Today's LA TIMES newspaper contains a book review of _HERMAN
MELVILLE: A Biography, Vol. 2, 1851-1891_, By Hershel Parker,
The review was written by Douglas Brinkley, professor of history
and director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at
the University of New Orleans.  Brinkley writes, in part:

"And in "The Confidence Man," Melville conjures up a gallery
of charlatans, rogues and tricksters who transform the Father of
Waters into the Father of Lies. Their journey from St. Louis to
New Orleans is a mockery of frontier mythmaking of the Mike Fink
variety. An annoyed Mark Twain wrote "Life on the Mississippi," in
part, to set Melville straight about the virtues of steam-boating."

_Mark Twain's Library: A Reconstruction_ contains no volumes written
by Melville listed in Twain's library or further referenced elsewhere
in Twain's writings.  Is the reviewer Douglas Brinkley in error
on this statement?  Or has the Melville influence/motivation been
firmly established via other evidence?

Thanks,
Barb