than he lost by
being transferred at so early an age to other scenes. But the lack of
certain qualities in his writings, which educated men are perhaps the
only ones to notice, can be traced pretty directly to this lack of
preliminary intellectual drill.

His academical career having been thus suddenly cut short, he entered
in a little while upon one better suited to his adventurous nature.
Boys are sent to sea, he tells us in one of his later novels, for the
cure of their ethical ailings. This renovating influence of ocean life
he had at any rate a speedy opportunity to try. It was decided that he
should enter the navy. The position of his father, who had been for
several years a representative in Congress, and was a leading member
of the Federalist party, naturally held out assurances that the son
would receive all the advancement to which he would be legitimately
entitled. At that time no naval school existed. It was the custom, in
consequence, for boys purposing to fit themselves for the position of
officers to serve a sort of apprenticeship in the merchant marine.
Accordingly in the autumn of 1806, Cooper was placed on board a vessel
that was to sail from the port of New York with a freight of flour to
Cowes and a market. The ship was named the Sterling, and was commanded
by Captain John Johnston, of Wiscasset, Maine, who was also part owner.
Cooper's position and prospects were well known; but he was employed
regularly before the mast and was never admitted to the cabin. The (p. 010)
vessel cleared from the port of New York on the 16th of October. The
passage was a long and stormy one; forty days went by before land was
seen after it had once been left behind. The ship reached the other
side just at the time when the British Channel was alive with vessels
of war in consequence of one of the periodical anticipations of
invasions from France. It went to London, and stayed for some time
there discharging its cargo and taking in new. Cooper embraced the
opportunity to see all the sights he could of the great metropolis.
"He had a rum time of it in his sailor rig," said afterward one of his
shipmates, "but hoisted in a wonderful deal of gibberish, according to
his own account of the cruise."

The Sterling sailed with freight in January, 1807, for the Straits of
Gibraltar. It took on board a cargo of barilla at Aguilas and Almeria,
and returned to England, reaching the Thames in May. Both going and
coming the voyage