ALS signed “J. Fenimore Cooper,” three pages on two separate sheets, 7 x 8.5, October 23, 1850. A fine letter written on behalf of James Henry Hackett (1800–1871) to his old friend Murray (1806–1895) who was at this time consul-general in Egypt. Hackett was a successful character actor on the New York and London stages, who was asked to present this letter to Murray in London. After imparting news of Hackett, Cooper reports on the development of the country. In part: "We are 'progressing' as we Americans call it, at a famous rate. New York must have doubled its population…Taking all together I regard New York as the most remarkable town in the world…Talking of the dust which is so shortly to be my position [Cooper died the next year], one of the most painful of my recollections of my own travels is the great number of the dead among the acquaintances I made.…There is a good deal of rumbling in our body politic, but I think nothing will come of it just now. The South has too much at stake…and every day it loses, increases the disparity of the forces. This acquisition of California hems in slavery, which must finally fall by its own weight. What are we to do with the blacks, God knows, but we shall never amalgamate."
He goes on to discuss the importance of gold in expanding business "a circulating medium being the great necessity of America" and devotes a paragraph to a paranormal phenomenon which he calls "the knockings": "All attempts at explanation are failures. They are not confined to one family, or one place, but have been heard in fifty places." He closes "Do not ask Hackett about my comedy, premature damnation being best forgotten."
In fine condition, with intersecting folds one through a single letter of signature, scattered light toning and foxing, and light show-through from text on reverse of first page. Letter is housed in a red half-morocco clamshell box, gilt-stamped title on spine.
As he mentions here, the problem of slavery gained Cooper’s attention. Unlike other opponents, however, Cooper refused to discuss slavery as an independent issue but rather as part of a larger criticism of the nation’s political philosophy. Oddly enough, he did not envision the issue one that would lead to secession, much less than al all out war. “There is a good deal of rumbling in our body politic, but I think nothing will come of it just now. The South has too much at stake,” he notes here. Shortly before his 1851 death, Cooper was writing a historical work, tentatively called ‘The Towns of Manhattan’ (sometime referred to as ‘The Men of Manhattan’), which was probably meant to provide a past, present, and future look at New York, a city that, as mentioned here, he considered to be “the most remarkable town in the world.” Interesting insight from Cooper not only on the amazing growth of the Big Apple but also his views on slavery. RRAuction COA.
