Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish
Sir: The official dispatches from you, which came in the bag that arrived this morning, are acknowledged in another communication. By the bag that will leave to-morrow morning I cannot send you anything of much interest pertaining to military or political events. In fact, there have been no military movements for several weeks, and since the miserable affair at the Hotel de Ville of the 31st ultimo nothing of particular interest has taken place in the city. Everything is quiet, even to dullness. The reported advantage gained by the French at Orleans has done much to encourage the Parisians, and there is a disposition now manifested to hold out to the last. Yet, should there be news of disaster, all may change, and the siege may be raised before this reaches you. We remain in ignorance for a long time as to what is going on in the outside world. No newspapers get into Paris except those that come to this legation. Our last London dates are of the 10th instant. The latest New York papers are of the 29th ultimo.
The people are suffering their privations with a good deal of fortitude. If they could be made to believe that France could be saved they would suffer to the last extremity. As it is, I can see no prospect of the siege being raised in any way. I shall not be as much surprised in seeing the city now hold out till January as I have been already in seeing it hold out so long as it has. There has been no real pinch up to within a short time, but now things are getting to be a little hard. Fresh meat, including horse and mule, is very nearly exhausted. Poultry, butter, cheese, &c., are about out of the question. A turkey sells for sixteen dollars, a chicken for five dollars. Butter sells for four dollars a pound. There is yet quite a quantity of vegetables, but at high prices. The price of bread is fixed by law, and it has not raised much. Wine is abundant and cheap. The time is not far distant when the great mass of the people of Paris must live on bread and wine almost entirely.
No members of the diplomatic corps have left for several weeks, and I believe that those who are now here propose to remain to the end. No foreigners at all are now leaving Paris.
I have, &c.,