,
that, contrary to all precedent, the garrison and the wounded alone are
fed with salt meat. What the result of M. Thiers' mission will be, it
is almost impossible to say. The Government will be anxious to treat,
and probably it will put forward feelers to-morrow to see how far it may
dare go. Some of its members already are endeavouring to disconnect
themselves from a capitulation, and, if it does take place, will assert
that they were opposed to it. Thus, M. Jules Favre, in a long address to
the mayors of the banlieus yesterday, goes through the old arguments to
prove that France never desired war.

This gentleman is essentially an orator, rather than a statesman. When
he went to meet Count Bismarck at Ferrieres, he was fully prepared to
agree to the fortresses in Alsace and Lorraine being rased; but when he
returned, the phrase, "_Ni un pouce du territoire, ni une pierre des
forteresses_," occurred to him, and he could not refrain from
complicating the situation by publishing it.

To turn for a moment to less serious matters. I never shall see a donkey
without gratefully thinking of a Prussian. If anyone happens to fall out
with his jackass, let me recommend him, instead of beating it, to slay
and eat it. Donkey is now all the fashion. When one is asked to dinner,
as an inducement one is told that there will be donkey. The flesh of
this obstinate, but weak-minded quadruped is delicious--in colour like
mutton, firm and savoury. This siege will destroy many illusions, and
amongst them the prejudice which has prevented many animals being used
as food. I can most solemnly assert that I never wish to taste a better
dinner than a joint of a donkey or a _ragout_ of cat--_experto crede_.

_November 1st._

We have had an exciting twenty-four hours. The Government of the
National Defence has in the course of yesterday been deposed,
imprisoned, and has again resumed the direction of public affairs. I
went yesterday, between one and two o'clock, to the Hotel de Ville. On
the place before it there were about 15,000 persons, most of them
National Guards from the Faubourgs, and without arms, shouting, "Vive la
Commune! Point d'armistice!" Close within the rails along the facade
there were a few Mobiles and National Guards on duty. One of the two
great doorways leading into the hotel was open. Every now and then some
authority appeared to make a speech which no one could catch; and at
most of the windows on the first floor th