istory of men
of letters. It is, of course, in and through this latter half of his
life that Cooper, both as a man and as an author, made his
contribution to the common possessions of mankind.

The larger part of this period he lived in either New York or
Cooperstown. Seven years of it (1826-1833), however, were spent in
Europe with his family. The whole of it was, till at least the last
years, a pretty stormy time to Cooper personally, as well as a busy
one in his writing. From the memory of most people now living the
recollection of the lawsuits in which Cooper became involved has
faded. They were about as numerous as the books he wrote, and they
were of an irritating character which would have wearied out a man
less bold and enduring. Of this sort of defence and offence he had had
a foretaste during his European residence, when he was often called on
to defend his native country from an ignorant and depreciative
criticism, which was sixty years ago far more common than now. But he
who was the defender of his country when abroad, seems to have become
the severe critic of his country when at home. "Condescension in
foreigners" is bad enough, but condescension in a native who has lived
abroad is far worse. On returning Cooper found an America, as he
believed, vastly deteriorated. Morals had become base; manners coarse;
commerce fallen into speculation. He was not the man to keep his
sentiments locked up in his heart. He wrote, and wrote with fulness
and severity of his country and of his countrymen. Thurlow Weed, in
1841, wrote of him: "He has disparaged American lakes, ridiculed
American scenery, burlesqued American coin, and even satirized the
American flag." He also was so foolish as to reply to certain adverse
criticisms made on "The Bravo," and in seeking to bring down the
lightning on the head of his reviewer, he brought down both thunder
and lightning on his own head and about his ears. It must be added,
too, that he did not live at peace with his neighbors. Discussion and
litigation as to a piece of land which the people of Cooperstown
believed had been given by Cooper's father for public uses was
peculiarly exasperating. The citizens, in a public meeting, resolved,
"That we recommend and request the trustees of the Franklin Library,
in this village, to remove all books of which Cooper is the author
from said library." That Cooper was legally right did not at all
lessen the bitterness. He attacked the newspaper