Re: Jacob Sutherland.
1) In his explanatory notes to the definitive SUNY Albany edition of
"The Pioneers" SUNY Press 1980, p. 457, James F. Beard notes:
"Sutherland acknowledge the Dedication of The Pioneers in the following
letter, dated "Albany Feby 3d 1823." Though he had recently been elected to
the New York State Senate, he declined the office in favor of an appointment
as Justice of the New York State Supreme Court. Sutherland and Cooper had
known each other as boys and had been contemporaries at Yale, though
Sutherland graduated in the class of 1807, two years after Cooper was
expelled.
------
Dear Cooper,
Accept my thanks for the Copy of the "Pioneers" which I have just
received from you -- and more especially for the very kind & affectionate
manner in which you have been pleased to dedicate it to me -- I consider It
no ordinary Compliment to be thus distinguished by the author of the
"Spy" -- But as you justly suppose, It is most valuable to me, as an
evidence of that Friendship which commenced with our Youth, and which I
trust will descend with us to our graves ---
I have time to say no more, -- as I can not let the mail return, without
bearing to you my acknowledgement--
I am a judge & I very cordially accept your congratulations --
Mrs. Sutherland unites with me in remembrance to Mrs. C. & yourself.
Your Sincere Friend
J. Sutherland
James Cooper, Esq.
Addressed to:
James Cooper Esquire, New York
Postmarked: Albany FEB. 3.
--------------
The original letter is at Yale.
In his "Letters and Journals of James Fenimore Cooper" (Harvard,
1960-68), Beard notes (Vol. II, p. 71): "Jacob Sutherland (1787?-1845, Yale
1807), the boyhood friend to whom Cooper dedicated The Pioneers, was a
justice of the New York State Supreme Court from 1823-1845."
Cooper refers to Sutherland (and to his wife Frances Lansing Sutherland)
in a number of letters (see Letters and Journals, index), and there was
evidently correspondence between them, referred to in Beard's Letters and
Journals, for example Sutherland recommended Cooper to be named American
Minister in Vienna -- but there seem to be no letters extant from Cooper to
Sutherland).
Reprint editions of Cooper published after his death often omitted
Cooper's dedications and title-page epigraphs, important as these might be
(and often are) to a full understanding of Cooper's intent in writing a
book.
If you have further questions, I'll try to help.
Hugh C. MacDougall
Secretary/Treasurer
James Fenimore Cooper Society
8 Lake Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326
[log in to unmask] & [log in to unmask]
http://www.oneonta.edu/external/cooper
----- Original Message -----
From: "NYHISTLED" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 8:21 AM
Subject: Cooper, The Pioneers
> Forwarding following inquiry to NYHIST-L:
>
> I am trying to trace the history of James Fenimore Cooper's
> dedication in his novel, _THE PIONEERS_. In an 1830's edition of the book,
Cooper dedicated the book to Jacob Sutherland. This dedication seems to have
disappered from later editions. What I would like to know is when this
dedication first appeared in _THE PIONEERS_? I have not been able to get a
look at a first edition. Is anyone on the list familiar with the
> book who could tell me the history of Cooper's dedication to Sutherland?
(Also, if anyone knows anything about any correspondence between Cooper and
Sutherland, I would be very interested to hear about it.) I would appreciate
it if you would contact me directly at
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Thanks very much. Ian McGiver.
>
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