General Vinoy also has issued an order to the 13th Corps d'Armee, declaring that if the peace of Paris is disturbed he will march at its head to put down disorders.
_November 5th._ That Paris is prudent to seize upon the first loophole to get out of the position into which she has inconsiderately thrust herself is most certain.

Never for a moment did I believe that the Parisians, indifferent to all but honour, would perish to the last man rather than give up one inch of territory, one stone of a fortress.

Heroic constancy and endurance under misfortune are not improvised.

A population, enervated by twenty years of slavery, corruption, and luxury, is not likely to immolate itself for country, like the Spartans at Thermopylae.
People who mean to die do not sign a preliminary round-robin to do so.
Real fighting soldiers do not parade the streets behind half-a-dozen fantastically dressed _vivandieres_.

When in a town of 2,000,000 inhabitants not above 12,000 can be found ready to submit to military discipline, and to go outside an inner line of fortifications, it is ridiculous to expect a defence like that of Saragossa.