[306] Journal du Siége par un Bourgeois de Paris, p. 573.
[307] Referring to confusedly expressed news received by pigeon, which was interpreted to the effect that Faidherbe had repulsed the enemy in the Pas de Calais; Chansy and Bourbaki were at Nevers “watching” on either flank of the army of Prince Frederick Charles; at Nuits, “a French general” had with 10,000 French beaten 25,000 Prussians.
[308] On January 18, 1871, at Versailles.
[309] The remark refers to those in the Jardin des Plantes and Jardin d’Acclimation. The flesh of these animals was sold at exorbitant prices.
[310] On one occasion thirteen were so counted, bringing to the rear a wounded comrade.
[311] The following places were those that chiefly suffered within Paris, viz., The Luxembourg quarter, Boulevard St. Michel, Rues St. Jacques, d’Enfer, Vaugirard, Hôpital Val de Grace, Théâtre Odéon, Church of St. Sulpice, the Jardin des Plantes, Panthéon, Ministère de Commerce, Invalides, Church of St. Germain, Rue Boissy d’Anglais.
[312] “The city of Paris is to pay a contribution of 200,000,000 francs (equal to £8,000,000 sterling) within a fortnight. Public property is not to be removed during the armistice. All German prisoners of war shall immediately be exchanged against a proportionate number of French prisoners; also captains of vessels and others, as well as civilian prisoners on both sides.”
[313] At this very time the ordinary 3 per cent. Rentes stood at 51·20; while the new loan for the indemnity stood at 52·40.
[314] Among other circumstances to which this want of confidence was assigned, on various occasions I heard enumerated “The Confessional” of the Romish Church, to which the great majority of the people belong. The direct effect of that observance is said to be the breaking of confidence between members of the same family, and so on upwards throughout public, as in private life. In connection with this allegations made by so many with whom I had communication, the circumstance is significant that whenever and for whatever political end a “Revolution” takes place in Paris, the class of persons who are first and invariably attacked are the clergy of that particular denomination.
[315] One of the first measures of the Government of M. Thiers, after crushing the insurrection by the Communists, including the National Guard, was to suppress the militia “force,” so called.