The Cooper gallery

Front matter

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Preface

The earlier works of every national literature must always possess an interest peculiar to themselves; an interest wliicli may even, to a certain degree, be independent of any merit of tlieir o^\ti, and natm-ally connected ^viih the period to which they l^elong. There can he nothins:, of course, of the peculiar charm of remote time connected witli any work dating with the present century : if, in the quaint hallad, the rude chi'onicle of early English writing, the figures all move, as it were, amid the long shadows of the dawn, thro^vn into high and picturesque relief by the morning light, we are prepared for something far less striking and peculiar in the form of any literature coming into lieing in the noontide of full ci^oLization. Still, there will always be something of a peculiar movement and coloring connected with the first intellectual work of every independent people ; something which gives claim to a degree of especial attention to the earlier volumes of every national lilu-aiy, however brilliant may be those which fill succeeding shelves.. And wliile a dozen years of American history, at this period of time, eftect tlie changes which have requu'ed centuries ^vith older nations, the fact gives abeady to works of the last fifty years, something of the interest of a past condition of existence. The writings of Mr. Fenimore Cooper, from

PREFACE.

tlieir date and tlieii' spirit, must always hold this position to the American reader. They possess another claim, also, which to the present hornis peculiar; they flow from a fountain more copious than any other opened, until now, on the same soil ; it is believed that no author this side of the Atlantic has written so fully. A long succession of works possessing merit in themselves, reaching to so large a number, and covering, in their composition, so long a j^eriod of time, must always possess a decree of importance which cannot belong to any isolated book. Each Avork, in a series of this nature, appears not only in its individual character, but also as a member of a group ; if the writings have any merit singly, they carry with them additional value in theii- frill literary company ; each, like the pearl in a chain, giving and receiving something of light and worth, as it is found linked with others.

The volume now open before the reader, contains a selection of episodes from the writings of Mr. Fenimore Cooper, illustrated, it is scarcely necessary to observe, by artists of acknowledged merit. Connected with the extracts, will be found notes relating to the different works whence the pages have been dra^vn. It was at first the intention to give a passage from each of the different works of the imagination from the same pen ; but the size and nature of the volume, so copiously illustrated, have rendered it necessary to omit a j)ortion of the series, and among these, several favorite works. It is hoped, however, that the book is sufficiently complete in its j^resent form to give pleasure to the reader fr'om the variety of its passages, while the notes may afford him a clearer idea than he has yet received, of a long and important series connected with American literature.

s. F. c.

CooPERSTOWN, Sep. I5th, I860.

Contents

Introduction. — Precaution — First composition — Proud heroic romance — The ballad — The first sale — Elaborate imitation — Supposed English origin of the book — Extract — Charity, . . . . . . . .13

II

The Spy. — Westchester county and its traditions of the Revolution — Godfrey's Cave — Haunted wood — Uncle John — The Silver Grays — Conversation with Governor Jay — Origin of the book — An acute critic — Last chapter written and paged before those preceding it — Unlooked-for success — Extract, Harvey and his father in the cottage, ........

III

The Pioneers. — The author's boyhood — Lake Otsego — Master Cory — The organ — The Beggar's Petition — School-boy's journey to Albany — The great turnpike — A third book planned — Natty and Shipman — M. Le Quoy — Hausman — Father Nash not the original of Mr. Grant — Indian alarm — Extract, Pigeon-shooting, .

IV

The Pilot. — Conversation at the table of Mr. Wilkej? — Sudden determination to attempt a tale of the sea — Generall}' discouraged by his friends — Paul Jones — The MS. read to a seaman — Full success of the book — Extract:^, Battle of the Bon Homme Kicliard — The Frigate, . . . . . .72 g CONTENTS.

V. PAGE

Lionel Lincoln.— Difficulties of the task — Cliaracter natural, but author's sympathies not sufficiently aroused — Ralph — Job Pray — Legend of the Thirteen Republics —Extract, Battle of Bunker Hill, . . • • . .99

VI

The Last of the Mohicans. — Excursion — Catskill — Natty's description — English travellers — Lake George — Glenn's Falls — Promise given in the cave — First Indian romance — The author's illness — Very rapidly written — Name of Horican — ^j-- <mc/, Canoe-chase on the Horican, . . . . . .121

VII

The Prairie. — Indian Deputations — Western tribes — The author's sketches of Indian character — Xatty the Trapper — Poetical spirit of the books — Interview with Sir Walter ^coii— Extract, The Thicket on the Prairie, . . .142

VIII

The Red Rover. — St. Owen — The terrace — The bourgeois in a punt — French fields —Hill at Newport — The Zenaida dove — S'ip and Fid — Extract, The Wreck of the Royal Caroline, . . . . . . . .174

IX

The Wept of Wish-ton-wish. — Switzerland — La Lorraine — The Alps from Berne — Puritans and Indians — First view of Italy — The Casa Ricasoli — The Puritan household — Difficulties of printing — Extract, Narra-mattah, . . .197

X

The Water Witch. — St. Illario — Leghorn — Naples — Casa Tasso — The terrace — Sorrento — The Scaricatojo — The third nautical tale — Rome — Obstacles to printing — Dresden — Extract, Fire !....... 220

XI

The Bravo. — Journey from Rome — The Adriatic — Venice — Literary forgery — Gelso-

mina — The well of the Casa Tasso — Extract, The death of Antonio, . .241

XII

The Headsman. — Lake of Geneva— Vevey — Mountains of Savoy— .Jean Descloux —

Abbaye des Vignerons — Ranz des Vaches— ^x^ocif, Bruno and Nettuno, . 264

CONTENTS.

xin.

The Monikins. — The author's enjoyment of liumor and pleasantry - ^ar^rac^, Dr.

Reasono, Sir John Goldencalf, and Captain Poke in conference, . . 274

The Pathfinder. — Lake Ontario— The Oneida — Lament of Boniface in the forest — Grand military ball — Paddy and the blaze — Sailors and Indians — Natty the Pathfinder — Extract, Natty a Lover, ...... 308

XVII

The Deerslayer. — The lake-road — Natty on the first -war-path — The ark — Musk-rat

castle — Floating Tom — Extract, The Rescue of Hist, .... 322

xvin.

Wing-and-Wing.— Cruise of the Belle Genovese— Elba— Napoleon's house— The coast — Izola di Troja — Ischia— Le Feu Follet — Will-o'-the-Wisp— Raoul — Extract, The Death of Caraccioli, ....... 335

• The Chainbearer. — The squatters — Thousandacres and Andries Coejemans — Mooseridge — Extract, The Storehouse Prisoner, ..... 359

CONTENTS.

XXII. Faoe

The Redskins. — Anti-rent — The author's views of the subject — Jurists' opinions

of this series —-fi'x^rac^, Sunday at Ravensnest after the Incendiary Fire, . 366 xxin.

Jack Tier. — Originality of the plot — Spirit of the work — Extract, Mulford on the

Reef, 372

XXIV

The Oak Openings. — Journey to Michigan — The writer's enjoyment of the excursion — Changes in the country — Prairie Ronde — The Chalet — The swarm of bees — Indian conquered by Christianity — Lines from diary — Extract, The Council Fire in the Oak Grove, ........ 379

XXV

The Sea Lions. — Latest tale of the sea — Shelter Island — The deacon — Mary — The writer's views of a great religious doctrine — The Antarctic seas — Extract, Sealer's Land, . . . . . . . . . .389

ILLUSTRATIONS.

ENGRAVINGS ON STEEL.

SirBJECT.

ARTIST.

■EXOKAVER.

PAGE

Portrait of J. Fenimore Cooper,

C. L. Elliott,

W. E. Marshall,

Frontispiece

Otsego ITall, Residence of Mr. Cooper,

J. A. Hows,

R. Hinshelwood,

Title-page

The Wounded Indian, .

J. D. Smillie,

Down tlie Rcapids, .

J. McGoffin,

The Search, ....

L. Delnoce,

Journey over the Highlands,

C. Schuessele,

J. Duthie,

The Disputed Prize,

F. Girsch,

Wreck of the Ariel,

J. McGoffin,

Tom Coffin, ....

J. Wriyhtson,

The Rescue, a

S. A. Schof,

The Retreat, ....

it

T. Phillibroion,

The Prisoners, a

James Smillie,

Waylaid Travellers, a

J. D. Smillie,

Discovery of the Trapper, .

G. H. Cushman,

The Combat, ....

Sealey d- Smith,

Incident on the Prairie,

T. Taylor,

The Cover,

Sealey t£* Smith,

The Struggle,

T. Phillihrown,

Death of Scipio, ...

-

Alfred Jones,

Red Rover and Bristol Trader,

J. D. Thompson,

The Attack, ....

J. I. Pease,

Chase through Hell-Gate, .

J. McGoffin,

Sca-Green Lady,

T. Phillihrown,

The Absolution, n

R. Hinshelwood,

8FBJF.0T.

St. Bernard,

Dr. Iicasono,

The Jeopardy, .

The Proposal,

In tlie Wilderness,

The Block,

Death of the Indian,

Burial of Hetty Hutter,

The Execution,

The Escape,

A Perilous Adventure, .

The Squatter,

The Musician, .

Jack Tier and Captain Spike,

Indian Peter,

The Polar Sea,

ARTIST.

ENGRAVER.

PAGE

R. Hinshelwood,

Duthie (& de Mare^

.

T. Phillibrown,

J. W. Paradise,

J. Duthie,

J. W. Paradise,

B. J. Newnam,

J. McGoffin,

J. de Mare, u

C. H. Smith,

.

C. A. Jeivett,

R. Martin,

T. Phillihrown,

.

G. H. Cushman,

1.1

J. de Mare,

ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.

Lake Otsego from Hyde,

Blackbird Point,

Natty Bumppo's Cave,

Susquehannah, with Mt. Vision in Distance,

Lake Otsego from Witchhazel Point,

Wild Rose Point, .

Primeval Pines,

One Hundred and Twenty Head and T

J, A. Hows,

N. Orr d- Co.,

J. Cox,

1.1.

J. H. Richardson,

322 324

Drawn by F. O. C. Darley. Engraved by P. F. Annin.

LAKE OTSEGO l"BOM UTDE.

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