onsequences when the
destinies of a country are subordinated to it. At the commencement of
the siege, General Trochu announced that he not only had a "plan," but
that he had inscribed it in his will, which was deposited with his
notary. An ordinary man would have made use of the materials at his
command, and, without pledging himself to success, would have
endeavoured to give the provinces time to organize an army of succour by
harassing the Prussians, and thus preventing them from detaching troops
in all directions. Instead of this, with the exception of some two or
three harmless sorties, they have been allowed slowly to inclose us in a
net of circumvallations. Our provisions are each day growing more
scarce, and nothing is done except to heap up defensive works to prevent
the town being carried by an assault, which there is no probability that
the besiegers mean to attempt. Chatillon and Meudon were ill guarded,
but ditches were cut along the Avenue de l'Imperatrice. The young
unmarried men in Paris were not incorporated until the 50th day of the
siege, but two or three times a week they were lectured on their duties
as citizens by their leader. If there is really to be a sortie,
everything is ready, but now the General hesitates--hints that he is not
seconded, that the soldiers will not fight, and almost seems to regret
at last his own theoretical presumption. "He trusted," said one of his
generals to me, "first to the neutrals, then to the provinces, and now
he is afraid to trust to himself." Next time a general is besieged in a
town I should recommend him not to announce that he has a plan which
must ensure victory, unless indeed it be a German town, where nothing
which an official can do is considered ridiculous.

Benjamin Constant said of his countrymen that their heads could never
contain more than one idea at once. A few days ago we were full of our
victory at Orleans. Then came the question whether or not Bazaine was a
traitor. To-day we have forgotten Bazaine and Orleans. The marching
battalions of the National Guard are to have new coats, and we can talk
or think of nothing else. The effect as yet of these marching battalions
has been to disorganise the existing battalions. Every day some new
decree has been issued altering their mode of formation. Perhaps the new
coats will settle everything, and convert them into excellent soldiers.
Let us hope it.

We are by no means satisfied with the news which has re