Bismarck himself from a political point of view also knew the advantage of bringing the war to a rapid close, while the moral effect of the great victories had not been dissipated.

However, France had no Government; a legal Government could not be created without elections, and Favre refused to consider holding elections during the progress of hostilities.

After a long discussion Bismarck, other suggestions being rejected, offered an armistice on condition that the war should continue round Metz and Paris, but that Toul and Strasburg should be surrendered and the garrison of Strasburg made prisoners of war.

"The towns would anyhow fall into our hands," he said; "it is only a question of engineering." "At these words," says Favre, "I sprang into the air from pain and cried out, 'You forget that you speak to a Frenchman.

To sacrifice an heroic garrison which is the object of our admiration and that of the world would be a cowardice.