te!

Visit from M. Rey. The Ledru-Rollin group is completely disorganized. No
more parties; the Republic. It is well.

I presented some Dutch cheese to Mme. Paul Meurice. Sleet is falling.

December 12.--I arrived in Brussels nineteen years ago to-day.

December 13.--Since yesterday Paris has been lighted with petroleum.

Heavy cannonade to-night.

December 14.--Thaw. Cannonade.

To-night we glanced over _Goya's Disasters of War_ (brought by Burty,
the art critic). It is fine and hideous.

December 15.--Emmanuel Arago, Minister of Justice, came to see me and
informed me that there would be fresh meat until February 15, but that
in future only brown bread would be made in Paris. There will be enough
of this to last for five months.

Allix brought me a medal struck to commemorate my return to France. It
bears on one side a winged genius and the words: "Liberty, Equality and
Fraternity," and on the other side, round the rim: "Appeal to Universal
Democracy," and in the centre: "To Victor Hugo, From His Grateful
Fatherland.' September, 1870."

This medal is sold in the streets and costs 5 centimes. There is a
little ring in it by which it can be suspended to a chain.

December 16.--Pelleport* came to-night. I requested him to visit
Flourens, in Mazas Prison, on my behalf, and to take him a copy of
_Napoleon the Little_.

* One of the editors of the "Rappel."

December 17.--The "Electeur Libre" calls upon Louis Blanc and me to
enter the Government, and affirms that it is our duty to do so. My duty
is dictated to me by my conscience.

I saw the gunboat "Estoc" pass under the Pont des Arts, going up Seine.
She is a fine vessel and her big gun has a terribly grand appearance.

December 18.--I worked a magic lantern for little Georges and little
Jeanne.

My royalty for Mme. Favart's recitation of _Stella_ at a performance
given by the 14th Battalion amounted to 130 francs. My agent took my
royalty in spite of my instructions. I have ordered him to turn the
money over to the sick fund of the battalion.

M. Hetzel writes: "The closing of the printing office is imminent, as I
can get no more coal to keep the presses going."

I authorise another issue of 3,000 copies of _Les Chatiments_, which
will bring the total for Paris up to 22,000.

December 20.--Captain Breton, of the Garde Mobile, who has been
cashiered on the charge of being a coward, brought against him by his
li