Nearly everything was wanting.

The treasury was nearly empty, and that too in face of the enormous demands made by Germany.

It is said that in February 1871, the unhappy man who took up the Ministry of Finance, carried away all the funds of the national exchequer in his hat.

As Thiers confessed to the Assembly, he had, for very patriotism, to close his eyes to the future and grapple with the problems of every day as they arose.

But he had faith in France, and France had faith in him.