excellent.

To-night the sortie is to be made.

November 29.--All night long I heard the cannon.

The fowls were installed in my garden to-day.

The sortie is being delayed. The bridge thrown across the Marne by
Ducros has been carried away, the Prussians having blown open the locks.

November 30.--All night long the cannon thundered. The battle continues.

At midnight last night as I was returning home through the Rue de
Richelieu from the Pavilion de Rohan, I saw just beyond the National
Library, the street being deserted and dark at the time, a window open
on the sixth floor of a very high house and a very bright light, which
appeared to be that of a petroleum lamp, appear and disappear several
times; then the window closed and the street became dark again. Was it a
signal?

The cannon can be heard at three points round Paris, to the east, west
and south. This is because a triple attack is being made on the ring the
Prussians have drawn round us. The attack is being made at Saint Denis
by Laronciere, at Courbevoie by Vinoy, and on the Marne by Ducros.
Laronciere is said to have swept the peninsula of Gennevilliers and
compelled a Saxon regiment to lay down its arms, and Vinoy is said to
have destroyed the Prussian works beyond Bougival. As to Ducros, he
has crossed the Marne, taken and retaken Montedy, and almost holds
Villiers-sur-Marne. What one experiences on hearing the cannon is a
great desire to be there.

This evening Pelletan sent his son, Camille Pelletan, to inform me on
behalf of the Government that to-morrow's operations will be decisive.

December 1.--It appears that Louise Michel has been arrested. I will do
all that is necessary to have her released immediately. Mme. Meurice is
occupying herself about it. She went out this morning for that purpose.

D'Alton-Shee came to see me.

We ate bear for dinner.

I have written to the Prefect of Police to have Louise Michel released.

There was no fighting to-day. The positions taken were fortified.

December 2.--Louise Michel has been released. She came to thank me.

Last evening M. Coquelin called to recite several pieces from _Les
Chatiments_.

It is freezing. The basin of the Pigalle fountain is frozen over.

The cannonade recommenced at daybreak.

11.30 A.M.--The cannonade increases.

Flourens wrote to me yesterday and Rochefort to-day. They are coming
round to me again.

Dorian, Minister of Public Works, and Pelletan