and Sir George Templemore forgets his projected visit to Canada, Captain Truck his ship, and Steadfast Dodge, his home, Dodgeopolis, and the editor's chair of "The Active Enquirer," in the fascinations of their society. Then the family retire to their country seat, and in their train follow Sir George and Captain Truck as invited guests, and Steadfast Dodge without any invitation or any reason whatever. The latter personage seems gifted with ubiquity, and perhaps this is intended, that the author need not be continually troubled to explain his movements. Indeed, if the thing did not appear absurd, we should bespeak the reader's belief in the omnipresence of the Yankee editor's newspaper forms and printing press, as well as of his own corporeal existence; for how else to explain the fact, that, wherever he is found, he always seems actively employed in editorial labors, we know not. Another thing also we are at a loss to understand. Though the characters of Mr. Dodge, and his compecr Aristabulus Bragg, are depicted in such disagreeable colors; and though their company is so repulsive and disgusting to the refined and polished Effinghams, that the latter sometimes forget the rules of politeness so far as to ridicule and insult, at their own table, these objects of their dislike, who unfortunately are not of such noble descent, and have not enjoyed such advantages in point of education, as themselves, still Mr. Effingham invites them frequently to his own mansion, takes one or both to the houses of his friends, and tolerates their constant intercourse with himself and his family.

of such a conception; and we think every one must | in a very unceremonious way; and that the most of admit, that, if Paul's paternity were, at first, intimated, them are held together throughout the entire narrative, or even fully disclosed to the reader, while still con- as if destined to keep each other company for life. cealed from the Effinghams, the story would possess The Effinghams, as we have before said, spend some double interest. Our expectations should not be disap-months in New York after landing in this country; pointed, but wound up to the highest pitch of excitement, to be, at last, realized. The disclosures in regard to Paul's parentage are also, in other respects, most unskilfully introduced. Means of proof are multiplied, as if the author were at a loss how to encompass the object proposed, until he seems perplexed amid the variety of indications, which are to be made clear and convergent towards a single point. And while he is thus apparently struggling to be delivered of the secret, scarcely at any juncture is the reader able to tell precisely how much has been disclosed. Throughout the whole story, instead of appearing to describe real life, detailing events as they might be supposed actually to have occurred, the author outrages probability, and seems continually torturing nature into outré shapes. It exhibits all the marks of clumsy invention, and all the awkward expedients for bringing out the desired conclusion which usually characterize the tyro writer of fiction. John Effingham marries, in early life, a woman whom he does not love and soon deserts. Shortly after the separation, news is brought to him of his release from the unhappy connection by his wife's death; but of the previous birth of a son, the fruit of the marriage, no tidings reach him. Supposing that her decease has severed every tie of wedlock, he forsakes the roving life, in which months of wretchedness have passed away, and returns to his relatives, among whom he still passes as a bachelor, having formed the alliance without their knowledge, and under a feigned name. His son Paul is adopted by a wealthy gentleman, of the name of Powis, who at his death leaves him heir of his name and large estate. Paul, in obedience to the injunction of his adopted parent, crosses the Atlantic and travels for some years in Europe. There he accidentally encounters his father, and Edward Effingham, the cousin of the latter, with his daughter Eve. Again, soon after, they all chance to meet on board a New York packet, bound to the United States, where they fall in, by another chance, with a certain Mr. Monday, who has in his possession papers furnishing a clue to the discovery of Paul's parentage, and fortunately dying, or rather being killed by the author for the purpose, leaves these important papers in the hands of the father and son, still unknown to each other as such. The captain too of the vessel in which they sail, as it afterwards turns out, is able to add another link to the chain of testimony. When at last the time has come for the final dénouement, partly by accident, and partly by the management of the novelist, Paul Powis and the Effinghams, Captain Truck, Mr. Monday's papers, with Captain Ducie, Paul's cousin on his mother's side, and one David Bright, who also can shed some light upon the mystery, are all collected for the proof. Were the facts in the case at issue before a tribunal of justice, the writ of subpena could not have compelled a more general attendance of the witnesses.

This leads us to remark, that the various characters of the novel are shifted from place to place and from scene to scene, just as Mr. Cooper needs their services,

Every character introduced into the preceding part of the story, which appears also in this, and is capable of such a change, degenerates. Captain Truck, a plain, honest, open-hearted, manly old sailor, on board of the Montauk, becomes, on shore, little better than a buffoon-a mouth-piece for Mr. Cooper's small wit, and the instrument of his petty tricks. Though perfect master of the laws of etiquette which regulate the passengers' cabin and the quarter-deck of a New York packet, he is ignorant of the plainest rules of politeness which prevail on land. The author should never have ventured to carry him so far from his accustomed element-the ocean. A sailor at sea, and a sailor ashore, are such very different things, that perhaps a correct delineation of the latter would hardly support the interest felt in the character of the former. Paul Powis, too, the hero of the story, sinks into an exceedingly tame-spirited and common-place personage, amid the quiet scenes of ordinary life. Eve is, as before, a creature dressed in petticoats; by which circumstance, and a few other outward indications, alone, can the sex easily be discovered. This evidence, however, is sufficiently clear for us to set her down as a blue-stocking of the most watery cerulian; the other points of character which distinguish the genus, being all found in the girl's extemporaneous discussions of politics, morals, and religion. She seems to have been brought up with a copy of "Polite Learning," a little book, which we remember as the companion of our early childhood, in

one hand, and some "Girl's Own Book," or "Young we can scarcely form a distinct and vivid conception, Ladies' Friend," a popular treatise on good manners and decent behavior, in the other. Or, perhaps, we might suppose the first mentioned work to have given place, during her adolescence, to Mr. Cooper's "American Democrat." The Messrs. Effingham change character but little “Cousin Jack" the more perceptibly of the two. His satiric vein assumes more broadly than before, the character of sheer ill-humor, and his so-called sarcasm degenerates, if possible, into more unpardonable and brutal rudeness, and a more undisguised violation of every rule of politeness and decorum. But of him and other personages introduced in the course of the narrative we may have occasion to speak hereafter.

but by viewing them as exhibited in ourselves, either in actual existence, or by contrast. When, therefore, we endeavor to personify such traits in a fictitious being, the creation will naturally bear some resemblance, greater or less, to the creator. A writer may, on this account, describe himself, or blend his own peculiarities with ideal existences, unwittingly. But Mr. Cooper has given stronger ground for the charge than thisstronger indeed than has any novelist with whom we are acquainted. He has introduced into the narrative well-known scenes in his own private history, and has embodied in his delineation of Mr. Effingham many of his before-expressed opinions on various subjects, and even his peculiar feelings and prejudices.

In his delineations of character, unless where coarse, He lays the theatre of a great part of the events of rugged peculiarities are to be depicted, Mr. Cooper is his story in Cooperstown, his place of residence, to generally at fault. We have before expressed the same which he gives the name of Templeton. This village idea, and illustrated it by reference to his female cha-is situated on Otsego lake in the state of New York. racters. He cannot describe refined, delicate feelings It seems, that not many months ago, a dispute arose beand emotions. Where he attempts it, the failure is some-tween Mr. Cooper and the inhabitants of Cooperstown, times even ludicrous. In this work he has adopted a in regard to a pint of land, belonging to his estate, stereotype form of expression for certain feelings, which commonly called, as we believe, the "Three Mile is repeated until every reader must be ready to smile at | Point," which juts out into the lake. The inhabitants its recurrence. Whenever Eve or Grace is momenta- claimed to have used this point for pic-nies, and plearily offended, or out of humor, or piqued, the indication sure parties of every description, from time immemorial; is 'her little foot moves.' Where a state of quiet, lady-but Mr. Cooper, irritated perhaps by something said or like ease, and soft repose of mind are to be exhibited, we have them pictured thus:

"The dressing-room of Eve overlooked the lake, and about a week after her arrival, she was seated in it enjoying that peculiarly lady-like luxury, which is to be found in the process of having another gently disposing of the hair. Annette wielded the comb, as usual- Vol. I, p. 199.

done in derogation of his proprietorship, published an advertisement forbidding them to set foot on the disputed territory, on pain of being treated as trespassers. The good people of the town, thinking themselves aggrieved, resorted to a very common measure for the redress of their supposed wrongs-a measure common in every country where it is practicable, notwithstanding what the novelist may say about American idio

The author attempts in vain to interest us in his dra-syncrasies to the contrary-they called a public meetmatis personae. Even when he comes to the concluding chapter, and seeks to picture a scene which shall leave a good final impression on the reader's mind, we have little more than the affectionate childishness of an old nurse, professing her determination never to part from her young mistress Eve, and some dry moralities from the different speakers in the dialogue.

We have before remarked, that in description-the description of active stirring scenes-lies Mr. Cooper's forte. Yet in this point, as in various others, he falls very far below himself in the present work. Where could he have found a better subject for description than the great fire of New York? This he introduces and briefly depicts, but there is nothing grand or even vivid in the picture; and the apology that he has "alluded to, rather than described" the conflagration, does not alleviate the failure.

ing, at which were passed sundry resolutions declaratory of their rights. How the matter terminated, we have not been exactly informed; we believe, however, that Mr. Cooper eventually made good his title. But the history of this occurrence, which was bandied about freely in the newspapers of the day, is related quite circumstantially in "tome as Found," Mr. Effingham, in the fictitious scene, holding the same place as in the real did Mr. Cooper. Now if a person may unwittingly describe his own character under the garb of fiction, it is not safe always to presume that he has intended to do so, merely because of the likeness. And even where a novelist has intentionally depicted traits peculiar to himself in an imaginary personage, we may, perhaps, suppose that he has done this for the sake of vividness in the picture, and without thinking to arrogate to himself all the features with which he has asso

Mr. Cooper has been charged with attempting a por-ciated those traits, with more reason than that he has traiture of himself, in the character of Mr. Edward contemplated an exact self-delineation. And as most Effingham; and therefore with excessive vanity, in as-novels are partially founded on fact-as every writer of cribing to that gentleman many uncommon excellencies fiction gathers his materials from various sources, deof head and heart, and a superior style of gentility. scribing real events, without any regard to the persons There is scarcely any popular novelist who has not actually connected with them, and real characters enborne the same accusation, and perhaps there has been tirely separated from the transactions of their true hissome ground for it wherever it has been made. Every tory, we cannot see why Mr. Cooper may not embelone's notions of good and evil are tinged by his own lish or illustrate his narrative, by describing scenes in peculiarities of thought and feeling, and this is the case his own life, and yet have no intention to bring himself especially in regard to notions of human character. before his readers. Still we must consider it imprudent There are many intellectual and moral traits, of which to have given such occasion for sarcastic criticism upon

rational being ever to kneel, and that "God never in- | nobility, and a social capital seem almost necessary to tended an American to kneel,"* some religious sects in the existence of such a standard. The possibility of the United States entertain scruples against bending the two first is precluded by the peculiarity of our pothe knee, in the more formal exercises of public worship, litical constitution, and for the same reason, and befounded on what they suppose apostolical institutions. cause of the wide extent of our land, it is extremely For Madame Viefville, when she comes to the conclu- improbable that we shall ever have the last certainly sion, after trying the theatres, the churches, sundry we shall not for long years to come. Under these cirballs, the opera, and all the admirable gaieties of New cumstances we are naturally dependant for the rules York,' that 'America is a very good country pour s'ennu- which mould the face of society, upon countries where yer,' we can find some apology in the laxity of re- a certain standard exists. When we threw off the ligious education prevalent in France. But for Mr. political domination of Great Britain, the instant deEffingham, who intrusts his daughter's moral and re- mands of our novel situation led us to think and act ligious training to such a governess, and for Mr. Coop- for ourselves in politics, and the consequence has been er, who puts such words into her mouth, we can find an unique form of government, though, indeed, even none, though both may be supposed to have picked up in the construction of this, we have not lost sight of some strange notions in foreign parts. We would ad- the English model. In religious matters, too, we have vise the latter gentleman to exclude, hereafter, all re- achieved a complete independence, though without ligious discussion from his fictitious writings; or, at such radical changes as those effected in our civil polity. least, to remember that trifling levity is, in connec-Theology has always been a favorite field for the spirit tion with such matters unseemly; that sarcasm and ridicule are not the most fit or effective weapons in ecclesiastical warfare. We make these remarks, not as sectarians; for as critics, in these pages, we have determined to know nothing of theological distinctions of

sect.

Our author tells us that his work has been written with "the desire to illustrate a principle," as its chief aim. The principle intended is, that "the governing social evil of America is provincialism." Our first impression on reading this announcement was, that by "provincialism" the author intended to convey the idea of a rude unpolished state of society, or, of a dependance on other countries, which might be regarded in this respect as holding a sway over us, for opinions, manners, arts and sciences; or both the one and the other, as effect and cause. But the following passages seem to exhibit a different intention, though the meanings which we attached to the word seem to have entered into Mr. Cooper's ultimate, if not his original conception.

-Without a social capital, with twenty or more communities divided by distance and political barriers, her people, who are really more homogeneous than any other of the same numbers in the world perhaps, possess no standard for opinion, manners, social maxims, or even language. Every man, as a matter of course, refers to his own particular experience, and praises or condemns according to notions contracted in the circle of his own habits, however narrow, provincial, or erroneous they may happen to be;' Preface.

of innovation and real or supposed reform. But every tie which bound us to the mother country was not severed by our revolution. It would have been as impossible to destroy, at once, all dependance upon England, as to accustom our tongues to a new language. Under another form of government, our laws are, in a great measure, the same as before the separation; and for learned expositions of those laws we still look with the highest respect to the tribunals of our father-land. The state of public opinion in this country, as to many points, has always been determined by transatlantic influence, sometimes for good, sometimes for evil. In literary matters we have hitherto deferred much to British critics; though this kind of dependance, the source perhaps of frequent error, is daily diminishing. As regards every thing relating to manners, and the regulations of refined and elegant society, having, as we have already said, no standard among ourselves, and there being no necessity for the establishment of such a standard, were it possible, we have naturally looked to England for example, having perhaps borrowed from the French very little directly.

We believe there is no country upon earth, where the true principles of politeness and good manners are more universally diffused through all classes of the community, and more generally exemplified in practice, than they are in the United States. As an evidence of this we point to the condition of American females, asserting that their sex is no where treated with such marked respect and attention, among all ranks and conditions, as in our own country. This is -But in a nation like this, without a capital, the effect of the wide spread of knowledge, and relione that is all provinces, in which intelligence and tastes gious teaching, and of our political equality. We are scattered, this common mind wants the usual direc-speak now of natural principles of politeness, not of mere tion, and derives its impulses from the force of numbers, conventional rules. Perhaps Mr. Cooper may find rather than from the force of knowledge.' Vol. II, p. 175.

With the author's opinion that provincialism, thus explained, is one of the evils of American society, we partly agree, though not in his belief that it is a "governing evil." Indeed, however the term may be explained, we think it applicable to this country. We certainly have no fixed standard of manners among ourselves: we depend on other countries, England and France, for laws of social life. A court, an order of * Vol. I, p. 211. + Vol. II. p. 103. Preface.

greater submission and deference to rank among the common people of England, than among our own; he may find that English menials can doff their hats more humbly, and ask for a shilling with a lower bow, than American servants; and for the same reason that a regular soldier goes through the evolutions of his service more readily than a common citizen at a militia muster. But this does not prove that the lower classes in the United States are worse bred than the same classes in Great Britain. We hold, too, that there is as much real refinement and delicacy of feeling in our

higher grades of society, as in those of any European | drawing-room more than one individual, under a false nation; but, at the same time, are free to admit that character, to throw contempt and derision upon both we are behind several other nations, in point of those herself and her company. But we are heartily tired conventional rules of good-breeding before alluded to, of exposing the inconsistences and absurdities with some of which are entirely arbitrary, though most of which these volumes abound. We had intended to say them are founded on true principles. These laws of much more, but both our limits and patience are well etiquette are the offspring of a state of society much nigh exhausted. The motto which Mr. Cooper has more artificial than our own; and where there is no prefixed to his work is, "Thou art perfect." If he apcourt or order of nobility to enact them, they can re-plies this to either himself or his story, it is rather illsult only from gradual legislation, under the auspices of great wealth and elegant luxury.