American Literature and Charleston Society [pp. 380-421]

392 American Literature and CkarThston ~oc~ety. [Api-il,
time, and makes of him the Wouvermans of Anglo-American literature." (p. 3~.)
"The most lovable works of Irving, are those in which the delicate observation of his youth is nafvely set forth. llis satiric llistory of New-York, by Dietrich Knickerbocker, a parody on the
Dutch minuteness, and the microscopic importance claimed for
themselves by the very little-the Sketch Book, Bracebridge llall,
and the Tales of a Traveller-works which will remain, and which,
indeed, are refined continuations of the style of Addison-constitute
what one may call Irving's first manner. Criticism had accused him
of feebleness he wished to rise higher, and wrote the History of
Christopher Columbus, and that of his companions-that of the
conquest of Grenada, and at last the Alhambra. In this second
manner there is a little too high colouring and emphasis; but the research is conscientions and the style brilliant.
"Returned among his compatriots who had made him their ambassador to Spain, he undertook a voyage throughout the United
States.
"The Falls of Niagara, the Lakes of Champlain and Erie, the
banks of the Ohio, the majestic course of the Mis3issippi, formed the
theatre of his first excursions. Then, with a troop of mounted pioneers, he penetrated into the territories of the warlike Pawnees,
explored the prairies and forests, chased the wild horse and the buffalo, slept in the open air by the camp-fire, or in the Indian wigwam.
This expedition inspired a charming book. The recent life of Mahomet and his successors is not a very clever production for so lovable and gracious a talent." (pp. 41-42.)
All this is very pleasant, and, for a foreigner, very genial and a~ —
preciative criticism. Let us next see how he discourses upon Cooper:
"In his first romances, which awakened the attention of Europe,
all is Amencan-descnptions, inspirations, ideas, personages; he copies only transatlantic nature; certainly, he reproduces it minutely,
long, without pause. with~ut perspective, but lie is always American. You find his pictures rather dry, fatiguing, by the fidelity of
their details; the coldness of his colouring displeases; you accuse
him of prolixity; the intrigue seems to be woven with a sufficient
clumsiness; and the play of the passions reveals itself with a mechanical punctuality and a scrupulous sfiffl~ess. * * * ~ He
escribes with talent, and often in his detailed pictures only one
hing is wanting-life. While he rehearses the least circumstances
~tending an action, the action rests unaccomplished. * * * *
The author is as if in a jury-box; he tells the truth and nothing but
the truth. If two foemen fight with fierce rage upon the edge of a