Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/382

 *rounded by a body of cavalry, conducted into the Parc Monceaux, and there shot.

About eleven o'clock in the morning, M. Thiers and M. Jules Simon entered Paris escorted by a strong body of cavalry. They proceeded at once to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where Marshal de MacMahon had established his headquarters. He gave them every information concerning the situation. The headquarters of General Vinoy were at the Corps Legislatif.

After a visit of two hours, the two members of the Government returned to Versailles to assist at the sitting of the National Assembly. Here M. Thiers was interpellated by M. Calmar de Lafayette, who, while expressing the greatest confidence in the Head of the Government, wished to inquire what measures he intended to take with regard to the Prefecture of the Seine.

M. Thiers, Head of the Executive Power:—"I am quite ready to give every explanation. I went to Paris this morning, and saw much there, and had everything explained to me. I return quite inconsolable, and I do not attempt to give you any comfort. (Agitation on all the benches.) The insurrection is certainly vanquished, and the tri-colored flag floats from most of the public monuments of Paris. But the last acts of the insurgents are abominable—are, in fact, the reprisals of despair. Last evening we succeeded in occupying the Place de l'Opera, and all the neighborhood. After forty-eight hours of combat a night's rest was evidently required by the troops, and the generals were unanimous in thinking that such a period of repose was indispensable. The insurgents took advantage of the respite afforded them to set fire to the Tuileries, the Court of Accounts, and the Conseil d'Etat. It was utterly impossible to prevent them, as their entrenchments were unassailable owing to a numerous artil