Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish
Sir: When I had the honor to address you my No. 437, under date of the 11th instant, I felt certain that before another week should roll around the Versailles troops would enter Paris. There was great demoralization in the city and among the national guard, and it seemed to me that if the government had attacked with any energy, its troops would certainly have been inside the walls before this time. Such, however, is not the case, yet the fighting for the past few days around the entire south side of the city has been very furious. Day by day passes and we see no troops of the line yet in Paris. The fort of Vanves was captured from the commune on Sunday last, and Montrouge must be at the end of its defense. Confusion increases in Paris; the commune is torn by intestine dissension, but yet the city is held, not so much, in my judgment, by the military, strength of the insurrectionists as by the weakness of the attacking party. It seems impossible, however, for this condition of things to continue much longer. The insurrectionary authorities are more desperate than ever. In an official communication this morning, they say the committee of public safety is decided to blow up Paris and bury every one under its ruins rather than capitulate. Of course this is all wild talk, but it shows to what straits they feel themselves reduced.
I need not tell you how rejoiced I shall be when peace returns to this distracted and unhappy city, and when we shall have a more quiet state of affairs. The pressure upon the legation continues. As I am the only chief of a mission who remains in Paris, my good offices are sought for every hour of the day, not only by our own countrymen, but by people of other nationalities, who have an idea that I can be of some assistance to them. The Alsatians and German Lorrainers continue to come to seek my protection in increasing numbers. I reach the legation at quarter past 8 o’clock every morning, always to find a crowd of them assembled there. More than two hundred are now waiting in the street under my window, to receive their laissez-passers. The whole number of passes issued by me now amounts to four thousand four hundred and fifty. As each case requires a special examination, to ascertain whether the party seeking protection is entitled to it, by virtue of his having become a German subject, you can well imagine the amount of labor that is involved. I have ten persons employed in this service, not members of the legation. When the treaty of peace shall have been definitely ratified at Versailles, I hope that Prince de Bismarck will send a diplomatic representative here to relieve me.
The committee of public safety publishes a decree this morning suppressing ten more papers, and forbidding the publication of any new journals during the war. Several of the newspapers suppressed this morning have been supporters of the commune. I believe that every [Page 345] paper published in Paris before the insurrection, excepting La Verité, has been suppressed. Since I commenced writing this dispatch, I have again visited the archbishop, to communicate to him that it was impossible to effect his exchange for Blanqui. I am sorry to say I found him very feeble. He has been confined to his pallet for the last week with a kind of pleurisy; is without appetite, and very much reduced in strength. He is yet cheerful, and apparently resigned for any fate that may await him.
I have just learned that the treaty with Germany was ratified by the national assembly at Versailles yesterday, almost unanimously.
I have &c.,