Lettre autographe signée « J. Fenimore Cooper », adressée à l’éditeur George Roberts à Boston. 22 janvier 1841 ; 1 page in-4°. « I cannot help you to a copy of the tale. After all it is scarce worth the trouble of a search, nor as I know that it would at all suit the taste of the majority of readers. I very well remember some ladies speaking of Heart as a better story than Imagination. Though as I recalled than the latter is infinitely the best. It would not tally with my notion to publish a novel in the way you mention. I could not do it without putting at risk several thousands of dollars […] Nor should I like to publish a novel in this form at all. It requires a particular sort of composition for such a plan & the desultory digressive manner — and my practice of writing is diametrically opposed to it […]. I am about to publish an answer to the attacks on the Naval History […]. Still I think the articles might appear simultaneously, or nearly so, and they will, or ought, to have general interest, as they are connected with important historical facts. I say ought, with complain, however, because I very well know the American people are so prejudiced and dogmatical that is no easy matter to make them read evidence, however conclusive, that overcomes any cherished opinion. »
