s country which he imputed, whether justly or
unjustly, to English influence. Distrust became dislike, and dislike
deepened into hostility.

There is little doubt that with a man of Cooper's nature the revulsion
from his original feelings would tend to swing him to the opposite
extreme; that, as a consequence of that, he would often fancy (p. 094)
insult where none was intended, and impute to design conduct that was
the result of chance or even of personal timidity. But making full
allowance for this inevitable source of error, there was plenty of
reason furnished for offense to a man whose personal pride was equal to
that of the whole British aristocracy, and whose pride in his country
exceeded even his personal pride. The ignorant criticism which amused
most Americans was apt to make him indignant. No compliment, in
particular, could be paid with safety to him individually at the expense
of his country. This was a practice, however, which the Englishmen of
that day seemed to regard as the consummate crown of adulation.
Depreciation of America of any sort he resented at once. If conversation
touched upon matters discreditable to the United States--which was far
from being an uncommon topic--it was very much his practice, instead of
listening to it patiently, to bring up matters discreditable to Great
Britain. There was unquestionably ample material on both sides with
which each could blacken the other. But while this tended to make the
conversation less monotonous, it likewise tended to make the converser
less popular. Cooper lost early by his bearing in English society much
of the favor which he had won from his writings. To this we have
positive evidence. It is specifically mentioned in the sketch of his
life, which along with his portrait appeared in 1831 in Colburn's "New
Monthly Magazine." The article went on, after mentioning this fact, to
pay a tribute to his somewhat aggressive patriotism. "Yet he seems," it
said, "to claim little consideration on the score of intellectual
greatness; he is evidently prouder of his birth than of his genius; and
looks, speaks, and walks as if he exulted more in being recognized (p. 095)
as an American citizen than as the author of 'The Pilot' and 'The Prairie.'"

To a man whose heart was thus full of the future glories of the
republic, the indifference and neglect with which it was regarded could
not but be galling. Still this was nothing to the positive contempt
which ofte