_Friday, October 7th._--Hatzfeldt informed us at lunch that the Greek Minister in Paris, with a “family” of twenty-four or twenty-five persons, has come out to us on his way to Tours to join the delegation of the Government of National Defence. His boy told the Count that he did not at all like Paris. They got too little meat to eat there. Prepared an article for the press from the following sketch: “We are carrying on war, not with a view to a permanent occupation of France, but to secure a peace on the conditions which we have laid down. For that reason we desire to negotiate with a Government which represents the will of France, and whose declarations and concessions will bind France as well as ourselves. The present Government has not that character. It must be confirmed by a National Assembly, or replaced by another Government. A general election is necessary for that purpose; and we are quite prepared to permit this to take place in those parts of the country which we occupy, so far as strategic considerations will allow. The present holders of power in Paris, however, have no disposition to adopt this course. For personal considerations they injure the interests of the country by inflicting upon it a continuance of the evils of war.” Hatzfeldt complained at dinner that the Greeks, who are anxious to get away, pestered him with their lamentations. “Yes,” said the Chief, “they too must be regarded with suspicion. They must first be identified according to their descriptions, and it must then be seen whether they have been properly circumcised. But no, that is not customary among the Greeks. What seems to me, however, more suspicious even than this enormous diplomatic family, is Wittgenstein, who comes out at the risk of his life on pretence of having despatches for me, and who afterwards turns out to have none. I wonder do they fancy that we shall tolerate this running to and fro between Paris and Kutusow?” “But,” said Hatzfeldt, “he might be able to bring us news from the city.” The Chief: “For that purpose he should bear a character that inspires confidence, and that he does not do.” The conversation then turned on the exhausted condition of the town of Versailles, which has had heavy expenses to bear during the last fortnight. The new Mayor, a M. Rameau, was granted an audience with the Chief to-day. Referring to this the Minister said: “I told him that they should raise a loan. ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘that would be possible, but then he must ask permission to go to Tours, as he required the authority of his Government for such a measure.’ Of course I could not promise him that, and besides they would hardly give him the necessary authority there. Probably they think at Tours that it is the duty of the Versailles people to starve in order that we may be starved with them. But they forget that we are the stronger and take what we want. They have absolutely no idea what war is.”