JACK TIER;
OR
THE FLORIDA REEF. BY THE AUTHOR OF
“THE PILOT,” “RED ROVER,” “TWO ADMIRALS,” “WING AND
WING,” “MILES WALLINGFORD,” ETC.

Ay, now I am in Arden; the more fool
I; when I was at home I was in a better place; but
Travellers must be content.
As You Like It. IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I. NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY BURGESS, STRINGER & CO.
1848.

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Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by
J. FENIMORE COOPER,
in the clerk's office of the District Court for the Northern District
of New York. STEREOTYPED BY J. FAGAN, PHILADELPHIA.

PREFACE.

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This work has already appeared in Graham's Magazine,
under the title of “Rose Budd.” The change
of name is solely the act of the author, and arises from
a conviction that the appellation given in this publication
is more appropriate than the one laid aside.
The necessity of writing to a name, instead of getting
it from the incidents of the book itself, has been the
cause of this departure from the ordinary rules.

When this book was commenced, it was generally
supposed that the Mexican war would end, after a few
months of hostilities. Such was never the opinion of
the writer. He has ever looked forward to a protracted
struggle; and, now that Congress has begun
to interfere, sees as little probability of its termination,
as on the day it commenced. Whence honourable gentlemen
have derived their notions of the constitution,
when they advance the doctrine that Congress is an

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American Aulic council, empowered to encumber the
movements of armies, and, as old Blucher expressed
it in reference to the diplomacy of Europe, “to spoil
with the pen the work achieved by the sword,” it is
difficult to say more than this, that they do not get
them from the constitution itself. It has generally
been supposed that the present executive was created
in order to avoid the very evils of a distracted and
divided council, which this new construction has a
direct tendency to revive. But a presidential election
has ever proved, and probably will ever prove, stronger
than any written fundamental law.

We have had occasion to refer often to Mexico in
these pages. It has been our aim to do so in a kind
spirit; for, while we have never doubted that the factions
which have possessed themselves of the government
in that country have done us great wrong, wrong
that would have justified a much earlier appeal to
arms, we have always regarded the class of Mexicans
who alone can properly be termed the `people,' as mild,
amiable, and disposed to be on friendly terms with us.
Providence, however, directs all to the completion of
its own wise ends. If the crust which has so long
encircled that nation, enclosing it in bigotry and ignorance,
shall now be irretrievably broken, letting in
light, even Mexico herself may have cause hereafter
to rejoice in her present disasters. It was in this way
that Italy has been, in a manner, regenerated; the

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conquests of the French carrying in their train the
means and agencies which have, at length, aroused
that glorious portion of the earth to some of its ancient
spirit. Mexico, in certain senses, is the Italy of this
continent; and war, however ruthless and much to be
deplored, may yet confer on her the inestimable blessings
of real liberty, and a religion released from “feux
d'artifice,” as well as all other artifices.

A word on the facts of our legend. The attentive
observer of men and things has many occasions to
note the manner in which ordinary lookers on deceive
themselves, as well as others. The species of treason
portrayed in these pages is no uncommon occurrence;
and it will often be found that the traitor is the loudest
in his protestations of patriotism. It is a pretty safe
rule to suspect the man of hypocrisy who makes a
parade of his religion, and the partisan of corruption
and selfishness, who is clamorous about the rights of
the people. Captain Spike was altogether above the
first vice; though fairly on level, as respects the second,
with divers patriots who live by their deity.

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