ost scorn of the patriots within
the walls. "We are kept here," they said, "to defend these men, all of
whom have arms like us; they live comfortably inside the ramparts,
whilst the provinces are being ravaged." These Breton Mobiles are the
idols of the hour. They are to the Republic what the Zouaves were to the
Empire. They are very far, however, from reciprocating the admiration
which the Republicans entertain for them. They are brave, devout,
credulous peasants, care far more for Brittany than they do for Paris,
and regard the individuals who rule by the grace of Paris with feelings
the reverse of friendly. The army and the Mobiles, indeed, like being
cooped up here less and less every day, and they cannot understand why
the 300,000 National Guards who march and drill in safety inside the
capital do not come outside and rough it like them. While I was talking
to these Bretons one of them blew his nose with his handkerchief. His
companions apologised to me for this piece of affectation. "He is from
Finisterre," they said. In Finisterre, it appears, luxury is enervating
the population, and they blow their noses with handkerchiefs; in other
parts of Brittany, where the hardy habits of a former age still prevail,
a more simple method is adopted.

The volunteering from the National Guard for active service has been a
failure. 40,000 men were required; not 7,000 have sent in their names.
The Ultras say that it is a scheme to get rid of them; the bourgeoisie
say nothing, but volunteer all the less. The fact is, the siege as far
as regards the Parisians has been as yet like hunting--all the pleasure
of war, with one per cent. of the danger; and so long as they can help
it they have no intention to increase that per-centage. As for the 1,500
cannon, they have not yet been made; but many of them have already been
named. One is to be called the "Jules Favre," one the "Populace," "We
already hear them thunder, and see the Prussians decimated," says the
_Temps_, and its editor is not the first person who has counted his
chickens before they are hatched.

All yesterday afternoon and evening the Fort of Issy, and the battery of
the Bois de Boulogne, fired heavily on Brinborion and Meudon, with what
result no one knows. Yesterday morning the _Combat_ announced that
Marshal Bazaine was treating for the surrender of Metz in the name of
Napoleon. The Government was interviewed, and denied the fact. In the
evening the _Combat_ was burn