THIS NUMBER CONTAINS SIX AND A HALF SHEETS. EDINBURGH REVIEW ON JAMES'S NAVAL OCCURRENCES, AND COOPER'S NAVAL HISTORY. THE appearance of the last of the two works named in the heading of this article has, in a degree, revived the controversy concerning the nautical claims of the respective belligerents, during the wars between England and America. Agreeably to a species of tactics a good deal practised among our transatlantic relatives, whenever a case affecting national interests or national reputation arises, different portions of the duty of defence have been assigned to different parties—each according to his habits and qualifications. In this particular instance, the scurrilous has been assumed by one of the professional magazines; while the Edinburgh has undertaken the artful and more dignified office of mystifying. As we claim a right to preserve our own self-respect, we shall say nothing to, or of, the former of these assailants of the American book, while we deem the matter sufficiently of national importance to lay a brief reply to the latter before our readers, in an examination of its facts and reasoning. The renown of the navy is a noble portion of the property of the republic; and, as we conceive that this singularly disingenuous and illogical article of the Scottish periodical may have a tendency to cast a doubt over merit that we hold to be incontrovertible, when fairly considered, we shall depart from the usual practice of the craft, and review a reviewer. The war of 1812 gave birth to many ephemeral works on the subject of its naval combats. Among others was a book written by a Mr. James, a person who had come to this country just before the commencement of hostilities, to seek his fortune as a veterinary surgeon; a profession which, of itself, offered no very probable qualifications to form a keen nautical critic. Mr. James remained in Philadelphia for some months after the 18th June, |