Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1824-12-03
THE PILOT,

The following very Handsome notice of
Mr. Cooper's last novel, the Pilot, we copy
from the last number receised of the Edinburg
ScoSnnn. II is rs just os il is liberal
Character Of Cooper, the .american Norciist.
We have long fixed our eyes on America as
The refuge aud conservatory Of all those prnci-
pies, anu institutions which are truly valuable.
and which, under the name of liberty, com.
preheDd the right of free and fair exertion of
all the faculties and powers Of man, the absence
Iof all lettering restrictions on Industry and tai,
ent, equal privilege or thought and action 10
ALL and protection in The fullest extent to pro-
petty ofevery description. Believing that ali
this is substantially released in The United
States, we cannot avoid taking q deep interest
in every thing which tends TO generate a bind
ing national spirit in their citizens, and to wa
ken in them well grounded pride in their
own feats, as well as in their own institutions.
And this is manifesiiy one of the offsets
nearest to the heart of our author. Washington
Irving, il must be allowed, has written what
viii please every where; but failing 10 per-
ceive or appreciate the high destnics of his
country, he has iattered the prejudices of Eu
Erope; while Cooper in the Spy anathe Pilot,
|ou grounds equally patriotic and maguanimous,
has been rousius the just pride and best ener-
gies in America In his former work, he re-
corded some of her glories by land in the
present he has characterized that skill and re-
solution from which her future glores are TO
be derived at sea -Smollet had been NJ sea ::
but Cooper is body and spirit n sailor-The
ocean is truly his element, the deck his home.
He confers reality OH all his descriptions. We
hear the roar of the waves--the plash of the
oars--tbe hoRrse language of the seamen We
see the wsters-the ships the mannis 9 of the
yards-the TeaviBg fthe lced-the cordage of
the vessels. Every movement-irom that of
the tncking of the frigate to the aun chins of
the whale boats visible TO our eyes, and we
actually take part in the proceedings and con-
.versatons of tho crew. They are all. heart
and soul, devoted to their profession and their
country. Every thing is done nautcally The
descriptions of the vsssels-of their various ma
nPuyers-- of the sunrise in the German ocean
OF, we might say, every sea scene in the novel
are excellent but the plotting of the frigate
through the breakers and shoals at midnight
tho wrecking of the AreE-the fierce sea fights.
and above ALL 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, aRd generate such
breathleSs interest that De Foe himselfis. in
some respects, thrown at distepce by our au
thor. Yet nothing is overwrousht.-Instead of
obvious straining, md an air of rough free
doul-sometimes approaching, but never. we
tank, amounting to coarseness-is thrown over
the whole but under all this apparent ease.
responsibility may be traced so deep, az If the
honor of an infant republic, in her first struggle
with gigantic and confident power of Old EN-
|pire, depended on the exertions of every in
|dviduo The bravery of and skill of Eng
land, however, are not moderated and SUI
Periority in the Americans is ascribed to for.
June, and their sense in the cause in which
they are engaged. The characters, generally
fpeaking, are admirably brought out Those
bf Long Tom aud Bolthrope are unrivaled.
|Rarnstable, in his attachment to the Ariel and
her crew in particular, is also excellent; ard
FIN Grifiths, and perhaps still more in the mystic
Fious pilot Paul Jones, the author displays
great skill and power. There IS, indsed, gen,
uine talent throughout; and although fasidi-
Gus taste may find some things To earn at, the
reader who cannot relish these volumes, is e.
the slave of authority, or wants the qualities
which enable Others to appreciate what, under
the impulse of genius, is perceived by an unso-
phisticated head and poured out from an opel,
manly, and generous heart.