The optimists say that Gambetta means that Bourbaki and Chanzy have surrounded Frederick Charles; the pessimists, that Frederick Charles has got between them.

The general feeling seems to be that the provinces are doing more than was expected of them, but that they will fail to succour us.

Here some of the newspapers urge Trochu to make a sortie, in order to prevent reinforcements being sent to Frederick Charles, others deprecate it as a useless waste of life.

General Clement Thomas, who succeeded Tamisier about a month ago in the command of the National Guards, seems to be the right man in the right place.

He is making great efforts to convert these citizens into soldiers, and stands no nonsense.