We are still speculating upon the reasons which induced the Prussians at last to become the assailants.

That they wished to drive us from this plateau, which overlooks many of their positions, is far too simple an explanation to meet with favour.

The _Verite_ of this morning contains an announcement that a Christmas Session of the House of Commons has turned out Mr.Gladstone by a hostile vote, and that he has been succeeded by a "War Minister." We are inclined to think that the Prussians, being aware of this, have been attempting to terrify us, in order that we may surrender before Sir Disraeli and Milord Pakington come to our rescue.

The Parisians, intelligent and clever as they are, are absolutely wanting in plain common sense.

I am convinced that if 500 of them were boiled down, it would be impossible to extract from the stew as much of this homely, but useful quality, as there is in the skull of the dullest tallow-chandler's apprentice in London.
The vital question of food is now rarely alluded to in the journals.