PARIS UNDER SIEGE.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2571, 15 May 1871, Page 3

PARIS UNDER SIEGE.

Mr. Forbes states that “the moral effect of the bombardment on the population was terrible. After the first day of defiance the Government felt the pressure. M. Jules Simon said that the bombardment of St. Denis had shortened the siege by a week.” The pinch for food, after the capitulation, was greater than before. In more than one arrondisement neither bread nor meat could be distributed. ‘ ‘ The day before yesterday, says the same correspondent, “ the hungry broke into the reserved stor 5 of potted provisions in the Halle, smashed all obstacles, and looted the place. From one who has paid the prices himself, and has the figures down in black and white without exaggeration, 1 have the following list : —2f for a email shrivelled cabbage ; If for a leek ; 45f for a fowl ; 45f for a rabbit (which may be taken for granted as cat) ; 2.if for a pigeon ; 22f for a 21b chub ; 14f per lb for stickleback ; 2f per lb for potatoes ; 40f per lb for butter, cheese 25f per lb when procurable. Meat ether than horseflesh, is absolutely not to be procured. I was assured that if I offered £SO down in bright .' Inning gold for a veritable beefsteak, I should have no claimant for my money. The last cow that changed hands ‘ for an ambulance’ fetched LBO. Those left cannot now be bought for money. The bread is not bad, the difficulty is to get it. There is nothing e’sc to do but to wait outs:.de the bakers’ and the butchers’. T saw huge throngs at both as 1 rode through Paris, and chiefly women, waiting silently in the cold. What it must have conic to when the Parisians are so utterly crushed down ? The scarcity of wood was terrible. “ People cannot get their washing done for lack of wood to heat the copper.'’ Yet the trees on the Boulevards are not greatty injured. For several days we heard little from Paris. N) more balloons were sent out, and the Gir nans kept a strict investment, which made communication both slow and difficult. But gradually a greater freedom was allowed, and soon we in London were able to learn by word of mouth all we were anxious to know. Correspondents whom we had not seen for months came hastening- back from various points, glad of a brief breathing time in England ; others, having watched the siege to its .end, were glad to escape from the beleagured city, and appeared looking not much the worse for hard fare, and constant ambulance service. They have helped us to correct the exaggerated statements of some sensational writers ; and are precise in their ideas as to the respective qualities of horse and donkey, dog and cat—praising especially the donkey ; though I am told there was not a day during the siege in which a good orthodox dinner could not be procured by those who liked to pay the heavy charge. As to the failure of the sorties, the men throw the blame on their leaders, the officers ascribe it to the troops; but wherever ho the fault, whit I have heard has not increased my admiration of the “sublime” attitude of Paris. The “Besieged President”—Vlr Lakmchero—is now himself in town, and about to bring out his letters—a little cynical and overcolored, bub very able—in a volume. I have met wdth a few old faces, short as has been the period sin emy arrival. It is with moist eyes that events arc alluded to, or the eloquence limited to a grasp of the hand. The humiliation of the Parisians is complete, and there is a common accord that if sorties had been undertaken earlier in the siege matters would not he as they are. The abuse of Trochu and all the chiefs, military and civil, is frightful. Favro alone has only a good word. As for future revenue, no one talks of this—the defeat is st 11 living, tbe sufferers feel sore and angry at the breakdown of France -do not yet see their way clear, but want not to be tormented either about Generals, politicians, or form of government. They view a barrenness from Dan to Beersheha. Talk to them on any subject—but never name the Napoleon. The exEmperor and his wife crowd the print-shop windows in every conceivab e form of caricature—from the indecent to the witty. His recent proclamation has been parodied, in most cases very cleverly. Even copper coins carry his image and superscription in droll effigy. There does not appear to be visible any Imperial insignia in the city—busts and initials of the Brummagen Carsar have quite been swept away. The only souvenir the French will retain of him is compressed into the one word —Sedan.