s lasted. We have been told
that Bazaine could hold out indefinitely, that vast armies were forming
in the provinces, and would, before the middle of November, march to the
relief of Paris; that the investing army was starving, and that it had
been unable to place a single gun in position within the range of the
forts; that we had ample provisions until the month of February, and
that there would not be the slightest difficulty in introducing convoys.
Anyone who ventured to question these facts was held up to public
execration. General Trochu announced that he had a "plan," and that if
only he were left to carry it out, it must result in success. All this
time the General and the members of the Government, who were at
loggerheads with each other, privately confessed to their friends that
the situation was growing every day more critical.

The attempt to obtain volunteers from the population of the capital for
active service outside the gates has resulted in a miserable failure,
and the Government does not even venture to carry out the law, which
subjects all between twenty-five and thirty-five to enrolment in the
army. With respect to public opinion, all are opposed to the entry of
the Prussians into Paris, or to a peace which would involve a cession of
territory; but many equally object to submitting either to real hardship
or real danger. They hope against hope that what they call their
"sublime attitude" will prevent the Prussians from attacking them, and
that they may pass to history as heroes, without having done anything
heroic. I had thought that the working men would fight well, but I think
so no longer. Under the Empire they got high wages for doing very
little. Since the investment of the capital, they have taken their 1fr.
50c. and their rations for their families, and done hardly anything
except drill, gossip, and about once a week go on the ramparts. So fond
they are of this idle existence, that although workshops offer 6fr. a
day to men, they cannot obtain hands. With respect to provisions, as yet
the poorer classes have been better off than they ever were before.
Every one gets his 50 or 100 grammes of meat, and his share of bread.
Those persons alone who were accustomed to luxuries have suffered from
their absence. Meat of some kind is, however, to be obtained by any
person who likes to pay for it about twice its normal value. So afraid
is the Government of doing anything which may irritate the population