It was of “The Pioneers” that Bryant wrote:  “It dazzled the world by the splendor of its novelty.”

An interesting incident of Cooper’s kindness of heart is of this date and some ten years later came to light as follows:  After his return from Europe in 1833 he one day gave to his eldest daughter “a small book bound in boards.”  It was entitled “Tales for Fifteen, or, Imagination and Heart” by Jane Morgan.  He said to her:  “Dearie, here is a little book that I wrote for Wiley,” adding that he had bought it at a news stand on his way home.  It appears “when Wiley failed a number of his patrons wrote stories and gave them to him.”  These two—­one called “Heart” and the other “Imagination” were written by Cooper, but “curiously enough,”—­were published under the pen-name of “Jane Morgan.”  The book is very rare; only two copies are known to be in existence.

The thought of writing a romance of the sea first came to Mr. Cooper while dining at Mr. Charles Wilkes’, where the table-talk turned on “The Pirate,” just issued by the author of “Waverley.”  When his marine touches were highly praised for their accuracy, Cooper held they were not satisfactory to the nautical reader.  His friends thought more accuracy might better please seamen but would prove dull reading for the general public.  With his usual spirit, Cooper refused to be convinced, and on his way home that evening “the outlines of a nautical romance were vaguely sketched in his mind”; but he never dreamed it would become one of a series of sea-stories.  “I must write one more book—­a sea tale—­” he said, “to show what can be done in this way by a sailor!” The stirring struggles of the American Revolution again enlisted the author’s loyal pen-service in the character of that bold adventurer, John Paul Jones, and his cruise in The Ranger, when he made his daring descent upon Whitehaven and St. Mary’s Isle, which suggested to Cooper his plot for “The Pilot.”  Two ships, a frigate and the schooner Ariel, were drawn for the tale.  During its writing the author had many doubts of its success.  Friends thought the sea tame when calm, and unpleasant in storms; and as to ladies—­the reading of storms would surely make them seasick.  His first encouragement came from an Englishman of taste, though a doubter of American talent.  To Cooper’s surprise, this authority pronounced his sea tale good.  Then came the favorable opinion of Commodore Shubrick, of which the author wrote:  “Anxious to know what the effect would be on the public, I read a chapter to S——­, now captain, which contained an account of a ship working off-shore in a gale.  My listener betrayed interest as we proceeded, until he could no longer keep his seat.  He paced the room furiously until I got through, and just as I laid down the paper he exclaimed:  ’It is all very well, but you have let your jib stand too long, my fine fellow!’ I blew it out of the bolt-rope in pure spite!” And thus it was that