ing tom-toms and howling in order to avert
a threatening storm. Yesterday a great council of war was held, at which
not only the generals of division and admirals, but even generals of
brigade, were present. Although it is a military dictum that "councils
of war never fight," I think that in a few days we shall have a sortie,
as that anonymous general "public opinion" insists upon it.

We are still without news from the provinces. The _Gazette Officiale_
to-day publishes an extract from a German paper which hardly seems to
bear out the assertion of the Government that the Army of the North is
advancing to our succour. As evidence that our affairs are looking up in
the provinces _La France_ contains the following: "A foreigner who knows
exactly the situation of our departments said yesterday, 'These damned
French, in spite of their asinine qualities, are getting the better of
the Prussians.'" We are forced to live to-day upon this crumb of comfort
which has fallen from the lips of a great unknown. Hope is the last
feeling which dies out in the human breast, and rightly or wrongly nine
persons out of ten believe that Chanzy will shortly force the Prussians
to raise the siege. The bombardment is supposed to mask their having
been obliged to send heavy reinforcements to Frederick Charles, who
regularly every morning is either killed, wounded, or taken prisoner.

It is almost needless to say that the newspapers are filled with
wondrous tales respecting the bombardment; with denunciations against
the Prussians for their sacrilege in venturing upon it; and with
congratulations to the population on their heroism in supporting it. The
number of persons who have been all but hit by shells is enormous. I
went to the left bank of the Seine in order to see myself the state of
affairs. At Point-du-Jour there is a hot corner sparsely inhabited. The
Prussians are evidently here firing at the viaduct which crosses the
river. From there I followed the ramparts as close as I could as far as
Montrouge. I heard of many shells which had fallen, but except at
Point-du-Jour I did not myself either see any fall, or hear any whiz
through the air. I then went to the Observatory, where according to the
_Soir_ the shells were falling very freely. A citizen who was sweeping
before the gate told me that he knew nothing about them. In the Rue
d'Enfer, just behind, there was a house which had been struck during the
night, and close by there was a canti