New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-10-16
THE PILOT, A TALE OF THE SEA. BY J. FESlMosE
COOPER New-York George ?. Putnam.

y
COOPER. New-York George p. Putnam.
This is the second volume Of MIR. Putnsms ele-
CANT edition of the collected works of celebrated
American novelist 1t 10 issued In the style Of stump
tuous typography which marks the best publications of
that onterprisng house.
A characteristic and remarkable preface BY Mr..
Cooper introduces the present volume IL contains
several curious instances OF frank confession ood
criticism, and peculiar reasoning The success oil sir
Walter Scott In The Pirate, it seems, was the cause
OF Mr.. Coopers entering the came held lie ielt him.
self called to the duty Of SURPRISING Sir Walter on hs
chosen element lie had doubt of his ability 10 SC
complsh this. lie determined to produce work that
should present truer pictures OF the ocean and ships
than sny that arc be found In the Pirate Hence the
Pilot Mr.. Cooper has been sometimes called the
Walter Scott of Americs. This We learn, did not sat
isfy his ambition Sir Walter might easily be beat
aud be would do IL We must henceiorth no longer
deem the Gathering appellaon compliment. The ia
bes must be turned, and must call Scott the FEM
more Cooper OF Scotland The author received little
encouragement, he tells US In the prosecution OF his
work He could get no 10 admire II. The women,
particularly, protested against H. He at last fell in
with critic who gave it his approval This decided
him TO proceed with the composition of the work.
which he had been tempted to lay aside This critic
was man of original views. His standard OF taste
was wholly his own. For the honor Of literature his
name should be given to tee world As specimen OF
hls opinions. Mr. Cooper states that he denied the
clsims of Brysn,s Water Fowl to be good poetry N
toto Thsns,op.is was more toersble If it not
plagiarism, which, in the Judgment Of the critic 1t
probably was Having survived such an ordeal, Mr..
Cooper felt sure OF the inertia of his work The admi
ration Of an old confirmed bis assurance, and
the Pilot was born I,s effect the su,hor supposes has
beon 10 awaken an increased interest in the condition
of sesmen Bat be puts in sessonsbe cavest against
carving this too far He has patience with the phi
anthropss who think American sailors too good 10 be
brought under the Lash upon the hish seas In bis
opiniou these pretending varlets would he greatly
beoen,ed "by little judicious DIGGING on shore lie
is equally the Peace Societies, Temperance
aud Moral Reform Societies which make so much
noise the present day. They are the result oil nu
concei, rather than of divine wisdom With this
testimony 20 his own prominence over seon as
writer of nautical stories and To tie perncious inra
OF modern philsninropiss he leaves the reader to
the peruss Of the Pilot II his novels did not show far
ability and than his prefsess Mr.. Coopers
literary reputation would be very chesp sasir- -
EVENINGS AT WOODLAND: BY Nh. ELLrr. New
YORK. BsAsT Scrbner
This prepossessiag title is fancy selection
and gives no indication Of the conteats OF the volume
party of friends assembled al pleasant eoun
try residence a, the delightful season when the resh
breath of Spring begins to touch With beauty the
southern landscape Tse usual smusemsn's Of country
s with the discussion Of the latest productions OF
ners,ure, bad given wings to The hours when an &C
ce..on vss made 20 the company by The arrival oil an
accomplished Professor, who bad recently returned
from European tour. He had devoted much time and
study to the poetry and romance Of different European
nations, especially the German 1t W" st once pro.
posed that during his visit to woodlswn portion Of
each evening should be devoted to this branch Of Ater
AZURE and the fsce Professor was essy persuaded 70
rotate some Of the legends and traditions he had picked
no abroad, and which have furnshed the sfoaSd WORK
of poems, tales or dramas In tbs country where hey
had their origin.
On this slight thread Of q plot Mrs EIs' has gath