The central gazette. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1820-1827, 1825-01-08
TIE PILOT.

The following very handsomenohce Of Mr..
CooPER's novel, the Pilot, we copy from the
last number received, Of tho Bahrburgt, Scuts
man. 1t is asjust as it is liberal.
Character of Cooper, the american
.Foretist.-We have long fixed our
ewes on America as the refuge and con
servatory Of all those principles and
institutions which under the name Of
Liberty, comprehended tile right of
free and fair exertions Of all the facul-
ties and powers Of man, the absence of
lettering restrictions on industry and
talent, equal privileges OF thought and
action to all, and protection in the full
est extent TO property OF every deocr:p-
tinn. Believing that all this IL substnn-
TALLY realised IN the U. 5. we cannot
avoid taking deep interest in every
thing which tends to generate u bidinS
national spirit in their citizens. and to
waken in them wel!-gronnded pride
i'm their own institutions. Aad this is
maniiestly one Of the offsets nearest TO
the heart of our author. Washington
Irving, II must be ait0weri. has WRITTEN
what will please every where hut fail
.nc 20 perceive or appreciate the high
iestinirs of his country, he has tiat-
tered the prejudices OF Europe; while
Cooper, in the Spy md The Pilot. on
grounds equally patriotic and magnan.
imous, has been rousinG. the just pride
and hest energies of America. in his
former work he recorded some of her
SIories by land in the present he has
characterised that skill and resolution
from which iler future giories are to be
derived Mt sea. Smoilett had been al,
sea !; hut Cooper is body and spirit II sal
lor. The ocean is truly his element,
the deck his house. lie copfers reality
on all his descriptions. We hear the
roar oil, the waves-ihe piash Of the
oars-lhe hoarse language Of the sea-
| men. We see the waters-thc ships
the manning Of the yar'is--thc heavinS
| of the iead--the very garbage OF the
| vessels. Every movement-rrom that
of the tracking of the frigate to the
launching Of the whale bnat--is visible
to our eyes, and we actually take part
in the proceedings and conversations %!
the crew. They are all, heart and soul
| devoted to their profession and their
country.--Every thing is done uau.
tically. The descriptions Of the YES
| sells their various msDGuycrs--of the
sunrise in the German oceaD--Of, we
might saw. every sea scene in the novel,
arc excellent; bat the plotting OF the
frigate through the breakers and shoals
| at midnieht--the wreciltug Of the Ariel
the fierce sea-iig!its and above all,
perhaps. the last hours of the Gun cap
| tain. and co0kswain, Long Tom, and
the death of The sailing master, Boil
trppe--are given with truth and
| force, and generate such breathiess
| interest, that De Foe himself is, in some
respects, thrown at a distance by our
author. Yet nothing - overwrOnght
Instead Of obvious straining, an air eI
rough reetl0m-sometimes approach
ing, but never we think, amounting IL
coarseness--is thrown over the whole
but under all this apparent ease, re
sponsibiiiiy may be traced so deep, as i
| the honor Of an infant republic, IN hel
first struggles with The gigantic ant
confident power Of Old Empire, depend
ed on the exeriions Of every individual
The bravery aud skill Of England. how
ever, are not nnfaanted; and superiority
| in the Americans is aseribed to fortune
and their sense Of the cause IN whiei
thry are engaged. The characters, gen
orally speaking. are admirably brough
ont.--Those ofLong Tom and Baliropt
APE unrivalled. Barnsta,ie--in his
attachment 10 the Aerial and her crew
in particular. is also excellent and II
] GriGths, and perhaps still more ia Ia