COOPER'S ENGLAND. Moisten their bills awhile, then soar away. 391 Gleanings in Europe-England; by an American. 2 vols. Philadelphia, Carey, Lea and Blanchard. THIS is Mr. Cooper's latest perpetration. How comforting is the reflection that every body is not obliged to read it! If there were a law as compulsory upon the public as upon the critics, to read every new work by an American, we should soon hear of petitions in Congress for injunctions upon native authors, and the first name mentioned would be that of James Fennimore Cooper. It appears, from the little notice which has been taken of these volumes by the press, that even the critics sometimes indulge themselves with a respite. To faithfully peruse such lucubrations requires a greater degree of long-suffering than even that much-abused class, the Reviewers, can be required to endure. We can imagine a no more severe penance for our sins than we have just imposed upon ourselves in a cursory examination of this breviary of an egotist's woes. It would have remained undisturbed for us, if we had not observed that the English Magazines had deemed it worthy of considerable remark and animadversion. We beg leave to assure our friends "across the big waters," that no value whatever is attached to Mr. Cooper's opinions in this country. His obtrusive egotism has rendered him as unacceptable to his own countrymen as to Englishmen or Frenchmen, or the men of any nation upon which he has conferred the unappreciated and unappreciable honor of his august presence. So long as The author of the Spy" remained abroad, and the publishers of his novels regaled the American public with accounts of the great favor with which "The Bravo," "The Heidenmauer," and "The Headsman" were received in Great Britain, and of the number of languages into which they were translated in continental Europe, he walked before our imagination like a genius in the Arabian Nights, enveloped in a rose-colored vapor. But no sooner had he set foot upon our shores than the illusion vanished, and people contemplated a man beset with all the infirmities of less-honored mortals, and distinguished by abilities, which, when no longer measured by an ideal standard, appeared to loom very little higher than those of untravelled authors, whose height did not exceed five feet ten in boots. The high horse he rode and the stilts he walked upon were too perceptible to keep up the delusion of his altitude for a single day. The remembrance of many happy things in his romances, however, prevented people from laughing at him; but after the publication of his ridiculous "Letter to his Countrymen," good breeding could go no further, and the nation burst into an obstreperous guffaw. Since then people have been laughing at him in and out of their sleeves as their humor prompted. When the Monikins ap peared, every body, as Solomon Swop expresses it, "snickered right out;" and now, when "England by an American" is presented to us, we do not even condescend to laugh, but confine ourselves to the expressive comment of a single word-"Poh !" In the August number of Fraser's Magazine, Mr. Cooper's last "flare up" is "used up" most effectually. Had he the least sensitiveness, he would be thrown into an ague-fit and shiver periodically for the rest of his life. The sooner he goes into a course of "port wine and bark" the better for his constitution. The sands of his hour-glass, as an author, are almost run; another such shake, and the last grain would fall into the bottom. But we forget Mr. Cooper's egotism. The smallest puff from the windiest cockney editor would make all right-once more invert the glass, and in his own view at least, set the sands to running again as brilliantly as ever. Our readers will observe that the title of these volumes is very like that of Mr. Slidell's "American in England." "England by an American" becomes the mouth as well, and will create an error which will operate much to Mr. Slidell's disadvantage. It will cause the latter to be purchased sometimes by mistake for the former; though there is not the least danger that the reverse will ever happen. No two works can be more totally dissimilar, and we trust that the public will not suffer itself to be imposed upon by the similarity of the titles. A proper distinction will be kept up by taking pains to recollect, that the running title to Mr. Cooper's abortion is "Gleanings in Europe." It seems a pity that a man with all his five senses in exercise could not have lived in Europe for a series of years without bringing away something richer than "gleanings;" and an emotion stronger than pity, though akin to it, is excited when we come to know that those "gleanings" are often no better than stubble. We shall not now proceed (to use his own language,) "to cut up" Mr. Cooper's book " as one would carve a pig;" but we shall designate certain disagreeable characteristics which are sufficient to send it into Coventry in all circles where dignity and decency are held in repute. Imprimis, it seems to be taken for granted throughout these letters to his familiar friends-for of such is the work composed-that the English look upon the Americans "With as favorable eyes As Gabriel upon the devil in Paradise." There is no manner of truth in the insinuation. American travellers and adventurers are, and always have been, received in England with great kindness and courtesy. So say the Magazines in which Mr. Cooper's book is noticed, and so testify Mr. N. P. Willis and Mr. Edwin Forrest, both of whom have lately returned from England with the fairest evidences of their admiration for at least one portion of its inhabitants. The amiability and excellent good-nature of the first-named gentleman were as clear glasses before his observing vision, and he saw nothing except in a favorable light. He has, moreover, a mind capable of appreciating the thousand glorious associations which cluster around those fanes and groves, over which the imagination of an American should delight to hover; for they enoble the memory and consecrate the deeds of his ancestors. Though Mr. Willis may be said to have in some degree violated the sanctity of private life by his descriptions of the social habits and manners of celebrated men and women, yet he was never accused of not having deported himself like a gentleman while in their society, or of a deficiency of that tact which taught him to defer to the aristocratic prejudices of the high sphere in which he sometimes moved, instead of displaying a pseudo republican insolence of manner which would not be tolerated for an instant in the refined circles of this country. Mr. Willis's innocent and awe-struck admiration of great estates and great titles is perfectly harmless, and infinitely more endurable than the low, vulgar contempt which Mr. Cooper affects to entertain towards Dukes and Dutchesses, Counts and Countesses, Lords and Ladies, and all the harmless grandees who will swell the pageant of the young Queen's coronation. We are glad to appeal from Mr. James Fennimore Cooper to Mr. Willis and Mr. Forrest on this point of the opinion which is entertained of Americans in England. Mr. Cooper views objects through the distorted medium of his prejudice and selfism, and then pronounces positively, as if sure that his judgment would be considered as final. He writes with the air of a man who has put his foot down that a thing shall be so, and so it must be. Nothing can be more displeasing than such dogmatism to the reader; who likes to be allowed sometimes to make up his own opinions, and does not wish to have them dressed like a bad sallad for his table. Generally speaking, he would prefer more oil and less vinegar. This brings us to another feature of our author's remarks-their constant ill-nature. A more disagreeable man in society cannot be conceived of than an angry dogmatist. As such, Mr. Cooper, according to his own showing, must have appeared more than once in England; and as such he certainly seems in many of his letters. "There is one distinguished English writer in particular," he remarks near the commencement of his second volume, "of whom it is the fashion to celebrate, in constant eulogies, the grace and deportment, who, I shall say, is one of the very worst-mannered persons I have ever met in cultivated society." If our author constitutes himself as the standard of good manners, we have no hesitation in saying that we have no faith in his assertion, but firmly believe that the writer alluded to was richly deserving of every eulogy pronounced on his" grace and deportment." We are disposed rather to set down the remark as one of those ebullitions of spleen with which he is so fond of "discumgomfwigisticating" the English. This fly, however, will make no more impression on the horn of an ox than that in the fable. We have no space wherein to enumerate the sottises with which this work abounds. "I, MYSELF, I," should have been printed in staring capitals as the motto on its title-page. We might quote whole pages to illustrate its appropriateness, but we cannot consent to impose such stuff on our readers in the room of more agreeable matter. We do not anticipate any good effects from the rebuke which we have administered. Our author will probably consider it as beneath his supreme regard. He will, however, have good reason to know the truth of Dr. Johnson's remark, which implies, that a man can write himself down, though another may fail to do so. We must, in conclusion, solemnly assure Mr. Cooper that we have not been hired by the French government to abuse his productions. We will not deny having received some communication on the subject from the Emperor of all the Russias. Venetia. A Novel. 2 vols. By the author of "Vivian Grey," &c. It is out of the question-we cannot say much in favor of this work-praised as it has been—and abounding as it may be in good passages, and eloquent. The difficulty is, though a work of genius-and of a genius-for no one will deny that title to D'Israeli-it wants the character and the stamina which alone furnished by themselves; if, on the contrary, the course of treatment which they adopt be such as to arouse and keep alive the baser feelings of our nature; not only the trials which they suffer are attributable to themselves, but the perversion of many a noble nature may be justly laid to their charge. There are, no doubt, duties which domestics owe, and are conscious of owing, to their employers, which they wilfully neglect. There must be conscientiousness on both sides to produce a state of things perfectly happy. Employers may often feel wounded by real ingratitude-they may be discouraged by determined obstinacy; but we may ask whether superior light does not exact superior long-suffering, superior charity, and the exercise of a loftier spirit of forgiveness. Such works as this of Miss Sedgwick must do good. She has spoken, we doubt not, to the conscience of many a householder. Her acquaintance with life, in this particular walk, is indeed surprising in one who still writes Miss before her name. Having now given the lesson to the employers, we have a right to expect that she will turn the tables, and show us the picture which she has no doubt designed on the other side. Mr. Barnard's Discourse before the New-York Alpha of the Society Phi Beta Kappa. Albany; 1837. To speak our first impressions of this address, we should say that it bears the marks of haste and carelessness. There is great want of polish in the style, and something of superficiality in the treatment of the subject. The discourse is political in its character; but, believing with the orator, that our literary men, more than any other class, have the power, and accordingly that on them devolves the duty, of giving a permanent and controlling influence to just principles of policy in our government, we find no fault with it on that account. Mr. Barnard's immediate object seems to be, to expound the representative principle in our government, and to point out the evil consequences which must result from practically neutralizing the operation of that principle, as we seem to be in some danger of doing, by depriving the representative of all freedom of action, and making him the mere organ of expressing on every occasion the popular will, or of giving effect to the temporary popular whim. We admit, with Mr. Barnard, to the fullest extent, the absurdity and the folly of that doctrine, which has had even among ourselves some advocates, and in other parts of the country many more, which exacts of the representative an abandonment of either his post or his principles, whenever, after his election, the political tide may seem to turn against the particular party which placed him in power. But we cannot abandon the right of instruction, nor absolve the representative from the obligation to obey the formally expressed will of his constiTo be binding on him, we hold that those instructions should be personal and positive; after which we admit the exercise of no discretion on the part of the people's agent. Deny this right, and the government is no longer a representative democracy, but an elective oligarchy. tuents. We complain of superficiality in this discourse, because on such an occasion we had a right to expect, not merely that one great and important principle should be set forth and illustrated; but that all the qualifications of its truth, all the restrictions and limitations of its application, should be exhibited also. Mr. Barnard finds among the consequences of the increasing disregard of the valuable element of the representative principle, the introduction of narrow and short-sighted views into legislation and the conduct of the government, the ge neral deterioration of the intellectual and moral character of the people themselves, and the unsparing tyranny of an unenlightened and unprincipled majority. To the literary portion of the community, Mr. Barnard looks with confidence for the application of a remedy for these serious evils. He would have them inculcate political lessons, both by attacking error directly, and by illustrating its consequences, and the beauty of truth in an indirect manner through all the varieties of lighter writing. Mr. Barnard has certainly indicated the main pillar of our safety; but we must be permitted to question the correctness of an opinion he seems to entertain, that this conservative power of literature will not be increased, in proportion as literary men become separated from other interests and pursuits. We cannot, however, stop here to discuss the correctness of this opinion, nor to go at length into any of the various topics, which this discourse suggests. Some of these we have already in hand for a more methodical examination hereafter. Animal Magnetism--Letter to Dr. Brigham, &c.; by William L. Or the truth of the main fact on which the pretensions of the so-called science of Animal Magnetism rest, viz. the reality of the influence, which, by an exercise of the will, one human being is capable of exerting over the physical and mental powers of another, rendering the patient insensible to ordinary external impressions, and subjecting the operations of his mind to the complete control of the operation-we have been for some time convinced. Our conviction rested upon certain accounts of matters quite as extraordinary, and, to our minds, as well authenticated as those detailed by Mr. Stone in the letter before us, which had reached us months ago from the same scene of operations, the city of Providence. With regard to the rationale of the things, the subject appears to us involved in the deepest mystery. We consider, nevertheless, the theories of Animal Magnetism hitherto published as almost too absurd to merit a moment's attention. But facts are stubborn things; and whether we can account for them or not, we are forced to believe the united testimony of all our senses, however the information they bring us may contradict the ordinary experience of mankind. We have heard more than one skeptic, on this subject, declare that he would promptly reject the testimony of his own eyes and ears sooner than admit the reality of the strange phenomena described by the defenders of Animal Magnetism. It is our private opinion that such a rejection is harder than belief; is, in short, impossible; and that, whatever doctrines any individual may profess regarding the deceitfulness of the senses, he cannot, if he would, in practice, withhold his assent to their continuous and consistent testimony. The readers of the letter under consideration will not be able, it is true, to refer the question to the decision of their own senses; but they will be satisfied, that, had they themselves been placed in circumstances similar to those in which the writer found himself, they would have considered the precautions taken to avoid mistake to be abundant, and the reality of the mysterious phenomena established, so far as the observations of the senses can be relied on to establish facts so anomalous. The reader of the letter, therefore, will be reduced to a rigorous dilemma-he |