The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-08-25


pursui's-becanse, they be 80 or not
the reader is delighted with their snsle-hear.
ted honesty, and with thrif devotion To In.
plain, unsophisiicaled rules deducod from nat.
nral Justice. But, when ahroader field IS Ia.
ken, and an author di,oastes principles directly
affecting Tue interests st every man-ofers
spernlations on long and obs,inately contest.
ed opiniens-drsws portraits of public men
who yet survive, and indeed, who are con
spicuous actors in The events OF the day, and
deeply Interested ir be resuils--and sketches
scenes about which there Is aud we'll may be
wide difference of sentiment, he teads on
debaleable ground, and must expect To be ms.
sailed as pehemeully by the crowd OF foes be
wiH create. as BY thu scanty number of friends
he may make
Such is the case with regard 10 the work ~
which we are speRking. The London critics
cannot gnlP down the enenmiums MIR Coop
er bestows on the Americen character. Il is
worse than an emetic 10 them They have
beeo so long feeding on the dainty repasl
WhiCh lhth own TOURISTS IN America nave
furnished. thai they throw aside Wholesome
truth. as utterly unpalatable. How caD II lac
expected, thot they who hnve eorged their
apprtes on the v'acaritie4 of Fearon Il 20.
hdgesl the matter OF book written in a
different strain How can they, who have
been taught, from their school boy DAYS, tint
all Americans are ignorant, nnmann Llip
knayes, cunning rogues, and sneakinf la
iards all at once be induced 10 believe "a
there "a among Us single individual skii
ed in the useful aud ornamental arts ard
honest in his transactions, or brave in
battle ? II would he Just as reasonable
to expect that they should renounce thu
opinion, entertained by oue-lhird of the
into the world with double portion
Of rotundily, and Is, by nature, smoker, and
that all Frenchmen brehair-dressers, dancing.
masters and irog-eaiers
On the other hand. our own ambition OF
literary distinction, frequently exhibited
III the trumpet tongued eXniation with which
the appearance oil almost Every production oil
an American Huihor is haile :, will always
guard bis work from any severe or, at leas
unjust remarks. We fear, indeed, that we
are too ept 10 indulge in tie other extreme of
unbounded and undeseryed enlogv We
pass by, as minor bemishes, in native pro-
ductions what we wonld loudly censufe, in
those OF foreign origin, as monslrQus faults
Whether this he not course alike injurious
tothe author aud the nation, we think can
hardly admit OF a question. The nation is
censured abroad for It's bad taste, TO which
his nndlserimino'ng praise gives birth. II
draws forth a huat of writer, Of minor tai.
ent, who, nonrlshed by such unnatural heat,
flourish for ashorl season, the objects of ridi-
cule to impartial readers, however they my
" fret their llIjle hour upon the slhge," with
all the hauteur OF bloaed arrogance. The
Owl may as easily gaze upon the midday
sun, ~ such men attain any lasline fame
Aud vet, we have npnbprless sueh nspirapi,
for a niche ~ her templc--meu md women
Who cen compose narrative quite nIppantly.
give some point 10 dialogue. pour pretty YER
ses from pen aud tongnn with as much iaclli.
~ as " tenih muse whose satire is
as keen aud piercing ~ &" The razprs inyisi.
bic edge" These are the elements of great
wrters--hni, they are worse than useless il
they be not cultivated And, in this coun-
try, they are not cultivated as they Ought 10
be-, and as tboy might he because, il is deem
ell the M pins ultra OF patriotism 10 eXalt
to the very skies every book which may boast
Of American parentage, however careless in
composition, loose in morals, or derelict in
tone TO public opinion-(for who can ques-
ton the iufalibilty Of critic bv proies-
sion , must exercise more rigid police, If
we may be permitted 10 ne the term. Young
authors must be held IN SOLITARY check-thev
must he made n perform quarantine, If It is
expected that they 81 aid learn before they
attempt to tfsch, aud If they wouldibnild up
an enduring monument OF their genius. They
should he mule 10 tarry al jericho until
their boards he grown Ilpw many yonihs,
who, in the seclpsion Of College, have held
forth the promise Of rich fruits 10 deck aud
cheer the autumn of their lives. have disan-
pointed the fond expectations of their par
en,s and friends And why Was il not be-
cause ofinjndiciouse ulogy Genius may rise in
despite Of persecution, As the grass grows The
more for being rroddon on But, whenever il
IS pampered with gross aa0ery, in its fret
buildings, il will almost inevitably scken aud
decay. Bat, what has this TO do with Mr.
Cooper and his new work Much. Mr..
Coaper is partially The victim of thi, fantas
tic whm Of euiag1iag every thing American.
Called the Wdher Scott Of 8a,erica," be I'm.
cies that he IS, aud consequently he does no,
exert himseIlto desefne the tile Woeu one