g more strengthening than the rations. Coal is wanted here as
much as food. The poorer classes are without the means of cooking
whatever meat they may obtain, and it is almost impossible for them, on
account of the same reason, to make soup. If I might venture a
suggestion to the charitable in England, it would be to send over a
supply of fuel.

I had some conversation with a gentleman connected with the Government
this evening respecting the political situation. He tells me that Arago,
Pelletan, and Garnier Pages were delighted to leave Paris, and that it
was only the absolute necessity of their being as soon as possible at
Bordeaux, that induced General Vinoy to consent to their departure. As
for Gambetta, he says, it is not probable that he has now many adherents
in the provinces; and it is certain that he has very few here. When a
patient is given up by the faculty a quack is called in; if the quack
effects a cure he is lauded to the skies; if he fails, he is regarded as
a _charlatan_, and this is now the case with M. Gambetta. My informant
is of opinion that a large number of Ultra-Radicals will be elected in
Paris; this will be because the Moderates are split up into small
cliques, and each clique insists upon its own candidates being
supported, whereas the _Internationale_ commands 60,000 votes, which
will all be cast for the list adopted by the heads of that society, and
because the National Guard are averse to all real work, and hope that
the Ultras will force the National Assembly to continue to pay them the
1f. 50c. which they now receive, for an indefinite period. Gambetta, in
his desire to exclude from political power a numerous category of his
fellow-citizens, has many imitators here. Some of the journals insist
that not only the Bonapartists, but also the Legitimists and the
Orleanists should be disfranchised. They consider that as a preliminary
step to electing a National Assembly to decide whether a Republic is
henceforward to be the form of government of the country, it is
desirable, as well as just, to oblige all candidates to swear that it
shall be. The fact is, the French, no matter what their opinions may be,
seem to have no idea of political questions being decided by a majority;
or of a minority submitting to the fiat of this majority. Each citizen
belongs to a party; to the creed of this party, either through
conviction or personal motives, he adheres, and regards every one who
ventures to enter