[53] De Freycinet, La Guerre en Province, p. 86, 87.
[54] Ibid., p. 91.
[55] On the 11th, the delegate telegraphed to D'Aurelles: "We fully approve of the dispositions you had taken for your troops round Orléans.... You will receive instructions. In the meantime redouble your vigilance in prevision of a return to the offensive on the part of the enemy."—D'Aurelles de Paladines, La Première Armée de la Loire, p. 120. Thus, far from speaking of attacking, the Delegation only thought of the defensive.
[56] "It was only when they could not help it that they made up their minds to act," Gambetta has said in the Enquête sur le 4 Septembre. The avowal is precious, coming from him.
[57] It is most amusing to hear D'Aurelles chaffing Trochu without perceiving that he is just as ridiculous. In his evidence (Enquête sur le 4 Septembre, vol. iii. p. 201) he says: "I did not deposit either a plan or a testament at a lawyer's; I confined myself to writing to the Bishop of Orléans: Monsignor, the army of the Loire to-day sets out on its march to meet the army of General Ducrot. Pray, Monsignor, for the salvation of France."
[58] And what other name is merited by the general who abandoned his post in the field to go and negotiate with the sovereign whom France had expelled?
[59] Enquête sur le 4 Septembre, Rolland, vol. iii. p. 456.
[60] Ibid., Dalloz, vol. iv. p. 398.
[61] If General Boyer, who saw the letter, is to be believed, the Delegation of Tours on the 24th October made officious advances to the Empress, and then gave the order to the chargé-d'affaires at London to go and thank her for the patriotism that she had shown in refusing to treat with Bismarck, who trifled with her as well as with Bazaine. See Enquête sur le 4 Septembre, vol. iv. p. 258.
[62] Enquête sur le 4 Septembre, Admiral Jaureguiberry, vol. iii. p. 297.