write a series of lives of
officers who had been prominent in its history. The first of these
appeared originally in "Graham's Magazine" for October, 1842, and the
others are scattered through the volumes of that year and the years
succeeding. In 1846 they were published in book form. Among them was a
life of Perry. In this he took occasion to reaffirm what he had
previously said about the battle of Lake Erie. But the injustice which
had been done to him did not lead him to treat with injustice the man
whose life he was writing, though it was impossible for him to say what
would be satisfactory to Perry's partisans without falsifying what he
believed to be the truth.

In spite of the numerous attacks made upon it the "Naval History" was
successful, as success is measured in technical works of this kind. A
second edition, revised and corrected, appeared in April, 1840, and in
1847 a third edition was published. At the time of his death Cooper was
projecting a continuation of it, and had gathered together materials for
that purpose. The original work ended with the close of the last war
with Great Britain. He intended to bring it down to the end of the
Mexican War. This was done by another after his death. In 1853 a new
edition of the "Naval History" appeared with a continuation prepared by
the Reverend Charles W. McHarg. The matter that Cooper had collected
was used, but there was very little in what was added that was of his
own composition. Of the original work, it is safe to say, that for the
period which it covers it is little likely to be superseded as the (p. 230)
standard history of the American navy. Later investigation may show
some of the author's assertions to be erroneous. Some of his conclusions
may turn out as mistaken as have his prophecies about the use of steam
in war vessels. But such defects, assuming that they exist, are more
than counterbalanced by advantages which make it a final authority on
points that can never again be so fully considered. Many sources of
information which were then accessible no longer exist. The men who
shared in the scenes described, and who communicated information
directly to Cooper, have all passed away. These are losses that can
never be replaced, even were it reasonable to expect that the same
practical knowledge, the same judicial spirit, and the same power of
graphic description could be found united again in the same person.

CHAPTER XI.