o honor his memory. The decree below was voted on the
proposition of Michel de Bourges:--

"DECREE.

"The Representatives of the People remaining at liberty considering
that the Representative Baudin has died on the barricade of the
Faubourg St. Antoine for the Republic and for the laws, and that he
has deserved well of his country, decree:

"That the honors of the Pantheon are adjudged to Representative Baudin.

"Given in Permanent Session, 3d December, 1851."

After honor to the dead and the needs of the conflict it was
necessary in my opinion to enunciate immediately and dictatorially
some great popular benefit. I proposed the abolition of the _octroi_
duties and of the duty on liquors. This objection was raised, "No
caresses to the people! After victory, we will see. In the meantime
let them fight! If they do not fight, if they do not rise, if they do
not understand that it is for them, for their rights that we the
Representatives, that we risk our heads at this moment--if they leave
us alone at the breach, in the presence of the _coup d'etat_--it is
because they are not worthy of Liberty!"

Bancel remarked that the abolition of the _octroi_ duties and the duty
on liquors were not caresses to the People, but succor to the poor, a
great economical and reparatory measure, a satisfaction to the public
demand--a satisfaction which the Right had always obstinately refused,
and that the Left, master of the situation, ought hasten to accord. They
voted, with the reservation that it should not be published until after
victory, the two decrees in one; in this form:--

"DECREE.

"The Representatives remaining at liberty decree:

"The _Octroi_ Duties are abolished throughout the extent of the
territory of the Republic.

"Given in permanent Session, 3d December, 1851."

Versigny, with a copy of the Proclamations and of the Decree, left in
search of Hetzel. Labrousse also left with the same object. They settled
to meet at eight o'clock in the evening at the house of the former
member of the Provisional Government Marie, Rue Neuve des Petits Champs.

As the members of the Committee and the Representatives withdrew I was
told that some one had asked to speak to me. I went into a sort of
little room attached to the large meeting-room, and I found there a man
in a blouse, with an intelligent and sympathetic air. This man had a
roll of paper in his hand.

"Citizen Victor Hugo," said he to me, "