My dear friend," said Croghan, at the time to which you allude, we were both little more than children, and therefore equally subject to the faults and follies incident to the green age of immaturity. So far am I from enter taining any thing like enmity, that I shall ever deem that event a most fortunate occurrence, inasmuch, as I owe to it the discovery of my father, whom I had long considered dead: but where are you wounded?"

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In the hip, rather severely, but I hope not dangerously." "Give me your handkerchief," resumed Croghan, and joining to it his own, he endeavored to staunch the blood; but finding them insufficient, he instantly added his shirt, which he tore into bandages; and having secured the wound, took him on his back, and carrying him about half a mile to the road, put him into a wagon, which he happily found on its way to the city.

This is certainly a strange world," thought Croghan, as they arrived about dusk within sight of Dr. Hunter's, and the wounded man pointed to the very door by which he had formerly seen the young lady enter; when stepping forward to prepare the family for the distressing intelligence, he secretly congratulated himself on his having saved the scalp of his friend, even at the risk of his own; while at every step, his heart fluttering like Sterne's starling in its cage, seemed to cry with equal vehemence, "I can't get out.'

He was met at the door by a female servant, from whom he learned that the doctor was gone out, accompanied by his daughter, to visit a friend, and was not likely to return for at least an hour or two; and further, that the good old lady being dead, the family consisted of only one more, the doctor's son, who had not yet returned from fishing. Then telling her that the gentleman had received a slight hurt, and would be back with him in a moment, he, with the assistance of the wagoner, conveyed him to his bed; and immediately starting off again, he soon returned with an eminent surgeon, who extracted the ball and pronounced the wound by no means dangerous.

Croghan, still mindful that he had one more duty to perform in reference to the absent portion of the family, and which, though now somewhat weary-he resolved must not be neglected; acquainted himself with the particulars of their visit and their probable route homewards, and taking with him his friend's sword cane, at his persuasion, posted away with impatience, lest their premature arrival should prostrate his intended explanation.

When alone on his way he fell into deep anxiety, concerning the fate of the unfortunate Indians, who had fallen by his hand, and his own possible responsibility to his and their creator: but still he could not suppress a strong hope of justification in having saved a life destined, in all probability, to be yet more important to the world, than a host of the Indian race; nor could he smother the flattering idea, that some signal item of self-interest was involved in the unexpected incident.

Thus agitated between horror and self gratulation, he moved on, equally unconscious of time and place, when his reverie was interrupted by a loud manly voice not far ahead, exclaiming, "Who are you, pray? What! you Scoundrels! dare not to touch my child!" intermingled with the screams of a female, crying, "Begone vile wretches! Oh, villains, you have murdered him. Help! help! murder!"

My God!" ejaculated Croghan, "this is she, most certainly and springing forward in frantic desperation, he beheld, yet at a distance, by the light of the full moon, a struggling lady being lifted into a carriage by two men, who immediately shut themselves in with her, and gave the word to the driver, who lashed away liberally before Croghan could yet come up, though within a few yards. Now or never," thought he, and redoubling his speed, he got alongside the horses ere they had yet attained their maximum of speed; and seizing the reins with one hand, while he parried off with the other a heavy blow from the driver, he bounded from the ground and lent him a heavy stroke in return, which brought him down from his eminence and severed his cane, but fortunately without injury to the enclosed steel.

"Well done! noble heroine," exclaimed Croghan, as he turned to face him with the sword, who now assailed him fiercely, making several furious and skilful passes at him; but which he either dexterously avoided or warded off, till the fellow who had previously fired, hastening to the assistance of his comrade, and watching his opportunity, flung his ponderous pistol with all his might at Croghan's head, which, owing to the sudden shifting of the comba tants, struck him a tremendous blow on the breast; when reeling rapidly backwards several paces, the villain cried to his accomplice, "Now-now you have him"-who ac cordingly followed with his arm poised to finish the work; but Croghan, roused by a shriek from the lady, regained by a spring, his former balance, and darting, with the swiftness of an arrow, at his enemy, pierced him through the body, and sinking at his feet, he expired.

Where are you, cowardly miscreant?" he cried, as he turned round to look for the other. It is but right to rid the world of such monsters; when, to his no small disap pointment, he beheld him already at a considerable distance, running at the top of his speed, and anon, saw the driver limping away in another direction, at a still greater distance, not, however, that he could run faster, but merely because he took care to set out earlier. 'As for you, poor devil," said he, "you are already punished enough; nor do I wish you any worse; but I am sorry your dastardly employer is so far off, else he had not gone unscath ed-but objects more worthy now claim my attention." Then approaching the carriage," Fair lady," said he, "you have been rudely treated by these barbarians. I hope you have sustained no personal injury?" No answer. Mer. ciful God!" he exclaimed, is it possible they have murdered her too, after her father. Gracious heaven! here she is, a corpse. Heartless and detested wretch! Oh! I will pursue him, were it even to the antipodes. He shall not escape my vengeance; for I can recognize his callous visage, though it be an age till I see it again. Hark! methinks I hear her breathe. Yea, she yet lives, and there may still be hope."

Then lifting her gently in his arms, out of the vehicle, he laid her carefully down, and placing himself beside her, supported her head reclining on his breast, breathing in soft accents to her ear, "My dear lady, you are safe. You have nothing now to fear. Your enemies are gone. Miss Hunter, will you not speak to me? Do speak to me, Miss Hunter. I am your friend."

His soothing endeavors were at length successful; for, while thus speaking and calling her name, she opened her large blue eyes, and fixing them steadily on his face, calmly asked, "Where am I? Who are you? I think I have seen you before. Oh! yes, now I recollect all. Good God! how did you escape that death I saw so near and so inevitable? From the moment I saw you stagger, I lost all sensation. Where are the villains?"

They are gone, my dear Miss, and you are now completely out of their power, and perfectly safe."

You do well to call me dear," she resumed, with a faint smile," for I had indeed well nigh cost you dearly. Oh! what do I not owe to your valor? My life, my honor-every thing I owe to your disinterested bravery. Oh! how can I ever requite you for the terrific dangers you have encountered."

"I am already overpaid," replied he, “by your unex

ampled intrepidity in averting my threatened fate, and shall, ever feel pleasure in holding at your disposal that life, for the possession of which, under heaven, I am solely indebted to you."

"But," said she, starting, "where is my father; have you not seen him? Ah!" she exclaimed, wringing her hands and bursting into tears, "I fear he is murdered. I saw him fall. No doubt he is dead, or he had been here ere this."

"I hope not, my dear Miss. Be calm one minute and we shall see. Look! methinks I see a man coming slowly towards us. List! he calls-his Clara-his dear child. It must be he."

"Oh! it is indeed my dear father. Thank heaven, he is not dead! Do, my kind deliverer, help me to him, that I may tell him how much he is indebted to you."

rished guest in the doctor's family, and therefore, had frequent opportunities of forming an intimate acquaintance with his beautiful and accomplished daughter, whose intelligent eyes always sparkled with new accessions of brightness on his appearance, and spoke to his heart that language which, though a novice in the art of construing such telegraphic intelligence, he could not mistake for the mere effusion of gratitude.

All her friends noticed, and all approved their virtuous attachment, except her father, who, under a mistaken notion of human happiness, thought he should better promote her independence and the dignity of his family, by uniting her, though in opposition to her inclination, to a wealthy old bachelor of his own choosing, and therefore resolved that his wise calculations must not be prostrated.

"

"No," she replied, "those miscreants are gone, and you now see before you the brave-the generous man, who rescued me from their vile hands, and preserved my honor at nearly the loss of his own life. Cherish him as your most worthy benefactor. He is but too well entitled to your utmost gratitude."

Heaven be praised!" resumed the old man, in a tremulous voice, as he tottered forth to clasp her to his bosom, that my child is safe and uninjured. Young man,' he continued, turning to Croghan, and warmly pressing his hand," it is well I was not indeed the assassin. But forgive my wounded, distracted feelings, and accept my most grateful acknowledgments for your heroic preservation of my daughter and the honor of my family.""

Oh! father, you must be badly wounded; your clothes are all bloody. See! he'll fall, support him, kind sir." "No danger, my child," said he, feebly, "It is true I am wounded, both in my right arm and the back part of my head, yet neither is dangerous to life; but the loss of blood has, I find, weakened me. The villains seeing me put my hand to my side pocket, but too well suspected my design, and therefore allowed me no time."

Having bound his wounds according to his direction, they proceeded homewards, the lady resting on Croghan's right arm, while he supported her father on the left.

"Have you, Clara," asked the doctor, "any knowledge of those ruffians?"

Only of one of them, whom I lately saw at the wedding party of Cousin Weatherby. How he got there I did not learn; but it is certain no one invited him, nor was it known who he was, till the suspicion was entertained after his departure, of his being a British officer in disguise."

"And my young friend," said he to Croghan, "by what chance were you directed to our relief at so critical a juncture? Did you arrive by mere accident, or was it by any possible design?"

"Indeed sir, I am led to conclude that the occurrence, so far as I have been concerned, is a mixture of both. Ac cident first pointed out the propriety of meeting you, then design induced me to seek you; and again, accident left me no alternative."

Then, briefly sketching the Indian affray, he fully acqainted them with the subject, so far as they were interested; yet so judiciously did he manage his narrative, and so well did he address himself to all their feelings and fears, that scarcely a groan or a sigh escaped either during the whole recital, until, by the time they arrived at the house, their minds were gradually soothed into tranquillity and resignation. He then lost no time in seeking the same surgeon whom he had called before; who having examined and dressed the wounds, pronounced neither of them of any serious consequence; and in a short time he had the satisfaction to see the family together, happy and thankful that matters were not worse.

Croghan now, by pressing and repeated invitations, became as might well be expected an intimate and che

Indeed, sir," she replied, looking up in his face with a mixture of surprise and earnestness, but yet modestly," it is true I never considered Captain Croghan my inferior in any sense. In education and sentiment he is liberal and refined; in language and manners, the highly accomplished gentleman; in point of family he is my superior, and in person or valor, I question if you have seen his equal; so that, on the whole, the odds are considerably in his favor. And as to what you term my attention, you know it were the blackest ingratitude ever to forget how dearly and nobly he has purchased it-nay, I am not ashamed to confess to you, my father, that my acknowledgments would have been tenfold, did not my sex forbid the manifestation."

"I dare say," rejoined he, peevishly, "he has never owned to you that his father was once a begger in the streets of Chillicothe."

And is it a crime," said she, leaning back in her chair. as the embroidery she had been working, dropped from her fingers, and her color changed to the paleness of marble, is it indeed a crime to be obliged to submit to the high hand of Omnipotence? Who is he on earth that can challenge exemption from the awful visitations of heaven? Captain Croghan did explain to my brother and me, without reserve, the whole tragical history of his parents' misfortunes; nor is it one that leaves a stain upon his name, any more than if they had been struck dead by the lightning, or buried in the deep by the raging storm. And however unbecoming his dress on his return to Chillicothe, after escaping from the Indians, it is indeed a misrepresentation to say he was a beggar; neither is the father or son now in need of any man's bounty."

"Clara," said he, hastily, "I want to hear no more of your pleadings; but tell me candidly if that young upstart has had the presumption to ask your hand, or you have had the indiscretion to give him any sort of pledge in that way."

At this interrogatory she could not conceal her mortification, yet, conscious of no demerit either in herself or the cause she advocated, she calmly replied, standing up before him, and fixing her eyes steadily but respectfully on his countenance, Sir, as my father, and under providence, the author of my being, you have a right to ask, and I feel it my duty to answer truly and directly; I therefore tell you with the utmost sincerity, that Capt. Croghancall him upstart, if you please-has never yet asked my hand in the way of matrimony, either directly or indirectly, and consequently, that I have given him no verbal pledge to that effect. But I feel bound to say, on this occasion, that if he had, I know no man who has a better right to it, nor any to whom I could more willingly give both my heart and hand, though certainly, in such a case, should first refer him to you."

I

"Now hear me, Clara, once for all," exclaimed he, passionately raising his voice, "you must, from this moment, break off all intercoure with that man, otherwise, I shall forever disown you as my child. He must no longer visit here--I shall forbid him the house."

My dear father, I recognize your prerogative now, as I have always done; nor am I disposed to disobey your cruel injunction, however repugnant to my own feelings. But may I hope you will not oblige me to disobey you hereafter?"

"How oblige you?"

By commanding me to give my hand where my heart forbids the sacrifice; for since you deny it to him who is worthy of more, and to whom you stand indebted for not being childless, I have a right to claim at least the privilege, that it never shall be another's."

At this he got outrageous, and hurried out of the room, mattering disapprobation as he went; while she, resuming her seat, soon found relief in a copious flow of tears. Croghan, in the evening, found Miss Hunter by herself, and though she received him with her accustomed cordiality, he soon perceived in her a mysterious sadness, which she endeavored to conceal; but the struggle in her breast was to him too apparent, and fearing that his presence imposed on her a painful restraint, he was about to stand up to take his leave, when reflecting that himself might have been unconsciously the cause, he determined to ask an explanation.

"My dear Miss Hunter," said he, "you seem unusually sad. May I inquire the cause of your misery. Will you not deign to tell me? Perhaps I may be the unfortunate cause myself. Do, for mercy's sake, explain to me, if I am in any way the cause of your trouble? It is true, I love you with the tenderest affection in man, yet I will submit to an eternal separation, though less tolerable than death, rather than see you unhappy on my account-I call heaven to witness that your happiness is dearer to me than my own."

Croghan," she replied, as soon as her emotion would allow her to speak, let me assure you, I never had the least doubt either of your esteem or sincerity; nor does prudence now forbid the avowal, that your merit and esteem have been duly appreciated. But however I may be disposed at present, matters do not depend wholly on my will. My father, though one of the best of parents, is nevertheless, sometimes obstinate in his own opinions, but if not opposed, generally does right. One of his frailties, I think, is an over fondness for me, which leads him to think scarcely any man good enough to be my husband; and though he is fully impressed with your merits and the justness of your claim, yet, for the present, he fancies some objections, which a little time will not fail to remove; and it were inexcusable in me not to pay a tender regard even to his prejudices, knowing as I do, that his chief solicitude is for my welfare. Let me therefore entreat you not to be disturbed by any thing he may say or do, but leave the management to me, and rest satisfied as to the issue, when I assure you that this hand can only be yours." Croghan, who had gazed on her in silent admiration while uttering these demonstrations of pious regard to her aged parent, and heroic attachment to him, whom she approved most worthy to be her companion, took her hand, and impressing on it the seal of affection, said, "Dearest Clara, you have indeed raised me from the most gloomy uncertainty to the exquisite summit of felicity. I will now no longer doubt that I shall one day be entitled to call those charms mine-be that day far or near, as it shall please the sweet arbitress of my fate, I shall endeavor to await its arrival with patience."

She then suggested the propriety of not prolonging his visit, not wishing that her father, returning, should find them together; when venturing to press her to his throbbing bosom, he quickly took his leave.

Meanwhile the war between the United States and Great Britain having broken out, and intelligence being received that the British forces had already commenced depredations on the northern frontiers, Governor Meigs issued his proclamation requiring all who wished to arrest the brutal rapacity of the licentious soldiery under the infamous Proctor, to come forward in defence of their country's rights, and aid in supporting the cause of freedom and humanity.

Among the first who obeyed the call was Capt. Croghan, who, placing himself at the head of his company, was next day on his march to meet the invaders, carrying with him as he went, the blessings of the aged and the fervent wishes of the young, for his succesful enterprise and safe return: and never did the expanding heart of the plumed patriot, on bis approach to the battle ground, glow with more exalted feelings of valorous enthusiasm and love of country.

Having, after a long and fatiguing journey, joined the army under General Harrison, at Carrying river, they advanced to the rapids of Miami, where hastily constructing a fortress, which was denominated Fort Meigs, in honor of their excellent governor, they awaited the arrival of Proc

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tor, who not sufficiently sated with the inhuman carnage of a small detachment of American troops at Frenchtown, on the river Raisin, directed his forces against them in formidable array, and flushed with the pride of an inglorious victory-with the blood stained laurels of depravity yet reeking on his brow-was preparing to repeat that iniquitous tragedy, for which the annals of civilized warfare afford scarcely a single parallel.

The British lost no time in erecting batteries at various points around the fort, which were no sooner completed than a brisk cannonade was commenced; but finding them incompetent, an officer was despatched with a flag to summon the Americans to surrender.

Gen. Harrison having expressed his surprise that they had not been summoned before the attack, directed him to tell his general that while he had the honor to command an American fort, it should never surrender to a combined force of tyrants and savages."

The firing was now resumed on both sides, when intelligence being received from Gen. Clay, that his brigade were advancing in boats a few miles above, Gen. Harrison ordered him to send a detachment of eight hundred men to destroy the enemy's works on the opposite side, while he projected a sortie under the commannd of Col. Miller, against those on the side of the fort. This was immediately complied with, and the British, driven from their batteries, were compelled to fly in all directions. But the Americans, unhappily pursuing the fugitives too far, were surrounded by a body of Indians, three times their num ber, under the celebrated Tecumseh, who being on their march to the British camp, formed an ambush for their reception. Death or victory! was now the word, and summoning up a courage worthy of a better fate, they determined to cut their way through the savage horde, or perish in the attempt. But alas! out of the eight hundred, only about one hundred and fifty ever returned.

Colonel Miller's division of three hundred men, whose plans had been nearly prostrated by the impetuosity of the party on the opposite side, now advancing on the enemy, charged the whole line of their works, manned by three hundred and fifty regulars and five hundred Indians; but being overpowered by superiority of numbers, were about retreating in confusion, when Capt. Croghan, seeing that such an event was only calculated to render their destruction inevitable cried out to his men, in a stentorian voice, "Americans, remember the deeds of your fathers, and prove their offspring not degenerate," and boldly charging with his single company, was soon followed by the rest, who, stimulated by such a noble example, and seeing their companions exposed to imminent peril, immediately rallied to their assistance, and in a few minutes drove the enemy from their batteries, then spiking the cannon, they returned to the fort with forty-two prisoners.

Gen. Proctor, finding that to subdue the tenants of the loghouse, he was likely to sacrifice more than he had anticipated; and-as the cruel are ever cowardly-not wishing to risk another battle with men who were capable of any thing like a serious resistance, he made a hasty retreat under cover of the night, leaving behind many valua ble articles which his hurry would not permit him to carry off.

Croghan received the thanks of his general, and being promoted to the rank of major, was sent to take charge of the Fort of Upper Sandusky, but while commanding at this station, he received private intelligence that the British had planned an attack on that of Lower Sandusky, and immediately set off with a small number of men, to strengthen the latter, and put it in the best posture of defence.

He was not a little pleased to find there before him the brother of his betrothed, now Captain Hunter, who having expressed the most lively satisfaction at receiving the assistance of a man, upon whom he could safely rely in the hour of trial, cheerfully resigned to him the command of the garrison. Croghan now found that his whole force amounted to only one hundred and sixty men, with one sixponder, the only piece of artillery in the fort, while that of the British was about thirteen hundred, with several field pieces; but betraying, however, no symptoms of apprehension on account of this great disparity of strength, he, like another Leonidas, by his firm demeanor, and well known intrepidity, inspired his companions-who were nearly all striplings like himself-with such courage that they determined, be the consequence what it might, to support him to the utmost.

They had merely sufficient time to make a ditch round

the stockade of pickets, when the enemy, having surrounded the fort, demanded a surrender, threatening at the time that if the least resistance was offered, they might expect to be every man put to the sword. Croghan replied to the officers who brought the flag, “Tell the monster who sent you, that we neither seek his clemency nor fear his threats."

No sooner was this message conveyed to Proctor, than he commenced a cannonade, which was continued for two days. But Croghan perceiving that he had concentrated his fire against a particular point, immediately secured it by hanging out bags of flour and sand, thereby protecting the pickets from any material injury. On the afternoon of the second day, the enemy, under the conviction that a breach must have been made, rapidly advance in close column, to assault the works. Anticipating this, Croghan had carefully concealed his sixpounder, loaded with slugs and grape, in a position to cover the point to be assailed, when Col. Short, who led the attack, jumping from the outer works into the ditch, and waving his sword, triumphantly cried to his followers, "Give the d-d yankees no quarter. "Fire!" exclaimed Croghan, as he recog nised in him the very ruffian who had formerly attempted his life, on the occasion of the rescue of Miss Hunter.The order was no sooner given than the sixpounder, accompanied with a well directed volley of musquetry, was discharged with the most destructive effect: and ere the detestable words of the wretched leader had yet expired on the air, he and most of those who followed were already numbered with the dead. The besiegers, exasperated at this unexpected check, now rushed forward with the utmost fury, but were received with a second discharge no less tremendous than the first; and so effectually did the young hero ply his single cannon, and so skilfully did he direct his valiant little force in the use of their small arms, that at length, terror-stricken by the awful havoc in their ranks, the assailants fled in confusion, notwithstanding every effort of their officers to prevent them.

But the conduct of the Americans, on the ensuing night, was no less admirable than their unparalled bravery during the day; for although the enemy still continued to annoy them at a distance by occasional shots, they, diregarding danger, and forgetting that they had been assailed by men who only sought their destruction without any regard to the laws of honorable warfare, were only solicitous in assauging, with their utmost exertions, the miseries of the wounded.

The news of this extraordinary victory soon spread through the union, eliciting the applause and admiration of all, and the heroic Croghan, being promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, received, together with Capt. Hunter and the rest of his brave associates, the special thanks of Congress.

The ladies of Chillicothe called a meeting, at which it was unanimously resolved to testify their respect for the virtues of their gallant townsman; and on his return, the amiable Clara Hunter, at the head of an imposing deputation, presented to him, in their name, a splendid sword, to which, to complete the measure of his happiness, she soon afterwards added, with the most cordial approbation of her father, the enviable and infinitely more acceptable gift of her hand. I myself, gentle reader, was at the wedding,and can amply describe to you the splendor of the ceremonies, the delicacy of the viands, flavor of the wines, hilarity of the company, the gaiety of the old doctor, and the raptures of Capt. Hunter; the music and the dance, if you give me a moment to mend my pen; but not even then the indescribable felicity of the happy pair. Philadelphia, Dec. 14, 1832.

ORIGINAL.

STANZAS.

How fairly shone her polished brow!

M. K. R.

How softly beamed her deep blue eye!

When first I made my ardent vow,

And breathed forth, anxious, many an amorous sigh.

Like faithless ice that fair brow shone,
Her blue eye like a treacherous sea,
To tempt a thoughtless school boy on,
Or sink a wretched mariner, like me.

At first, upon her lips there play'd

A smile that promised joy bespoke; Such light eve's autumn cloud display'd,

Ere thundering down, it shivered yon proud oak.

Mildly she heard my glowing suit,

But blushed when half the tale was told: Then throbbed her breast, her lips were mute, And soon I clasped her in my arm's fond fold. But vain was all the joy I felt

Bright contrast to my coming woe; Fool! to believe that she could melt,

Or woman's heart uncalculating glow. Curses attend his hated name,

Who first bought woman's love for gold; And taught that beauty, truth, and fame,

For heaps of glittering treasure might be sold.

But truth should dwell in such a form,

As heav'n-sent angels might invest; Ah! can deceit so sweetly charm,

And did I clasp destruction to my breast!

Yet, yet, 'twas sweet to fold her there,

To press her trembling in my arms; Her panting breath with mine to share, And gaze unchecked o'er all her glowing charms. Then, then, alas! had death been given, Pleased I had heard the fatal knell; Had only changed the scene of heaven, Nor known the tortures of this upper hell. Soft was the hour, her murmuring voice, Unurged, by yon new moon, declared That I was her dear bosom's choice, And by no other should her heart be shared. Full shines that moon, unwaning yet, And glistens on my falling tears; She can her willing vows forget,

Or but remember, when my sighs she hears

And are there, then, avenging powers!
She perjured smiles on all my woe;
And yet no angry threatening lowers,

To lay the triumphs of her beauty low.
The rose as brightly decks her cheek,
As gracefully those ringlets wave;
Her eyes as eloquently speak,

As if she had preserved the faith she gave.

And proud of her victorious charms,

To gain new conquests she prepares; Heedless who dies by those bright arms. And all insensible to human cares.

But well I know there'll come a time,
And feel it is not distant now,
When she shall weep her heartless crime,
And vainly mourn her violated vow.

Soon, soon, in death my woes shall find
A friendly and a sure relief:
Then shall remorse harass her mind,

With conscious wrong and unavailing grief.

CONSTANS.

From the Revue de Paris. Chantilly in the Olden Time.

SPLENDID STAG-HUNT-BY TORCH-LIGHT.

He who does not know Chantilly has seen nothing of what formerly constituted the taste of courtiers. I do not believe that Versailles and St. Germain attest, in their architectural figure, a more precise character of the manners of the times.

Chantilly is an obvious succession; it is a miniature copy of all the royal residences. St. Cloud has its sheets of water-so has Chantilly. Versailles has its great marble staircase--Chantilly has a great staircase likewise, but it is of stone. A fine forest surrounds St. Germain-Chantilly is placed in a forest. The proportions are less striking, but there is a resemblance. This vanity of having, since the time of the great Conde, and perhaps since Montmorency, the same number of horses, the same vain show of servants as at court, of rivaling her, and sometimes of surpassing her in magnificence and splendor, has sometimes touched the pride of royal etiquette.

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Le Compte du Nord, afterwards Paul the First, Emperor of Russia, was making a tour through Europe; he came to Paris, and hearing Chantilly spoken of at court, he expressed a wish to see it. The Prince de Conde enjoyed at that time all the splendor of his ancesters. He received the royal strangers as he would have received the great Conde after the battle of Rocroy; as Louis the Fourteenth had received the great Conde, with laurels in his hand. His reception was majestic-it appeared cold, it had been calculated on, the ennui of the finest day had been foreseen. After dinner, after a promenade, after gaming, there still was ennui.

The prince then proposed to the count to hunt in the forest, in order to pass more agreeably the remainder of the evening. This invitation given at ten at night, and in a serious manner, much astonished the count, who conented, thinking it a joke, never supposing it possible to hunt the wild boar or the stag in the midst of obscurity. At a signal given by the prince, horses already saddled and bridled are conducted from the stables; the dogs join the group. Gentlemen, valets, assistant huntsmen, put their feet in the stirrups. At the sound of the horn, the Prince of Conde and the Compte du Nord spring on horse back; some ladies are even hardy enough to follow the adventurous sportsmen.

The evening is beautiful; the moon spreads her rays upon the sylvan woods; the green sward, like a vast lake, frows a soothing perfume over the evening air; it is trodden for some time in silence. The horses and dogs are astonished at being raised from sleep to obey the imperipus voice of the chase, at an hour when all, even the trees, sleep. They seek their sun, their fresh morning dew, and the sonorous mass of air which repeats with purity of crystal, the barking, the neighings, and sounds of the horn; they cannot comprehend for what cause the hounds have been called forth. Humble as animals are by night, the horses tread the grass in a dubious gallop: the dogs, with their lowered ears and searching noses, know not where to find the scent, under a sky without a breath of wind, full of exhalations which are unmixed with any trace of game. All sleep-the boar in the wildrush in the marsh, the stag under immoveable charms, birds under an immoveable heaven; the great soul of the forest, with all its agitations and intelligences, reposes.

The huntsmen have already passed the gate of the casde; they are two hundred in number, squires and servants; the usual retinue of the High Constable of France. The horn resounds. One torch blazes, two, twenty, a thousand; they are seen at twenty paces, at a league, to the right, to the left, every where; the thousand sinuosities, and from thirty to forty leagues of curved lines are illuminated, they are in a blaze, streams of light flow from them like

*

The stags of the forest at this meredian without an Aurora, knew their enemy man, and rushed into the alleys in a herd, confiding in the reality of day. Oh! 'twas truly grand, and worthy of a prince; this spectacle of animals, running upon a tract of fire, amidst immoveable torches above all, when at the further end in perspective, the woods only were distinguishable, and the torches seemed like sparks. 'Twas truly imposing and beautiful; the noise of the horn in such a night, where pleasure wore the aspect of disaster, joy the character of fear, and a banquet the appearance of incendiarism.

The stag was driven out-- then a scene, always new and always exhilirating by the light of day, derived from the light of torches an appearance difficult to describe. Horses, dogs, and huntsmen, by running, acquired a motley appearance of dress, of dark green and smoking rosin alternately, according to the strong or faint shade of the torches. Obliged to run without deviation through the line of fire which dazzles his eyes, the stag overturns, sometimes on the right, and sometimes on the left, six men or six torches. The vassals encompass him in an impenetrable mass. Poor stag, how he bounds, in defiance of dogs hanging in a cluster to his flanks, in spite of horses and another kind of dog, which neighs, and in spite of man, a dog who speaks. He outstrips thought or the wind; but he cannot outstrip what is immoveable and interminable, the crowd of men above, the flaming torches. He knows the cross road of the Constable: he thinks of it, 'tis but a mile, and there he is. He clears at a bound the table of stone, and the table of fire. He knows the crossway of Abreuvoir; he is there, he is already farther he still sees fire. Oh, his swiftness is no longer that of the elk, 'tis the flight of a bird. His legs gather up under his haunches, his head disappearing in the elongation of his body, he clears space as soon as seen-space is no more than a phantom. Men and trees are black lines, the torches a red line-he is a thought. Earth and air are peopled with outcries which sound of death. To the lakes, to the lakes, they are in the midst of the forest. In happier hours, and when the moon shone upon them, he had gone there with his does and fawns to drink. To the lakes-he flies thither.

The lakes, magnificent sheets of water, divided by a narrow causeway, and which appear when the sun shines on them, a roseate of chrystal, of which the castle of Queen Blanche is the Gothic medallion-the castle of Queen Blanche, which the sledge of revolution has shattered, and laid low in the water its two turrets.

The industry of these times has placed a windmill there. the pedestal is a castle, the superstructure a mill; the miller's dog barks at the ruins of the aqueduct, sacks of flour fill the halls where the arms of Montmorency and of Bouvilliers once hung.

At the lakes the dogs have got before the stag, and there, as elsewhere, the fatal illumination awaits him.

Nothing is more beautiful than the lakes purpled with flame, reflecting the fixed stars and the smoke on their