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Perhaps the manners of the naval officer may have become more refined of late years; but it has not injured his spirit or bravery'; in fact, where such principles govern, it is not much matter as to the manners, they cannot easily displease. We recollect, with pleasure, Lieutenant Bowling in Roderic Random, drawn from the life; and naval people still speak of Jack Cooling, a real character, who some years ago commanded the Ruby. Jack being appointed, went to Deptford, to his ship, and ascended her side with a leg of mutton in his right hand, calling at the same time for the boatswain and the cook; the first he ordered to hoist the pendant, and the next to boil the leg of mutton. The boatswain, however, who was as rough as the commander, and who did not know him, only replied:-" Hoist the pendant for you, and be dd to ye! who the devil are you?" Jack only made a sour face at the boatswain, and unbuttoning his great coat his uniform was discovered, and the commander instantly obeyed, with many apologies for the mistake. It was not long before the ship was manned, and ready for sea, for every seaman liked Jack Cooling. Jack having heard that it was usual to make a speech to the ship's company, had all hands called; and being a very little man, ascended an armchest for the purpose. Every tar was silent with admiration; Jack began, "Harkee! my name's Jack Cooling, and if you don't do your duty, d―n me if I don't cool ye." The tars gave three cheers, and one and all declared, that they never had heard such a fine speech in all their lives. It is impossible not to

feel high regard for the bluntness and hardihood of this honest seaman.

If, however, the manners of the officers of the navy have become more polished, they have lost nothing of their original character; and a most gallant seaman of the present day, who is an accomplished gentleman, proves how easily the characters may be united. A few years ago a person, who had to see this officer, (since created a knight) found him preparing for the drawing-room, and was struck with the elegance of his address and manners; but having occasion to wait on him a few days afterwards, was told that he might meet him at the Royal Exchange, where he was treating with the master of a merchantman to go out a passenger to Sweden. The gentleman went to the proper walk, on 'Change, but could see nobody like Capt. S -; at last he observed a man in a blue great coat, with a silk handkerchief round his neck, of whom he thought he might make enquiries, which he did; but was perfectly astonished when he heard the stranger, on being asked if he knew Capt. S of the navy, answer "Yes, I am Capt. S"You! what Capt. S who I saw the other day going to court?"-" Yes, Sir." Nothing could equal the astonishment of the man, who declared that the Captain was the most elegant amphibious animal that he had ever seen, and that he could live just as well on shore as at sea.

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There is a noble and true independence in the cha

racter of a seaman, that makes him superior to the ordinary difficulties of life. He can sleep in any place, because he can sling his hammock any where; is glad to eat any thing, because he considers eating as only necessary to hunger, and the plainest morsel is to him a luxury; care has very little to do with him, because his honestly stubborn breast never yields to its attacks, except it comes with an appeal to his humanity.

The superiority of a sailor's mind over circumstances that would affect a landsman was exemplified not long ago, where a sailor was involved in debt. Jack was taken in by a Jew agent, at Portsmouth, to a considerable amount, and after the receipt by the Jew of the pay under his power of attorney, Moses still brought him in a debtor. Jack grumbled, pleaded his want of power and his intentions in vain; the Jew was inflexible, and at last, with great harshness told him, that as he was discharged, unless the money should be immediately paid, he would send him to prison. Jack looked grave, turned the quid of tobacco two or three times in his mouth, and looking the usurer full in the face made his exit; but in half an hour afterwards returned with a bundle in his hand, to the great joy of the Jew, who thought that he had brought the money, or some clothes as a pledge. Jack stood still, looking at the Jew, who asked him, "Vel, vat d'ye vants, Mister Jack?"— "Want! why I'm waiting for sailing orders, to be sure; you said as how I was to go to limbo, and here I am ready to get under-way as soon as you please."

The astonished Jew had not a syllable to reply; but found that it was certainly no use to send Jack to prison. Thus, what would have been a serious misfortune to a landsman, was only the inconvenience of an hour to Jack, in the preparation for his trip to jail. These are the minds opposed to an enemy, who must ever be unsuccessful against the valour and intrepidity of men whose fortitude rises in proportion to the danger they meet.

The following is the letter received from the MAN

AT THE MAST HEAD:

66 TO MISTER THE MAN IN THE MOON, ESQUIRE,
"Fleet Street, London, or elsewhere.

"On board the Dreadnought, Channel, Nov. 24th, 1803.

"HONOURED SIR,

"You must know as how that I have had a good spell every day for the last week at the mast head, keeping a sharp look out for Mr. Bonyparte; who hasn't yet hove into sight. As you are the Man in the Moon, and for that reason always up aloft, you could tell us, as if you would, what tack he is upon, starboard or larboard: Sam Swab, one of our afterguard, who was a conjurer's clerk, in the Old Bailey, says as how you can cast a nativity as easy as I can heave the lead, and that you can tell what's to be put into the log-book for a month to come. You must know that I does'nt much believe Sam, because he's a lubber, and one of the king's hard bargains,

as we call it, and don't know a crow from a handspike, or the main tack from the top-gallant haulyards; but if you will only tell us now when this said Mr. Buonaparte is to stand in for the shore of Old England, I shall take it kind, as it will save me many a dog-watch upon the crosstrees; and if you come down some night through the wind-sail, or through any other channel you please, we shall be glad to see you in our mess, on the starboard side of the main hatchway. Bob Crank, Bill Splice-um, and Dick Mizen, are my messmates, three as good fellows as ever broke a sea biscuit, we will give some grub out of the locker; that is, a bowl of lobscouse, pork, and pease soup to put into your hold, and some grog. Do you know that I often take a peep at your ugly phiz, when I'm on the yard-arm, hauling out the weather-earing of the foretop sail, to take in a reef; but perhaps you don't know Bob Binnacle. I shall hand ye over in my next an account as long as the maintop bowline of our station in the Channel, with the bearings and distances of the enemy, and the latitude and longitude of what they can do. I can only tell ye, for the present, that if they get to the windward of our cruizers, it must be with a Hammond's nip*. Our purser, who is a droll dog, and apt to crack jokes, says, that he thinks Mister Bonyparte will look very foolish when he is near Scilly; and as for the Western coast, it is all my eye Betty Martin, for there he will have an iron-bound

* A Hammond's nip is a fine perfection in steering, by which it is possible to weather a point, or a vessel, not practicable to do by any other means.

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