right met with a worse return. The reward of untiring industry, of +patriotic zeal, and of conscientious examination of evidence, was +little else than calumny and abuse. He felt so keenly the treatment he +had received that he regretted having ever written the "Naval History" +at all. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page233" name="page233"></a>(p. 233)</span> +In a published letter of the early part of 1843 he +expressed himself on the matter in words that come clearly from the +depths of a wounded spirit. "Were the manuscript of what has been +printed," he wrote, "now lying before me unpublished, I certainly +should throw it into the fire as an act of prudence to myself and of +justice to my children." In his triumphant reply to Burges, Duer, and +Mackenzie, while he showed the haughty disdain he felt for the popular +clamor which had condemned him without knowledge, he did not seek to +hide the bitterness it had caused. "This controversy," he said, "was +not of my seeking; for years have I rested under the imputations that +these persons have brought against me, and I now strike a blow in +behalf of truth, not from any deference to a public opinion that in my +opinion has not honesty enough to feel much interest in the exposure +of duplicity and artifice, but that my children may point to the facts +with just pride that they had a father who dared to stem popular +prejudice in order to write truth."</p> + +<p>It is in these last lines that Cooper unconsciously revealed the +strength which enabled him to go through this roar of hostile +criticism and calumny without having his whole nature soured. One +great resource he possessed, and its influence cannot be +overestimated. In the closest and dearest relations of life with which +happiness is connected far more intimately than with the most +prosperous series of outward events, he was supremely fortunate. In +his own home his lot was favored beyond that of most men. However +violent the storm without, there he could always find peace and trust +and affection. The regard, indeed, felt for him by the female members +of his family, may justly be termed +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page234" name="page234"></a>(p. 234)</span> +devotion. Towards all +women he exhibited deference almost to the point of chivalry. But in +the case of those of his own household there was mingled with it a +tenderness which called forth in return that ardent attachment which +strong natures alone seem capable of inspiring. This deference and +tenderness were the more conspicuous by contrast with his opinions. +These would fill with wrath unspeakable the advocates of women's +rights. Nor was he at all particular about mincing their expression. +He sometimes gave utterance to them in the most extreme form. He even +made his sentiments more emphatic by putting them into the mouths of +his female characters. "There is," says the governess in "The Red +Rover," "no peace for our feeble sex but in submission; no happiness +but in obedience." In his last novel he denounced furiously the law +that gave to the wife control over her own property, and predicted, as +a consequence, all sorts of disasters to the family that have never +come to pass. All this was eminently characteristic. But like many +strong men tenacious of acknowledged superiority he was content with +the mere concession. That granted, he would yield to submission +infinitely more than recognized equality could have a right to expect +or could hope to gain. We may think what we please of his views about +women; there can be but one opinion as to his conduct towards them.</p> + +<p>A characteristic instance of the wantonness with which Cooper's acts +and motives were deliberately misrepresented during this period +occurred in 1841. In that year came out a work, which had, in its day, +some little notoriety, but has long ago passed to the limbo of +forgotten things. It was called "The Glory and Shame of England." The +very title shows that this production was +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page235" name="page235"></a>(p. 235)</span> +maliciously +calculated to make the British lion lash his tail with frenzy: and if +we can trust its author, Mr. C. Edwards Lester, it met with fierce +opposition from British residents in this country and their +sympathizers. In an introductory letter addressed to the Reverend J. +T. Headley, he told the story of the experiences his agents had +undergone in securing subscriptions. In the course of it he made the +following allusion to Cooper. "Already," he wrote, "have several +educated and highly respectable young men engaged (with unprecedented +success) in procuring subscribers for this work been rudely driven +from the houses of Englishmen for crossing their threshold with the +prospectus. And I blush (but not for myself or my country) to say that +one of our celebrated authors, whose partiality for Republicanism has +been more than doubted, threatened to kick one of these young men out +of his house (castle) if he did not instantly leave it; exclaiming, +'Why have you the impudence to hand me that prospectus? I understand +what the <span class="smcap">Glory</span> of England means; but as for the +<span class="smcap">Shame</span> of England, +there is no such thing. The shame is all in that base Democracy, which +makes you presume to enter a gentleman's house to ask him to subscribe +for such a work.'"</p> + +<p>This statement was widely copied in the newspapers. But the falsity of +the fabrication soon became too apparent for even the journals most +hostile to Cooper to endure. They made a vain effort to get from the +author a confirmation of his story: but though he did not venture to +repeat the lie manfully, he equivocated about it in a sneaking way. +The newspapers, feeling, perhaps, that it was undesirable to arm the +book agent with new terrors, credited at once the denial the story had +received, and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page236" name="page236"></a>(p. 236)</span> +took back all imputations based upon it,--a +proceeding which ought to have shown Cooper that they were not so +utterly given over to the father of all evil as he fancied them. But +the author of this impudent falsehood never withdrew it, nor did the +publishers of the volume, in which it was contained, disavow it. The +extract given above is taken from an edition which bears the date of +1845.</p> + +<p>It is plain that these calumnious attacks sprang largely from Cooper's +personal unpopularity. It is equally plain that his personal +unpopularity was mainly due to the censorious tone he had assumed in +the criticism of his country and his countrymen. It may accordingly be +said that, in one sense, he deserved all that he received. He had +pursued a certain line of conduct. He had no reason to complain that +it had been followed by the same results here that would have followed +similar conduct anywhere. In fact, while his censure of England had +been far lighter than that of America, the language used about him in +the former country had been far more vulgar and abusive than that used +in the latter. But there were facts in his career which his countrymen +were bound to bear in mind, but which, on the contrary, they strove +hard to forget, and sometimes to pervert. He had been the +uncompromising defender of his native land in places where it cost +reputation and regard to appear in that light. He was assailed largely +by the men who had toadied to a hostile feeling which he himself had +confronted. His criticism of America was sometimes just, sometimes +unjust. It was in a few instances as full of outrageous +misrepresentation as any which he had resented in others. Even when +right, it was often wrongly delivered. But in no case did it spring +from indifference +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page237" name="page237"></a>(p. 237)</span> +or dislike. The very loftiness of his +aspirations for his country, the very vividness of his conception of +what he trusted she was to be, made him far more than ordinarily +sensitive to what she was, which fell short of his ideal. Every +indignity offered to her he felt as a personal blow; every stain upon +her honor as a personal disgrace. He had no fear as to the material +greatness of her future. What he could not bear was that the slightest +spot should soil the garments of her civilization. It was for her +character, her reputation, that he most cared. It is not necessary to +maintain that he was as wise as he was patriotic. Had he been in a +position where he wielded political power, his impulsive and fiery +temperament might very probably have made him an unsafe adviser. His +whole idea of foreign policy, as connected with war, may be summed up +in the statement that the nation should be as ready to resent a wrong +done to ourselves as to repair a wrong done to others. Nothing could +be better doctrine in theory. Unfortunately, the nation in all such +cases is itself both party and judge, and the question of right +becomes, in consequence, a hard one to decide as a matter of fact. +Cooper's intense convictions would therefore have been likely to have +led the country into war, had he had the control of events,--and war, +too, at a time when under the agencies of peace it was daily gathering +strength to meet a coming drain upon its resources in a conflict which +but few were then far-sighted enough to see would squander wealth as +lavishly as it wasted blood. Had it rested with him, it is quite clear +that no Ashburton treaty would have been signed. There is a striking +passage printed to this day in italics, which he puts into the mouth +of Leather-Stocking in the novel of "The Deerslayer." +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page238" name="page238"></a>(p. 238)</span> +Its +point is made specially prominent when it is remembered that this work +was written while the controversy was going on between Great Britain +and the United States in regard to the Northeastern boundary. "I can +see no great difference," says Leather-Stocking, "atween givin' up +territory afore a war, out of a dread of war, or givin' it up after a +war, because we can't help it--onless it be that the last is most +manful and honorable."</p> + +<p>The features of Cooper's personal character, as well as his prejudices +and limitations, are always to be kept in mind because they explain +much that is defective in his art, and account for much of his +unpopularity. Some of them became unpleasantly conspicuous in the +writings of his later years. In 1840 he entered upon a new period of +creative activity which lasted until 1850. Between and including those +years he brought out seventeen works of fiction. Eleven of them were +written during the first half of this period ending with 1845, and +even these did not constitute the whole of what he then wrote. This +fertility is made the more remarkable by the fact that during this +same time he was engaged in the special controversy about the battle +of Lake Erie, not to speak of his standing quarrel with the press and +his running fight of libel suits in which he was not only plaintiff, +but did the main work of the prosecution.</p> + +<p>It is possible that his unpopularity stirred him to unwonted exertion. +There is certainly no question that the years from 1840 to 1845 +inclusive, are, as a whole, the supreme creative period of Cooper's +career. Its production does not dwarf his early achievement in vigor +or interest; but it does often show a far higher mastery of his art. +Two of the works then written mark +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page239" name="page239"></a>(p. 239)</span> +the culmination of his +powers. These were the Leather-Stocking tales called "The Pathfinder" +and "The Deerslayer." The former appeared on the 14th of March, 1840, +the latter on the 27th of August, 1841. They complete the circle of +these stories; for others which he contemplated writing he +unfortunately never executed. Still the series was a perfect one as it +was left. The life of Leather-Stocking was now a complete drama in +five acts, beginning with the first war-path in "The Deerslayer," +followed by his career of activity and of love in "The Last of the +Mohicans" and "The Pathfinder," and his old age and death in "The +Pioneers" and "The Prairie."</p> + +<p>"The Pathfinder" and "The Deerslayer" stand at the head of Cooper's +novels as artistic creations. There are others of his works which +contain parts as perfect as are to be found in these, and scenes even +more thrilling. Not one can be compared with either of them as a +finished whole. For once, whether from greater care or happier +inspiration, Cooper discarded those features of his writings in which +he had either failed entirely, or achieved, at the most, slight +success. The leading characters belonged to the class which he drew +best, so far as he was a delineator of character at all. Here were no +pasteboard figures like Heywood in "The Last of the Mohicans," or +Middleton in "The Prairie." Here were no supernumeraries dragged in, +in a vain effort to amuse, as the singing-master in the former of +these same stories, or the naturalist in the latter. Humor, Cooper +certainly had; but it is the humor that gleams in fitful flashes from +the men of earnest purposes and serious lives, and gives a momentary +relief to the sternness and melancholy of their natures. The power of +producing +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page240" name="page240"></a>(p. 240)</span> +an entire humorous creation he had not at all, and +almost the only thing that mars the perfectness of "The Pathfinder" is +the occasional effort to make one out of Muir, the character designed +to play the part of a villain. But the defects in both these tales are +comparatively slight. The plot in each is simple, but it gives plenty +of room for the display of those qualities in which Cooper excelled. +The scene of the one was laid on Lake Ontario and its shores; the +other, on the little lake near which he had made his home; and the +whole atmosphere of both is redolent of the beauty and the wildness of +nature.</p> + +<p>These works were a revelation to the men who had begun to despair of +Cooper's ever accomplishing again anything worthy of his early renown. +They were pure works of art. No moral was everlastingly perking itself +in the reader's face, no labored lecture to prove what was +self-evident interrupted the progress of the story. There is scarcely +an allusion to any of the events which had checkered the novelist's +career. References to contemporary occurrences are so slight that they +would pass unheeded by any one whose attention had not been called +beforehand to their existence. These works showed what Cooper was +capable of when he gave full play to his powers, and did not fancy he +was writing a novel when he was indulging in lectures upon manners and +customs. "It is beautiful, it is grand," said Balzac to a friend, +speaking of "The Pathfinder." "Its interest is tremendous. He surely +owed us this masterpiece after the last two or three rhapsodies he has +been giving us. You must read it. I know no one in the world, save +Walter Scott, who has risen to that grandeur and serenity of colors." +"Never," he said in another +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page241" name="page241"></a>(p. 241)</span> +place, "did the art of writing +tread closer upon the art of the pencil. This is the school of study +for literary landscape-painters." Cooper himself, if contemporary +reports are to be trusted, was at the time in the habit of saying that +the palm of merit in his writings lay between this novel and "The +Deerslayer." He certainly reckoned them the best of the five stories +which have the unity of a common interest by having the same hero, and +these five he put at the head of his performances. "If anything from +the pen of the writer of these romances," he said, toward the close of +his life, "is at all to outlive himself, it is unquestionably the +series of 'The Leather-Stocking Tales.' To say this is not to predict +a very lasting reputation for the series itself, but simply to express +the belief that it will outlast any or all of the works from the same +hand."</p> + +<p>But at this time no work of his was treated fairly by the American +press. His name was rarely mentioned save in censure or derision. Both +"The Pathfinder" and "The Deerslayer" on their first appearance were +violently assailed. It is giving praise to a good deal of the +contemporary criticism passed upon them to call it merely feeble and +senseless. Much of it was marked by a malignity which fortunately was +as contemptible intellectually as it was morally. Still, neither this +hostile criticism nor Cooper's own personal unpopularity hindered the +success of the books. He says, to be sure, in the preface to the +revised edition of the Leather-Stocking tales which came out towards +the end of his life, that probably not one in ten of those who knew +all about the three earlier works of the series had any knowledge of +the existence of the two last. This assertion seems exaggerated. It +certainly struck many with surprise +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page242" name="page242"></a>(p. 242)</span> +at the time it was made; +for both "The Pathfinder" and "The Deerslayer" had met with a large +sale.</p> + +<p>Between the publication of these two novels appeared, on the 24th of +November, 1840, "Mercedes of Castile." The subject of this was the +first voyage of Columbus. It had several very obvious defects. It was +marred by that prolixity of introduction which was a fault that ran +through the majority of Cooper's tales. The reader meets with as many +discouragements and rebuffs and turnings aside in getting under way as +did the great navigator the story celebrates. There was, moreover, an +excess of that cheap moralizing, that dwelling upon commonplace +truths, which was another of Cooper's besetting sins. The only effect +these discourses have upon the reader is to make him feel that while +virtue may be a very good thing, it is an excessively tedious thing. +As a novel, "Mercedes of Castile" must be regarded as a failure. On +the other hand, as a story of the first voyage of Columbus, told with +the special knowledge of a seaman, the accuracy of an historian, and +with something of the fervor of a poet, it will always have a peculiar +interest of its own.</p> + +<p>Two sea-stories followed "The Deerslayer." The first of these, +entitled "The Two Admirals," was published in April, 1842, and the +second in November of the same year. Cooper was at this time engaged +in the hottest of his fight with the American press and people. +Publicly and privately he was expressing his contempt for nearly +everything and everybody. He, in turn, was undergoing assaults from +every quarter. It is, therefore, a singular illustration of the love +of country which burned in him with an intense, even when hidden, +flame, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page243" name="page243"></a>(p. 243)</span> +that in the midst of his greatest unpopularity he was +unwilling to desert his own flag for that of the land to which he was +forced to go for material. Yet there was every inducement. He wished +to do what had never before been done in fiction. His aim was to +describe the evolutions of fleets instead of confining himself to the +movements of single vessels. But no American fleet had ever been +assembled, no American admiral had ever trod a quarter-deck. In order, +therefore, to describe operations on a grand scale he had to have +recourse to the history of the mother-country; but he purposely put +the scene in "The Two Admirals" in a period when the states were still +colonies. This novel takes a very high place among the sea-stories, so +long as the action is confined to the water. But it suffers greatly +from the carelessness and the incompleteness with which the details +are worked out.</p> + +<p>In "Wing-and-Wing," which followed it, the fortune of a French +privateer is told. The scene is laid in the Mediterranean, and the +time is the end of the last century. Though inferior in power to some +of his other sea-stories, it is far from being a poor novel; and it +was, in fact, one of the author's favorites. But its greatest interest +is in the view it gives of a tendency in Cooper's character which was +constantly becoming more pronounced. The Puritanic narrowness of the +very deep and genuine religious element in his nature was steadily +increasing as time went on. In "Precaution" it has been already +observed that the doctrine had been laid down by one of the characters +that there should be no marriage between Christians and +non-Christians. In "Wing-and-Wing" this doctrine was fully carried +out. The heroine is a devout Roman Catholic. She loves devotedly +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page244" name="page244"></a>(p. 244)</span> +the hero, the captain of the French privateer. She trusts in his +honor; she admires his abilities and character; she is profoundly +affected by the fervor of the affection he bears to herself. But he is +an infidel. He is too honest and honorable to pretend to believe and +think differently from what he really believes and thinks. As she +cannot convert him, she will not marry him: and in the end succeeds +indirectly, by her refusal, in bringing about his death. It never +seemed to occur to Cooper that the course of conduct he was holding up +as praiseworthy, in his novels, could have little other effect in real +life than to encourage hypocrisy where it did not produce misery. The +man who, for the sake of gaining a great prize, changes his religious +views is sure to have his sincerity distrusted by others. That can be +borne. But he is equally certain to feel distrust of himself. He +cannot have that perfect confidence in his own convictions, or even in +his own character, that would be the case had no considerations of +personal advantage influenced him in the slightest in the decision he +had made, or the conclusions to which he had come. Even he who +believes in this course of action as something to be quietly adopted +might wisely refuse to proclaim it loudly as a rule for the conduct of +life.</p> + +<p>The next important work that followed was "Wyandotte; or the Hutted +Knoll." It was published on the 5th of September, 1843. The story, as +a whole, was a tragic one. In spite of the fact that the events occur +in the place and time where some of the author's greatest successes +had been achieved, this novel is inferior to all his others that deal +with the same scenes. Certain manifestations of his feelings and +certain traits of character indicated, rather than expressed, in the +tales immediately preceding, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page245" name="page245"></a>(p. 245)</span> +were in this one distinctly +revealed. His dislike of the newspapers and the critics has been so +often referred to that it needs hardly to be said that in all the +writings of this period these offenders were soundly castigated. +Especially was this true of the preface. It was there, if anywhere, +that Cooper was apt to concentrate all the ill-humor he felt--his +wrath against the race and his scorn of the individual. But the two +feelings that henceforth became conspicuously noticeable in nearly all +his writings were his regard for the Episcopal church and his dislike +of New England. They manifest themselves sometimes deliciously, +sometimes disagreeably. In the midst of a story remote as possible +from the occurrences of modern life, suddenly turn up remarks upon the +apostolic origin of bishops, or the desirability of written prayers, +and the need of a liturgy. The impropriety of their introduction, from +a literary point of view, Cooper never had sufficient delicacy of +taste to feel. Less excusable were the attacks he made upon those +whose religious views differed from his own. The insults he sometimes +offered to possible readers were as needless as they were brutal. In +one of his later novels he mentioned "the rowdy religion--half-cant, +half-blasphemy, that Cromwell and his associates entailed on so many +Englishmen." There is little reason to doubt that under proper +conditions Cooper could easily have developed into a sincere, +narrow-minded, and ferocious +bigot.<a id="notetag002" name="notetag002"></a><a href="#note002">[2]</a></p> + + +<p>Full <span class="pagenum"><a id="page246" name="page246"></a>(p. 246)</span> +as marked and even more persistent were his attacks upon +New England. There was little specially characteristic of that portion +of the country with which he did not find fault. New England cooking +of the first class was inferior to that of the second class in the +Middle States. The New Yorker of humble life, not of Yankee descent, +spoke the language better than thousands of educated men in New +England. This dislike kept steadily increasing. As late as 1844, if he +sent his heroes to college at all, he sent them to Yale; after that +year he transferred them to Princeton. With all this there is +constantly seen going on a somewhat amusing struggle between his +dislike and the thorough honesty of his nature, which forced him to +admit in the men of New England certain characteristics of a high +order. Their frugality, their enterprise, their readiness of resource, +he could not deny. Still, he continued to imply that these qualities +were used pretty generally for selfish ends. In his later works, in +consequence, his villains were very apt to be New Englanders. They +were not villains of a romantic type. They were mean rather than +vicious; crafty rather than bold; given to degrading but +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page247" name="page247"></a>(p. 247)</span> at +the same time cheap excesses. The first of these special +representatives of the New England character is the powerful but +somewhat unpleasant creation of Ithuel Bolt in "Wing-and-Wing," who +finds a fitting sequel to a life passed largely in committing acts of +doubtful morality in becoming a deacon in a Congregational church. +After him follows a succession of personages who represent nearly +every conceivable shade of craft, meanness, and dishonesty that is +consistent with the respect of the Puritan community about them, and +with a high position in the religious society of which they form a +part.</p> + +<p>There was, it must be admitted, some justification for Cooper's +feelings towards New England on the score of retaliation. He had been +criticised from the beginning in that part of the country with a +severity that often approached virulence. He had been denied there the +possession of qualities which the rest of the world agreed in +according him. Cultivated society has always been afflicted with a +class too superlatively intellectual to enjoy what everybody else +likes. Of these unhappy beings New England has had the misfortune to +have perhaps more than her proper share. It was hardly in human nature +that the disparagement he received from these should not have +influenced his feelings towards the region which had given them birth +and consideration.</p> + +<p>It is pleasant to turn aside from these scenes and sayings which show +the least amiable side of a nature essentially noble, and pass to one +of the little incidents that are strikingly characteristic of the man. +On board the Sterling, the merchantman on which Cooper's first voyage +was made, was a boy younger than himself. His name was Ned Myers. This +person had spent his life on the sea. He had belonged to seventy-two +crafts, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page248" name="page248"></a>(p. 248)</span> +exclusive of prison-ships, transports, and vessels +in which he had merely made passages. According to his own calculation +he had been twenty-five years out of sight of land. After this long +and varied career he had finally landed in that asylum for worn-out +mariners, the "Sailors' Snug Harbor." From here, late in 1842, he +wrote to Cooper, asking him if he were the one with whom he had served +in the Sterling. Cooper, who never forgot a friend, sent him a reply, +beginning: "I am your old shipmate, Ned," and told him when and where +he could be found in New York. There in a few months they met after an +interval of thirty-seven years. Cooper took the battered old hulk of a +seaman up to Cooperstown in June, 1843, and entertained him for +several weeks. While the two were knocking about the lake, and the +latter was telling his adventures, it occurred to the former to put +into print the wandering life the sailor had led. Between them the +work was done that summer, and in November, 1843, "Ned Myers; or, Life +before the Mast" was published. This work has often been falsely +spoken of as a novel. It is, on the contrary, a truthful record, so +far as dependence can be placed upon the word or the memory of the +narrator. "This is literally," said Myers, "my own story, logged by an +old shipmate."</p> + +<p>In 1842 Cooper had entered into an engagement to write regularly for +"Graham's Magazine." This periodical, which had been formed not long +before by the union of two others, had rapidly risen to high +reputation, and claimed a circulation of thirty thousand copies. In +the first four numbers of 1843 Cooper published the shortest of his +stories. It was entitled "The Autobiography of a Pocket Handkerchief." +For some reason not +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page249" name="page249"></a>(p. 249)</span> +easy to explain, this has never been +included in the regular editions of his novels. In it he made in some +measure another effort to reproduce the social life of New York city. +The previous failure was repeated. An air of ridiculous unreality is +given to this part of the story in which the impossible talk of +impossible people is paraded as a genuine representation of what takes +place in civilized society. The autobiographical form which he had +first adopted in this tale he continued in the two series of "Afloat +and Ashore." These appeared respectively in June and in December, +1844. They are essentially one novel, though the second part goes +usually in this country under the title of "Miles Wallingford," the +name of its hero; and in Europe under that of "Lucy Harding," the name +of its heroine.</p> + +<p>This work, the first part more particularly, is a delightful story of +adventure. As usual there are startling incidents, perilous +situations, and hairbreadth escapes enough to furnish sufficient +materials for a dozen ordinary fictions. Yet the probabilities are +better preserved than in many of Cooper's novels where the events are +far fewer, as well as far less striking. But it is interesting, not +merely for the incidents it contains, but for the revelation it makes +of the man who wrote it. Expressions of personal feeling and opinion +turn up unexpectedly everywhere, and make slight but constantly +recurring eddies in the stream of the story. Everything is to be found +here which he had ever discussed before. The inferiority of the bay of +New York to that of Naples; the miserable cooking and gross feeding of +New England; the absolute necessity of a liturgy in religious worship; +the contempt he felt for the misguided beings who presume to deny the +existence of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page250" name="page250"></a>(p. 250)</span> +bishops in the primitive church; his aversion +to paper money; his disdain for the shingle palaces of the Grecian +temple school; his scorn of the idea that one man is as good as +another; these and scores of similar utterances arrest constantly the +reader's attention. But they do not jar upon his feelings as in many +other of his writings. They are essentially different in tone. There +runs through this series a vein of ill-natured amiability or amiable +ill-nature--it is hard to say which phrase is more appropriate--which +gives to the whole what horticulturists call a delicate sub-acid +flavor. The roar of contempt found in previous writings subsided in +these into a sort of prolonged but subdued growl. But it is a case in +which the reader feels that it is eminently proper that the writer +should growl. It is the old man of sixty-five telling the tale of his +early years. His preferences for the past do not irritate us, they +entertain us. It is right that the world about him should seem meaner +and more commonplace than it did in the fever-fit of youth and love, +when it was joy merely to live. The work, moreover, has another +characteristic that gives it a whimsical attractiveness. It is a tale +of the good old times when New York had still some New York feeling +left; when her old historic names still carried weight and found +universal respect, and her old families still ruled society with a +despotic sway; and especially before the whole state had been overrun +by the lank, angular, loose-jointed, slouching, shrewd, +money-worshiping sons of the Puritans, whose restless activity had +triumphed over the slow and steady respectability of the original +settlers. The scene of this story, so far as it is laid on land, is +mainly in the river counties; but in spite of that fact it is +difficult not to think that some recollections +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page251" name="page251"></a>(p. 251)</span> +of the +writer's own youth were not mingled in certain portions of it. +Especially is it a hard task not to fancy that in the heroine, Lucy +Harding, he was drawing, in some slight particulars at least, the +picture of his own wife, and telling the story of his early love.</p> + +<p>The delineation of the New York life of the past which he had in some +measure accomplished in these volumes, he now continued more fully in +certain works which took up successive periods in the history of the +state. The idea of writing them was suggested by events that were +taking place at the time. The troubles which arose in certain counties +of New York after the death, in 1839, of Stephen Van Rensselaer, the +patroon, were now culminating in a series of acts of violence and +bloodshed, perpetrated usually by men disguised as Indians. The +questions involved had likewise become subjects of fierce political +controversy. Cooper, who saw in the conduct of the tenants and their +supporters a dangerous invasion of the rights of property, plunged +into the discussion of the matter with all the ardor of his fiery +temperament. He worked himself into the highest state of excitement +over the proceedings. It was his interest in this matter that led him +to compose the three works which are collectively called the Anti-rent +novels. These purport to be the successive records of the Littlepage +family, and each is in the form of an autobiography. They cover a +period extending from the first half of the eighteenth century down to +the very year in which he was writing.</p> + +<p>It was about this time that Cooper's reputation touched the lowest +point to which it has ever fallen, so far, at least, as it depends +upon the opinion of critics and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page252" name="page252"></a>(p. 252)</span> +of men of letters. He was +now reaping the fruits of the various controversies in which he had +been engaged, and of all the hostility which he had succeeded in +inspiring. The two anti-rent novels which appeared in 1845 were +"Satanstoe," published in June, and "The Chainbearer," published in +November. They may have had a large sale. But there is scarcely a +review of the period in which they are even mentioned. Even the +newspapers contain merely the barest reference to their existence. It +is perhaps partly due to this contemporary silence that these two +stories are among the least known and least read of Cooper's +productions. Moreover, they are constantly misjudged. The tone which +pervades the concluding novel of the series is taken as the tone which +pervades the two which preceded it. This is an injustice as well as a +mistake. In no sense is "Satanstoe," in particular, a political novel. +There is no reference to anti-rentism in it save in the preface. Its +only connection with the subject is the account it gives of the manner +in which the great estates were originally settled. On the other hand +it is a picture of colonial life and manners in New York during the +middle of the eighteenth century, such as can be found drawn nowhere +else so truthfully and so vividly. It takes rank among the very best +of Cooper's stories. The characters are, to a certain extent, the same +as in "Afloat and Ashore;" the main difference being, that in the one +the events take place principally on land, and in the other on water. +Even those majestic first families, whom he had celebrated before, +loom up in these pages with renewed and increasing grandeur. But the +story is throughout told in a graphic and spirited manner, and as it +approaches the end and details the scenes that follow Abercrombie's +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page253" name="page253"></a>(p. 253)</span> +repulse at Lake George in 1758, it becomes intensely +exciting. The villain of the tale is, of course, a New Englander, in +this instance a long, ungainly pedagogue from Danbury, Connecticut. He +does not, however, blossom out into the full perfection of his +rascality until he makes his appearance in "The Chainbearer," the next +novel of the series. This tale, though decidedly inferior to +"Satanstoe," contains passages of great interest. The description, +especially, of the squatter family and the life led by it, is one of +Cooper's most powerfully drawn pictures.</p> + +<p>It has been the misfortune of this series that the member of it which +has attracted most attention is "The Redskins; or, Indian and Injin," +which came out in July, 1846. This is one of three or four books +which, in a certain way, give one a high idea of Cooper's power in the +fact that his reputation has been able to survive them. If he had been +anxious to help the anti-renters and hurt the patroon, he could hardly +have done better than to write this book. As a story it has no merit. +The incidents told in it are absurd. It is full, moreover, of the +arguments that irritate but do not convince; and is liberally +supplied, in addition, with prophecies that have never been realized. +Everything that was disagreeable in Cooper's manner and bungling in +his art, was conspicuous in this work. His dislikes were not uttered +pleasantly, as in "Afloat and Ashore," but with an ill-nature that +often bordered upon ferocity. A tone of pretension ran through the +whole, a constant reference to what men think who had seen the world, +with the implied inference that those who disagreed with the author in +opinion had not seen the world. The feeling of the reader is, that if +this extravagance and over-statement be +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page254" name="page254"></a>(p. 254)</span> +the result of +travel, men had better stay at home. Nor did Cooper refrain from +dragging in everything with which he had found fault before. We are +not even spared the everlasting reference to the bays of New York and +of Naples. The work is what he himself would have called provincial in +the worst sense of that word. Even more than its spirit was its matter +extraordinary for a work of fiction. Part of it is little else than a +controversial tract on the superiority of Episcopacy; and the temper +in which it is written could hardly have been grateful to any but an +opponent of that church. "Satanstoe" is full of many of Cooper's likes +and dislikes, but there can be no greater contrast conceived than +between the tone which pervades that delightful creation, and the +boisterous brawling of "The Redskins".</p> + +<p>With the publication of this series Cooper's career as a creator of +works of imagination practically closed. He wrote several novels +afterward, but not one of them did anything to advance his reputation. +Some of them tended to lower it. This was not due to failure of power, +but to its misdirection. The didactic element in his nature had now +gained complete mastery over the artistic. The interest, such as it +is, which belongs to his later stories, is rarely a literary interest. +Not one of them has the slightest pretension to be termed a work of +art. There are, at times, passages in them that thrill us, and scenes +that display something of his old skill in description. But these are +recollections rather than new creations. Cooper's fame would not have +been a whit lessened, if every line he wrote after "The Chainbearer" +had never seen the light.</p> + +<p>The works that came out during the remaining years of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page255" name="page255"></a>(p. 255)</span> his +life were "The Crater," published October 12, 1847; "Jack Tier," +published March 21, 1848; "The Oak Openings," published August 24 of +the same year; "The Sea Lions," published April 10, 1849, and "The +Ways of the Hour," published April 10, 1850. Of these "Jack Tier" +originally made its appearance in "Graham's Magazine" during the years +1845-1847, under the title of "The Islets of the Gulf," and strictly +stands first in the order of time. It shares with "The Crater" the +distinction of being one of the two best of these later stories. It +may be fair to mention that Bryant saw in it as much spirit, energy, +invention, and life-like presentation of objects and events as in +anything the author ever wrote. This will seem exaggerated praise when +one reads it in connection with "The Red Rover," of which it is in +some respects a feeble reflection. It was hard for Cooper to be +uninteresting when once fairly launched upon the waves. Without +denying the existence in "Jack Tier" of passages of marked power, no +small share of it was merely a reproduction of what had been done and +better done before. The old woman who is constantly misusing nautical +terms is the most palpable imitation of the admiral's widow in "The +Red Rover." It is a cheap expedient at best, and must at any time be +used with extreme moderation. Above all, it is a device which is +abused the very moment it is repeated. As displayed in "Jack Tier," it +is simply unendurable. Cooper's silly people, in facts are apt to be +silly not only beyond human experience but almost beyond human +conception. The tragedy, moreover, with which this novel ends is +intended to be terrible, while as a matter of fact it is merely +grotesque and absurd. The tale reaches a sudden but necessary +conclusion because nearly +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page256" name="page256"></a>(p. 256)</span> +all the characters are disposed of +at once by drowning or killing. There is scarcely any one left to +carry on the action of the story.</p> + +<p>"The Crater," which in one sense followed and in another preceded +"Jack Tier," has a very special interest to the student of Cooper's +character. He had now lived for so long a time a life remote from the +real clash of conflicting views that he had finally reached that +satisfied state of opinion which thinks the little circle in which it +moves is the proper orbit for the revolution of thought of the whole +race. As he advanced in years he narrowed instead of broadening. The +intensity of his faith coupled with his energy of expression makes +this fact very conspicuous; and in "The Crater" the reader is +alternately attracted by the shrewd and keen remarks of the writer, +and repelled by his illiberality. The novel tells the tale of a +shipwrecked mariner cast away on a reef not laid down in any chart and +unknown to navigators. This barren spot he makes bud and blossom as +the rose. To the new Utopia he has created in the bosom of the Pacific +he brings a body of emigrants. Their proceedings are entertainingly +told. But the history of the decline of the colony from its primitive +state of happiness and perfection, which is designed to furnish a +warning, tends instead to fill the irreverent with amusement. While +under the control of its founder and governor, who combined all the +virtues, it is represented as enjoying peace and prosperity. +Demagogism had no control. The reign of gossip had not begun. The +great discovery had not been made that men were merely incidents of +newspapers. Care was taken that the children should not imbibe any +false principles, that is, any principles which +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page257" name="page257"></a>(p. 257)</span> +the ruling +powers thought false. The schools did not furnish much instruction, +but owing to this considerate watchfulness they were innocent if they +were inefficient. Still this ingenious arrangement for stopping the +progress of the human mind could not work forever. From the start +there was a dangerous element, though in this case the colonists had +not come from New England but from the Middle States. Very speedily +that innate depravity of the human heart which does not like to hear a +clergyman read prayers, which looks with suspicion upon a liturgy, +began to manifest itself. This, however, was kept under control until +the arrival of new colonists. This Eden was then invaded not by one +serpent only, but by several. Four of them were clergymen; one a +Presbyterian, one a Methodist, one a Baptist, and one a Quaker. This +was too much for the solitary Episcopalian who had previously been on +the ground, and who is represented as combining a weak physical +constitution with a very strong conception of his apostolic authority +as a divine. It must be conceded that for a population of about five +hundred souls the supply of spiritual teachers was ample. With them +came also a lawyer and an editor. The seeds of dissolution were at +once sown. The colonists became ungrateful, and began to inquire not +only into the conduct of their governor, but even into the title by +which he held some of his lands. He finally left the spot in disgust, +and having first taken the precaution to dispose of his property at a +good price, returned to his native country. A natural yearning to see +the community he had established led the discoverer to revisit, after +a few months, the scene of his trials. He sailed to the spot but he +could not find it. A convulsion of nature similar to that +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page258" name="page258"></a>(p. 258)</span> +which had raised the reef above the level of the waves had sunk it +again out of sight. Ungrateful colonists, clergymen, editor, and +lawyer, had all perished.</p> + +<p>In June, 1847, Cooper made a trip to the West, and went as far as +Detroit. One result of this journey was the novel of "The Oak +Openings; or, the Bee-Hunter." This must be looked upon as a decided +failure. The desire to lecture his fellow-men on manners had now given +place to a desire to edify them; and he was no more successful in the +one than he had been in the other. In this instance the issue of the +story depends on the course of an Indian who is converted to +Christianity by witnessing the way in which a self-denying Methodist +missionary meets his death. The whole winding-up is unnatural, and the +process of turning the organizing chief of a great warlike confederacy +into a Sunday-school hero is only saved from being commonplace by +being absurd. Far more singular, however, was the central idea of "The +Sea Lions," the story that followed. This is certainly one of the most +remarkable conceptions that it ever entered into the mind of a +novelist to create. It shows the intense hold religious convictions +were taking of Cooper's feelings, and to what extremes of opinion they +were carrying him. In "Wing-and-Wing" the hero had been discarded +because he was a thorough infidel. But Cooper's sentiments had now +moved a long distance beyond this milk-and-water way of dealing with +religious differences. In "The Sea Lions" the hero merely denied the +divinity of Christ, while he professed to hold him in reverence as the +purest and most exalted of men. But if there was any one point on +which the heroine was sound and likewise inflexible, it was the +doctrine of the Trinity. Whatever else +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page259" name="page259"></a>(p. 259)</span> +she doubted, she was +absolutely sure of the incarnation. She would not unite herself with +one who presumed to "set up his own feeble understanding of the nature +of the mediation between God and man in opposition to the plainest +language of revelation as well as to the prevalent belief of the +Church." In this case the hero is converted, apparently by spending a +winter in the Antarctic seas. An important agent in effecting this +change of belief is a common seaman who improves every occasion to +drop into the conversation going on, some unexpected Trinitarian +remark. When the master has almost against hope saved his vessel, and +in the thankfulness of his heart invokes blessing on the name of God, +Stimson is on hand at his elbow to add, "and that of his only and +<i>true</i> Son." This novel is, indeed, a further but unneeded proof of +how little Cooper was able to project himself out of the circle of his +own feelings, or to aid any cause which he had near to his heart. He +had had much to say about New England cant. Yet in this work he can +find no words sufficiently strong to praise what he calls the zealous +freedom and Christian earnestness of one of the most offensive canters +that the whole range of fiction presents. It would be unjust to deny +that when in "The Sea Lions" Cooper abandons his metaphysics and turns +to his real business, that he creates a powerful story. One may almost +be said at times to feel the cold, the desolation, the darkness, and +the gloom of an Antarctic winter confronting and overshadowing the +spirit. But there can be little that is more tedious than the dry +chaff of theological discussion which is here threshed for us over and +over again. Believers in the Trinity had as little reason as believers +in Episcopacy to rejoice in Cooper's advocacy of their faith. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page260" name="page260"></a>(p. 260)</span> +There was nothing original in his views; there was nothing +pointed or forcible in his statement of them. He meant to inculcate a +lesson, and the only lesson that can possibly be drawn is the +sufficiently absurd one that dwellers in the chilly spiritual clime of +Unitarianism can be cured of their faith in that icy creed by being +subjected to the horrors of a polar winter. Far more clearly does the +novel show the falling-off in his artistic conceptions and the +narrowing process his opinions were undergoing. At the rate this +latter was taking place it seems probable that had he lived to write +another novel on a theme similar to this, his hero would have been +compelled to abandon his belief in Presbyterianism, Congregationalism, +Methodism, or some other ism before he would be found worthy of being +joined in the marriage relation to his Episcopalian bride.</p> + +<p>The "Ways of the Hour" was the last work that Cooper published. +Everything he now wrote was written with a special object. The design +of this was to attack trial by jury; but he was not prevented by that +fact from discussing several other matters that were uppermost in his +mind. The incidents of the story utterly destroyed the effectiveness +of the lesson that it was intended to convey. It would be dignifying +too much many of the events related in it to say that they are +improbabilities: they are simply impossibilities. The "Ways of the +Hour" was, however, like the preceding novels, often full of +suggestive remarks, on many other points than trial by jury. It showed +in numerous instances the working of an acute, vigorous, and +aggressive intellect. The good qualities it has need not be denied: +only they are not the good qualities that belong to fiction.</p> + +<p>The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page261" name="page261"></a>(p. 261)</span> +pecuniary profits that his works brought him during this +latter period of his life there are, perhaps, no means of +ascertaining. Much of the literary activity of his last years was due +to necessity rather than to inspiration. He had been concerned for a +long time in company with a number of men of business in a series of +cotton speculations, and in others connected with Western lands. In +both cases the ventures were unprofitable, and the desire of +retrieving his losses was one of the causes that led to this constant +literary production. There were other circumstances, too, besides his +mere unpopularity that had tended to reduce the amount gained from +what he wrote. After 1838, the income received from England naturally +fell off, in consequence of the change in the law of copyright. The +act of Parliament passed in that year provided that no foreign author +outside of British dominions should have copyright in those dominions +unless the country to which he belonged gave copyright to the English +author. No fault can be found with this legislation on the score of +justice. The value of anything produced by a citizen of the United +States fell at once as a necessary consequence of the want of +protection against piracy. The British publisher, not from any motive +of mere personal gain, but from an unselfish desire by retaliatory +proceedings to bring about a better state of things, went speedily to +work to plunder the American author who favored international +copyright in order to show his disgust at the conduct of the American +publisher who opposed it. As a matter of fact Cooper's novels were +from that time published in Great Britain, in cheap form, and sold at +a cheap price. Such reprints could not but lower the amount which +could be offered for his work. Newspaper reports, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page262" name="page262"></a>(p. 262)</span> +the +correctness of which can neither be affirmed nor denied, frequently +mention that for the copyright of each of his earlier novels he was in +the habit of receiving a thousand guineas. We know positively that for +his later tales, as fast as they were written, Bentley, his London +publisher, usually paid him three hundred pounds each.</p> + +<p>In America circumstances of another kind contributed to reduce the +profits from his works. Most of them were published at a price that +would have required an immense sale to make them remunerative at all. +It was about 1840 that two weekly newspapers in New York, "The New +World," and "The Brother Jonathan," had begun the practice of +reprinting in their columns the writings of the most popular novelists +which were then coming out in England. As soon as these were finished +they were brought out in parts and sold at a small price. This piracy +was so successful that imitators sprang up everywhere. The large +publishing houses were soon obliged to follow in the wake of the +newspaper establishments. The reign of the so-called "cheap and nasty" +literature began. The productions of the greatest foreign novelists +were sold for a song. The native writer was subjected to a competition +which forced him at once to lower his price or to go unread. Beginning +with "Wing-and-Wing," the rate at which Cooper's works were published +furnishes a striking commentary upon the cheap professions of sympathy +with letters current in this country, indicates suggestively the +inspiriting inducements held out by the law-making power to enter upon +the career of authorship, and shows with disgraceful clearness how +utterly the interests of the men engaged in the creation of literature +had been subordinated to +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page263" name="page263"></a>(p. 263)</span> +the greed of those who traded in +it. The barest recital of the facts makes evident the nature of the +encouragement given. "Wing-and-Wing" was published at twenty-five +cents a volume. So were "Wyandotte," "The Redskins," "The Crater," +"Jack Tier," "The Oak Openings," and "The Sea Lions." The four volumes +of the series "Afloat and Ashore" were published at thirty-seven and a +half cents each; and at the same rate "Satanstoe" came out, and also +"Ned Myers." It was not till Cooper's last work appeared that the +price went up as high as a dollar and twenty-five cents. This was in +one volume; but it is to be kept in mind, in considering these prices, +that in America his novels regularly appeared in two.</p> + +<p>One further experiment Cooper made in a new field; and with it the +record of his literary life closes. In the year 1850 he tried the +stage. On the 18th of June a comedy written by him was brought out at +Burton's Theatre, New York. It was entitled, "Upside Down; or, +Philosophy in Petticoats." For the three nights following the 18th it +was acted, and was then withdrawn. It has never been played since, nor +has it been published.</p> + +<p>All these years he spent his time mainly in his home at Cooperstown. +There, besides the pleasure he found in the improvement of the +extensive grounds about his house, he gave full vent to that latent +passion for wasting money in agricultural operations, which seems to +be one of the most widely-extended peculiarities of the English race. +On the eastern shore of the lake, about a mile from the village, he +bought a farm of about two hundred acres which he called the "Chālet." +The view from it was exceedingly beautiful, looking as it did down the +Valley <span class="pagenum"><a id="page264" name="page264"></a>(p. 264)</span> +of the Susquehanna. The farm, too, had its +picturesque and poetical features; but unhappily it was little adapted +to practical agriculture. It stood on a hill-side, the abruptness of +which was only occasionally relieved by a few acres of level land. +Much of it was still covered with the original forest; and a good deal +of the cleared land was full of stumps. To superintend the removal of +these latter was one of Cooper's chief relaxations from mental labor. +It is a desirable thing to do, but it has never been found pecuniarily +profitable in itself. To this place Cooper daily drove in the summer +season, and spent two or three hours directing the operations that +were going on, finding constantly new ways to spend money, and +doubtless pleasing himself occasionally with the fancy that the farm +would at some time pay expenses. And in the best sense it did pay +expenses. It gave regular diversion to his life; it ministered +constantly to his enjoyment of the beautiful in scenery; and it +occupied his thoughts with perpetual projects of improvement for which +its character furnished unlimited opportunities. He had bought it for +pleasure and not for profit; and in that it yielded him a full return +for the money invested.</p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XII. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page265" name="page265"></a>(p. 265)</span></h2> + +<h2>1850-1851.</h2> + + +<p>Cooper, at the time he published his last novel, was more than sixty +years of age; but as yet he showed no traces of physical or +intellectual decay. His literary activity remained unabated, though he +was now purposing to direct it to other fields than that of fiction. A +decided change was likewise taking place in the estimation in which he +was held by the public. He had not become popular, to be sure; but he +had become less unpopular. There was, moreover, a feeling pretty +generally prevalent that he had been hardly used; that in many +respects he had been a wronged and persecuted man. The ranks of those +who had remained faithful to him during all these years of obloquy +were beginning to be largely swelled from the newer generation which +had neither part in, nor knowledge of, the bitter controversies in +which he had been concerned. His friends were purposing to give a +public dinner in his honor in order to show their regard for him as a +man, and their appreciation of the credit his writings had brought to +his country. Before this project could be carried into effect, the +illness had overtaken him which ended in death.</p> + +<p>On the other hand time had, in some respect, mollified his own +feelings. Many things had occurred to make him more gentle and +forbearing. Much of this was +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page266" name="page266"></a>(p. 266)</span> +certainly due to the increasing +strength of his religious convictions, which as has been noticed, +steadily deepened during his last years. It is clear from much that +appears in his later novels that these had, to some extent, been +perverted from their legitimate effect, and had made him at intervals +illiberal and even bitter. But they had brought calm to an excitable +nature, and healing to a spirit which had been sometimes sorely +wounded. In 1851 he carried out a plan long before determined upon. In +March of that year he became a communicant in the Episcopal church, +and in the following July was confirmed by his brother-in-law, Bishop +DeLancey.</p> + +<p>In the summer of 1850 he was in New York city. "At this time," says +Bryant, "his personal appearance was remarkable. He seemed in perfect +health, and in the highest energy and activity of his faculties. I +have scarcely seen any man at that period of life on whom his years +sat more lightly." But even then the disease which was to destroy him +was lurking in his system. In the beginning of April, 1851, he came +again to New York partly for medical advice, and his changed +appearance struck all his friends with surprise and sorrow. The +digestive organs were impaired, the liver was torpid, and a general +feebleness had taken the place of the vigor for which he had +previously been distinguished. He remained several weeks in the city +and then returned to Cooperstown. That place he never left again. The +disease made rapid advances, and at last became a confirmed dropsy. In +the latter part of August his old and intimate friend, Dr. Francis, of +New York, went up to Cooper's country home to make a full examination +of his condition. He found him worse, if anything, than he +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page267" name="page267"></a>(p. 267)</span> +expected. There was, in fact, little hope of recovery. The physician +told him frankly of the danger he was in, and of the possibilities of +restoration to health that still existed. Though his own perception of +his condition was too clear to make the announcement a shock, it could +not have been other than a disappointment. He had many projects still +unfulfilled. Plans of new works were in his mind; and one of them on +the "Towns of Manhattan," partly written, was at that very time in +press. But he met the news as bravely as he had the various troubles +of his eventful life. After Dr. Francis' departure the malady steadily +increased, and it soon became evident that expectation of recovery +must be given up. During all these days he was quiet and cheerful, and +his last hours were full of peace and hope. On Sunday, the 14th of +September, 1851, at half-past one in the afternoon, he died. Had he +lived one day longer he would have been sixty-two years old. In a +little more than four months his wife followed him to the grave. They +lie side by side in the grounds of Christ's Church at Cooperstown.</p> + +<p>His property was found, at his death, to be much impaired in value. +Enough was left to insure the family a competency, but it became +necessary to give up the mansion where so many years of his life had +been passed. The dwelling went, accordingly, into other hands, and it +was not a long while after that it burned down. Part of the grounds +have since become public property, and that which is not so employed +is little better than a waste.</p> + +<p>The death of men of letters did not excite at that time the attention +which interest or fashion pays to it now. Cooper's relations, too, +with many, had been of so +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page268" name="page268"></a>(p. 268)</span> +strained a nature that it was +hardly to be expected that his loss should arouse universal regret. +Yet it was felt on all hands that a great man had fallen. On the 25th +of September, a few days after his death, a meeting was held in the +City Hall, New York, with the intent to make a suitable demonstration +of respect to his memory. Washington Irving presided, and a committee +of prominent men of letters was appointed to carry into effect the +measures for which the gathering had been called. A discourse on the +life, genius, and writings of the dead author was fixed upon to be +given by his intimate friend, William Cullen Bryant. On the 25th of +February, 1852, this address was delivered at Metropolitan Hall before +the most cultivated audience the city could boast. With a singular +ineptitude, not generally appreciated at the time, Daniel Webster was +selected to preside. He had nothing to say, and he said it wretchedly. +It was doubtful if he had ever read a single work of the novelist. +That, at least, is a natural inference from his speech, which, +furthermore, is little else than a collection of dreary platitudes. It +was after this fashion that he paid his respects to the man whose +memory they had come together to honor. "As far as I am acquainted," +he remarked, "with the writings of Mr. Cooper, they uphold good +sentiments, sustain good morals, and maintain just taste; and after +saying this I have next to add, that all his writings are truly +patriotic and American throughout and throughout." This did not even +reach the respectability of commonplace, and the commonplaces to which +Webster soared in other parts of his speech did not have the poor +merit of being sonorous. Still he looked so majestic and imposing that +most of his audience were profoundly impressed by the justness +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page269" name="page269"></a>(p. 269)</span> +and value of his observations. Any failure, however, on his part +in the matter of what he said, was more than made up by the address +delivered by Byrant. It is not very long; it contains a few errors of +fact, especially in the dates; but it is not only the most eloquent +tribute that has been paid to the dead author, it has also remained +during all these years the fullest account of the life he lived, and +the work he did.</p> + +<p> * * * * *</p> + +<p>More than sixty years have gone by since Cooper began to write; more +than thirty since he ceased to live. If his reputation has not +advanced during the period that has passed since his death, it has +certainly not receded. Nor does it seem likely to undergo much change +in the future. The world has pretty well made up its mind as to the +value of his work. The estimate in which it is held will not be +materially raised or lowered by anything which criticism can now +utter. This will itself be criticised for being too obvious; for it +can do little but repeat, with variation of phrase, what has been +constantly said and often better said before. There is, however, now a +chance of its meeting with fairer consideration. The cloud of +depreciation which seems to settle upon the achievement of every man +of letters soon after death, it was Cooper's fortune to encounter +during life. This was partly due to the literary reaction which had +taken place against the form of fiction he adopted, but far more to +the personal animosities he aroused. We are now far enough removed +from the prejudices and passions of his time to take an impartial view +of the man, and to state, without bias for or against him, the +conclusions to which the world has very generally come as to his +merits and defects as a writer.</p> + +<p>At <span class="pagenum"><a id="page270" name="page270"></a>(p. 270)</span> +the outset it is to be said that Cooper is one of the +people's novelists as opposed to the novelists of highly-cultivated +men. This does not imply that he has not been, and is not still, a +favorite with many of the latter. The names of those, indeed, who have +expressed excessive admiration for his writings far surpass in +reputation and even critical ability those who have spoken of him +depreciatingly. Still the general statement is true that it is with +the masses he has found favor chiefly. The sale of his works has known +no abatement since his death. It goes on constantly to an extent that +will surprise any one who has not made an examination of this +particular point. His tales continue to be read or rather devoured by +the uncultivated many. They are often contemptuously criticised by the +cultivated few, who sometimes affect to look upon any admiration they +may have once had for them as belonging exclusively to the +undisciplined taste of childhood.</p> + +<p>This state of things may be thought decisive against the permanent +reputation of the novelist. The opinion of the cultivated few, it is +said, must prevail over that of the uncultivated many. True as this is +in certain cases, it is just as untrue in others. It is, in fact, +often absurdly false when the general reading public represents the +uncultivated many. On matters which come legitimately within the scope +of their judgment the verdict of the great mass of men is infinitely +more trustworthy than that of any small body of men, no matter how +cultivated. Of plenty of that narrow judgment of select circles which +mistakes the cackle of its little coterie for the voice of the world, +Cooper was made the subject, and sometimes the victim, during his +lifetime. There were any number of writers, now never heard of, who +were <span class="pagenum"><a id="page271" name="page271"></a>(p. 271)</span> +going to outlive him, according to literary prophecies +then current, which had everything oracular in their utterance except +ambiguity. Especially is this true of the notices of his stories of +the sea. As I have turned over the pages of defunct criticism, I have +come across the names of several authors whose tales descriptive of +ocean life were, according to many contemporary estimates, immensely +superior to anything of the kind Cooper had produced or could produce. +Some of these writers enjoyed for a time high reputation. Most of them +are now as utterly forgotten as the men who celebrated their praises.</p> + +<p>But however unfair as a whole may be the estimate of cultivated men in +any particular case, their adverse opinion is pretty certain to have a +foundation of justice in its details. This is unquestionably true in +the present instance. Characteristics there are of Cooper's writings +which would and do repel many. Defects exist both in manner and +matter. Part of the unfavorable judgment he has received is due to the +prevalence of minor faults, disagreeable rather than positively bad. +These, in many cases, sprang from the quantity of what he did and the +rapidity with which he did it. The amount that Cooper wrote is +something that in fairness must always be taken into consideration. He +who has crowded into a single volume the experience of a life must +concede that he stands at great advantage as regards matters of +detail, and especially as regards perfection of form, with him who has +manifested incessant literary activity in countless ways. It was the +immense quantity that Cooper wrote and the haste and inevitable +carelessness which wait upon great production, that are responsible +for many of his minor faults. Incongruities in +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page272" name="page272"></a>(p. 272)</span> +the +conception of his tales, as well as in their execution, often make +their appearance. Singular blunders can be found which escaped even +his own notice in the final revision he gave his works. In "Mercedes +of Castile," for instance, the heroine presents her lover on his +outward passage with a cross framed of sapphire stones. These, she +tells him, are emblems of fidelity. When she comes to inquire about +them after his return she speaks of them as turquoise. Again, in "The +Deerslayer" three castles of a curious set of chessmen are given in +one part of the story to the Indians. Later on, two other castles of +the same set make their appearance. This is a singular mistake for +Cooper to overlook, for chess was a game of which he was very fond.</p> + +<p>In the matter of language this rapidity and carelessness often +degenerated into downright slovenliness. It was bad enough to resort +to the same expedients and to repeat the same scenes. Still from this +charge few prolific novelists can be freed. But in Cooper there were +often words and phrases which he worked to death. In "The Wept of +Wish-ton-Wish" there is so perpetual a reference to the quiet way in +which the younger Heathcote talks and acts that it has finally +anything but a quieting effect upon the reader's feelings. In "The +Headsman of Berne," "warm" in the sense of "well-to-do," a +disagreeable usage at best, occurs again and again, until the feeling +of disagreeableness it inspires at first becomes at last positive +disgust. This trick of repetition reaches the climax of +meaninglessness in "The Ways of the Hour." During the trial scene the +judge repeats on every pretext and as a part of almost every speech, +the sentence "time is precious;" and it is about the only point on +which he is represented as taking a clear and decided stand.</p> + +<p>There <span class="pagenum"><a id="page273" name="page273"></a>(p. 273)</span> +were other faults in the matter of language that to +some will seem far worse. I confess to feeling little admiration for +that grammar-school training which consists in teaching the pupil how +much more he knows about our tongue than the great masters who have +moulded it; which practically sets up the claim that the only men who +are able to write English properly are the men who have never shown +any capacity to write it at all; and which seeks, in a feeble way, to +cramp usage by setting up distinctions that never existed, and laying +down rules which it requires uncommon ignorance of the language to +make or to heed. Still there are lengths to which the most strenuous +stickler for freedom of speech does not venture to go. There are +prejudices in favor of the exclusive legitimacy of certain +constructions that he feels bound to respect. He recognizes, as a +general rule, for instance, that when the subject is in the singular +it is desirable that the verb should be in the same number. For +conventionalities of syntax of this kind Cooper was very apt to +exhibit disregard, not to say disdain. He too often passed the bounds +that divide liberty from license. It scarcely needs to be asserted +that in most of these cases the violation of idiom arose from haste or +carelessness. But there were some blunders which can only be imputed +to pure unadulterated ignorance. He occasionally used words in senses +unknown to past or present use. He sometimes employed grammatical +forms that belong to no period in the history of the English language. +A curious illustration of a word combining in itself both these errors +is <i>wists</i>, a verb, in the third person, singular. If this be anything +it should be <i>wist</i>, the preterite of <i>wot</i>, and should have +accordingly the meaning "knew." Cooper uses +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page274" name="page274"></a>(p. 274)</span> +it in fact as a +present with the sense of "wishes." Far worse than occasional errors +in the use of words are errors of construction. His sentences are +sometimes involved in the most hopeless way, and the efforts of +grammar to untie the knot by any means known to it serve only to make +conspicuous its own helplessness.</p> + +<p>All this is, in itself, of slight importance when set off against +positive merits. But it is constantly forced upon the reader's +attention by the fact that Cooper himself was exceedingly critical on +points of speech. He was perpetually going out of his way to impart +bits of information about words and their uses, and it is rare that he +blunders into correct statement or right inference. He often, indeed, +in these matters carried ignorance of what he was talking about, and +confidence in his own knowledge of it to the extremest verge of the +possible. He sometimes mistook dialectic or antiquated English for +classical, and laboriously corrected the latter by putting the former +in parentheses by its side. In orthography and pronunciation he had +never got beyond that puerile conception which fancies it a most +creditable feature in a word that its sound shall not be suggested by +anything in its spelling. In the case of proper names this was more +than creditable; it was aristocratic. So in "The Crater" great care is +taken to tell us that the hero's name, though written Woolston, was +pronounced Wooster; and that he so continued to sound it in spite of a +miserable Yankee pedagogue who tried hard to persuade him to follow +the spelling. So, again, in "The Ways of the Hour" we are sedulously +informed that Wilmeter is to be pronounced Wilmington. But absurdities +like these belonged not so much to Cooper as to the good old times of +gentlemanly ignorance in which +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page275" name="page275"></a>(p. 275)</span> +he lived. In his etymological +vagaries, however, he sometimes left his age far behind. In "The Oak +Openings" he enters upon the discussion of the word "shanty." He finds +the best explanation of its origin is to suppose it a corruption of +<i>chičnté</i>, a word which he again supposed might exist in Canadian +French, and provided it existed there, he further supposed that in +that dialect it might mean "dog-kennel." The student of language, much +hardened to this sort of work on the part of men of letters, can read +with resignation "this plausible derivation," as it is styled. Cooper, +however, not content with the simple glory of originating it, actually +uses throughout the whole work <i>chičnté</i> instead of "shanty." This +rivals, if it does not outdo, the linguistic excesses of the sixteenth +and seventeenth centuries.</p> + +<p>There are imperfections far more serious than these mistakes in +language. He rarely attained to beauty of style. The rapidity with +which he wrote forbids the idea that he ever strove earnestly for it. +Even the essential but minor grace of clearness is sometimes denied +him. He had not, in truth, the instincts of the born literary artist. +Satisfied with producing the main effect, he was apt to be careless in +the consistent working out of details. Plot, in any genuine sense of +the word "plot," is to be found in very few of his stories. He seems +rarely to have planned all the events beforehand; or, if he did, +anything was likely to divert him from his original intention. The +incidents often appear to have been suggested as the tale was in +process of composition. Hence the constant presence of incongruities +with the frequent result of bringing about a bungling and incomplete +development. The introduction of certain characters is +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page276" name="page276"></a>(p. 276)</span> +sometimes so heralded as to lead us to expect from them far more than +they actually perform. Thus, in "The Two Admirals," Mr. Thomas +Wychecombe is brought in with a fullness of description that justifies +the reader in entertaining a rational expectation of finding in him a +satisfactory scoundrel, capable, desperate, full of resources, needing +the highest display of energy and ability to be overcome. This +reasonable anticipation is disappointed. At the very moment when +respectable determined villainy is in request, he fades away into a +poltroon of the most insignificant type who is not able to hold his +own against an ordinary house-steward.</p> + +<p>The prolixity of Cooper's introductions is a fault so obvious to every +one that it needs here reference merely and not discussion. A similar +remark may be made as to his moralizing, which was apt to be cheap and +commonplace. He was much disposed to waste his own time and to exhaust +the patience of his reader by establishing with great fullness of +demonstration and great positiveness of assertion the truth of +principles which most of the human race are humbly content to regard +as axioms. A greater because even a more constantly recurring fault is +the gross improbability to be found in the details of his stories. +There is too much fiction in his fiction. We are continually +exasperated by the inadequacy of the motive assigned; we are irritated +by the unnatural if not ridiculous conduct of the characters. These +are perpetually doing unreasonable things, or doing reasonable things +at unsuitable times. They take the very path that must lead them into +the danger they are seeking to shun. They engage in making love when +they ought to be flying for their lives. His heroes, in particular, +exhibit a capacity for going to sleep in critical situations, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page277" name="page277"></a>(p. 277)</span> +which may not transcend extraordinary human experience, but does +ordinary human belief. Nor is improbability always confined to +details. It pervades sometimes the central idea of the story. In "The +Bravo," for instance, the hero is the most pious of sons, the most +faithful of friends, the most devoted of lovers. The part he has to +play in the tale is to appear to be a cutthroat of the worst type, +without doing a single thing to merit his reputation. It is asking too +much of human credulity to believe that a really good man could long +sustain the character of a remorseless desperado by merely making +faces. This improbability, moreover, is most marked in the tales which +are designed to teach a lesson. A double disadvantage is the result. +The story is spoiled for the sake of the moral; and the moral is lost +by the grossly improbable nature of the story. In the last novel +Cooper wrote this is strikingly seen. He who can credit the +possibility of the events occurring that are told in "The Ways of the +Hour" must give up at the same time his belief in the maxim that truth +is stranger than fiction.</p> + +<p>It has now become a conventional criticism of Cooper that his +characters are conventional. Such a charge can be admitted without +seriously disparaging the value of his work. In the kind of fiction to +which his writings belong, the persons are necessarily so subordinate +to the events that nearly all novelists of this class have been +subjected to this same criticism. So regularly is it made, indeed, +that Scott when he wrote a review of some of his own tales for the +"Quarterly" felt obliged to adopt it in speaking of himself. He +describes his heroes as amiable, insipid young men, the sort of +pattern people that nobody cares a farthing about. Untrue as this +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page278" name="page278"></a>(p. 278)</span> +is of many of Scott's creations, it is unquestionably true of the +higher characters that Cooper introduces. They are often described in +the most laudatory terms; but it is little they do that makes them +worthy of the epithets with which they are honored. Their talk is +often of a kind not known to human society. One peculiarity is +especially noticeable. A stiffness, not to say an appearance of +affectation is often given to the conversation by the use of <i>thou</i> +and <i>thee</i>. This was probably a survival in Cooper of the Quakerism of +his ancestors; for he sometimes used it in his private letters. But +since the action of his stories was in nearly all cases laid in a +period in which the second person singular had become obsolete in +ordinary speech, an unnatural character is given to the dialogue, +which removes it still farther from the language of real life.</p> + +<p>His failure in characterization was undoubtedly greatest in the women +he drew. Cooper's ardent admirers have always resented this charge. +Each one of them points to some single heroine that fulfills the +highest requirements that criticism could demand. It seems to me that +close study of his writings must confirm the opinion generally +entertained. All his utterances show that the theoretical view he had +of the rights, the duties, and the abilities of women, were of the +most narrow and conventional type. Unhappily it was a limitation of +his nature that he could not invest with charm characters with whom he +was not in moral and intellectual sympathy. There was, in his eyes, +but one praiseworthy type of womanly excellence. It did not lie in his +power to represent any other; on one occasion he unconsciously +satirized his inability even to conceive of any other. In "Mercedes of +Castile" the heroine is thus +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page279" name="page279"></a>(p. 279)</span> +described by her aunt: "Her +very nature," she says, "is made up of religion and female decorum." +It is evident that the author fancied that in this commendation he was +exhausting praise. These are the sentiments of a man with whom +devoutness and deportment have become the culminating conception of +the possibilities that lie in the female character. His heroines +naturally conformed to his belief. They are usually spoken of as +spotless beings. They are made up of retiring sweetness, artlessness, +and simplicity. They are timid, shrinking, helpless. They shudder with +terror on any decent pretext. But if they fail in higher qualities, +they embody in themselves all conceivable combinations of the +proprieties and minor morals. They always give utterance to the most +unexceptionable sentiments. They always do the extremely correct +thing. The dead perfection of their virtues has not the alloy of a +single redeeming fault. The reader naturally wearies of these +uninterestingly discreet and admirable creatures in fiction as he +would in real life. He feels that they would be a good deal more +attractive if they were a good deal less angelic. With all their +faultlessness, moreover, they do not attain an ideal which is +constantly realized by their living, but faulty sisters. They do not +show the faith, the devotion, the self-forgetfulness, and +self-sacrifice which women exhibit daily without being conscious that +they have done anything especially creditable. They experience, so far +as their own words and acts furnish evidence of their feelings, a sort +of lukewarm emotion which they dignify with the name of love. But they +not merely suspect without the slightest provocation, they give up the +men to whom they have pledged the devotion of their lives, for reasons +for <span class="pagenum"><a id="page280" name="page280"></a>(p. 280)</span> +which no one would think of abandoning an ordinary +acquaintance. In "The Spy" the heroine distrusts her lover's integrity +because another woman does not conceal her fondness for him. In "The +Heidenmauer" one of the female characters resigns the man she loves +because on one occasion, when heated by wine and maddened by passion, +he had done violence to the sacred elements. There was never a woman +in real life, whose heart and brain were sound, that conformed her +conduct to a model so contemptible. It is just to say of Cooper that +as he advanced in years he improved upon this feeble conception. The +female characters of his earlier tales are never able to do anything +successfully but to faint. In his later ones they are given more +strength of mind as well as nobility of character. But at best, the +height they reach is little loftier than that of the pattern woman of +the regular religious novel. The reader cannot help picturing for all +of them the same dreary and rather inane future. He is as sure, as if +their career had been actually unrolled before his eyes, of the part +they will perform in life. They will all become leading members of +Dorcas societies; they will find perpetual delight in carrying to the +poor bundles of tracts and packages of tea; they will scour the +highways and by-ways for dirty, ragged, hatless, shoeless, and godless +children, whom they will hale into the Sunday-school; they will shine +with unsurpassed skill in the manufacture of slippers for the rector; +they will exhibit a fiery enthusiasm in the decoration and adornment +of the church at Christmas and Easter festivals. Far be the thought +that would deny praise to the mild raptures and delicate aspirations +of gentle natures such as Cooper drew. But in novels, at least, one +longs for a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page281" name="page281"></a>(p. 281)</span> +ruddier life than flows in the veins of these +pale, bleached-out personifications of the proprieties. Women like +them may be far more useful members of society than the stormier +characters of fiction that are dear to the carnal-minded. They may +very possibly be far more agreeable to live with; but they are not +usually the women for whom men are willing or anxious to die.</p> + +<p>These are imperfections that have led to the undue depreciation of +Cooper among many highly cultivated men. Taken by themselves they +might seem enough to ruin his reputation beyond redemption. It is a +proof of his real greatness that he triumphs over defects which would +utterly destroy the fame of a writer of inferior power. It is with +novels as with men. There are those with great faults which please us +and impress us far more than those in which the component parts are +better balanced. Whatever its other demerits, Cooper's best work never +sins against the first law of fictitious composition, that the story +shall be full of sustained interest. It has power, and power always +fascinates, even though accompanied with much that would naturally +excite repulsion or dislike. Moreover, poorly as he sometimes told his +story, he had a story to tell. The permanence and universality of his +reputation are largely due to this fact. In many modern creations full +of subtle charm and beauty, the narrative, the material framework of +the fiction, has been made so subordinate to the delineation of +character and motive, that the reader ceases to feel much interest in +what men do in the study which is furnished him of why they do it. In +this highly-rarefied air of philosophic analysis, incident and event +wither and die. Work of this kind is apt to have within its sphere an +unbounded popularity; but its sphere +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page282" name="page282"></a>(p. 282)</span> +is limited, and can +never include a tithe of that vast public for which Cooper wrote and +which has always cherished and kept alive his memory, while that of +men of perhaps far finer mould has quite faded away.</p> + +<p>It is only fair, also, to judge him by his successes and not by his +failures; by the work he did best, and not by what he did moderately +well. His strength lies in the description of scenes, in the narration +of events. In the best of these he has had no superior, and very few +equals. The reader will look in vain for the revelation of sentiment, +or for the exhibition of passion. The love-story is rarely well done; +but the love-story plays a subordinate part in the composition. The +moment his imagination is set on fire with the conception of +adventure, vividness and power come unbidden to his pen. The pictures +he then draws are as real to the mind as if they were actually seen by +the eye. It is doubtless due to the fact that these fits of +inspiration came to him only in certain kinds of composition, that the +excellence of many of his stories lies largely in detached scenes. +Still his best works are a moving panorama, in which the mind is no +sooner sated with one picture than its place is taken by another +equally fitted to fix the attention and to stir the heart. The +genuineness of his power, in such cases, is shown by the perfect +simplicity of the agencies employed. There is no pomp of words; there +is an entire lack of even the attempt at meretricious adornment; there +is not the slightest appearance of effort to impress the reader. In +his portrayal of these scenes Cooper is like nature, in that lie +accomplishes his greatest effects with the fewest means. If, as we are +sometimes told, these things are easily done, the pertinent question +always remains, why are they not done.</p> + +<p>Moreover, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page283" name="page283"></a>(p. 283)</span> +while in his higher characters he has almost +absolutely failed, he has succeeded in drawing a whole group of +strongly-marked lower ones. Birch, in "The Spy," Long Tom Coffin and +Boltrope in "The Pilot," the squatter in "The Prairie," Cap in "The +Pathfinder," and several others there are, any one of which would be +enough of itself to furnish a respectable reputation to many a +novelist who fancies himself far superior to Cooper as a delineator of +character. He had neither the skill nor power to draw the varied +figures with which Scott, with all the reckless prodigality of genius, +crowded his canvas. Yet in the gorgeous gallery of the great master of +romantic fiction, alive with men and women of every rank in life and +of every variety of nature, there is, perhaps, no one person who so +profoundly impresses the imagination as Cooper's crowning creation, +the man of the forests. It is not that Scott could not have done what +his follower did, had he so chosen; only that as a matter of fact he +did not. Leather-Stocking is one of the few original characters, +perhaps the only great original character, that American fiction has +added to the literature of the world.</p> + +<p>The more uniform excellence of Cooper, however, lies in the pictures +he gives of the life of nature. Forest, ocean, and stream are the +things for which he really cares; and men and women are the +accessories, inconvenient and often uncomfortable, that must be +endured. Of the former he speaks with a loving particularity that lets +nothing escape the attention. Yet minute as are often his +descriptions, he did not fall into that too easily besetting sin of +the novelist, of overloading his picture with details. To advance the +greater he sacrificed the less. Cooper looked at nature with the eye +of a painter and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page284" name="page284"></a>(p. 284)</span> +not of a photographer. He fills the +imagination even more than he does the sight. Hence the permanence of +the impression which he leaves upon the mind. His descriptions, too, +produce a greater effect at the time and cling longer to the memory +because they fall naturally into the narrative, and form a real part +in the development of the story; they are not merely dragged in to let +the reader know what the writer can do. "If Cooper," said Balzac, "had +succeeded in the painting of character to the same extent that he did +in the painting of the phenomena of nature, he would have uttered the +last word of our art." This author I have quoted several times, +because far better even than George Sand, or indeed any who have +criticised the American novelist, he seems to me to have seen clearly +wherein the latter succeeded and wherein he failed.</p> + +<p>To this it is just to add one word which Cooper himself would have +regarded as the highest tribute that could be paid to what he did. +Whatever else we may say of his writings, their influence is always a +healthy influence. Narrow and prejudiced he sometimes was in his +opinions; but he hated whatever was mean and low in character. It is +with beautiful things and with noble things that he teaches us to +sympathize. Here are no incitements to passion, no prurient +suggestions of sensual delights. The air which breathes through all +his fictions is as pure as that which sweeps the streets of his +mountain home. It is as healthy as nature itself. To read one of his +best works after many of the novels of the day, is like passing from +the heated and stifling atmosphere of crowded rooms to the purity, the +freedom, and the boundlessness of the forest.</p> + +<p>In these foregoing pages I have attempted to portray an +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page285" name="page285"></a>(p. 285)</span> +author who was something more than an author, who in any community +would have been a marked man had he never written a word. I have not +sought to hide his foibles and his faults, his intolerance and his +dogmatism, the irascibility of his temperament, the pugnacity of his +nature, the illiberality and injustice of many of his opinions, the +unreasonableness as well as the imprudence of the course he often +pursued. To his friends and admirers these points will seem to have +been insisted upon too strongly. Their feelings may, to a certain +extent, be just. Cooper is, indeed, a striking instance of how much +more a man loses in the estimation of the world by the exhibition of +foibles, than he will by that of vices. In this work one side of the +life he lived--the side he presented to the public--is the only one +that, owing to circumstances, could be depicted. It does not present +the most attractive features of his character. That exclusiveness of +temperament which made him misjudged by the many, endeared him only +the more to the few who were in a position to see how different he was +from what he seemed. In nothing is the essential sweetness of Cooper's +nature more clearly shown than in the intense affection he inspired in +the immediate circle which surrounded him or that was dependent upon +him. He could not fail to feel keenly at times how utterly his +character and motives were misapprehended and belied. "As for myself," +says the hero of "Miles Wallingford," "I can safely say that in scarce +a circumstance of my life, that has brought me the least under the +cognizance of the public, have I ever been judged justly. In various +instances have I been praised for acts that were either totally +without any merit, or at least the particular merit imputed to them; +while +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page286" name="page286"></a>(p. 286)</span> +I have been even persecuted for deeds that deserved +praise."</p> + +<p>His faults, in fact, were faults of temper rather than of character. +Like the defects of his writings, too, they lay upon the surface, and +were seen and read of all men. But granting everything that can be +urged against him, impartial consideration must award him an ample +excess of the higher virtues. His failings were the failings of a man +who possessed in the fullest measure vigor of mind, intensity of +conviction, and capability of passion. Disagree with him one could +hardly help; one could never fail to respect him. Many of the common +charges against him are due to pure ignorance. Of these, perhaps, the +most common and the most absolutely baseless is the one which imputes +to him excessive literary vanity. Pride, even up to the point of +arrogance, he had; but even this was only in a small degree connected +with his reputation as an author. In the nearly one hundred volumes he +wrote, not a single line can be found which implies that he had an +undue opinion of his own powers. On the contrary, there are many that +would lead to the conclusion that his appreciation of himself and of +his achievement was far lower than even the coldest estimate would +form. The prevalent misconception on this point was in part due to his +excessive sensitiveness to criticism and his resentment of it when +hostile. It was partly due, also, to a certain outspokenness of nature +which led him to talk of himself as freely as he would talk of a +stranger. But his whole conduct showed the falseness of any such +impression. From all the petty tricks to which literary vanity +resorts, he was absolutely free. He utterly disdained anything that +savored of manœuvring for reputation. He indulged in no devices to +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page287" name="page287"></a>(p. 287)</span> +revive the decaying attention of the public. He sought no +favors from those who were in a position to confer the notoriety which +so many mistake for fame. He went, in fact, to the other extreme, and +refused an aid that he might with perfect propriety have received. In +the early period of his literary career he wrote a good deal for the +"New York Patriot," a newspaper edited by his intimate friend, Colonel +Gardiner. He objected to the publication in it of a favorable notice, +which had been prepared of "The Pioneers," because by the fact of +being an occasional contributor he was indirectly connected with the +journal. Accordingly the criticism was not inserted. It would not have +been possible for him to offer to review his own works, as Scott both +offered to do and did of the "Tales of My Landlord," in the +"Quarterly." Nor would he have acceded to a request to furnish a +review of any production of his own, as Irving did, in the same +periodical, of his "Conquest of Granada." No publisher who knew him, +even slightly, would have ventured to make him a proposition of the +kind. I am expressing no opinion as to the propriety of these +particular acts; only that Cooper, constituted as he was, could not +for a moment have entertained the thought of doing them.</p> + +<p>The fearlessness and the truthfulness of his nature are conspicuous in +almost every incident of his career. He fought for a principle as +desperately as other men fight for life. The storm of detraction +through which he went never once shook the almost haughty independence +of his conduct, or swerved him in the slightest from the course he had +chosen. The only thing to which he unquestioningly submitted was the +truth. His loyalty +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page288" name="page288"></a>(p. 288)</span> +to that was of a kind almost Quixotic. He +was in later years dissatisfied with himself, because, in his novel of +"The Pilot," he had put the character of Paul Jones too high. He +thought that the hero had been credited in that work with loftier +motives than those by which he was actually animated. Feelings such as +these formed the groundwork of his character, and made him intolerant +of the devious ways of many who were satisfied with conforming to a +lower code of morality. There was a royalty in his nature that +disdained even the semblance of deceit. With other authors one feels +that the man is inferior to his work. With him it is the very reverse. +High qualities, such as these, so different from the easy-going +virtues of common men, are more than an offset to infirmities of +temper, to unfairness of judgment, or to unwisdom of conduct. His life +was the best answer to many of the charges brought against his country +and his countrymen; for whatever he may have fancied, the hostility he +encountered was due far less to the matter of his criticisms than to +their manner. Against the common cant, that in republican governments +the tyranny of public sentiment will always bring conduct to the same +monotonous level, and opinion to the same subservient uniformity, +Democracy can point to this dauntless son who never flinched from any +course because it brought odium, who never flattered popular +prejudices, and who never truckled to a popular cry. America has had +among her representatives of the irritable race of writers many who +have shown far more ability to get on pleasantly with their fellows +than Cooper. She has had several gifted with higher spiritual insight +than he, with broader and juster views of life, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page289" name="page289"></a>(p. 289)</span> +with finer +ideals of literary art, and, above all, with far greater delicacy of +taste. But she counts on the scanty roll of her men of letters the +name of no one who acted from purer patriotism or loftier principle. +She finds among them all no manlier nature, and no more heroic soul.</p> + + + + + + +<h2>APPENDIX. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page290" name="page290"></a>(p. 290)</span></h2> + +<h3>PARTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY OF COOPER'S WRITINGS.</h3> + + +<p>The following list embraces the first editions of Cooper's works; +articles contributed to magazines; and two or three of the most +important communications sent to the newspapers. The titles of his +works, as published in England, were sometimes different from the +titles used in the United States; and whenever this is the case the +former are subjoined. It is also to be remarked that Cooper's works +were sometimes published earlier in Europe than they were in America; +but the dates given in this biography belong exclusively to the +publication of his works in this country. With the exception of No. 45 +and of No. 67, all his tales were originally published in two volumes +in America; with the exception of No. 45 they were originally +published in three volumes in England. First editions of many of his +novels are now rarely to be found in libraries; and the titles given +have in several cases, in consequence, been taken from contemporary +book notices and not from personal examination. The titles are given +in the order of publication of the writings.</p> + +<p>1. Precaution; a Novel. 2 vols. New York: A. T. Goodrich +& Co., 1820.</p> + +<p class="quotega">The English edition appeared in March, 1821.</p> + +<p>2. The Spy; a Tale of the Neutral Ground. By the Author +of Precaution. 2 vols. New York: Wiley & Halsted, +1821.</p> + +<p class="quotega">The English edition appeared in March, 1822.</p> + + +<p>3. The +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page291" name="page291"></a>(p. 291)</span> Pioneers; or the Sources of the Susquehanna. A +Descriptive Tale. By the Author of Precaution. 2 vols. +New York: Charles Wiley, 1823.</p> + +<p class="quotega">The English edition appeared in March, 1823.</p> + +<p>4. The Pilot; A Tale of the Sea, By the Author of The +Pioneers, etc. 2 vols. New York: Charles Wiley, 1823. +The first edition bears the imprint of 1823, but was not +actually published until early in January, 1824.</p> + +<p>5. Lionel Lincoln; or the Leaguer of Boston. By the Author +of The Pioneers, Pilot, etc. 2 vols. New York: +Charles Wiley, 1825.</p> + +<p>6. The Last of the Mohicans. A Narrative of 1757. By the +Author of The Pioneers. 2 vols. Philadelphia: H. C. +Carey & I. Lea, 1826.</p> + +<p>7. The Prairie; a Tale. By the Author of The Pioneers +and The Last of the Mohicans. 2 vols. Philadelphia: +Carey, Lea & Carey, 1827.</p> + +<p>8. The Red Rover; a Tale. By the Author of The Pilot, +etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey, +1828.</p> + +<p>9. Notions of the Americans; Picked up by a Travelling +Bachelor. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey, +1828.</p> + +<p>10. The Wept of Wish-ton-Wish; a Tale. By the Author +of The Pioneers, Prairie, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: +Carey, Lea & Carey, 1829.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In England this was published under the title of "The +Borderers; or the Wept of Wish-ton-Wish." It has also +been published with the title of "The Heathcotes."</p> + +<p>11. The Water-Witch; or the Skimmer of the Seas. A +Tale. By the Author of The Pilot, Red Rover, etc., +etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey & Lea, 1830.</p> + +<p>12. The Bravo; a Tale. By the Author of The Spy, The +Red Rover, The Water Witch, etc., etc., etc. 2 vols. +Philadelphia: Carey & Lea, 1831.</p> + +<p>13. Letter of J. Fenimore Cooper to Gen. Lafayette on the +Expenditure +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page292" name="page292"></a>(p. 292)</span> +of the United States of America. 50 pp. +Paris: Baudry's Foreign Library, 1831.</p> + +<p>14. The Heidenmauer; or the Benedictines. A Legend of +the Rhine. By the Author of The Prairie, Red Rover, +Bravo, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey & Lea, +1832.</p> + +<p>15. Letter to the American Public.</p> + +<p class="quotega">Dated Vevay, Canton de Vaud, Oct. 1, 1832; first published +in Philadelphia National Gazette, Dec. 6. The subject +is the Expenses' Controversy. It occupies about two +columns.</p> + +<p>16. The Headsman; or the Abbaye des Vignerons. A Tale. +By the Author of The Bravo, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: +Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1833.</p> + +<p>17. A Letter to His Countrymen. By J. Fenimore-Cooper. +116 pp. New York: John Wiley, 1834.</p> + +<p>18. The Monikins; edited by the Author of The Spy. 2 +vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1835.</p> + +<p>19. Comparative Resources of the American Navy.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Naval Magazine, vol. i, No. 1, January, 1836, pp. +19-33.</p> + +<p>20. Hints on Manning the Navy, etc., etc.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Naval Magazine, vol. i., No. 2, March, 1836, pp. +176-191. This was published the following May in pamphlet +form by the "Committee of Publication for the Naval +Magazine."</p> + +<p>21. Sketches of Switzerland. By an American. 2 vols. +Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1836.</p> + +<p class="quotega">The English title was "Excursions in Switzerland."</p> + +<p>22. Sketches of Switzerland. By an American. Part Second. +2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, +1836.</p> + +<p class="quotega">The English title was "A Residence in France; with an +Excursion up the Rhine, and a Second Visit to Switzerland."</p> + +<p>23. Gleanings in Europe. By an American. 2 vols. Philadelphia: +Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1837.</p> + +<p class="quotega">This +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page293" name="page293"></a>(p. 293)</span> +work is devoted to France. Its English title is +"Recollections of Europe."</p> + +<p>24. Gleanings in Europe. England; by an American. 2 +vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1837.</p> + +<p class="quotega">This was published in England under the title of "England; +with Sketches of Society in the Metropolis."</p> + +<p>25. Letter to the Editors of the Knickerbocker. (On the relations +between himself and Sir Walter Scott, etc.)</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Knickerbocker Magazine, vol. xi., April, 1838, pp. +380-386.</p> + +<p>26. Gleanings in Europe. Italy; by an American. 2 vols. +Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1838.</p> + +<p class="quotega">Published in England under the title of "Excursions in +Italy."</p> + +<p>27. The American Democrat; or Hints on the Social and +Civic Relations of the United States of America. By +J. Fenimore Cooper. Pp. 192. Cooperstown: H. & E. +Phinney, 1838.</p> + +<p>28. The Chronicles of Cooperstown. Pp. 100. Cooperstown: +H. & E. Phinney, 1838.</p> + +<p class="quotega">Published anonymously. Republished at Albany in 1862 +with additional notes and details bringing the events down +to that year. The republication is entitled "A Condensed +History of Cooperstown; with a Biographical Sketch of J. +Fenimore Cooper. By Rev. T. S. Livermore, A. M." It +is a volume of 276 pages, and contains Bryant's funeral discourse +on Cooper, with much other matter. The "Chronicles +of Cooperstown" extend from page 9 to page 86 inclusive.</p> + +<p>29. Homeward Bound; or the Chase. A Tale of the Sea. +By the Author of The Pilot, The Spy, etc. 2 vols. +Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1838.</p> + +<p>30. Review of the "Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter +Scott, Bart. By J. G. Lockhart."</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Knickerbocker Magazine, October, 1838, vol. xii., pp. +349-366.</p> + +<p>31. Home +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page294" name="page294"></a>(p. 294)</span> +as Found. By the Author of Homeward Bound, +The Pioneers, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Lea & +Blanchard, 1838.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In England published under the title of "Eve Effingham; +or Home."</p> + +<p>32. The History of the Navy of the United States of America. +By J. Fenimore Cooper. 2 vols. Philadelphia: +Lea & Blanchard, 1839.</p> + +<p>33. Letters in "Cooperstown Freeman's Journal," July 1st +and July 8th, 1839.</p> + +<p class="quotega">A reply to the criticism upon his Naval History, or rather +upon his account of the battle of Lake Erie, which had appeared +in the New York Commercial Advertiser in June, +1839. The first letter occupies two columns, the second +more than three.</p> + +<p>34. The Pathfinder; or the Inland Sea. By the Author of +The Pioneers, Last of the Mohicans, etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: +Lea & Blanchard, 1840.</p> + +<p>35. Mercedes of Castile; or the Voyage to Cathay. By the +Author of The Bravo, The Last of the Mohicans, etc. +2 vols. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1840.</p> + +<p class="quotega">The English title was "Mercedes of Castile. A Romance +of the Days of Columbus."</p> + +<p>36. History of the Navy of the United States of America. +Abridged in one volume. Pp. 447. Philadelphia: +Thomas Cowperthwait & Co., 1841.</p> + +<p>37. The Deerslayer; or the First War Path. A Tale. By +the Author of The Last of the Mohicans, The Pioneers, +etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1841.</p> + +<p>38. "Home as Found. Lost Chapter." Preceded by a +"Preface," and a "Letter to the Editor." In the +"Brother Jonathan" newspaper of January 1, 1842.--Followed +by a Letter to the Editor, from Cooper, on +"The Effingham Matter," in same paper for February +12, 1842, and by two articles on "The Effingham Controversy," +in the numbers for March 26, 1842, and April +9, 1842.</p> + + +<p>39. The +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page295" name="page295"></a>(p. 295)</span> +Two Admirals; a Tale. By the Author of The Pilot, +Red Rover, Water Witch, Homeward Bound, etc., +etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1842.</p> + +<p>40. Edinburgh Review on James' Naval Occurrences and +Cooper's Naval History.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In the United States Magazine and Democratic Review, +vol. x., for May and June, 1842. First article, pp. 409-435; +second article, pp. 515-541.</p> + +<p>41. Richard Somers.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Graham's Magazine for October, 1842.</p> + +<p>42. William Bainbridge. + +<p class="quotega">In Graham's Magazine for November, 1842.</p> + +<p>43. The Wing-and-Wing; or Le Feu-Follet. A Tale. By +the Author of The Pilot, Red Rover, Two Admirals, +Homeward Bound, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: +Lea & Blanchard, 1842.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In England this was published under the title "The Jack +o' Lantern (Le Feu-Follet); or the Privateer."</p> + +<p>44. Richard Dale.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Graham's Magazine for December, 1842.</p> + +<p>45. Autobiography of a Pocket Handkerchief.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Graham's Magazine for January, February, March, +and April, 1843. It came out in March among the publications +of the "Brother Jonathan" newspaper office, and +was then entitled "Le Mouchoir; an Autobiographical +Romance." The English title was "The French Governess; +or the Embroidered Handkerchief."</p> + +<p>46. Oliver Hazard Perry.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Graham's Magazine for May and June, 1843.</p> + +<p>47. John Paul Jones.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Graham's Magazine for July and August, 1843.</p> + +<p>48. The Battle of Lake Erie; or Answers to Messrs. Burges, +Duer, and Mackenzie. By J. Fenimore Cooper. +Pp. 118. Cooperstown: H. & E. Phinney, 1843.</p> + +<p>49. Wyandotte; or the Hutted Knoll. A Tale. By the +Author of The Pathfinder, Deerslayer, Last of the Mohicans, +Pioneers, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page296" name="page296"></a>(p. 296)</span> +Prairie, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: +Lea & Blanchard, 1843.</p> + +<p>50. Ned Myers; or a Life before the Mast. Edited by J. +Fenimore Cooper. Pp. 232. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, +1843.</p> + +<p>51. John Shaw.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Graham's Magazine for March, 1844.</p> + +<p>52. John Barry.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Graham's Magazine for June, 1844.</p> + +<p>53. Afloat and Ashore; or the Adventures of Miles Wallingford. +By the Author of The Pilot, Red Rover, The +Two Admirals, etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Published +by the Author, 1844.</p> + +<p>54. Proceedings of the Naval Court Martial in the Case of +Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, a Commander in the Navy +of the United States, etc., including the Charges and +Specifications of Charges, preferred against him by the +Secretary of the Navy. To which is annexed an Elaborate +Review. By James Fennimore Cooper. Pp. 344. +New York: Henry G. Langley, 1844. (Cooper's review +extends from page 263 to page 344 inclusive. The +spelling of the name was due to the publisher.)</p> + +<p>55. Afloat and Ashore; or the Adventures of Miles Wallingford. +By the Author of The Pilot, Red Rover, etc. +Vols. 3 & 4. Published for the Author. New York: +Burgess, Stringer & Co., 1844.</p> + +<p class="quotega">This second series of Afloat and Ashore goes in this country +under the name of "Miles Wallingford." In England +it was published as "Lucy Hardinge."</p> + +<p>56. John Templer Shubrick.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Graham's Magazine for December, 1844.</p> + +<p>57. Melancthon Taylor Woolsey.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Graham's Magazine for January, 1845.</p> + +<p>58. Edward Preble.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Graham's Magazine for May and June, 1845.</p> + +<p>59. Satanstoe; or the Littlepage Manuscripts. A Tale of +the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page297" name="page297"></a>(p. 297)</span> +Colony. 2 vols. New York: Burgess, Stringer & +Co., 1845.</p> + +<p>60. The Chainbearer; or the Littlepage Manuscripts. Edited +by the Author of Satanstoe, Spy, Pathfinder, Two +Admirals, etc. 2 vols. New York: Burgess, Stringer +& Co, 1846.</p> + +<p>61. Lives of Distinguished American Naval Officers. By +J. Fenimore Cooper. Author of The Spy, The Pilot, +etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart, 1846. Also, +2 vols. Auburn: Derby & Jackson, 1846.</p> + +<p class="quotega">Volume I. contains, in the following order: Bainbridge +(No. 42), Somers (No. 41), Shaw (No. 51), Shubrick (No. +56), Preble (No. 58).</p> + +<p class="quotega">Volume II. contains: Jones (No. 47), Woolsey (No. 57), +Perry (No. 46), and Dale (No. 44); Barry (No. 52) was +not included.</p> + +<p>62. The Redskins; or Indian and Injin. Being the conclusion +of the Littlepage Manuscripts. By the Author of +The Pathfinder, Deerslayer, Two Admirals, etc. 2 vols. +New York: Burgess & Stringer, 1846.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In England the title of this work was "Ravensnest; or +the Redskins."</p> + +<p>63. The Islets of the Gulf; or Rose Budd.</p> + +<p class="quotega">Begun in Graham's Magazine for November, 1846, and +continued through every succeeding number until March, +1848, in which month it was concluded. It was published +in book form March 21, 1848, by Burgess, Stringer & Co., as +"Jack Tier; or the Florida Reefs." In England the title +was "Captain Spike; or the Islets of the Gulf."</p> + +<p>64. The Crater; or Vulcan's Peak. A Tale of the Pacific. +By the Author of Miles Wallingford, The Red Rover, +The Pilot, etc., etc. 2 vols. New York: Burgess, +Stringer & Co., 1847.</p> + +<p class="quotega">The English title was "Mark's Reef; or the Crater." +Jack Tier; or the Florida Reefs, 1848. See No. 63.</p> + +<p>65. The Oak Openings; or the Bee Hunter. By the Author +of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page298" name="page298"></a>(p. 298)</span> +The Pioneers, Last of the Mohicans, Pathfinder, +Deerslayer, etc., etc. 2 vols. New York: Burgess, +Stringer & Co., 1848.</p> + +<p class="quotega">The English title was "The Bee Hunter; or the Oak +Openings."</p> + +<p>66. The Sea Lions; or the Lost Sealers. By the Author of +The Crater, etc. 2 vols. New York: Stringer & Townsend, +1849.</p> + +<p>67. The Ways of the Hour; a Tale. By the Author of The +Spy, The Red Rover, etc., etc. 1 vol. New York: G. +P. Putnam, 1850.</p> + + +<h3>POSTHUMOUS PUBLICATIONS.</h3> + +<p>68. Old Ironsides.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Putnam's Magazine, vol. i., No. v., May, 1853, pp. +473-487; and in No. vi., June, 1853, pp. 593-607.</p> + +<p class="quotega">This is a history of the United States frigate +Constitution.</p> + +<p>69. Fragments from a Diary of James Fenimore Cooper.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Putnam's Magazine, new series, vol. i., February, +1868, pp. 167-172; and June, 1868, pp. 730-737.</p> + +<p>70. The Battle of Plattsburgh Bay.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In January, 1869, of Putnam's Magazine, vol. iii., new series, +pp. 49-59.</p> + +<p class="quotega">A note to this article says that it was prepared as a lecture +to be delivered before the New York Historical Society. +The records of that Society, however, contain no reference +to any lecture delivered by Cooper.</p> + +<p>71. The Eclipse.</p> + +<p class="quotega">In Putnam's Magazine, new series, vol. iv., for September, +1869, pp. 352-359. Written about 1831, and gives an +account of the eclipse of the sun in June, 1806.</p> + + +<p>Besides these there are numerous letters written to the +newspapers, and in particular the letters written to the +Paris journal, the "National," in 1833. During Cooper's life +it was frequently said that he was engaged in preparing a +work +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page299" name="page299"></a>(p. 299)</span> +on the Middle States of the Union; but no trace of +such a production was found among his papers. A work of +his on "The Towns of Manhattan" was partly finished and +in press at the time of his death; but the portion printed +was entirely destroyed by fire. Part of the manuscript, +however, was recovered. On the 4th of August, 1841, +Cooper also delivered an address before the Literary Societies +of Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y.; but this he himself +burned on the day it was delivered.</p> + +<p>A few works have been wrongly attributed to him. One +of these is "The Cruise of the Somers; illustrative of the +Despotism of the Quarter Deck; and of the Unmanly Conduct +of Commander Mackenzie." New York: 1844. Another +is "Elinor Wyllys; or the Young Folk of Longbridge." +Philadelphia: 1846. Of this novel Cooper was the nominal +editor, and to it he contributed a short preface. A third +work, which has been falsely attributed to him, is entitled +"The Republic of the United States; its Duties to Itself, +and its Responsible Relations to other Countries." New +York: 1848.</p> + + + + + +<h2>INDEX. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page300" name="page300"></a>(p. 300)</span></h2> + + +<p>Adams, John, <a href="#page113">113</a>.</p> + +<p>Adams, John Quincy, <a href="#page224">224-226</a>.</p> + +<p>"Afloat and Ashore," <a href="#page232">232</a>, +<a href="#page249">249-253</a>, +<a href="#page263">263</a>, +<a href="#page296">296</a>.</p> + +<p>Albany, N. Y., <a href="#page006">6</a>, +<a href="#page015">15</a>.</p> + +<p>"Albany Argus," <a href="#page182">182</a>.</p> + +<p>"Albany Evening Journal," Cooper's libel suits with, +<a href="#page187">187</a>, +<a href="#page190">190-196</a>.</p> + +<p>America, intellectual dependence of, on England in 1820 and later, +<a href="#page018">18-21</a>, +<a href="#page034">34</a>, +<a href="#page035">35</a>, +<a href="#page062">62</a>, +<a href="#page092">92</a>; + literary state of, in 1820, <a href="#page030">30-32</a>.</p> + +<p>"American Scott, The," Cooper so termed, <a href="#page058">58</a>, +<a href="#page106">106</a>; + his feelings about it, <a href="#page059">59</a>, +<a href="#page161">161</a>.</p> + +<p>"American Democrat, The," <a href="#page177">177-179</a>, +<a href="#page293">293</a>.</p> + +<p>Angevine, <a href="#page014">14-16</a>, +<a href="#page063">63</a>.</p> + +<p>Anti-Rent Novels, The, <a href="#page251">251-254</a>.</p> + +<p>Ashburton Treaty, <a href="#page237">237</a>.</p> + +<p>"Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung," <a href="#page107">107</a>.</p> + +<p>"Autobiography of a Pocket Handkerchief," +<a href="#page249">249</a>, +<a href="#page295">295</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Bainbridge, Commodore William, +<a href="#page295">295</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>Balzac, Honoré de, Criticisms of Cooper, +<a href="#page204">204</a>, +<a href="#page240">240</a>, +<a href="#page284">284</a>.</p> + +<p>Barry Cornwall. See <a href="#procter"><i>Procter</i>.</a></p> + +<p>Barry, John, <a href="#page296">296</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>Benjamin, Park, <a href="#page159">159</a>; + Cooper's libel suit with, <a href="#page187">187</a>.</p> + +<p>Bentley, London publisher of Cooper's later works, +<a href="#page262">262</a>.</p> + +<p>"Blackwood's Magazine," <a href="#page058">58</a>; + abuse of Cooper, <a href="#page174">174</a>.</p> + +<p>Berne, Cooper's residence near, <a href="#page068">68</a>.</p> + +<p>Boone, Daniel, <a href="#page072">72</a>.</p> + +<p>"Borderers, The" (English title), <a href="#page291">291</a>.</p> + +<p>Boston, Cooper's criticism of, +<a href="#page171">171</a>, +<a href="#page172">172</a>.</p> + +<p>Bostonians practice "gouging," <a href="#page097">97</a>.</p> + +<p>"Bravo, The," +<a href="#page108">108-111</a>, +<a href="#page115">115</a>, +<a href="#page128">128</a>, +<a href="#page130">130</a>, +<a href="#page277">277</a>, +<a href="#page284">291</a>.</p> + +<p>Bread and Cheese Club, founded by +Cooper, <a href="#page063">63</a>; + its members, <a href="#page063">63</a>; + gives dinner to Cooper, <a href="#page127">127</a>.</p> + +<p>Brenton's, Captain Edward Pelham, "Naval History of Great Britain," +<a href="#page202">202</a>.</p> + +<p>British press, Cooper's opinion of, +<a href="#page106">106</a>, +<a href="#page136">136</a>, +<a href="#page137">137</a>; + its attacks upon Cooper, +<a href="#page138">138</a>, +<a href="#page173">173-176</a>, +<a href="#page199">199</a>, +<a href="#page236">236</a>.</p> + +<p>"Brother Jonathan, The," newspaper, +<a href="#page262">262</a>, +<a href="#page294">294</a>, +<a href="#page295">295</a>.</p> + +<p>Brown, Charles Brockden, <a href="#page030">30</a>.</p> + +<p>Bryant, William Cullen, +<a href="#page017">17</a>, +<a href="#page063">63</a>, +<a href="#page080">80</a>, +<a href="#page266">266</a>; + delivers funeral oration on Cooper, +<a href="#page268">268</a>.</p> + +<p>Bulwer, Sir Edward Lytton, +<a href="#page124">124</a>, +<a href="#page125">125</a>.</p> + +<p>Burges, Tristam, +<a href="#page213">213</a>, +<a href="#page221">221</a>, +<a href="#page224">224</a>, +<a href="#page226">226</a>, +<a href="#page233">233</a>, +<a href="#page295">295</a>.</p> + +<p>Burlington, N. J., <a href="#page002">2</a>, +<a href="#page012">12</a>.</p> + +<p>Burton's Theatre, Cooper's comedy acted at, +<a href="#page263">263</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Campbell, Judge William W., <a href="#page216">216</a>.</p> + +<p>Canning, George, <a href="#page068">68</a>.</p> + +<p>"Captain Spike" (English title), <a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>Carey and Lea, publishers, <a href="#page066">66</a>.</p> + +<p>"Chainbearer, The," <a href="#page252">252-254</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>Chālet, The, Cooper's farm, near Cooperstown, +<a href="#page263">263</a>.</p> + +<p>Champlain, Lake, <a href="#page012">12</a>.</p> + +<p>Chauncey, Commodore Isaac, <a href="#page127">127</a>.</p> + +<p>Chesapeake, American man-of-war, +<a href="#page202">202</a>.</p> + +<p>"Chronicles of Cooperstown, The," +<a href="#page293">293</a>.</p> + +<p>Clay, Henry, <a href="#page067">67</a>.</p> + +<p>Clinton, DeWitt, <a href="#page127">127</a>.</p> + +<p>"Cœlebs," Hannah More's, <a href="#page021">21</a>.</p> + +<p>Colburn, London publisher, +<a href="#page028">28</a>, +<a href="#page094">94</a>.</p> + +<p>"Comparative Resources of the American Navy," +<a href="#page292">292</a>.</p> + +<p>Constitution, ship-of-war, +<a href="#page210">210</a>, +<a href="#page298">298</a>.</p> + +<p>Cooper, Fenimore, +<a href="#page015">15</a>, +<a href="#page063">63</a>.</p> + +<p>Cooper, J. F.: born at Burlington, <a href="#page002">2</a>; +removed to Cooperstown, <a href="#page002">2</a>; +early education, <a href="#page006">6</a>; +at Albany, <a href="#page006">6</a>; +at Yale College, <a href="#page007">7</a>; +dismissed from college, <a href="#page127">8</a>; +serves before the mast, <a href="#page009">9</a>, +<a href="#page010">10</a>; +enters navy as midshipman, <a href="#page011">11</a>; +his service, <a href="#page011">11</a>; +marries, <a href="#page012">12</a>; +resigns position in the navy, <a href="#page014">14</a>; +residences from 1811 to 1822, <a href="#page014">14</a>, +<a href="#page015">15</a>; +his children, <a href="#page015">15</a>; +begins literary life, <a href="#page016">16</a>; +moves into New York city, <a href="#page063">63</a>; +founds the Bread and Cheese club, <a href="#page063">63</a>; +has family name changed to Fenimore-Cooper, <a href="#page003">3</a>; +is given a public dinner, <a href="#page127">127</a>; +sails for Europe, <a href="#page067">67</a>; +made consul at Lyons, <a href="#page067">67</a>; +residences in France, England, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany, +<a href="#page067">67</a>, <a href="#page068">68</a>; +cordial reception in Paris, <a href="#page068">68</a>, +<a href="#page069">69</a>; +wide extent of his reputation, <a href="#page056">56-58</a>, +<a href="#page077">77</a>; +returns to America, <a href="#page117">117</a>; +refuses a public dinner, <a href="#page128">128</a>; +resides in New York city, <a href="#page117">117</a>; +buys his father's house in Cooperstown and makes it his permanent home, +<a href="#page117">117</a>; +has a controversy with citizens of Cooperstown, +<a href="#page142">142-148</a>; +brings a number of newspaper libel suits, +<a href="#page180">180-197</a>; +engages unsuccessfully in business operations, +<a href="#page261">261</a>; +his farm, <a href="#page263">263</a>, +<a href="#page264">264</a>; +becomes a communicant in the Episcopal Church, <a href="#page266">266</a>; +his death, <a href="#page267">267</a>; +funeral oration over, delivered by Bryant, <a href="#page268">268</a>; +happiness of his home life, <a href="#page013">13</a>, +<a href="#page014">14</a>, +<a href="#page233">233</a>, +<a href="#page234">234</a>, +<a href="#page285">285</a>; +wide circulation of his works, <a href="#page037">37</a>, +<a href="#page056">56</a>, +<a href="#page076">76</a>, +<a href="#page270">270</a>; +pecuniary profits from their sale, +<a href="#page064">64-66</a>, +<a href="#page261">261-263</a>; +his success as a lawyer, +<a href="#page182">182</a>, +<a href="#page189">189</a>, +<a href="#page216">216-218</a>, +<a href="#page220">220</a>; +his sensitiveness to criticism, +<a href="#page041">41-44</a>, <a href="#page286">286</a>; +defects of his literary art, <a href="#page050">50</a>, +<a href="#page051">51</a>; +failure in characterization, +<a href="#page152">152</a>, +<a href="#page155">155</a>, +<a href="#page277">277</a>, +<a href="#page278">278</a>; +female characters, <a href="#page026">26-28</a>, +<a href="#page153">153</a>, +<a href="#page154">154</a>, +<a href="#page278">278-281</a>; +success in characters from low life, +<a href="#page053">53-55</a>, +<a href="#page072">72</a>, +<a href="#page073">73</a>, +<a href="#page152">152</a>, +<a href="#page283">283</a>; +fondness for commonplace, <a href="#page084">84</a>, +<a href="#page242">242</a>, +<a href="#page276">276</a>; +prolixity of his introductions, +<a href="#page075">75</a>, +<a href="#page134">134</a>, +<a href="#page242">242</a>, +<a href="#page276">276</a>; +improbability and carelessness in the details of his stories, +<a href="#page051">51</a>, +<a href="#page053">53</a>, +<a href="#page276">276</a>, +<a href="#page277">277</a>; +carelessness in the development of the plot, +<a href="#page028">28</a>, +<a href="#page271">271</a>, +<a href="#page272">272</a>, +<a href="#page275">275</a>, +<a href="#page276">276</a>; +criticism on language and carelessness in use of it, +<a href="#page130">130</a>, +<a href="#page272">272-275</a>; +his humor, <a href="#page119">119</a>, +<a href="#page239">239</a>, +<a href="#page240">240</a>; +his fondness for natural scenery, and success in description, +<a href="#page008">8</a>, +<a href="#page069">69</a>, +<a href="#page134">134</a>, +<a href="#page168">168</a>, +<a href="#page169">169</a>, +<a href="#page240">240</a>, +<a href="#page241">241</a>, +<a href="#page264">264</a>, +<a href="#page282">282-284</a>; +his political opinions, +<a href="#page082">82-84</a>, +<a href="#page108">108</a>, +<a href="#page109">109</a>; +his imperiousness of manner, +<a href="#page079">79</a>, +<a href="#page080">80</a>, +<a href="#page286">286</a>; +his pugnacity, +<a href="#page024">24</a>, +<a href="#page075">75</a>, +<a href="#page080">80</a>, +<a href="#page081">81</a>, +<a href="#page146">146</a>, +<a href="#page147">147</a>, +<a href="#page285">285</a>; +his generosity, <a href="#page081">81</a>, +<a href="#page082">82</a>; +his patriotism, +<a href="#page049">49</a>, +<a href="#page085">85</a>, +<a href="#page086">86</a>, +<a href="#page094">94</a>, +<a href="#page110">110</a>, +<a href="#page115">115</a>, +<a href="#page128">128</a>, +<a href="#page231">231</a>, +<a href="#page237">237</a>, +<a href="#page238">238</a>, +<a href="#page243">243</a>; +depth and narrowness of religious feeling, +<a href="#page022">22-26</a>, +<a href="#page075">75</a>, +<a href="#page243">243</a>, +<a href="#page256">256</a>, +<a href="#page258">258-261</a>, +<a href="#page266">266</a>; +high sense of honor, <a href="#page082">82</a>, +<a href="#page286">286</a>; +love of truth, +<a href="#page202">202</a>, +<a href="#page203">203</a>, +<a href="#page222">222</a>, +<a href="#page232">232</a>, +<a href="#page287">287</a>, +<a href="#page288">288</a>.</p> + +<p>Cooper, Paul, +<a href="#page015">15</a>, +<a href="#page063">63</a>.</p> + +<p>Cooper, Richard, <a href="#page182">182</a>, +<a href="#page185">185</a>, +<a href="#page220">220</a>.</p> + +<p>Cooper, Susan Fenimore, <a href="#page015">15</a>.</p> + +<p>Cooper, William, Cooper's father, +<a href="#page002">2</a>, +<a href="#page003">3</a>, +<a href="#page009">9</a>, +<a href="#page142">142-145</a>, +<a href="#page188">188</a>, +<a href="#page192">192</a>.</p> + +<p>Cooperstown, situation of, +<a href="#page001">1</a>, +<a href="#page003">3</a>, +<a href="#page004">4</a>; +when founded, <a href="#page002">2</a>; +original population of, <a href="#page005">5</a>; +Cooper's residences in, <a href="#page002">2</a>, +<a href="#page003">3</a>, +<a href="#page014">14</a>, +<a href="#page117">117</a>; +his controversy with citizens of, <a href="#page142">142-148</a>; +farm near, <a href="#page263">263</a>, +<a href="#page264">264</a>; +his death at, <a href="#page266">266</a>, +<a href="#page267">267</a>; +the Chronicles of, <a href="#page293">293</a>.</p> + +<p>"Cooperstown Freeman's Journal," democratic newspaper, +<a href="#page143">143</a>, +<a href="#page144">144</a>; +Cooper's letters to, +<a href="#page147">147</a>, +<a href="#page148">148</a>, +<a href="#page294">294</a>.</p> + +<p>Copyright, international, Cooper's feelings in regard to, +<a href="#page166">166</a>; + pecuniary loss sustained by the lack of one, +<a href="#page261">261</a>.</p> + +<p>Copyright law, English, of, 1838, +<a href="#page066">66</a>, +<a href="#page261">261</a>.</p> + +<p>Courier, Paul, liberal sentiments about America, +<a href="#page087">87</a>.</p> + +<p>Court of Errors, The, of New York, +<a href="#page228">228</a>, +<a href="#page229">229</a>.</p> + +<p>"Crater, The," <a href="#page255">255-258</a>, +<a href="#page274">274</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>Cushing, Caleb, replies to Cooper, <a href="#page132">132</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Dale, Richard, +<a href="#page295">295</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>Davis, Admiral Charles H., <a href="#page213">213</a>.</p> + +<p>"Deerslayer, The," <a href="#page239">239-242</a>, +<a href="#page272">272</a>, +<a href="#page294">294</a>.</p> + +<p>DeKay, James E., <a href="#page063">63</a>.</p> + +<p>DeLancey family, <a href="#page012">12</a>, +<a href="#page013">13</a>.</p> + +<p>DeLancey, Susan Augusta, +<a href="#page012">12-14</a>, +<a href="#page016">16</a>, +<a href="#page070">70</a>, +<a href="#page233">233</a>, +<a href="#page234">234</a>; +married to Cooper, <a href="#page012">12</a>; +her death, <a href="#page267">267</a>.</p> + +<p>DeLancey, William H., bishop of Western New York, +<a href="#page266">266</a>.</p> + +<p>Democratic party, Cooper nominally belonging to, +<a href="#page133">133</a>, +<a href="#page171">171</a>.</p> + +<p>"Democratic Review," +<a href="#page207">207</a>, +<a href="#page208">208</a>, +<a href="#page295">295</a>.</p> + +<p>Derby, Lord, <a href="#page052">52</a>.</p> + +<p>"Diary of James Fenimore Cooper, Fragments from," +<a href="#page298">298</a>.</p> + +<p>Dresden, Saxony, Cooper's residence at, +<a href="#page068">68</a>, +<a href="#page107">107</a>, +<a href="#page123">123</a>.</p> + +<p>Duer, William Alexander, Cooper's controversy with, +<a href="#page212">212</a>, +<a href="#page221">221-223</a>, +<a href="#page233">233</a>, +<a href="#page295">295</a>.</p> + +<p>Durand, Asher B., the engraver, +<a href="#page063">63</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>"Eclipse, The," <a href="#page298">298</a>.</p> + +<p>Edgeworth, Maria, <a href="#page057">57</a>.</p> + +<p>"Edinburgh Review, The," <a href="#page205">205-208</a>, +<a href="#page295">295</a>.</p> + +<p>Elliott, Commodore Jesse, +<a href="#page208">208-213</a>, +<a href="#page222">222</a>; +has a medal struck in honor of Cooper, +<a href="#page224">224-226</a>.</p> + +<p>"Encyclopedia Britannica," notice of Cooper's life in, +<a href="#page175">175</a>.</p> + + +<p>England, Cooper's residence in, +<a href="#page068">68</a>, +<a href="#page096">96</a>; + feeling of, towards America, +<a href="#page087">87-98</a>; + criticism of, by Cooper, +<a href="#page105">105</a>, +<a href="#page130">130</a>, +<a href="#page137">137</a>; + his work on, +<a href="#page135">135</a>, +<a href="#page293">293</a>; + hostility expressed for Cooper in, +<a href="#page092">92</a>, +<a href="#page106">106</a>, +<a href="#page138">138</a>, +<a href="#page173">173-176</a>.</p> + +<p>Effingham, name applied to Cooper, +<a href="#page156">156</a>, +<a href="#page158">158</a>, +<a href="#page183">183</a>, +<a href="#page191">191</a>, +<a href="#page294">294</a>.</p> + +<p>Episcopal Church, Cooper's attachment to, +<a href="#page023">23</a>, +<a href="#page245">245</a>, +<a href="#page249">249</a>, +<a href="#page254">254</a>, +<a href="#page257">257</a>, +<a href="#page259">259</a>, +<a href="#page260">260</a>, +<a href="#page266">266</a>.</p> + +<p>Erie Lake, Battle of, controversy in regard to, +<a href="#page208">208-227</a>, +<a href="#page294">294</a>.</p> + +<p><a href="#page266">European ignorance of America,</a> +<a href="#page086">86-88</a>, +<a href="#page100">100</a>, +<a href="#page101">101</a>.</p> + +<p>"Eve Effingham" (English title), +<a href="#page294">294</a>.</p> + +<p>"Excursions in Italy" (English title), +<a href="#page293">293</a>.</p> + +<p>"Excursions in Switzerland" (English title), +<a href="#page292">292</a>.</p> + +<p>Expenses' Controversy, The, +<a href="#page076">76</a>, +<a href="#page111">111-115</a>, +<a href="#page292">292</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Fay, Theodore S., +<a href="#page132">132</a>.</p> + +<p>Federalist Party, <a href="#page009">9</a>, +<a href="#page171">171</a>; +Cooper brought up in, <a href="#page092">92</a>; +feeling of, towards England, +<a href="#page092">92</a>, +<a href="#page093">93</a>.</p> + +<p>Fenimore family, +<a href="#page003">3</a>, +<a href="#page188">188</a>.</p> + +<p>Fenimore, near Cooperstown, Cooper's residence at, +<a href="#page014">14</a>.</p> + +<p>Fenimore-Cooper, family name changed to, +<a href="#page003">3</a>.</p> + +<p>Florence, Cooper's residence at, +<a href="#page068">68</a>, +<a href="#page074">74</a>, +<a href="#page120">120</a>.</p> + +<p>Foot, Samuel A., +<a href="#page215">215-221</a>.</p> + +<p>France, Cooper's work on, +<a href="#page135">135</a>, +<a href="#page292">292</a>, +<a href="#page293">293</a>.</p> + +<p>Francis, Dr. John W., +<a href="#page266">266</a>, +<a href="#page267">267</a>.</p> + +<p>"Fraser's Magazine," its attack on Cooper, +<a href="#page174">174-175</a>.</p> + +<p>Free trade, Cooper's hostility to, +<a href="#page133">133</a>, +<a href="#page171">171</a>.</p> + +<p>"French Governess, The" (English title), +<a href="#page295">295</a>.</p> + +<p>French opinion of Cooper, +<a href="#page036">36</a>, +<a href="#page204">204</a>.</p> + +<p>French social life, Cooper's opinion of, +<a href="#page069">69</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Galitzin, Princess, <a href="#page069">69</a>.</p> + +<p>Gardner, Colonel Charles K., +<a href="#page287">287</a>.</p> + +<p>Gifford, William, editor of "The Quarterly," +<a href="#page035">35</a>.</p> + +<p>Gisquet, French prefect of police, +<a href="#page037">37</a>.</p> + +<p>"Gleanings in Europe," +<a href="#page135">135-140</a>, +<a href="#page204">204</a>, +<a href="#page292">292</a>, +<a href="#page293">293</a>.</p> + +<p>Glens Falls, +<a href="#page052">52</a>.</p> + +<p>"Glory and Shame of England," attack on Cooper in, +<a href="#page234">234</a>, +<a href="#page235">235</a>.</p> + +<p>"Gotham and the Gothamites," +<a href="#page060">60</a>.</p> + +<p>Gouging, prevalence of, in America, +<a href="#page097">97</a>; +practiced by Bostonians, +<a href="#page097">97</a>.</p> + + +<p>"Graham's Magazine," +<a href="#page229">229</a>, +<a href="#page245">245</a>, <i>note</i>, +<a href="#page248">248</a>, +<a href="#page255">255</a>, +<a href="#page295">295-297</a>.</p> + +<p>Greeley, Horace, +<a href="#page159">159</a>, +<a href="#page180">180</a>, +<a href="#page181">181</a>, +<a href="#page187">187</a>; + Cooper's libel suits with, +<a href="#page197">197</a>, +<a href="#page198">198</a>.</p> + +<p>Greenough, Horatio, +<a href="#page081">81</a>, +<a href="#page115">115-116</a>, +<a href="#page155">155</a>.</p> + +<p>Grose's "Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue," +<a href="#page097">97</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Halleck, Fitzgreene, +<a href="#page063">63</a>, +<a href="#page246">246</a>, <i>note</i>.</p> + +<p>Harris, Leavitt, +<a href="#page113">113</a>, +<a href="#page114">114</a>.</p> + +<p>Haydon, Benjamin Robert, +<a href="#page058">58</a>.</p> + +<p>Hazlitt, William, +<a href="#page106">106</a>.</p> + +<p>Headley, Rev. J. T., +<a href="#page235">235</a>.</p> + +<p>"Headsman, The," +<a href="#page108">108</a>, +<a href="#page109">109</a>, +<a href="#page272">272</a>, +<a href="#page292">292</a>.</p> + +<p>"Heathcotes, The" (English title), +<a href="#page291">291</a>.</p> + +<p>"Heidenmauer, The," +<a href="#page108">108</a>, +<a href="#page109">109</a>, +<a href="#page280">280</a>, +<a href="#page292">292</a>.</p> + +<p>Heine, <a href="#page107">107</a>.</p> + +<p>Hillard, George S., +<a href="#page160">160</a>.</p> + +<p>Hillhouse, James A., +<a href="#page007">7</a>.</p> + +<p>"Hints on Manning the Navy," +<a href="#page292">292</a>.</p> + +<p>Hobart College, Cooper's address at, +<a href="#page299">299</a>.</p> + +<p>"Home as Found," +<a href="#page149">149</a>, +<a href="#page150">150-159</a>, +<a href="#page294">294</a>.</p> + +<p>"Home as Found, Lost Chapter of," +<a href="#page294">294</a>.</p> + +<p>"Homeward Bound," +<a href="#page149">149</a>, +<a href="#page150">150</a>, +<a href="#page152">152</a>, +<a href="#page155">155</a>, +<a href="#page293">293</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Impressment of American seamen, +<a href="#page093">93</a>.</p> + +<p>Indian character, Cooper's view of, +<a href="#page054">54</a>, +<a href="#page055">55</a>.</p> + +<p>Ingram's, John H., "Life of Poe," +<a href="#page246">246</a>, <i>note</i>.</p> + +<p>Irving, Washington, +<a href="#page003">3</a>, +<a href="#page035">35</a>, +<a href="#page056">56</a>, +<a href="#page268">268</a>, +<a href="#page287">287</a>.</p> + +<p>"Islets of the Gulf, The." See +"<a href="#jacktier"><i>Jack Tier</i></a>."</p> + +<p>Italy, Cooper's work on, +<a href="#page135">135</a>, +<a href="#page293">293</a>; + attachment of Cooper to, +<a href="#page069">69-71</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>"Jack o' Lantern, The" (English title), +<a href="#page295">295</a>.</p> + +<p>Jackson, President Andrew, +<a href="#page131">131</a>, +<a href="#page210">210</a>.</p> + +<p><a id="jacktier" name="jacktier"></a> +"Jack Tier," +<a href="#page255">255</a>, +<a href="#page256">256</a>, +<a href="#page263">263</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>James's, William, "Naval History of Great Britain," +<a href="#page205">205-207</a>, +<a href="#page295">295</a>; + Cooper's opinion of, +<a href="#page206">206</a>, +<a href="#page207">207</a>.</p> + +<p>Jarvis, John Wesley, <a href="#page063">63</a>. + +<p>Jay, John, <a href="#page029">29</a>.</p> + +<p>Jefferson, Thomas, <a href="#page067">67</a>.</p> + +<p>Jones, John Paul, +<a href="#page048">48</a>, +<a href="#page057">57</a>, +<a href="#page288">288</a>, +<a href="#page295">295</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>Jordan, Ambrose C., <a href="#page190">190</a>.</p> + +<p>Judah, Samuel B. H., +<a href="#page060">60</a>.</p> + +<p>Jury, trial by, +<a href="#page260">260</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Kent, Chancellor James, +<a href="#page063">63</a>, +<a href="#page127">127</a>.</p> + +<p>King, Charles, +<a href="#page127">127</a>.</p> + +<p>"Knickerbocker Magazine," +<a href="#page160">160</a>, +<a href="#page161">161</a>, +<a href="#page293">293</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Lafayette, +<a href="#page111">111</a>, +<a href="#page112">112</a>.</p> + +<p>"Last of the Mohicans, The," +<a href="#page052">52-55</a>, +<a href="#page056">56</a>, +<a href="#page058">58</a>, +<a href="#page066">66</a>, +<a href="#page071">71</a>, +<a href="#page072">72</a>, +<a href="#page239">239</a>, +<a href="#page291">291</a>.</p> + +<p>Lawrence, Captain James, +<a href="#page012">12</a>.</p> + +<p>"Leather-Stocking Tales, The," +<a href="#page040">40</a>, +<a href="#page055">55</a>, +<a href="#page239">239</a>; + Cooper's opinion of, +<a href="#page241">241</a>.</p> + +<p>Leghorn, <a href="#page120">120</a>.</p> + +<p>Lester, C. Edwards, +<a href="#page235">235</a>, +<a href="#page236">236</a>.</p> + +<p>"Letter to General Lafayette," +<a href="#page112">112</a>, +<a href="#page291">291</a>.</p> + +<p>"Letter to his Countrymen," +<a href="#page129">129-132</a>, +<a href="#page292">292</a>.</p> + +<p>"Letter to the American Public," +<a href="#page114">114</a>, +<a href="#page292">292</a>.</p> + +<p>Libel suits, Cooper's, with the Otsego "Republican," +<a href="#page185">185</a>, +<a href="#page186">186</a>; + with the Norwich "Telegraph," +<a href="#page184">184</a>, +<a href="#page186">186</a>; + with the Oneida "Whig," +<a href="#page187">187</a>; + with the New York "Evening Signal," +<a href="#page187">187;</a> + with the New York "Courier and Enquirer," +<a href="#page187">187-190</a>; + with the Albany "Evening Journal," +<a href="#page187">187</a>, +<a href="#page190">190</a>, +<a href="#page196">196</a>; + with the New York "Tribune," +<a href="#page187">187</a>, +<a href="#page197">197</a>; + with the New York "Commercial Advertiser," +<a href="#page187">187</a>, +<a href="#page197">197</a>, +<a href="#page212">212</a>, +<a href="#page214">214-221</a>, +<a href="#page223">223-224</a>.</p> + +<p>"Lionel Lincoln," +<a href="#page049">49-52</a>, +<a href="#page291">291</a>.</p> + +<p>Livermore, Rev. T. S., +<a href="#page293">293</a>.</p> + +<p>Livingston, Edward, +<a href="#page114">114</a>.</p> + +<p>Lockhart's, John Gibson, "Life of Scott," +<a href="#page160">160</a>, +<a href="#page161">161</a>, +<a href="#page293">293</a>.</p> + +<p>London, Cooper's residence in, +<a href="#page068">68</a>, +<a href="#page096">96-98</a>.</p> + +<p>"London Times," its attack on Cooper, +<a href="#page175">175</a>.</p> + +<p>Lord, Daniel, Jr., +<a href="#page215">215-221</a>.</p> + +<p>Louis Philippe, +<a href="#page069">69</a>, +<a href="#page107">107</a>.</p> + +<p>Lowell, James Russell, +<a href="#page156">156</a>.</p> + +<p>"Lucy Harding" (English title), +<a href="#page249">249</a>, +<a href="#page296">296</a>, +<a href="#page251">251</a>.</p> + +<p>Lyons, Cooper consul at, +<a href="#page067">67</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Mackenzie, Alexander Slidell, +<a href="#page212">212</a>, +<a href="#page213">213</a>, +<a href="#page216">216</a>, +<a href="#page221">221</a>, +<a href="#page222">222</a>, +<a href="#page233">233</a>, +<a href="#page295">295</a>.</p> + +<p>Mackintosh, Sir James, +<a href="#page097">97</a>.</p> + +<p>Mamaroneck, N. Y., +<a href="#page012">12</a>, +<a href="#page013">13</a>, +<a href="#page014">14</a>.</p> + +<p>Man, Isle of, Cooper reported birthplace in, +<a href="#page003">3</a>.</p> + +<p>"Mark's Reef" (English title), +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>McHarg, Rev. C. W., +<a href="#page229">229</a>.</p> + +<p>"Mercedes of Castile," +<a href="#page232">232</a>, +<a href="#page242">242</a>, +<a href="#page272">272</a>, +<a href="#page278">278</a>.</p> + +<p>Mickiewicz, Adam, <a href="#page107">107</a>.</p> + +<p>Miller, London publisher, <a href="#page035">35</a>.</p> + +<p>"Miles Wallingford," +<a href="#page093">93</a>, +<a href="#page249">249</a>, +<a href="#page285">285</a>, +<a href="#page296">296</a>.</p> + +<p>Mitford, Mary Russell, +<a href="#page057">57</a>.</p> + +<p>"Monikins, The," +<a href="#page133">133-135</a>.</p> + +<p>Montagu, Mrs. Basil, +<a href="#page091">91</a>.</p> + +<p>Moore, Thomas, +<a href="#page088">88</a>, +<a href="#page096">96</a>.</p> + +<p>More, Hannah, +<a href="#page021">21</a>.</p> + +<p>Morris, George P., +<a href="#page132">132</a>.</p> + +<p>Morse, S. F. B., +<a href="#page063">63</a>, +<a href="#page076">76</a>.</p> + +<p>Murray, John, London publisher, +<a href="#page035">35</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Naples, Cooper's residence at, +<a href="#page068">68</a>.</p> + +<p>Naples, bay of, compared with that of New York, +<a href="#page164">164</a>, +<a href="#page249">249</a>, +<a href="#page254">254</a>.</p> + +<p>"National" (Paris), +<a href="#page113">113</a>, +<a href="#page298">298</a>.</p> + +<p>"Naval Magazine," +<a href="#page201">201</a>, +<a href="#page292">292</a>.</p> + +<p>"Naval History of the United States," +<a href="#page200">200-230</a>, +<a href="#page232">232</a>, +<a href="#page233">233</a>, +<a href="#page294">294</a>.</p> + +<p>"Naval Officers, Lives of," +<a href="#page228">228</a>, +<a href="#page229">229</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>Neal, John, <a href="#page030">30</a>.</p> + +<p>Ned Myers, +<a href="#page247">247</a>, +<a href="#page248">248</a>, +<a href="#page263">263</a>, +<a href="#page296">296</a>.</p> + +<p>New England, Cooper's dislike of, +<a href="#page245">245</a>, +<a href="#page246">246</a>, +<a href="#page247">247</a>, +<a href="#page249">249</a>, +<a href="#page250">250</a>, +<a href="#page253">253</a>, +<a href="#page257">257</a>, +<a href="#page259">259</a>; + Cooper's unpopularity in, +<a href="#page050">50</a>, +<a href="#page247">247</a>.</p> + +<p>New Haven, <a href="#page008">8</a>.</p> + +<p>"New Monthly Magazine, Colburn's," sketch of Cooper in, +<a href="#page094">94</a>.</p> + +<p>Newport, <a href="#page074">74</a>; +stone tower at, <a href="#page226">226</a>.</p> + +<p>"New World, The," newspaper, +<a href="#page262">262</a>.</p> + +<p>New York (city), Cooper's residences in, +<a href="#page015">15</a>, +<a href="#page047">47</a>, +<a href="#page063">63</a>, +<a href="#page067">67</a>, +<a href="#page117">117</a>; + Cooper's criticism of society in, +<a href="#page150">150</a>, +<a href="#page151">151</a>, +<a href="#page158">158</a>, +<a href="#page249">249</a>; + social life in, +<a href="#page121">121</a>; + Cooper's prophecy about, +<a href="#page102">102</a>.</p> + +<p>"New York American," +<a href="#page127">127</a>, +<a href="#page128">128</a>.</p> + +<p>"New York Commercial Advertiser," +<a href="#page129">129</a>; + Cooper's libel suits with, +<a href="#page187">187</a>, +<a href="#page212">212</a>, +<a href="#page214">214-221</a>, +<a href="#page223">223</a>, +<a href="#page224">224</a>.</p> + +<p>"New York Courier and Enquirer," +<a href="#page129">129</a>, +<a href="#page130">130</a>; + Cooper's libel suits with, +<a href="#page187">187-190</a>.</p> + +<p>"New York Evening Post," <a href="#page182">182</a>.</p> + +<p>"New York Evening Signal," Cooper's libel suit with, +<a href="#page187">187</a>.</p> + +<p>New York Historical Society, +<a href="#page298">298</a>.</p> + +<p>"New York Home Journal," <a href="#page013">13</a>.</p> + +<p>"New York Mirror," <a href="#page132">132</a>.</p> + +<p>"New York Patriot," <a href="#page287">287</a>.</p> + +<p>"New York Tribune," Cooper's libel suits with, +<a href="#page187">187</a>, +<a href="#page192">192</a>, +<a href="#page197">197</a>.</p> + +<p>"New Yorker, The," +<a href="#page158">158</a>, +<a href="#page182">182</a>.</p> + +<p>Newspapers, Cooper's attacks on, +<a href="#page043">43</a>, +<a href="#page176">176-180</a>; + libel suits with, +<a href="#page180">180-199</a>.</p> + +<p>"North American Review, The," +<a href="#page060">60</a>, +<a href="#page061">61</a>, +<a href="#page212">212</a>, +<a href="#page213">213</a>.</p> + +<p>"Norwich Telegraph," Cooper's libel suit with, +<a href="#page184">184</a>, +<a href="#page185">185</a>.</p> + +<p>"Notions of the Americans," +<a href="#page101">101-106</a>, +<a href="#page291">291</a>.</p> + +<p>Nugent, Lord, +<a href="#page096">96</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>"Oak Openings, The," +<a href="#page255">255</a>, +<a href="#page258">258</a>, +<a href="#page263">263</a>, +<a href="#page275">275</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>"Odofried the Outcast," +<a href="#page060">60</a>.</p> + +<p>Old Ironsides, +<a href="#page298">298</a>.</p> + +<p>"Oneida Whig, The," Cooper's libel suit with, +<a href="#page187">187</a>.</p> + +<p>Ontario, Lake, +<a href="#page011">11</a>, +<a href="#page169">169</a>, +<a href="#page240">240</a>.</p> + +<p>Otsego Hall, Cooper's residence, +<a href="#page002">2</a>, +<a href="#page117">117</a>, +<a href="#page267">267</a>.</p> + +<p>Otsego Lake, +<a href="#page001">1</a>, +<a href="#page004">4</a>, +<a href="#page117">117</a>, +<a href="#page142">142</a>, +<a href="#page240">240</a>.</p> + +<p>"Otsego Republican," Cooper's libel suit with, +<a href="#page185">185</a>, +<a href="#page186">186</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Paris, Cooper's residence at, +<a href="#page067">67-69</a>, +<a href="#page107">107</a>.</p> + +<p>Parsons, Usher, <a href="#page227">227</a>.</p> + +<p>"Pathfinder, The," +<a href="#page011">11</a>, +<a href="#page239">239-242</a>, +<a href="#page283">283</a>, +<a href="#page294">294</a>.</p> + +<p>Paulding, James Kirke, <a href="#page030">30</a>.</p> + +<p>Paulding, Hiram, <a href="#page216">216</a>.</p> + +<p>Peale, Rembrandt, <a href="#page115">115</a>.</p> + +<p>Percival, James G., <a href="#page060">60-62</a>.</p> + +<p>Perry, Captain Matthew, +<a href="#page210">210</a>, +<a href="#page212">212</a>.</p> + +<p>Perry, Commodore Oliver H., +<a href="#page208">208-229</a>, +<a href="#page295">295</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>"Philadelphia National Gazette," +<a href="#page114">114</a>, +<a href="#page292">292</a>.</p> + +<p>"Pilot, The," +<a href="#page044">44-48</a>, +<a href="#page057">57</a>, +<a href="#page074">74</a>, +<a href="#page095">95</a>, +<a href="#page283">283-288</a>, +<a href="#page291">291</a>.</p> + +<p>"Pioneers, The," +<a href="#page039">39-44</a>, +<a href="#page061">61</a>, +<a href="#page065">65</a>, +<a href="#page072">72</a>, +<a href="#page117">117</a>, +<a href="#page156">156</a>, +<a href="#page239">239</a>, +<a href="#page287">287</a>, +<a href="#page291">291</a>.</p> + +<p>Piracy of books, +<a href="#page261">261</a>, +<a href="#page262">262</a>.</p> + +<p>Plattsburgh Bay, Battle of, +<a href="#page298">298</a>.</p> + +<p>Poe, Elgar A., +<a href="#page245">245</a>, +<a href="#page246">246</a>, <i>note</i>.</p> + +<p>Poland, revolt of, <a href="#page107">107</a>; + Cooper's efforts to aid, <a href="#page108">108</a>.</p> + +<p>"Prairie, The," +<a href="#page061">61</a>, +<a href="#page071">71</a>, +<a href="#page073">73</a>, +<a href="#page076">76</a>, +<a href="#page095">95</a>, +<a href="#page239">239</a>, +<a href="#page283">283</a>, +<a href="#page291">291</a>.</p> + +<p>Preble, Edward, +<a href="#page296">296</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>"Precaution," +<a href="#page016">16-28</a>, +<a href="#page243">243</a>.</p> + +<p>Price of Cooper's later novels, +<a href="#page262">262</a>, +<a href="#page263">263</a>.</p> + +<p>Princeton College, +<a href="#page246">246</a>.</p> + +<p><a id="procter" name="procter"></a> +Procter, Bryan Waller, +<a href="#page058">58</a>, +<a href="#page161">161</a>.</p> + +<p>Provincialism of America, +<a href="#page138">138</a>, +<a href="#page150">150</a>, +<a href="#page164">164</a>, +<a href="#page165">165</a>, +<a href="#page168">168</a>.</p> + +<p>Puritanism, +<a href="#page023">23-29</a>, +<a href="#page075">75</a>, +<a href="#page243">243</a>.</p> + +<p>"Putnam's Magazine," +<a href="#page298">298</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>"Quarterly Review, The," +<a href="#page035">35</a>, +<a href="#page277">277</a>, +<a href="#page287">287</a>; + its attacks on America, +<a href="#page089">89</a>; + its attack on Cooper, +<a href="#page205">205</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>"Ravensnest" (English title), +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>"Recollections of Europe" (English title), +<a href="#page293">293</a>.</p> + +<p>"Redskins, The," +<a href="#page253">253</a>, +<a href="#page254">254</a>, +<a href="#page263">263</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>"Red Rover, The," +<a href="#page065">65</a>, +<a href="#page073">73</a>, +<a href="#page099">99</a>, +<a href="#page226">226</a>, +<a href="#page227">227</a>, +<a href="#page255">255</a>, +<a href="#page291">291</a>.</p> + +<p>Reporters of newspapers, Cooper's attack on, +<a href="#page176">176</a>.</p> + +<p>"Residence in France" (English title), +<a href="#page292">292</a>.</p> + +<p>Revolution of 1830, French, +<a href="#page106">106</a>, +<a href="#page107">107</a>.</p> + +<p>"Revue Britannique," +<a href="#page111">111-113</a>.</p> + +<p>Rhode Island Historical Society, +<a href="#page213">213</a>; + refuses to accept the Cooper medal, +<a href="#page224">224-227</a>.</p> + +<p>Rives, William C., +<a href="#page114">114</a>.</p> + + +<p>Rome, Cooper's residence at, +<a href="#page068">68</a>, +<a href="#page075">75</a>.</p> + +<p>Russia, early cordial relations of, with the United States, +<a href="#page093">93</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Sand, George, +<a href="#page284">284</a>.</p> + +<p>"Satanstoe," +<a href="#page252">252</a>, +<a href="#page253">253</a>, +<a href="#page254">254</a>, +<a href="#page263">263</a>, +<a href="#page296">296</a>.</p> + +<p>Saulnier, M., +<a href="#page111">111</a>, +<a href="#page112">112</a>.</p> + +<p>Scott, Sir Walter, +<a href="#page031">31</a>, +<a href="#page033">33</a>, +<a href="#page041">41</a>, +<a href="#page044">44</a>, +<a href="#page056">56-59</a>, +<a href="#page091">91</a>, +<a href="#page110">110</a>, +<a href="#page124">124</a>, +<a href="#page277">277</a>, +<a href="#page278">278</a>, +<a href="#page283">283</a>, +<a href="#page287">287</a>; + his mention of Cooper, +<a href="#page069">69</a>, +<a href="#page160">160</a>; + Lockhart's life of, +<a href="#page159">159-161</a>.</p> + +<p>Scott, General Winfield, +<a href="#page127">127</a>.</p> + +<p>"Sea Lions, The," +<a href="#page255">255</a>, +<a href="#page258">258-260</a>, +<a href="#page263">263</a>, +<a href="#page298">298</a>.</p> + +<p>Sea novel, Cooper's creation of, +<a href="#page044">44-47</a>, +<a href="#page057">57</a>, +<a href="#page074">74</a>.</p> + +<p>Shannon, English ship-of-war, +<a href="#page012">12</a>, +<a href="#page202">202</a>.</p> + +<p>Shanty, Cooper's derivation of, +<a href="#page275">275</a>.</p> + +<p>Shaw, John, +<a href="#page290">290</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>Shubrick, John Templer, +<a href="#page296">296</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>Silliman, Professor Benjamin, +<a href="#page008">8</a>.</p> + +<p>"Sketches of Switzerland," +<a href="#page135">135-140</a>, +<a href="#page292">292</a>.</p> + +<p>Slavery, Cooper's feelings toward, +<a href="#page085">85</a>, +<a href="#page104">104</a>.</p> + +<p>Smith, Sydney, +<a href="#page096">96</a>.</p> + +<p>Smollett, Tobias G., +<a href="#page045">45</a>, +<a href="#page057">57</a>.</p> + +<p>Somers, American man-of-war, +<a href="#page228">228</a>.</p> + +<p>Somers, Richard, +<a href="#page295">295</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>Sorrento, Cooper's residence at, +<a href="#page068">68</a>, +<a href="#page071">71</a>, +<a href="#page075">75</a>.</p> + +<p>Sotheby, William, +<a href="#page097">97</a>, +<a href="#page098">98</a>.</p> + +<p>Southey, Robert, +<a href="#page091">91</a>.</p> + +<p>Spencer, John C., +<a href="#page228">228</a>.</p> + +<p>Spencer, Joshua A., +<a href="#page186">186</a>.</p> + +<p>"Spy, The," +<a href="#page013">13</a>, +<a href="#page030">30-38</a>, +<a href="#page043">43</a>, +<a href="#page049">49</a>, +<a href="#page057">57</a>, +<a href="#page065">65</a>, +<a href="#page066">66</a>, +<a href="#page280">280</a>, +<a href="#page283">283</a>, +<a href="#page290">290</a>.</p> + +<p>Squier, E. G., <a href="#page037">37</a>.</p> + +<p>Steevens, Samuel, +<a href="#page215">215-221</a>.</p> + +<p>Sterling, merchant ship, +<a href="#page009">9</a>, +<a href="#page010">10</a>, +<a href="#page247">247</a>, +<a href="#page248">248</a>.</p> + +<p>Stone, William Leet, Cooper's libel suits against, +<a href="#page187">187</a>, +<a href="#page214">214-221</a>, +<a href="#page223">223</a>, +<a href="#page224">224</a>.</p> + +<p>Sumner, Charles, +<a href="#page091">91</a>, +<a href="#page160">160</a>.</p> + +<p>Susquehanna River, +<a href="#page001">1</a>, +<a href="#page002">2</a>, +<a href="#page264">264</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Talleyrand visits Cooper's father, +<a href="#page005">5</a>.</p> + +<p>Three Mile Point Controversy, The, +<a href="#page142">142-148</a>, +<a href="#page156">156</a>.</p> + +<p>Ticknor, George, +<a href="#page091">91</a>.</p> + +<p>Tories of American Revolution, Cooper's treatment of, +<a href="#page013">13</a>.</p> + +<p>"Towns of Manhattan, The," +<a href="#page266">266</a>, +<a href="#page299">299</a>.</p> + +<p>Tuckerman, Henry T., his account of a trial scene, +<a href="#page217">217</a>, +<a href="#page218">218</a>.</p> + +<p>"Two Admirals, The," +<a href="#page242">242</a>, +<a href="#page243">243</a>, +<a href="#page276">276</a>, +<a href="#page287">295</a>.</p> + +<p>Tyler, John, President, +<a href="#page228">228</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>"United Service Journal," its criticism of Cooper's Naval History, +<a href="#page204">204</a>, +<a href="#page205">205</a>.</p> + +<p>"Upside Down," Cooper's comedy, +<a href="#page263">263</a>.</p> + +<p>Van Rensselaer, Stephen, the patroon, +<a href="#page251">251</a>.</p> + +<p>Verplanck, Gulian Crommelin, +<a href="#page063">63</a>.</p> + +<p>Vesuvius, American man-of-war, +<a href="#page011">11</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>"Water Witch, The," +<a href="#page075">75</a>, +<a href="#page076">76</a>, +<a href="#page078">78</a>, +<a href="#page106">106</a>, +<a href="#page291">291</a>; + refused publication in Rome, +<a href="#page123">123</a>.</p> + +<p>Waverley Novels, +<a href="#page031">31</a>, +<a href="#page044">44</a>.</p> + +<p>"Ways of the Hour, The," +<a href="#page255">255</a>, +<a href="#page260">260</a>, +<a href="#page263">263</a>, +<a href="#page272">272</a>, +<a href="#page274">274</a>, +<a href="#page277">277</a>, +<a href="#page298">298</a>.</p> + +<p>Webster, Daniel, +<a href="#page268">268</a>.</p> + +<p>Weed, Thurlow, +<a href="#page122">122</a>, +<a href="#page190">190</a>; + Cooper's libel suits against, +<a href="#page187">187</a>, +<a href="#page190">190-196</a>; + admiration for Cooper's novels, +<a href="#page196">196</a>.</p> + +<p>"Wept of Wish-ton-Wish, The," +<a href="#page074">74</a>, +<a href="#page099">99</a>, +<a href="#page272">272</a>, +<a href="#page291">291</a>.</p> + + +<p>Westchester County, New York, +<a href="#page012">12</a>, +<a href="#page014">14</a>, +<a href="#page029">29</a>.</p> + +<p>Whig party, its hostility to Cooper +<a href="#page131">131</a>.</p> + +<p>Whig press, attacks on Cooper, +<a href="#page147">147</a>, +<a href="#page148">148</a>, +<a href="#page158">158</a>, +<a href="#page159">159</a>, +<a href="#page173">173</a>, +<a href="#page177">177</a>, +<a href="#page180">180</a>, +<a href="#page184">184</a>, +<a href="#page185">185</a>, +<a href="#page199">199</a>, +<a href="#page211">211</a>, +<a href="#page235">235</a>, +<a href="#page241">241</a>.</p> + +<p>Wiley, John, publisher, +<a href="#page063">63</a>, +<a href="#page066">66</a>.</p> + +<p>Willis, N. P., +<a href="#page132">132</a>.</p> + +<p>Wilson, John, +<a href="#page058">58</a>.</p> + +<p>"Wing-and-Wing," +<a href="#page093">93</a>, +<a href="#page243">243</a>, +<a href="#page244">244</a>, +<a href="#page247">247</a>, +<a href="#page262">262</a>, +<a href="#page295">295</a>.</p> + +<p>Woolsey, Melancthon Taylor, +<a href="#page011">11</a>, +<a href="#page296">296</a>, +<a href="#page297">297</a>.</p> + +<p>Wright, Fanny, <a href="#page036">36</a>.</p> + +<p>"Wyandotte," +<a href="#page013">13</a>, +<a href="#page244">244</a>, +<a href="#page245">245</a>, +<a href="#page263">263</a>, +<a href="#page295">295</a>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Yale College, <a href="#page246">246</a>; + Cooper's connection with, +<a href="#page007">7-9</a>.</p> + +<p><a id="note001" name="note001"></a><b>Footnote 1:</b> I express no opinion on the merits of this controversy, +for I have seen very slight summaries only of the articles that +appeared in the <i>Revue Britannique</i>. But it is proper to say that it +was the opinion of the French liberals, that Cooper utterly demolished +his antagonists in the controversy.]<a href="#notetag001">(back)</a></p> + +<p><a id="note002" name="note002"></a><b>Footnote 2:</b> Poe wrote a review of <i>Wyandotte</i> which appeared in +<i>Graham's Magazine</i> for November, 1843. As notices of Cooper's novels +then went, this may be regarded as a favorable one, though in it the +critic took occasion to divide works of fiction into two classes: one +of a popular sort which anybody could write, and the other of a kind +intrinsically more worthy and artistic, and capable of being produced +only by the few. At the head of the former class he placed Cooper, but +had the grace not to include his own name in the latter class which he +had created for himself. The reader will be edified to learn from a +life of Poe, written by John H. Ingram (2 vols., London, 1880), that +the writing of this review was an act of heroic and even desperate +hardihood. Poe, it seems, had before valorously depreciated Halleck; +but his crowning act of courage is introduced with the statement that +"he dared all <i>published</i> opinion, and in the very teeth of Cooper's +supreme popularity ventured upon saying" the remarks which have +already been referred to, and which are quoted in full by the +biographer, to whom is also to be given the credit of the italicized +word in the foregoing quotation. No small share of the common belief +in regard to Cooper's character and career is based upon assertions +about as trustworthy as this.]<a href="#notetag002">(back)</a></p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's James Fenimore Cooper, by Thomas R. 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