saw, we should have the horrible in all that was low and small. (VICTOR HUGO, 1848.) [Illustration:] 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 façade 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, “_Voilà 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 château, to which I have added a second storey and wings. And now that the house is finished, I must render my obligations to M. Mendès and numerous French friends, for their kind assistance and valuable aid, including my confrères 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 _fusillés_ 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 LIST OF PLATES AND ILLUSTRATIONS INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER The 30th October, 1870—The Hôtel 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 Clément 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...