Public opinion was disposed to accept a cessation of the siege on
almost any terms. General Trochu, however, and his colleagues had not
the civic courage to attach their names to a document which would
afterwards have been cast in their teeth. A friend of mine, a military
man, saw Trochu late last night. He strongly urged him to accept the
armistice, but in vain. "What do you expect will occur? You must know
that the position is hopeless," said my friend. "I will not sign a
capitulation," was all he could get from Trochu. This worthy man is as
obstinate as only weak men can be; his colleagues, as self-seeking as
only French politicians can be. The news that the armistice had been
rejected, fell like a thunderclap upon the population. I never remember
to have witnessed a day of such general gloom since the commencement of
the siege. The feeling of despair is, I hear, still stronger in the
army. Were the real condition of things outside known, I am certain that
the Government would be forced to conclude an armistice, on no matter
what terms. I happened to come across to-day a file of English
newspapers up to the 22nd ult., and I fully realised how all
intelligence from without has been distorted by the Government to serve
its own purposes. Now a few days ago, these very papers had been lent to
Trochu. He read them, kept them two days to show some of his colleagues,
and then returned them. One single extract was published by the _Journal
Officiel_--a German report upon the defences of Paris. No man in the
House of Commons is more fond of special pleading than Sir Roundell
Palmer. When anyone complains of it, the reply is, that he teaches some
children their catechism on Sundays. So, when anyone ventures to
question the veracity of Trochu, one is told that he has adopted his
brother's children.

According to measurements which have been made, the Prussian batteries
at Sevres and Meudon will carry to the Champ de Mars. From Montretout
their guns would throw shells into the Champs Elysees; but we think that
Valerien will silence them as soon as they open. Meat is getting more
and more scarce every day. That great moralist, Dr. Johnson, said that
he should prefer to dine with a Duke than the most agreeable of
Commoners. I myself at present should prefer to dine with a leg of
mutton than the most agreeable of human beings--Duke or Commoner. I
hear, on what I believe to be good authority, that we shall see the end
of our fresh