GENTLEMAN JACK. A NAVAL STORY. By the Author of Cavendish. Two Volumes. Carey and Hart.

Another nautical novel, and a good one-the transcript of a long yarn, supposed to have been spun by the oldest boatswain in the fleet. There is one great beauty in this work-the author has not suffered his pages to be crowded with sea technicalities, an impertinence which writers of naval stories generally seem to consider of more importance than a clever development of plot or character. Some of the popular salt-water chronicles abound with forecastle slang and cock-pit technicalities which two-thirds of the readers are unable to comprehend. The author of Gentleman Jack has judiciously avoided these excrescences, and yet his tale is full of fun and life, and smells sufficiently of brine and tar. There is another propriety in the pages ander notice which sea scribblers would do well to observe. We are not disgusted with puling sentimentality and school-boy snivellings from any huge sea-monster in canvass trowsers and Bowie whiskers. Gentleman Jack and his friends, whether in the cabin or on the forecastle, speak as sailors speak, and not as knights in disguise, or stage-struck prentices in love, and we like the honest tars all the better for being ship-shape. In the majority of “tales of the sea," the navigators are either on the stilts of romance or deep in bilge water and black-guardism-our author has avoided both extremes.

Gentleman Jack" is full of adventures well told, and of light sketches of character well conceived. There is a true and entertaining account of the Mutiny at the Nore, wherein the sailors and marines of twenty-eight sail of the line, nine frigates, and seventeen brigs of war-comprising the greatest portion of the channel fleet of England, refused to obey their officers, and suffered an enemy's flag to wave unchecked. The history of their wrongs is well related, and worthy the attentive perusal of every sea-faring commander. The following notices of ship comfort under the old system of patronage in the British navy forms an apposite pendant to the history of the mutiny, which is much too long for insertion here.

The cock-pit messes, in these days, were totally different to the dandy mess-places of the present age. One boy only was allowed to cook and do all thirteen required; and, all day long, there was a continued brawl of "You d-d boy, where are you?" In addition to this, those embryo heroes cleaned their own shoes, made their own beds, and, when they dined with the captain, generally had to wash their own stockings,—that is, if they could not reef them, to hide low-water-mark, as they used to call the black line made by the shoebinding. Some old hands, long practised in the trade, could take as many as four reefs in, which consists in tucking the dirty part into the shoe, so that the part shown between the bottom of the trowser and the shoe appeared tolerably white. But these were most fortunate rascals!—quite lads of genius in their line.

The collars and wristbands of their shirts were also objects of their ablutionary care; and each took it by turns to pick the stones out of the raisins, to make their puddings, the rule being that, whilst picking them, they were obliged to whistle, as a proof they where not eating any. The moment the whistling ceased, books, quadrant-cases, &c. flew at the head of the offender, by way of reminding him that he was well watched. When these happy vagabonds had cards, it was seldom that they could muster more than one pack, and, by way of recollecting who dealt last, the dealer to wear an old cocked hat, and pass it to the next when the hand was up. There was at this time also a barbarous custom of examining the sick men in the cock-pit. Accordingly, sore legs and all kinds of disagreeables were obliged here to present themselves.

As the surgeon never would allow more than a certain number on the sick list at one time, the consequence was, that when that number was complete, any application, however urgent, was answered by, " You be d-'d, I won't have any more on the sick-list to day;" and often again and again, the seamen would be heard to say, "Come, Jack, bear a hand out of the sick-list, it's my turn next." By this means, the ship always appeared by the returns, to be healthy: whether this was right is another question.

If a poor fellow presented himself with a long and pitiful face, the doctor, before he felt his pulse, used to say, "You are a cursed skulker!-I know you of old-no sham-Abrahams with me;-go to the devil, you rascal!-I won't hear a word!"—and if, by dint of persuasion, he looked at the man's tongue, he always got rid of him by saying, "If you are not better to-morrow, you must leave off drinking grog. This perscription acted like magic on every sort of complaint; but the result of the whole system was a complete squeeze; and a fight, on the cock-pit ladder, almost daily took place, to be one of the first eighteen, since this was the number to which our eccentric surgeon limited the sick-list in a seventy-four-gun ship's complement in the winter time.

THE publication which we noticed in a previous number as particularly necessary to the Merchant, the Trader, and the Speculator, THE FINANCIAL REGISTER OF THE UNITED STATES, rapidly increases in public estimation. The Thirteenth Number is now upon our table, and contains much valuable information, devoted chiefly to Finance and Currency, and to Banking and Commercial Statistics. It is published semi-weekly, by Wirtz and Tatem, Philadelphia, at the price of three dollars for one copy, or five dollars for two.

THE OLD COMMODORE. By the Author of Rattlin the Reefer. Two Volumes. Carey, Lea and Blanchard.

Of making naval tales there is no end!—they follow one another "like rolling waves upon the troubled sea." We had scarcely concluded a notice of "Gentleman Jack," ere a couple of good sized tomes were placed upon our table, and to our surprise and dismay, the ominous agnomen of “The Old Commodore" met our vision. We threw the books aside, "aweary of the sea," but a soothing reminiscence of Incledon's execution of the good old song, bearing the same title, came across us, and we opened one of the volumes, while in. dulging in a vesper flirtation with a tea pot. A spirited and novel method of introduction in the first chapter, seduced us to a continuance of the perusal. A well written and eloquent scene, wherein a mother combats the old commodore's intention of taking her only and beloved son to sea, confirmed us in our seat; and we rose not from the side of our glowing grate of anthracite till we arrived at the termination of the work, somewhere in the middle of "the wee sma' hours ayont the twal'."

The Old Commodore is the best nautical story that has appeared for many years. The gouty, fighting, hotheaded, warm-hearted hero, is depicted in the glowing colors of Smollett, but softened down to the level of modern sufferance; there are other characters of great peculiarity, divested of caricature-the situations are varied, and exciting or pleasing in their effect, without a spice of the impossible. The author has improved upon his last effort, Rattlin the Reefer; and if his next work exhibits an equal advancement, he will have the honor of writing the very best marine production of the age.

THE GOOD FELLOW. Translated from the French of Paul de Kock, by a Philadelphian. Carey and Hart.

In the December number of the Gentleman's Magazine, the Good Fellow was briefly noticed, and an extract, giving a fair specimen of the spirit of the work, was put in type, but excluded from publication by the pressure of other matter. As the sketch is complete in itself, and is one of Kock's most characteristic chapters, we give it a place in this number, satisfied that our readers will cheerfully welcome a recital of adventures during a morning's ride in

HAVE you ever seen any thing droller than a person running, on a rainy day, after an omnibus several hundred feet ahead of him, and which has still farther removed, because the boy at the door is busy gaping towards the right or left, or counting his money, or looking in every direction except that of the puffing wayfarer?

If it be a man, he runs, then stops, and waves his hand-or lifts up his cane, or umbrella, if he chance to carry one; or rolls his arms, as if he were drumming;-cries here! halloo!-boy! here!—then runs a little farther; stops; becomes desperate and dashes off in the pursuit again at full speed, regardless of mud puddles, or garbage, until he at last overtakes the vehicle near the place of his destination.

If it be a woman, she will either run without pausing, or she will not run at all; for the ladies seldom do things by halves. Besides, they are quicker in deciding than we are; they run, too, with more grace, and have the singular faculty of planting their toes on the cleanest stones in the street, while they are making signs to the boy. It is true, that in their hurry, they sometimes tuck up their dresses a little too high; but you never saw a lady do that who had not a well turned calf

It was a young man who was running after the omnibus. He was a tolerably handsome fellow, of middle size, but well built; of a frank and mild countenance; well dressed, and of genteel bearing. He at last reached the omnibus, and observed that it appeared to be filled.

"Is there any room, boy?"

Yes, sir, on the right, at the head. Gentlemen, make room if you please."

The young man tried to thread his way through legs hooked in from opposite sides; projecting knees, wet umbrellas, muddy boots, and cross faces; for, you must have observed, if you have ever been in an omnibus in Paris, that, when nearly filled, the entry of a new passenger makes the other occupants look grum; first, because the carriage is stopped; and secondly because they expect to be squeezed or cramped in their places. The new comer is therefore met by vinegar aspects, and nobody stirs to make room for him.

The young man, however, succeeded in getting to the middle of the interior, and took his seat in a doubtful opening between a fat, large, old gentleman, and a lady who did not look as young as she tried to look.

They pack us in here like herrings!" growled the bulky old gentleman. The lady said nothing, but she drew out a fold of her dress, and edged off with an air of offended delicacy. The young man tried to install himself as comfortably as he could, in his narrow seat, without noticing the murmurs or the airs of his neighbor on either side. When he had fixed himself as well as he could, he cast his eyes around to survey the countenances of his fellow travellers. Now this kind of review is that which, of all things, gives zest to a ride in an omnibus. It is rare, in a vehicle, in which fifteen or eighteen persons are thrown together, that the curious observer is not amused by the sight of two or three originals.

Next to the lady, who did not like contact with a strange gentleman, sat a good, motherly looking woman, wearing a cap and apron, one of your half rustic and half urban looking personages. Next to her, came a dry, thin old gentleman, dressed in a suit of threadbare rusty black cloth, who had been digging in his pockets

ever since he had taken his seat, doubtless in the search after a stray sixpence that he remembered having. Adjoining the fat old gentleman, sat a lady who was neither handsome nor ugly, nor young nor old, nor well nor ill-dressed; in a word, one of those persons who present no salient points for criticism.

After having examined all the inmates on his side, our young man cast his eyes over to examine those on the other. First, was a middle aged woman having a child five or six years old on her lap, a basket between her feet, and a large bundle at her side. Next, a man in a drugget surtout, cloth cap. and leather gaiters, smelling of garlic and wine, very drowsy, and using his next door neighbors alternately for pillows. Then came a young lady of genteel appearance and modest deportment, and seemingly troubled to know what to do with her eyes. Aside of her sat a young man with spectacles and new gloves of the color of grass butter, very spruce, and half a dandy; he was doing all he could to win the regard of the modest young lady. On his right was a young woman, neatly dressed, and not bad-looking, who was ogling the fat old gentleman, probably because he wore diamond buttons in his shirt, and looked like a representative of the moneyed aristocracy. Then came a man of no remarkable exterior, who, with the boy, completed the number of the denizens of the omnibus. But they, in all, made only twelve persons; and although the vehicle seemed pretty well filled, this was not enough for the boy, whose orders were to make fifteen seats.

As the rain was marring a day in June, it seemed more than probable that the remaining three seats would soon be in requisition.

"Your fare, if you please, gentlemen?" To the gentlemen alone, did the young collector address himself; but the ladies took the hint, and one of them was the first to pay. The dry, thin old gentleman commenced mining in his pockets, and concluded by putting some coppers in the hands of the boy, who, after counting them, said," another cent, (sous) sir, if you please."

Six cents, is it? and pray how long has it been six cents?"

"Ever since the ombinus has been run."

"It has, eh? Well, go your round, I'll give you the cent presently."

"Here's for one," cried the large fat gentleman, with the diamond studs holding out a twenty cent piece. It was well he did say "for one," otherwise the boy might have naturally charged him for two.

Having completed the business of the collection, except as regarded the cent due from the thin old gentleman, who whispered a promise to pay to the little treasurer, the latter pulled the bell-cord and the omnibus was stopped.

"Are they going to cram any more in here, I wonder?" inquired in a choleric tone the large fat gentleman. "It is very disagreeable to stop so often," said the young man of the spectacles and butter-colored gloves to the modest young lady aside of him, "particularly to me, for I am upon business which requires despatch. I presume you are not in a hurry, miss?"

"No, sir," was the faint reply; and then she turned her head aside, to avoid farther conversation.

A new comer showed himself at the door. It was a little man with a jovial countenance, red nose, wall eyes, and a manner that savored of the shop-keeper. He held an umbrella saturated with rain, which he wiped upon the legs and knees of the passengers as he threaded his way up to the head, nodding to the right and left with a sweet smirk, and occasionally treading upon some incautions toes.

"Well, this is delightful," said he of the spectacles and gloves; "come as nice as you may into an omnibus, and see how you'll go out of it. Look here, miss, your dress is quite wet"

The latter made no reply, but wiped away the marks of the wet umbrella with her handkerchief. The bell-cord was again pulled, and again was the omnibus stopped. Fresh murmurs proceeded from the impatient travellers, and cries of "we are full, unless you intend to put people on our laps."

"There are two places yet," said the boy; "please to move up at the head."

Here a very genteel lady, of agreeable aspect and pretty tournure, made her appearance on the tail-steps. She paused, looking into the omnibus, saying, "I don't see any vacant place."

"Yes, madam, yes, there are two; get in, madam, there is plenty of room.”

With this encouragement, she ventured to enter, and, happily for her, the young man, whose portrait we drew some time ago, was not insensible to her charms; he therefore pressed himself up against his far neighbor, regardless of his remonstrances and exacerbation; and the lady espying a slight opening, let herself down into it.

"Oh, my God, madam! you'll smother me," cried the lady of doubtful age.
"Madam, I am very sorry for it, but they tell me that there are vacant places."

"Press up towards me, madam," cried our young man. Thus invited, and in order to ease her smothering neighbor, the lady forced herself up against the gallaut stranger, with such good will, that his cheeks became quite red. But this is not remarkable, as friction between two bodies will ever produce fire, where there is flint in the epidermis.

"Well, I hope we have got our load at last," sail the large fat gentleman, "and that we shall get to our journey's end without farther interruption."

At this moment the ombinus underwent a violent concussion, caused by some one's springing upon the steps without waiting till it stopped. "Towards the head, sir, there is one seat more."

The last comer was a military man; a lieutenant in the uniform of a hussar, young, large, with long black mustachios, which, in connexion with eyes and brows of the same color, features boldly developed, and a swarthy complexion, invested his physiognomy with an expression at once harsh and repulsive. "Where the dence are they going to stow that gentleman?" muttered the fat gentleman, in a tone too by no means as impertinent as before.

The officer, without appearing the least embarrassed, walked very deliberately in, pushing aside legs and knees, looking to the right and left as if to select the best place, when his eyes rested upon the modest young lady, and finding her to his fancy, he very composedly plumped himself down between her and the gentleman of the spectacles and butter-colored gloves.

"Halloo, my dear sir, there is no room here; you are sitting upon me," exclaimed he of the gloves, on whose thigh the weight of the hussar was pressing.

Pshaw, close up the ranks, then. How am I to get a seat unless you close up?"

But, my dear sir, the seat is up at the head; this is my seat. Boy, show the gentleman the seat; make him quit this."

"I should like to see him do it or you either. well here and I intend to stay here. Miss, I enough?"

Go to the head yourself, if there is a seat up there.
I am very
shall incommode yon as little as possible. Have you room

To this interrogatory she made no reply, but moved down as much as she could, so as to give him all the room that was possible. But the fact was that there being seven already on that side, the insertion of the lower parts of the officer squeezed the others together as if in a vice. In this dilemma, one of the possengers rose up, and took the seat at the head.

"I knew there was room," said the officer; and without more ado, he quietly pushed up the wearer of the butter-colored gloves, who thought that it was exercise of a sound discretion not to appear to notice farther the usurpation of his place.

"What a cursed, infernal day," said the hussar, taking off his schako, and beating the rain from it. "Here, boy, take your quid. Excuse me, sir, but I must have room for my legs too, and I defy the devil to get in his big toe for these enormous shafts of yours before me."

This was addressed to the large fat gentleman who sat immediately oposite, and whose nether extremities did seem to monopolise the room necessary for two pair of legs. Suiting the action to the word, the officer unceremoniously separated the knees of the former, and stretched out his own legs between them.

The fat gentleman's face became red and his cheek swelled out with choler; but after surveying the officer, he expressed his indignation in the following subdued tone: "I do not see, sir, why I should incommode myself for you. Why should your legs be stretched out more than any other man's?"

To which the officer rejoined: "I can't ride unless I do it. We must accomodate one another as much as possible. Miss, make yourself comfortable and lean on me, I beg you. What infernally disagreeable weather."

Again the bell rang and again did the omnibus stop. Murmurs now arose from all sides, and demonstrations of rebellion were made in the interior. "It won't do, my lad, unless you think you can impose upon us. Where the devil is there a seat?" asked one of the malcontents. "She can have my place," said the former. “Oh, it's a lady, is it?" exclaimed the hussar. “Let her come in; if she is pretty, I'll take her on my knee."

"Just at that moment an enormous dumpling of a woman made her appearance on the steps; the volume of her body was so uniformly of the same thickness, that you could not have told where she located her waist, had it not been for a riband that encircled it.

"Oh, the devil," ejaculated the hussar. “I'd as lief take a howitzer on my lap. There is no room in here, my good woman; you can't come in." But without paying any attention to his protestations, she threw herself in, and while endeavoring to get over the array of feet and legs which opposed her, was, by a sudden lurch of the omnibus, which in the interim had proceeded on, pitched upon the fat gentleman who with a groan immediately tossed her over upon his opposite neighbor, him of the spectacles and gloves, who pushed her upon the little man in black who slid down with her on the top of him. Here she was relieved by the interference of the others, and with some difficulty got securely upon the seat of the boy, and all became again quiet.

SLICKISMS; OR, YANKEE PHILOSOPHY.

Extracted from the Clockmaker; or, The Sayings and Doings of Samuel Slick, of Slickville..

See Volume I. page 427 of the Gentleman's Magazine,

Society is something like a barrel of pork. The meat that's at the top, is sometimes not so good as that that's a little grain lower down: the upper and lower eends are plaguy apt to have a little taint in 'em, but the middle is always good.

If a man don't hoe his corn, and he don't get a crop, he says 'tis all owing to the Bank; and if he runs into debt, and is sued, why he says the lawyers are a curse to the country.

We can do without any article of luxury we've never had, but when once obtained, it is not in human natur to surrender it voluntarily.

When a feller is too lazy to work, he paints his name over his door, and calls it a tavern, and as like as not he makes the whole neighborhood as lazy as himself.

I guess if you were at our factories at Lowell, we'd show you a wonder-five hundred galls at work together all in silence! I don't think our great country has such a real natural curiosity as that-I expect the world don't contain the beat of it-for a woman's tongue goes so slick of itself, without water-power or steam, and moves so easy on its hinges, that it is no easy matter to put a spring stop on it, I tell you. It comes as natural as drinking mint julep.

What is the use of reading the Proverbs of Solomon to our free and enlightened citizens, that are every mite and mortal as wise as he was? That are man undertook to say there was nothing new under the sun. I guess he'd think he spoke a little too fast, if he was to see our steamboats, rail roads, and India-rubber shoesthree inventions worth more nor all he knew put in a heap together.

Our tree of liberty was a beautiful tree-a splendid tree-it was a sight to look at; it was fenced and well protected, and it grew so stately and so handsome, that strangers came from all parts of the world to see it.

They all allowed it was the most splendid thing in the world. Well the mobs have broken in and tore down their fences, and snapped off the branches, and scattered all the leaves about, and it looks no better than a gallows-tree.

There are some folks who think a good deal and say but little, and they are wise folks; and there are others agin, who blaat right out whatever comes uppermost, and I guess they are pretty considerable superfine darned fools.

When I see a child, I always feel safe with these women folk; for I have always found that the road to a woman's heart is through her child.

Any man that understands horses, has a pretty considerable fair knowledge of women, for they are just alike in temper, and require the very identical same treatment. Encourage the timid ones, be gentle and steady with the fractious, but lather the sulky ones like blazes.

The female heart is just like a new India-rubber shoe; you may pull and pull at it, till it stretches out a yard long, and then let go, and it will fly right back to its old shape. Their hearts are made of stout leather, I tell you; there's a plaguy sight of wear in 'em.

Never tell folks you can go ahead of 'em, but do it. It spares a great deal of talk, and helps them to save their breath to cool their broth.

It aint them that stare the most that see the best, I guess.

An airly start makes easy stages.

Politics makes a man as crooked as a pack does a pedler; not that they are so awful heavy, neither, but it teaches a man to stoop in the long run.

It's better never to wipe a child's nose at all, I guess, than to wring it off.

I'd rather keep a critter whose faults I do know, than change him for a beast whose faults I don't know. There's nothing I hate so much as cant of all kinds; it's a sure sign of a tricky disposition. If you see a feller cant in religion, clap your hand into your pocket, and lay right hold of your puss, or he'll steal it, as sure as you're alive; and if a man cant in politics, he'll sell you if he gets a chance, you may depend. Law and physic are just the same, and every mite and morsel as bad. If a lawyer takes to cantin, its like the fox preaching to the geese; he'll eat up his whole congregation. And if a doctor takes to it, he's a quack, as sure as rates. The Lord have massy on you, for he won't.

When a feller winks till his gall gets married, I guess it's a little too late to pop the question then. Judge Beler put a notice over his factory gate at Lowell, “no cigars or Irishmen admitted within these walls," for, said he, the one will set a flame agoin among my cottons, and t'other among my galls. I wont have no such inflammable and dangerous, things about me on no account.

Natur is natur wherever you find it-in rags or in king's robes-where butter is spread with the thumb as well as the silver knife.

All folks that grow up right off, like a mushroom, in one night, are apt to think no smail beer of themselves. A cabbage has plaguy large leaves to the bottom, and spreads them out as wide as an old woman's petticoat, to hide the ground it sprung from, and conceal its extraction.

When a feller has run as fast as he can clip, he has to stop and take breath; you must do that or choke. A long face is plaguy apt to cover a long conscience-that's a fact.

Nothin sets up a woman's spunk like callin her ugly-she gets her back right up, like a cat when a strange dog comes near her; she's all eyes, claws, and bristles.

Make a farmer of him, and you will have the satisfaction of seeing him an honest, independent, and respectable member of society-more honest than traders, more independent than professional men, and more respectable than either.

There are only two things worth looking at in a horse-action and soundness, for I never saw a critter that had good action that was a bad beast.

It's in politics as in racin, every thing depends upon a fair start. If you are off too quick, you have to pull up and turn back agin, and your beast gets out of wind and is baffled, and if you lose in the start, you ha'n't got a fair chance arterwards, and are plaguy apt to get jockied in the course.

There's a plaguy sight of truth in them are old proverbs. They are distilled facts steamed down to an essence. They are like portable soup, an amazin deal o' matter in a small compass. They are as true as a plum line, and as short and sweet as sugar candy.

When you've too many irons in the fire, some on 'em will get stone cold, and t'other ones will get burnt, and so they'll never be no good in natur.

Now's the time to larn, when you are young. Store your mind well, and the fragrance will remain long arter the rose has shed its leaves. The otter of roses is stronger than the rose, and a plaguy sight more valuable.

The Yankees may stump the universe. We improve on every thing, and we have improved on our own species. You'll search one while, I tell you, afore you'll find a man that, take him by and large, is equal to one of our free and enlightened citizens. He's the chap that has got both speed, wind, and bottom; he's clear grit-ginger to the back bone, you may depend. It's generally allowed there a'n't the beat of them to be found any where. Spry as a fox, supple as an eel, and cute as a weasel. Though I say that shouldn't say it, they fairly take the shine off creation-they are actilly equal to cash.