"Some frenzied men, commanded by unknown chiefs, direct against
Paris the guns defended from, the Prussians.

"They oppose force to the National Guard and the army.

"Will you suffer it?

"Will you, under the eyes of the strangers ready to profit by our
discord, abandon Paris to sedition?

"If you do not extinguish it in the germ, the Republic and France
will be ruined for ever.

"Their destiny is in your hands.

"The Government desires that you should hold your arms energetically
to maintain the law and preserve the Republic from anarchy. Gather
round your leaders; it is the only means of escaping ruin and the
domination of the foreigner.

"The Minister of the Interior,

"ERNEST PICARD."

The crowd listened with attention, shouted two or three times "To
arms!" and then dispersed--I thought for an instant, to arm themselves,
though in reality it was only to reinforce another group forming on the
other side of the way.