Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-11-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
From tie Edinburgh Scotchman.
OF COOPER. THE ANJERIC

From tie Edinburgh Scotchman.
| CHARACTER OF COOPER, THE AMERICAN
NOVELIST.
We have long fixed our eyes on America as the
refuge and conservatory of all those principles and
institutions which truly valuable, g. which, I'M
der the name of Liberty, comprehend the right of
free and fair exertion of all the faculties aud pow
ers OF man, the absence of all lettering restrictions
on industry and talent, equal privileges of thought
and action TO all, aud protection in the fullest ex-
! tent to property of every description. Believing
that all this is substantially realized in the United
States, we cannot avoid taking a deep interest i'm
every thing which tends to generate, binding ma
tiona spirit in their citizens aud to awaken IN them
well-grounded pride in their own feats as well "a
in their own institutions. And this is maufes,ly
one OF the objects nearest to the heart of our author
ashngton Irving, it must be allowed, has written
what will please every where; but falling to per-
ccive or appreciate the high dcstnes of his country
he has flattered the prcjudices of Europe; while
Cooper, in the Spy and the Pilot, on grounds equal
! ly patriotic and magnanimous, has been rousinr
the just pride and hest energies of America. In his
former work, he recorded some of her glories by
land; in the present. he has characterised that skill
and resolution from which her future gorrs are to
! nc derived at sea. Smullet had been at sea; but
Cooper rs body and spirit, Il sailor. The ocean is
: truly his elcmcnt-tlIe deck his home. lie confcrs
reality on all his descriptions. We hear the roar
! oil the wavcs-thc splash of the oars-thc hoarse
language of the seamen. We see the watcrs-thc
shipS-thc manning of the yards--he heaviug
! ci the lead-the vrly coldage of the vessels. Ev-
| cry movement-fom that of the tacking of the fiji
gate IL the launching of the whacboat, is visible
to our eyes, and we actually take part in the pro-
cccdings and CONVEX sationS Of the crew. They are
all, heart and soul, devoted TO their profession and
their country. Every thing is done nautically
The descriptions of the vCssels-of VI rious ma
nGuvres--oi the sunrise i'll the German Oceln-of,
we might say, every in the novel, are ex-
ce'fent; but the plotting of the rigae through the
breakers and shoals at midnight-the wrcckinr of
the Ariel, the fierce sea fights, and above ALL per
maps, the last hours of tie cum captain and cock
swain Long Tom, and the death of the saing-mas-
ter Boltrope-are given with truth and force, and
generate such brcathless interest, that Dc Foe
himself Is. IN some respects, thrown distance by
our author. Yet nothing is overweight. Instead
OF obvious straiiing air of rough freedom, some
times approaching, but never, we think, amounting
to Cnarseness--iS thrown the whole; but under
all this apparent ease, a responsibility may be
traced so deep, if the honour of AN infant re-
public, i'll her first struggles with the gigantic and
confident power of old empire depended on the ex-
cftiuns of every individual. The bravery and
skill of England however, not under-ratcd; and
superiority III the Americans is asclibcd to fortune
and their sense of the in which they are en-
gagged. The Characters generally speaking are
admirably brought out. Those of Long Tom and
Boltropc unrivalled. Barnstabe. in his attach
mcnt to the Ariel, and her crew in particular, is
also excellent; and in GrirtIis, and perhaps still
more in the mysterious Pilot, Paul Jones, the au-
thor displays great skill and power. There is in
deed, genuine talent throughout; and although
fastIdlous taste may find some things to carp at the
reader who cannot relish these volumes, is either
tile slave OF authority, wants the qualities which
enable others to appreciate what, under the i'm
pulse of genius, is perceived by un,ophistcatcd
head, and poured out from an open, manly and ZEN
erous heart.