American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-11-30
VOL. I'LL.


burgh Scotsman. 1t is as just as it is liberal.
Character Of Cooper, the american Noreiist.--
We have loug fixed eyes America as the
refuge and conservatory Of all those principles and
institutions which truly valuable, and which,
under the name OF Liberty, comprehend the right
OF free and lair e":erton OF all the faculties and
power OF man, the absence OF all lettering resric-
lions on industry and talent, equal privileges o.
thought aud action TO ALL and protection in the full
est extent to properly OF every description. Be
eving that all this Is subs anially realised in the
United States We cannot avoid taking deep inter
est in every thing which tends 10 generate binding
national spirit in their citizens and to awaken in
them wegrounded pride in their own feats, as
well as IN their own institutions. And this is man
itesIly Of the objects to the heart oil
author Washington Irving it must be allowed, has
written what will please every where; but falling
TO perceive or appreciate the high destnies oil his
country, he has hatered the prejudices OF Europe;
while Cooper, in the Spy and Pilot, on grounds
equally patriotic and magnanimous, has been
log The Just pride and best energies OF America.
ln his io mer work, he recorded some of her glo-
refs by land in the present he has characterised
that skill and resolution from which her future go-
ries are be derived sea. Smollett had been at
sea but Cooper is body and spiit sailor. The
ocean is truly his element, the deck his home. He
coniers reality on all his descriptions. We hear
hoaise language OF the seamen. We see the wa
ters--the ships-tle manning OF the yards--the
heavng of the lead-th very cordage oil the ves-
sells. Every movement-rom that of the hacking
of the frigate to the launching oil the whaIe-bost
is visible to our eyes, and actually take part in
the proceedings and conversations of the crew.
Ehey are all, heart and soul, devoted TO their pro-
tesson and their country. Every thing Is done
aautcay The descriptions of the vessels-o!their
% tinus -Oft iSei
Iocean-of, we might say, every scene in the
novel; are excellent; but the plotting OF the irgate
Through the breakers and shoals at midnight--the
wrecking of the ATlelthe fierce sea lights, x above
lal perhaps the last hours Of the gun captain and
cockswan Long Tom, and the death of the Sailing
Master, Boltrope-are given with truth and force,
and generate breathless interest, that De Foe
himself is, In some respects thrown at distance
by our author. Yet nothing is overweight. In
stead Of obvious s,ranng, an air OF rough freedom
sometimes approaching, but never we thlnks
amounting 10 coarseness-is thrown over the whole;
but under all this apparent ease, responsibility
may be traced deep, as if the honor OF an infant
republic, IN her first struggles with the gigantic and
confident power OF Old Empire, depended on the
lexertlons Of every individual. The bravery and
skill of England, however, are not under-rated;
and superiority in the Americans is ascribed to
fortune, and their of the cause in which they
are engaged The characters. generally speakings
are admirably brought out. Those OF Long Tom
and Boiirope are uurivalled. Barnstaple---in bis
attachment 10 the Ariel and her in particular.
is also excellent; aud in Grfhhs, and perhaps still
more in the mysterious Pilot, Paul Jones, the au-
thor displays great skill and power There Isl
indeed, genuine talent throughout; and although
a fasdious taste may find some things to carp ats
the reader who cannot relish these Volumes is either
the slave of authority, wants the Qualities which
enable others 10 appreciate what under the impulse
Of genius, is perceived by an unsophlsticaed head'
and poured out from an open manly, and generous
heart.