into them, they certainly do not give one the idea
of places in which anyone would wish to be, unless he were obliged; and
they seemed yesterday to be replying but feebly to the fire of the
enemy. I suppose that the Prussians know their own business, and that
they really intend wholly to destroy Fort Rosny. Before you get this
letter the duel between earth and iron will be decided, so it is useless
my speculating on the result. If Rosny or Nogent fall, there will be
nothing to protect Belleville from a bombardment. Many military sages
imagine that this bombardment is only a prelude to an attack upon Mont
Valerien. About 3,500 metres from that fort there is a very awkward
plateau called La Bergerie. It is somewhat higher than the hill on which
Valerien stands. The Prussians are known to have guns on it in position,
and as Valerien is of granite, if bombarded, the value of granite as a
material for fortifications will be tested.

Since the Prussians have opened fire, there have been numerous councils
of war, and still more numerous proclamations. General Trochu has issued
an appeal to the city to be calm, and not to believe that differences of
opinion exist among the members of the Government. General Clement
Thomas has issued an address to the National Guards, telling them that
the country is going to demand great sacrifices of them. In fact, after
the manner of the Gauls, everybody is addressing everybody. _Toujours
des proclamations et rien que cela_, say the people, who are at last
getting tired of this nonsense. Yesterday there was a great council of
all the generals and commanders. General Trochu, it is said, was in
favour of an attempt to pierce the Prussian lines; the majority being in
favour of a number of small sorties. What will happen no one seems to
know, and I doubt even if our rulers have themselves any very definite
notion. The Ultra journals clamour for a sortie _en masse_, which of
course would result in a stampede _en masse_. One and all the newspapers
either abuse Trochu, or damn him with faint praise. It is so very much a
matter of chance whether a man goes down to posterity as a sage or a
fool, that it is by no means easy to form an opinion as to what will be
the verdict of history on Trochu. If he simply wished to keep the
Prussians out of Paris, and to keep order inside until the provisions
were exhausted, he has succeeded. If he wished to force them to raise
the siege he has failed. His military cr