France has called upon the chief of her choice, and in the person of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte has found one, sage in counsel, daring in deed, patient in adversity, inflexible in his resolves, impartial in administration, firm in purpose, high-minded in principle, simple in habits, actuated solely by one motive—the love of his country.

The fourth of the Georges, that “ observed of all observers," and his brother, the Sailor-King, have breathed their last sigh, and upon entering life I found the land of my nativity ruled over by Victoria, the “ love of millions," who, with her consort and children, then resided in the proud towers of Windsor.

For some time, I may with truth say that I basked under the sunshine of royalty. How often have I witnessed these illustrious personages, freed from the cares of state, enjoying the pure unalloyed happiness of domestic life! how often have the children of this happy happy union, while sporting over the velvet turf, or playing around the verdant banks covered with violets, crocusses, and snowdrops, or wandering through the green wooded alleys and shrụbberies of azalea or rhododendrons, or strolling by the peaceful waters of the romantic lake, noticed my gambols as I roamed from tuft to tuft, enjoying the luxuries of my sylvan home! As the celebrated fox of Ballybotherem is recorded to have studied the newspapers, to ascertain the meeting of the hounds, it will not be thought wonderful that a timid creature like myself should have exerted his best energies to make himself acquainted with the dangers that surrounded him : it was, then, with a feeling of delight that I found myself a favoured branch of my kin—the hare with many friends ; for not only were shooting and coursing prohibited within the precincts of my royal dwelling, but there was no pack of hounds kept in the neighbourhood, save that of Her Majesty, and they flew at higher game-the antlered monarch of the woods. Self-confident at my supposed security, I nearly fell a victim to my rashness : it was on a dark cloudy night in November, that certain strange voices attracted my attention; they proceeded from five men, whom I observed stealthily crawling through the thickly-covered underwood of my retreat

“ That is a likely place !” whispered one, as he drew from his pocket a wiry noose, and placed it across a cutting in the plantation.

“Here, Jim,” cried another, “drop the beans between the hedge and that stack of buck-wheat.”

“Look out !" said a third ; on the right branch of that larch-a pop from your walking-stick will settle him !",

In a second a whizzing noise, like that of an air-gun, was heard, and a splendid cock-pheasant fell from his roost at the foot of the poacher.

“All right !” exclaimed the two others, who were patrolling outside the plantation, to keep watch over their comrades.

During this awful moment I was crouched up under a hedgerow, within a very few yards of the principal speakers, but happily escaped observation. During the remainder of the night I was kept in a state of awful trepidation, which was not at all diminished when, just as daylight began to dawn, I beheld the havoc that had been made with my furry brethren, and with those variegated Asiatic beauties, originally introduced into Europe from the banks of the Phasis. Many of the

former were struggling to release themselves from their bonds, while the latter, without any apparent cause, fell stricken by almost instantaneous death. Happily for the survivors of my own race, the arrival of a party of keepers soon liberated them from their perilous situations, and deprived the murderers of their feathered spoil.

" I thought how it was,” exclaimed the head-keeper, as with his -knife he cut open the glossy green, blue, and purple neck of one of the victims, and brought out a horse-bean pierced through with strong bristles, “ All these birds have been choked by that rascally gang. I heard of their tricks last week at Bagshot ; but by this time they are all safely lodged in Guildford gaol.”

The keeper's statement was strictly correct. The march of intellect had advanced with rapid strides, even among the poachers, who had invented this new and economical mode of carrying on their lawless practices : a few wires and two or three dozen beans, perforated with cobblers' bristles, was all the stock in trade required for their deadly havoc. Murder will out -- whether the slaughter be among the birds of the air, or the human race. The shot from the air-gun had attracted the attention of one of the watchers, who, by a preconcerted signal, communicated the intelligence to his comrades. In less than half an hour the gang were captured, and escorted to the county prison,

After this narrow escape from destruction, I took every precaution in my power to protect myself from the wiles of man. I selected the most open spot near the residence of the keeper of the lodge, browsing upon the shrubs that grew luxuriantly in his small garden, and for a length of time felt secure from danger. But, alas ! the “ schemes of hares and mice,” as Burns exclaims, “ gang oft a'gley." Ascot Races were about to commence, and brought with them the usual number of gipsies and trampers. A party of the former had formed their camp upon the heath, close to my retreat, and were carrying on their pilfering trade with impunity. Many a fine sheep had been killed and “dressed upon the shortest notice.” Many a barn-door fowl had furnished material for their stock-pot, while every garden in the neighbourhood had been laid under contribution for a supply of fruit and vegetables. Anxious to witness the courtly cavalcade at the races, I strolled from my home on the morning of the Cup day, to enjoy the delights of one of England's finest national sights; and selecting a small plantation within view of the royal stand, took up my station for the afternoon. Following the universal prevailing fashion, I lost no time in commencing my lunch al fresco, and had scarcely concluded it, when the ringing of a bell announced the approach of the Sovereign of our realms and her distinguished train. The shouts that rent the air came from the hearts of the people, and must have touched that of Her Majesty.

(To be continued.)

TEDDINGTON,

WINNER OF THE DERBY, 1851.

ENGRAVED BY E. HACKER, FROM A PAINTING BY HARRY HALL.

Teddington, bred by Mr. J. Tomlinson, of Huntingdon, in 1848, was got by Orlando out of Miss Twickenham, by Rockingham, her dam Electress by Election, grandam by Stamford, out of Miss Judy.

Orlando, bred by Colonel Peel in 1841, and got by Touchstone out of Vulture, by Langar, went to the stud with the recommendation of being a Derby winner, as well as altogether a very superior racehorse. Last season saw the first of his stock out, and Ariosto and The Lioness share the honours of his "opening day.” Orlando now stands at Hampton Court.

Miss Twickenham, also bred by Colonel Peel, and foaled in 1838, was put to the stud at three years old, after a very short, but not very bril: liant, career on the Turf. Teddington, the third foal she has reared, is the only one of her produce yet made famous. We believe the mare at two years old was given by Colonel Peel to Mr. Tomlinson, of whom she was bought in the summer of 1848, with the Orlando colt at her foot, by Sir Joseph Hawley ; the price £250 for the two, with certain further gratuities in the event of the young one turning out a trump.

Teddington is a light yellow-chesnut horse, standing fifteen hands an inch and a half high ; he has an expressive, blood-like head, rather tapering towards the nose, and large ears, the head being well set on to the neck. His shoulders, however, are bad, short and upright, as well as thick and coarse near the withers. He is favoured, too, with no great depth of girth ; has a slack, light, middle piece, but good, fair, sized quarters, muscular towards the second thigh, and really good arms and hocks. He is not over large in bone, stands upright on his pasterns, and has small feet. Teddington is, in fact, altogether a short, light horse, with nothing in his appearance when “in repose" to warrant a judge putting a very high estimate on his capabilities. In action, though, he improves wonderfully on the spectator, being one of the finest, slashing goers ever seen ; and striking out with the white leg in a style that acts (when too late) as “ a caution” to those “on” against him. He has white on the off leg, before and behind, as well as a blaze in the face.

PERFORMANCES.

1850, at Newmarket Second Spring Meeting, Teddington, ridden by Templeman, was not placed for a sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, T.Y.C., won by Lord Clifden's Coticula, Mr. Payne's Citadel second, Lord John