e Government desired to make a last effort
at conciliation, and on the 17th of March the following proclamation was
posted on the walls:--

"INHABITANTS of PARIS,

"Once more we address ourselves to you, to your reason, and your
patriotism, and we hope that you will listen to us.

"Your grand city, which cannot live except with order, is profoundly
troubled in some of its quarters, and this trouble, without
spreading to other parts, is sufficient nevertheless to prevent the
return of industry and comfort.

"For some time a number of ill-advised men, under the pretext of
resisting the Prussians, who are no longer within our walls, have
constituted themselves masters of a part of the city, thrown up
entrenchments, mounting guard there and forcing you to do the same,
all by order of a secret committee, which takes upon itself to
command a portion of the National Guard, thus setting aside the
authority of General d'Aurelle de Paladines so worthy to be at your
head, and would form a government in opposition to that which exists
legally, the offspring of universal suffrage.

"These men, who have already caused you so much harm, whom you
yourselves dispersed on the 31st of October, are placarding their
intention to protect you against the Prussians, who have only made
an appearance within our walls, and whose definite departure is
retarded by these disorders, and pointing guns, which if fired would
only ruin your houses and destroy your wives and yourselves; in
fact, compromising the very Republic they pretend to defend; for if
it is firmly established in the opinion of France that the Republic
is the necessary companion of disorder, the Republic will be lost.
Do not place any trust in them, but listen to the truth which we
tell you in all sincerity.

"The Government instituted by the whole nation could have retaken
before this these stolen guns, which at present only menace your
safety, seized these ridiculous entrenchments which hinder nothing
but business, and have placed in the hands of justice the criminals
who do not hesitate to create civil war immediately after that with
the foreigner, but it desired to give those who were misled the time
to separate themselves from those who deceived them.

"However, the time allowed for honourable men to separate themselves
from the o