only acts with firmness, to put down all tendencies
to disorder; but were there to be a fight between the friends of the
Government among the Garde Nationale and its opponents, I am not certain
that the former would have the upper hand. As it is, the Hotel de Ville
and the Louvre are guarded by Breton battalions of the Mobile, and Vinoy
has announced that if there is a disturbance he will at once march to
the aid of the Government at the head of his division. Many complaints
are made about the mode in which the vote was taken on Thursday; some
of them appear to me to be just. The fact is, that Frenchman have not
the most elementary notion of fair play in an election. No matter what
body of men are in power, they conceive that they have a perfect right
to use that power to obtain a verdict in their favour from their
fellow-citizens. Tried by our electioneering code, every French election
which I ever witnessed would be annulled on the ground of "intimidation"
and "undue influence."

_Evening._

No news yet about the armistice. I hear that it is doubtful whether it
will be signed, but no doubt respecting it seems to disquiet the minds
of the Parisians. I cannot help thinking that they have got themselves
again into a fool's paradise. Their newspapers tell them that the
Neutral Powers are forcing Prussia to be reasonable, and that Bismarck
is struck with awe at the sight of our "heroic attitude." As for his not
accepting any terms which we may put forward, the idea does not enter
the mind of any one. I must say, however, that there is a vague feeling
that perhaps we are not quite so very sublime as we imagine. Even to pay
a war indemnity seems to be a concession which no one anticipated. For
the first time since I have known the Parisians, they are out of conceit
with themselves. "If Prussia forces us to make peace now, in five years
we will crush her," is the somewhat vague threat with which many console
themselves. Others say that on the conclusion of peace they will leave
France; but whether this is intended to punish France, Prussia, or
themselves, I do not know. Others boldly assert that they are prevented
from immolating themselves by the Neutral Powers. It is the old story of
"hold me back, don't let me get at him." One thing, however, is certain,
that the capture of Bazaine, the disaster at Bourget, the row at the
Hotel de Ville, the Prussian cannon on the heights of Meudon, and the
opportune arrival of Thiers,