om whom the war
has taken away all possibility of payment an unconditional receipt
should be delivered: to those who have suffered less, a proportionate
reduction should be allowed; but those whom the invasion has not ruined
or seriously impoverished--and the number is large, among provision
merchants, cafe keepers, and private residents--let those pay directly.
In this way the landlords will lose lees than one may imagine, because
it will be the lowest rents that will be forfeited. The decree of the
Commune is based on a right principle, but too generally applied.

The new Government--for it is a Government--does not confine itself to
decrees. It has to install itself in its new quarters and make
arrangements.[27]

In a few hours it has organized more than ten committees--the executive,
the financial, the public-service, the educational, the military, the
legal, and the committee of public safety. No end of committees and
committeemen: it is to be hoped that the business will be promptly
despatched!

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 27: Organisation of the Commissions on the 31st of March:

_Executive Commission_.--Citizens Eudes, Tridou, Vaillant,
Lefrancais, Duval, Felix Pyat, Bergeret.

_Commission of Finance_.--Victor Clement, Varlin, Jourde, Beslay,
Regere.

_Military Commission_.--General E. Duval, General Bergeret, General
Eudes, Colonel Chardon, Colonel Flourens, Colonel Pindly, Commandant
Ranvier.

_Commission of Public Justice_.--Ranc, Protot, Leo Meillet,
Vermorel, Ledroit, Babick.

_Commission of Public Safety_.--Raoul Rigault, Ferre, Assy, Cournet,
Oudet, Chalain, Gerardin.

_Victualling Commission_.--Dereure, Champy, Ostyn, Clement, Parizel,
Emile Clement, Fortune Henry.

_Commission of Industry and Trade_.--Malon, Frankel, Theiz, Dupont,
Avrial, Loiseau-Pinson, Eugene Gerardin, Puget.

_Commission of Foreign Affairs_.--Delescluze, Ranc, Paschal
Grousset, Ulysse Parent, Arthur Arnould, Antoine Arnauld, Charles
Gerardin.

_Commission of Public Service_.--Ostyn, Billioray, Clement (J.B.)
Martelet, Mortier, Rastoul.

_Commission of Education_.--Jules Valles, Doctor Goupil, Lefevre,
Urbain,[28] Albert Leroy, Verdure, Demay, Doctor Robinet.]

[Footnote 28: Memoir, see Appendix XIII.]

XXII.

Come, let us understand each other. Who are you, members of the
Commune? Those among you who are in some sort kno