rmed and are still swarming from the press, cannot realize
the apparent peril which at that time existed in this undertaking. No
work of the kind, such as he now projected, had ever yet been
published. Sailors, indeed, had been introduced into fiction, notably
by Smollett, but in no case had there been exhibited the handling and
movements of vessels, and the details of naval operations. During the
last half-century we have been so surfeited with the sea-story in
every form, that most of us have forgotten the fact of its late
origin, and that it is to Cooper that it owes its creation. That he
created it was not due to any encouragement from others. He had plenty
of judicious friends to warn him from the undertaking. Sailors, he was
told, might understand and appreciate it, but no one else would.
Minute detail, moreover, was necessary to render it intelligible to
seamen, and to landsmen it would be both unintelligible and
uninteresting on account of the technicalities which must inevitably
be found in minute detail. A reputation already well established would
be sunk in the treacherous element he was purposing to describe.
Cooper persisted in his purpose, but he could not fail to be disturbed
by the unfavorable auguries that met him on every side. These naturally
had the more weight, as they came from men who were attached to (p. 046)
him personally, and who were honestly solicitous for his fame. He was at
one time almost inclined to give up the project. But a critical English
friend to whom he submitted a portion of the manuscript was delighted
with it. In this man's judgment and taste Cooper felt so great confidence
that he was induced to persevere. Moreover, to try the effect upon the
more peculiar public of seamen, he read an extract to one of his old
shipmates, who was also a relative. This was the account of the
war-vessel working off shore in a gale. The selection was certainly a
happy one. The literature of the sea presents no more thrilling chapter
than that which, describing the passage of the great frigate through
the narrow channel, gives every detail with such vividness and power
that the most unimaginative cannot merely see ship, shore, and foaming
water, but almost hear the roaring of the wind, the creaking of the
cordage, and the dashing of the waves against the breakers. As he read
on the listener's interest kept growing until he was no longer able to
remain quiet. Rising from his seat he paced up and do