James Fenimore Coopers’ comments in 1838 dealing with the description of the naval yard at Washington made by the British navy Lieutenant Frederick Fitzgerald de Roos in 1825

In 1828 the American writer James Fenimore Cooper reacted on a article published in the Quarterly Review.(1) This article was dealing with the journey of the British Navy Lieutenant Frederick Fitzgerald de Roos to the United States. De Roos visited several dockyards in the United States and described those in his book.(2) Cooper doesn’t agree with De Roos and gave sharp comments in his in 1828 published book Notions etc. Cooper (p. 356) also referred to ‘another book on the same country, to which it is not necessary to refer’. “As to the German, or pretended German author, reviewed, I have nothing to say to him. He either knows a vast deal more of my country than I know myself, or he knows nothing at all about it. Mr. de Roos being a professional man, and coming out under his own name, is entitled to more respect. I think it unfortunate that this gentleman did not give himself sufficient time to make his observations.” Dealing with the German author, is this by Bernhard, duke of Saxe-Weimar Eisenach, who visited in 1825 the dockyards in the United States? If so, it will be become very interesting to find the (semi-)official report written by the Dutch naval officers and engineers who visited (partly) together with the duke the yards.

P. 356: “At Washington, Mr. de Roos entered the navy-yard. He saw the house of the commissioner, (captain of the yard;) but could observe no other residence belonging to officers.' I take this acknowledgment to be another proof of his haste, as the master-commandant has a very neat and commodious dwelling within a few rods of the other house, and nearly in its front. I think, too, he must have passed the extensive quarters of the officers of the marine corps, which are very near the gate, and before which there are always sentinels. Mr. de Roos is mistaken in calling the inclined plane Commodore Porter’s: it was built under the inspection of Com-

p. 357: modore Rodgere. He is also unfortunate in his opinion of the fate of the Potomac (on that plane,) for she was launched without difficulty, shortly after he saw her. (See page 17.) ‘The shed, or rather houses, under which they build their ships, are not of an approved construction.’ By whom? - by Mr. de Roos?  Mr. de Roos says, ‘It has been the fashion of travellers to accuse the Americans of a habitual violation of veracity in conversation’; but then he thinks this accusation is without foundation. I am happy that he found reason to think so.”

Source

James Fenimore Cooper. Notions of the Americans picked up by a travelling bachelor. Vol I. Philadelphia, 1828.

Notes

1. James Fenimore Cooper (15 September 1789-14 September 1851) was author of several sea-stores and of The Last of the Mohicans. This romantic novel is probably his best or one of his best books. He became the rank of midshipmen in his sea life. Between 1826-1833 he lived in Europe, somehow representing the United States. After returning to the United States he wrote several books and notes dealing with his European travels and experiences.

2. See on this weblog for De Roos: “The navy yard at Boston, United States in 1826 as described by the British navy Lieutenant Fred. Fitzgerald de Roos”; “The navy yard at New York, United States in 1826 as described by the British navy Lieutenant Fred. Fitzgerald de Roos”; “The navy yard at Washington, United States in 1826 as described by the British navy Lieutenant Fred. Fitzgerald de Roos”; “The navy yard at Kingston in 1826 as described by the British navy Lieutenant Fred. Fitzgerald de Roos”; “The navy yard at Sackett’s Harbor in 1826 as described by the British navy Lieutenant Fred. Fitzgerald de Roos” and “The navy yard at Philadelphia, United States in 1826 as described by the British navy Lieutenant Fred. Fitzgerald de Roos”, See on this weblog for Bernhard, duke of Saxe-Weimar Eisenach: “The navy yard at Boston described by Bernhard, duke of Saxe-Weimar Eisenach during his visit 5 August 1825”, “The navy yard at Norfolk described by Bernhard, duke of Saxe-Weimar Eisenach during his visit in 1825”; “The navy yard at Washington described by Bernhard, duke of Saxe-Weimar Eisenach during his visit in November 1825” and “The navy yard at Philadelphia described by Bernhard, duke of Saxe-Weimar Eisenach during his visit in 1825”.