[52] Neither the Rue des Orties nor the hill known as the Butte des Moulins now exists, both having been swept away to make room for the Avenue de l'Opéra, the lower portion of which runs across the spot where the Butte, with its few dingy, narrow streets formerly rose.—Trans.
[53] Thiers did try to spare it, and Count von Bismarck in the Emperor William's name offered to forego the triumphal entry if Belfort were surrendered to Germany. But this proposal was rejected by Thiers, to his everlasting credit.—Trans.
[54] This appellation was for brevity's sake bestowed on the Federated National Guards serving the Commune, whilst the Government troops were habitually called the Versaillese.—Trans.
[55] The translator enabled several French friends to get out of Paris at this time by lending them, in turn, his English passport.—Trans.
[56] This is not quite accurate. The excessive prudence of the French commanders at the outset was mainly due to the fear that their men might fraternise with the National Guards. This fear was altogether unfounded, as the troops, most of whom had gone through the war, were enraged with the Communists, whose rising had delayed their discharge. Nevertheless, the officers remembered what had happened at the outset of the insurrection, and in the earlier stages of the street-fighting seldom allowed their men to come within speaking distance of the National Guards. Officers of high rank admitted this to the translator at the time.—Trans.
[57] The Magenta and Solferino campaign of 1859.—Trans.
[58] Containing the throne-room and the Prince Imperial's apartments.—Trans.
[59] The place of revelry where Napoleon III. and his wife, his mistresses, his sycophants, his corrupt ministers and his incompetent commanders, had danced and made merry for well-nigh twenty years.—Trans.
[60] The State depository for the crown jewels, plate, works of art, valuable articles of furniture, &c., not used in the palaces.—Trans.
[61] Hand-pumps were then used by the French firemen. I do not think there was a single steam fire-engine in Paris at that time. I well remember assisting in the pumping both in the Rue Royale and at the Palais de Justice, during those terrible last days of the Commune which M. Zola here so forcibly and accurately describes.—Trans.