Paris under the Commune - John Leighton
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[Illustration: FRONTISPIECE THE COLUMN OF JULY (HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF)]
PARIS
UNDER THE COMMUNE: OR,
THE SEVENTY-THREE DAYS OF THE
SECOND SIEGE
WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS, SKETCHES TAKEN ON THE SPOT, AND PORTRAITS
(FROM THE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS).
BY JOHN LEIGHTON, F.S.A.,
&C.
LONDON:
1871.
Socialism, or the Red Republic, is all one; for it would
tear down the tricolour and set up the red flag. It would make
penny pieces out of the Column Vendome. It would knock down
the statue of Napoleon and raise up that of Marat in its
stead. It would suppress the Academie, the Ecole
Polytechnique, and the Legion of Honour. To the grand device
Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, it would add "Ou la mort."
It would bring about a general bankruptcy. It would ruin the
rich without enriching the poor. It would destroy labour,
which gives to each one his bread. It would abolish property
and family. It would march about with the heads of the
proscribed on pikes, fill the prisons with the suspected, and
empty them by massacres. It would convert France into the
country of gloom. It would strangle liberty, stifle the arts,
silence thought, and deny God. It would bring into action
these two fatal machines, one of which never works without the
other--the assignat press and the guillotine. In a word, it
would do in cold blood what the men of 1793 did in fever, and
after the grand horrors which our fathers saw, we should have
the horrible in all that was low and small.
(VICTOR HUGO, 1848.)
PREFACE.
Early in June of the present year I was making notes and sketches,
without the least idea of what I should do with them. I was at the
Mont-Parnasse Station of the Western Railway, awaiting a train from
Paris to St. Cloud. Our fellow passengers, as we discovered afterwards,
were principally prisoners for Versailles; the guards, soldiers; and the
line, for two miles at least, appeared desolation and ruin.
The facade of the station, a very large one, was pockmarked all over by
Federal bullets, whilst cannon balls had cut holes through the stone
wall as if it had been cheese, and gone down the line, towards Cherbourg
or Brest! The restaurant below was nearly annihilated, the counters,
tables, and chairs being reduced to a confused heap. But there was a
book-stall and on that book-stall reposed a little work, entitled the
"Bataille des Sept Jours," a brochure which a friend bought and gave to
me, saying, "_Voila la texte de vos croquis_," From seven days my ideas
naturally wandered to seventy-three--the duration of the reign of the
Commune--and then again to two hundred and twenty days--that included
the Commune of 1871 and its antecedents. Hence this volume, which I
liken to a French chateau, to which I have added a second storey and
wings.
And now that the house is finished, I must render my obligations to M.
Mendes and numerous French friends, for their kind assistance and
valuable aid, including my confreres of "_The Graphic_," who have
allowed me to enliven the walls with pictures from their stores; and
last, and not least, my best thanks are due to an English Peer, who
placed at my disposal his unique collection of prints and journals of
the period bearing upon the subject--a subject I am pretty familiar
with. Powder has done its work, the smell of petroleum has passed away,
the house that called me master has vanished from the face of the earth,
and my concierge and his wife are reported _fusilles_ by the
Versaillais; and to add to the disaster, my rent was paid in advance,
having been deposited with a _notaire_ prior to the First Siege.... But
my neighbours, where are they? In my immediate neighbourhood six houses
were entirely destroyed, and as many more half ruined. I can only speak
of one friend, an amiable and able architect, who, alas! remonstrated in
person, and received a ball from a revolver through the back of his
neck. His head is bowed for life. He has lost his pleasure and his
treasure, a valuable museum of art,--happily they could not burn his
reputation, or the monument of his life--a range of goodly folio volumes
that exist "_pour tous_."
L.
LONDON, 1871
CONTENTS.
PREFACE
CONTENTS
LIST OF PLATES AND ILLUSTRATIONS
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER--The 30th October, 1870--The Hotel de Ville
invaded--Governor Trochu resigns--A Revolt attempted--Meetings, Place de
la Bastille--The Prussians enter Paris--Hostility of the National Guard
I. The Memorable 18th of March--Line and Nationals
Fraternise--Discipline at a Discount
II. Assassination of Generals Lecomte and Clement Thomas
III. Proclamation of M. Picard--The Government retires to Versailles
IV. The New Regime Proclaimed--Obscurity of New Masters
V. Paris Hesitates--Small Sympathy with Versailles
VI. The Buttes Montmartre
VII. An Issue Possible--An Approved Proclamation
VIII. Demonstration of the Friends of Order
IX. The Drama of the Rue de la Paix--Victims to Order
X. A Wedding
XI. The Bourse and Belleville
XII. Watching and Waiting
XIII. A Timid but Prudent Person
XIV Some Federal Opinions
XV. Proclamation of Admiral Saisset--Paris Satisfied.
XVI. A Widow
XVII. The Central Committee Triumphs
XVIII. Paris Elections
XIX. The Commune a Fact--A Motley Assembly
XX. Proclamation of the Elections
XXI. A Batch of Official Decrees--Landlord, and Tenant
XXII. Requisitions and Feasts
XXIII. Removals and Retirements
XXIV. A General Flight
XXV. An Envoy to Garibaldi
XXVI. Commencement of Civil War--Beyond the Arc de Triomphe
XXVII. Mont Valerien opens on the Federals--Contradictory News
XXVIII. Death of General Duval--Able Administration
XXIX. Antipathy to the Church--The Archbishop Interrogated
XXX. The Accomplices of Versailles
XXXI. Death of Colonel Flourens
XXXII. The Cross and the Red Flag
XXXIII. Colonel Assy of Creuzot--Disgrace of Lullier
XXXIV. Fighting goes on
XXXV. Federal Funerals
XXXVI. Prudent Counsel
XXXVII. Suppression of Newspapers
XXXVIII. The Second Bombardment--Avenue de la Grande Armee--Reckless Aim
of the Versaillais
XXXIX. The Plan of Bergeret
XL. Another General--Police and Pressgang--A Citizen of the World
XLI. Women and Children
XLII. Why is Conciliation Impossible?
XLIII. The Portable Guillotine
XLIV. The Common Grave
XLV. Idle Paris
XLVI. The Press
XLVII. Day follows Day
XLVIII. The Condemned Column--Model Decrees
XLIX. Thiers and Conciliation--Paris and France
L. Communist Caricatures--Political Satire
LI. Gustave Courbet--Federation of Art--Courbet, President
LII. Camp, Place Vendome
LIII. Elections of the 16th of April
LIV. The "Change" under the Commune
LV. Elections sans Electors--Farce of Universal Suffrage
LVI. A la Mode de Londres
LVII. The Little Sisters of the Poor
LVIII. Becon and Asnieres taken--Declaration to the French
People--Federation of Communes--The Commune or the Deluge
LIX. A Court-Martial
LX. A Heroic Gamin
LXI. Killing the Dead
LXII. The Truce at Neuilly--Porte-Maillot destroyed--Neuilly in Ruins
LXIII. Masonic Mediation--The Envoy of Peace--Citizens and Brothers--A
White Flag on Porte-Maillot
LXIV. Prudent Monsieur Pyat
LXV. Resources of the Commune--The Royal Road to Riches
LXVI. The Prophecy of Proudhon
LXVII. Revolutionary Balloons
LXVIII. A Confession of Conscience
LXIX. Communist Journalism--Sensation Articles
LXX. Fort Issy falls
LXXI. Cluseret arrested
LXXII. The Executive Commission--Committee of Public Safety
LXXIII. A Competent Tribunal
LXXIV. The Password betrayed
LXXV. The Condemned Chapel
LXXVI. Restitution is Robbery
LXXVII. The Nuns of Picpus
LXXVIII. Rossel resigns--The Semblance of a Government
LXXIX. Want of Funds--The Sinews of War
LXXX. Passwords--The Chariot of Apollo--Refractories
LXXXI. Sacrilege--Clubs in the Churches
LXXXII. Refractories in Danger
LXXXIII. The Home of M. Thiers, Demolition and Removal
LXXXIV. Filial Love
LXXXV. Communal Secessionists--Save himself who can
LXXXVI. The Failing Cause--The Column Vendome falls
LXXXVII. A Concert at the Tuileries
LXXXVIII. Cartridge Magazine Explosion
LXXXIX. The Advent of Action--Paris ceases to smile
XC. The Troops enter--Street Fortifications--Insurgents at home
XCI. Arrests and Murders
XCII. Fire and Sword
XCIII. Barricade at the Place de Clichy
XCIV. Rack and Ruin
XCV. Bloodshed and Brigandage
XCVI. Hotel de Ville on Fire--A Furnace
XCVII. Petroleurs and Petroleuses
XCVIII. Streets of Paris
XCIX. The Expiring Demons--The Hostages--Reprisals--Cemeteries
C. Sewers and Catacombs
CI. Mourning and Sadness
APPENDIX.
Chronology of the Commune
Memoir of Rochefort.
The 18th of March
The Prussians and the Commune
Memoir of Gambon
Memoir of Lullier
Memoir of Protot
Translation from Victor Hugo
Note of Jourde
Last Proclamations of the Commune
Note of Ferre
The Hostages--Gendarmes, &c.
President Bonjean
Note of Urbain.
Devastations of Paris
Official Report of General Ladmirault
Ammunition expended on Second Siege of Paris
List of Monuments and Buildings destroyed
Index to Plan--Damage by Fire, &c.
[Illustration]
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS:
*Separate Plates on tinted paper.
*FRONTISPIECE:--THE COLUMN OF JULY (HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF)
PORTRAIT OF M. THIERS, PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
*THE STATE OF PARTY--PICTURED By THEMSELVES. ALLEGORICAL
PAGE--ROCHEFORT, CLEMENT THOMAS, &c. (_facsimile_)
COLUMN OF JULY--PLACE DE LA BASTILLE
THE BUTTES MONTMARTRE--FEDERAL ARTILLERY PARKED THERE
MONTMARTRE--FIRST LINE OF SENTINELS
THE RED FLAG OF THE COLUMN OF JULY
*PURIFICATION OF THE CHAMPS ELYSEES AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF THE
PRUSSIANS--CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST BARRICADE, 18TH MARCH
DEFENCE OF THE HOTEL DE VILLE
SENTINELS, BOULEVARD SAINT-MICHEL
BEHIND A BARRICADE--THE DEJEUNER
PORTRAIT OF GAMBON, MEMBER OF THE COMMUNE
BEHIND A BARRICADE--THE EVENING MEAL
PLACE DE LA CONCORDE--FEDERALS GOING OUT
PORTRAIT OF GENERAL BERGERET
PORTRAIT OF ABBE DEGUERRY, CURE OF THE MADELEINE
PORTRAIT OF RAOUL RIGAULT, PROCUREUR OF THE COMMUNE
PORTRAIT OF MONSEIGNEUR DARBOY, ARCHBISHOP OF PARIS
PORTRAIT OF COLONEL FLOURENS
PORTRAIT OF COLONEL ASSY, GOVERNOR OF THE HOTEL DE VILLE
THE RED FLAG ON THE PANTHEON
PORTRAIT OF GENERAL CLUSERET
THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE DE L'ETOILE
HORSE CHASSEUR ACTING AS COMMUNIST ARTILLERYMAN
MARINE GUNNER AND STREET BOY
THE CORPS LEGISLATIF--HEAD QUARTERS OF GENERAL BERGERET
PORTRAIT OF GENERAL DOMBROWSKI
*BURNING THE GUILLOTINE IN THE PLACE VOLTAIRE
COLONNE VENDOME
*CARICATURE DURING THE COMMUNE--LITTLE PARIS AND HIS PLAYTHINGS
(_facsimile_)
*THE MODERN "EROSTRATE"--COURBET AND THE DEBRIS OF THE VENDOME COLUMN
*FEDERAL VISIT TO THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR
PORTRAIT OF VERMOREL, DELEGATE OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSION
FEMALE CURIOSITY AT PORTE MAILLOT
PORTE MAILLOT AND CHAPEL OF ST. FERDINAND
ARMISTICE--INHABITANTS OF NEUILLY ENTERING PARIS
WATCHING FOR THE FIRST SHOT FROM FORT VALERIEN
FEMALE IMPERTURBABILITY AFTER THE ARMISTICE
PORTRAIT OF PROTOT, DELEGATE OF JUSTICE
PORTRAIT OF FELIX PYAT, MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY
FREEMASONS AT THE RAMPARTS
PORTRAIT OF VERMESCH, EDITOR OF THE "PERE DUCHESNE"
PORTRAIT OF PASCHAL CROUSSET, DELEGATE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PORTRAIT OF DUPONT, COMMISSIONER OF TRADE AND COMMERCE
CHAPELLE EXPIATOIRE (CONDEMNED BY THE COMMUNE)
*CARICATURE DURING THE COMMUNE--PARIS EATS A GENERAL A-DAY (_facsimile_)
PORTRAIT OF DELESCLUZE, DELEGATE OF WAR
PORTRAIT OF FONTAINE, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC DOMAINS AND REGISTRATION
REFRACTAIRES ESCAPING FROM THE CITY BY NIGHT
PORTRAIT OF GENERAL LA CECILIA
CHURCH OF ST. EUSTACHE (EXTERIOR)
INTERIOR OF ST. EUSTACHE, USED AS A RED CLUB
HOUSE OF M. THIERS IN THE PLACE ST. GEORGES
HOUSE DURING DEMOLITION--AFTER ITS SACK
PORTRAIT OF COURNET, PREFECT OF POLICE
PORTRAIT OF ARTHUR ARNOULD, COMMISSIONER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
*THE SEINE: FOUNDERED GUN-BOATS--PORTE MAILLOT, DESOLATION AND
DESTRUCTION
BARRICADE OF THE RUE CASTIGLIONE FROM THE PLACE VENDOME
PALACE OF THE TUILERIES
PORTRAIT OF RAZOUA, GOVERNOR OF THE MILITARY SCHOOL
*CAFE LIFE UNDER THE COMMUNE--A SLIGHT INTERRUPTION--PLAY-BILLS AND
BURNT-OFFERINGS--"SPECTACLES DE PARIS"
*PLACE DE LA CONCORDE--STATUES OF LILLE AND STRASBOURG
*FIRE AND WATER--THE EFFECT OF FIRE ON THE FOUNTAINS OF THE PLACE DE LA
CONCORDE AND THE CHATEAU D'EAU--HIRONDELLES DE PARIS
PORTRAIT OF JULES VALLES, DELEGATE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION
BARRICADE CLOSING THE RUE DE RIVOLI FROM THE PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
*BULLET MARKS "EN FACE" AND "EN PROFIL"--THE TREES AND LAMPS
RUE ROYALE, LOOKING FROM THE MADELEINE TO THE PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
*A WARM CORNER OF THE TUILERIES
PORTRAIT OF MILLIERE, EX-DEPUTY, MEMBER OF THE COMMUNE
PALAIS DE JUSTICE
*POLICE OF PARIS--MINISTRY OF FINANCE, RUE DE RIVOLI
PORTRAIT OF FERRE, PREFECT OF POLICE
PALACE OF THE LUXEMBOURG (AMBULANCE HOSPITAL OF THE COMMUNE)
*PETROLEURS AND PETROLEUSES
*THE THEATRE OF THE PORTE ST-MARTIN--ALL THAT REMAINS OF THE HOME OF
SENSATION DRAMA
CELL OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF PARIS IN THE PRISON OF LA ROQUETTE
YARD OF LA ROQUETTE WHERE THE ARCHBISHOP AND HOSTAGES WERE SHOT
*MY NEIGHBOUR OPPOSITE, BUSINESS CARRIED ON AS USUAL--MY NEIGHBOUR NEXT
DOOR, HE THINKS HIMSELF FORTUNATE
PARIS UNDERGROUND (SEWERS AND CATACOMBS)
*THE ENEMIES OF PROGRESS (LES ARISTOCRATES ENCORE)--CORPS DE GARDE DE
L'ARMEE DE VERSAILLES
*THE PUBLIC PROMENADES--A CAMP IN THE LUXEMBOURG--THE NEW
MASTERS--PROCLAMATION OVER PROCLAMATION
THE LUXEMBOURG (PRESENT TOWN HALL OF PARIS, 1871)
PORTRAIT OF MARSHAL MACMAHON, DUKE OF MAGENTA
*LIGHT AND AIR ONCE MORE--THE FOSSE COMMUNE (THE END)
APPENDIX.
MUSEE OF THE LOUVRE, FROM THE PLACE DU CARROUSEL
PALAIS ROYAL
HOTEL DE VILLE
FOREIGN OFFICE
PALACE OF THE LEGION OF HONOUR
MAP OF PARIS, WITH INDICATIONS OF ALL THE PARTS DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.
[Illustration: M. THIERS, Voted Chief of the Executive Power Feb.
18,1871, and President of the Republic, Sept. 1871.]
PARIS
UNDER THE COMMUNE.
INTRODUCTORY.
Late in the day of the 30th October, 1870, the agitation was great in
Paris; the news had spread that the village of Le Bourget had been
retaken by the Prussians. The military report had done what it could to
render the pill less bitter by saying that "_this village did not form a
part of the system of defence_," but the people though kept in ignorance
perceived instinctively that there must be weakness on the part of the
chiefs. After so much French blood had been shed in taking the place,
men of brave will would not have been wanting to occupy it. We admit
that Le Bourget may not have been important from a military point of
view, but as regarding its moral effect its loss was much to be
regretted.
The irritation felt by the population of Paris was changed into
exasperation, when on the following day the news of the reduction of
Metz appeared in the _Official Journal_:
"The Government has just been acquainted with the sad intelligence
of the capitulation of Metz. Marshal Bazaine and his army were
compelled to surrender, after heroic efforts, which the want of food
and ammunition alone rendered it impossible to maintain. They have
been made prisoners of war."
And after this the Government talks of an armistice! What! Strasburg,
Toul, Metz, and so many other towns have resisted to the last dire
extremity, and Paris, who expects succour from the provinces, is to
capitulate, while a single effort is left untried? Has she no more
bread? No more powder? Have her citizens no more blood in their veins?
No, no! No armistice!
In the morning, a deputation, formed of officers of the National Guards,
went to the Hotel de Ville to learn from the Government what were its
intentions. They were received by M. Etienne Arago, who promised them
that the decision should be made known to them about two o'clock.
The rappel was beaten at the time mentioned; battalions of the National
Guards poured into the Place, some armed, many without arms.
Over the sea of heads the eye was attracted by banners, and enormous
placards bearing the inscriptions--
"Vive la Republique!
"No Armistice!"
or else
"Vive la Commune!
"Death to Cowards!"
Rochefort,[1] with several other members of the Government, shows
himself at the principal gate, which is guarded by a company of Mobiles.
General Trochu appears in undress; he is received with cries of "_Vive
la Republique! La levee en masse!_ No Armistice! The National Guards,
who demand the _levee en masse_, would but cause a slaughter. We must
have cannon first; we will have them." Alas! it had been far better to
have had none whatever, as what follows will prove. While some cry,
"Vive Trochu!" others shout, "Down with Trochu!" Before long the Hotel
de Ville is invaded; the courts, the saloons, the galleries, all are
filled. Each one offers his advice, but certain groups insist positively
on the resignation of the Government. Lists of names are passed from
hand to hand; among the names are those of Dorian (president),
Schoelcher, Delescluze, Ledru Rollin, Felix Pyat.
[Illustration]
Cries are raised that if the Government refuse to resign, its members
will be arrested.
"Yes! yes! seize them!" And an officer springs forward to make them
prisoners as they sit in council.
"Excuse me, Monsieur, but what warrant have you for so doing?" asks one
of the members.
"I have nothing to do with warrants. I act in the name of the people!"
"Have you consulted the people? Those assembled here do not constitute
the people."
The officer was disconcerted. Not long afterwards, however, the crowd is
informed that the members of the Government are arrested.
The principal scene took place in the cabinet of the ex-prefect. Citizen
Blanqui approaches the table; addressing the people, he requests them to
evacuate the room so as to allow the commission to deliberate. The
commission! What commission? Where does it spring from? No one knew
anything of it, so the members must evidently have named themselves.
Monsieur Blanqui had seen to that, no doubt. During this time the
adjoining room is the theatre of the most extraordinary excitement; the
men of the 106th Battalion, who were on guard in the interior of the
Hotel de Ville, are compelled to use their arms to prevent any one else
entering. After some tumult and struggling, but without any spilling of
blood, some National Guards of this battalion manage to fight their way
through to the room in which the members of the Government are
prisoners, and succeed in delivering them.
At about two o'clock in the morning, the 106th Battalion had completely
cleared the Hotel de Ville of the crowds. No violence had been done, and
General Trochu was reviewing a body of men ranged in battle order, which
extended from the Place de l'Hotel de Ville to the Place de la Concorde.
An hour later, quiet was completely restored.
The members of the Government, who had been incarcerated during several
hours, now wished to show their authority; they felt that their power
had been shaken, and saw the necessity of strengthening it. What can a
Government do in such a case? Call for a plebiscite. But this time Paris
alone was consulted, and for a good reason. Thus, on the 1st November,
the people, of Paris were enjoined to express their wishes by answering
yes or no to this simple question:--
"Do the people of Paris recognise the authority of the Government
for the National Defence?"
This was clear, positive, and free from all ambiguity.
The partizans of the Commune declared vehemently that those who voted in
the affirmative were reactionists. "Give us the Commune of '93!" shouted
those who thought they knew a little more about the matter than the
rest. They were generally rather badly received. It is no use speaking
of '93! Replace your Blanquis, your Felix Pyats, your Flourens by men
like those of the grand revolution, and then we shall be glad to hear
what you have to say on the subject.
The inhabitants of Montmartre, La-Chapelle, Belleville, behaved like
good citizens, keeping a brave heart in the hour of misfortune.
However it came about, the Government was maintained by a majority of
557,995 votes against 62,638.
Well, Messieurs of the Commune, try again, or, still better, remain
quiet.
During the night of the 21st of January the members of the National
Defence and the chief officers of the army were assembled around the
table in the council-room. They were still under the mournful impression
left by the fatal day of the nineteenth, on which hundreds of citizens
had fallen at Montretout, at Garches, and at Buzenval. Thanks to the
want of foresight of the Government, the people of Paris were rationed
to 300 grammes of detestable black bread a day for each person. All
representations made to them had been in vain. Ration our bread by
degrees, had been said, we should thus accustom ourselves to privation,
and be prepared insensibly, for greater sufferings, while the duration
of our provisions would be lengthened. But the answer always was:
"Bread? We shall have enough, and to spare." When the great crisis was
seen approaching, the public feeling showed itself by violent agitation.
It was not surprising, therefore, that all the faces of these gentlemen
at the council-table bore marks of great depression. The Governor of
Paris offered his resignation, as he was in the habit of doing after
every rather stormy sitting; but his colleagues refused to accept it, as
they had before. What was to be done? Had not the Governor of Paris
sworn never to capitulate? After a night spent in discussing the
question, the members of Government decided on the following plan of
action. You will see that it was as simple as it was innocent! The
following announcement was placarded on all the walls:--
"The Government for the National Defence has decided that the chief
commandment of the army of Paris shall in future be separate from
the presidency of the Government.
"General Vinoy is named Commandant-in-Chief of the army of Paris.
"The title and functions of the Governor of Paris are suppressed."
The trick is played: if they capitulate now, it will no longer be the
act of the Governor of Paris. How ingenious this would have been, if it
had not been pitiful!
"General Trochu retains the presidency of the Government."
By the side of this placard was the proclamation of General Thomas.
"TO THE NATIONAL GUARD.
"Last night, a handful of insurgents forced open the prison of
Mazas, and delivered several of the prisoners, amongst whom was M.
Flourens. The same men attempted to occupy the _mairie_ of the 20th
arrondissement (Belleville), and to install the chiefs of the
insurrection there; your commander-in-chief relies on your
patriotism to repress this shameful sedition.
"The safety of Paris is at stake.
"While the enemy is bombarding our forts, the factions within our
walls use all their efforts to paralyse the defence.
"In the name of the public good, in the name of law, and of the high
and sacred duty that commands you all to unite in the defence of
Paris, hold yourselves ready to frustrate this most criminal
attempt; at the first call, let the National Guard rise to a man,
and the perturbators will be struck powerless.
"The Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard,
"CLEMENT THOMAS.
"A true copy.
"Minister of the Interior ad interim,
"JULES FAVRE.
"Paris, 22nd January, 1871."
In the morning, large groups of people assembled from mere curiosity,
appeared on the Place of the Hotel de Ville, which however wore a
peaceful aspect.
At about half-past two in the afternoon, a detachment of a hundred and
fifty armed National Guards issued from the Rue du Temple, and stationed
themselves before the Hotel de Ville, crying, "Down with Trochu!" "Long
live the Commune!" A short colloquy was then held between several of the
National Guards and some officers of the Mobiles, who spoke with perfect
calmness. Suddenly, a shot is fired, and at the same moment, as in the
grand scene of a melodrama, the windows and the great door are flung
open, and two lines of Mobile Guards are seen, the front rank kneeling,
the second standing, and all levelling their muskets and prepared to
fire. Then came a volley which spread terror amidst the crowds of people
in the Place, who precipitated themselves in all directions, uttering
cries and shrieks. In another moment the Place is cleared. Ah! those
famous chassepots can work miracles.
The insurgents, during this mad flight of men, women, and children, had
answered the attack, some aiming from the shelter of angles and posts,
others discharging their rifles from the windows of neighbouring houses.
Then the order to cease firing is heard, and a train of litterbearers,
waving their handkerchiefs as flags, approach from the Avenue Victoria.
At the Hotel de Ville one officer only is wounded, but on the Place lie
a dozen victims, two of whom are women.