Notwithstanding the denunciations of the _Gaulois_, I have not the remotest intention to describe the National Guards as a force of any real value for offensive operations.

If, as the _Gaulois_ insists, they are more numerous and better armed than the Prussians, and if the French artillery is superior to the Prussians, they will be able to raise the siege; and then I will acknowledge that I have been wrong in my estimate of them.

As yet they have only blown their own trumpets, as though this would cause the Prussian redoubts, like the walls of Jericho, to fall down.

I make no imputation on their individual courage; but I say that this siege proves once more the truth of the fact, that unless citizen soldiers consent to merge for a time the citizen in the soldier, and to submit to discipline, as troops they are worthless.

The _Gaulois_ wishes to anticipate the historical romance which will, perhaps, be handed down to future generations.