As Cooper's hopes for _The Spy_ faded, his confidence in the viability of the type of imitative writing he had attempted in _Precaution_ appears to have revived. _Precaution_ was reviewed in a most laudatory manner in the _Repository_ for January 1821, and the comment accompanying the notice of publication in the _Repository_ was: "We only regret that the scene of this novel was not laid in America." Whether Cooper persuaded himself or allowed himself to be persuaded by Wiley, Gardner, and other friends, he seems to have decided that his mistake in _Precaution_ was not so much the choice of models as the choice of setting. Why not employ an American setting and continue his imitation of the British women? During 1820 Wiley, Goodrich, and William B. Gilley had jointly published a collection of Mrs. Opie's stories called _Tales of the Heart_; apparently they found it profitable. Accordingly, Cooper planned a series of stories which Wiley noticed as in press in the _Repository_ for May 1822 and which he described as "_American Tales_, by a Lady, viz. Imagination--Heart--Matter--Manner--Matter and Manner. 2 vols. 18 mo. Wiley and Halsted, New York." A briefer announcement had appeared earlier, in the October 1821 issue of the _Repository_, although _The Spy_, which was certainly in press, was not noticed. In his letter of 7 January 1822 congratulating Cooper on the great success of _The Spy_, Wiley observed: "You speak of being engaged about 'the Pioneer.'--Have you forgotten 'the American Tales,' which were commenced by a certain lady a long time ago?" What happened, evidently, was that Cooper's interest in _The Spy_ had revived with such force that he had gone on to complete that book and to begin _The Pioneers_. Wiley's problem was then to persuade his reluctant author to complete a work in which he had lost interest but which was in press. Wiley was not successful. The three final tales, "Manner," "Matter," and "Manner and Matter," were never written. Eventually the publisher prevailed on Cooper to bring "Heart," the second of the stories, to a hurried conclusion. The author, probably happy to settle the matter, then wrote a coy Preface alluding mysteriously to "unforeseen circumstances" which had prevented the completion of the series, and gave the two stories to Wiley on the condition that their authorship be concealed. Thus _The American Tales_ became _Tales for Fifteen_. A more eloquent criticism by the author could hardly be wished.