tes saw
the "Edinburgh Review," none believed what it said. In England fewer
knew even of the existence of the "Democratic Review."

The controversy that arose in this country was on an entirely different
ground. It was one that could hardly have been foreseen. The personal
hostility which Cooper had succeeded in drawing upon himself was never
so conspicuously shown as in the treatment which his "Naval History"
underwent. At first, indeed, it was received with general favor, though
by many it was thought to give too much credit to the English. In a
short time, however, attacks were made upon it so virulent, so
causeless, and withal so simultaneous, that the mere fact would of
itself afford reason for the suspicion that they were concerted. This
was practically the case. A certain amount of preliminary detail will
make the circumstances clear. The controversy was entirely about the
account of a particular action in the war of 1812, and a work containing
over fifty chapters was absolutely condemned as partisan and worthless
for what was found on a few pages of one chapter.

The battle of Lake Erie was fought and won by Commodore Perry on the
10th of September, 1813. It presented the peculiarity that the Lawrence,
the flagship of the victorious squadron, had struck to the enemy in the
course of the engagement. There was a feeling prevalent among many at
the time that Elliott, the second in rank, had not been cordial in his
support of his commander, and had left him to bear for a long while the
brunt of the fight without hastening in his vessel, the Niagara, (p. 209)
to his help. This was, in particular, the general belief among those on
board the Lawrence. Perry did not sanction this view at first. Urged by
good-nature, according to the theory of his friends, he praised
Elliott's conduct in his official report. He went even farther in a
letter of the 19th of September. This was in reply to a note from
Elliott stating that rumors were current that the Lawrence had been
sacrificed because of the lack of proper exertion on the part of the
second in command. "I am indignant," wrote Perry, "that any report
should be in circulation prejudicial to your character as respects the
action of the 10th instant. It affords me pleasure that I have it in my
power to assure you that the conduct of yourself, officers, and crew was
such as to merit my warmest approbation. And I consider the circumstance
of your volunteering and bringing t