On my return to the house a little after 10 o’clock Engel told me that Thiers had arrived shortly before, but had left again almost immediately. He had come from Tours, and had only called to get a safe conduct through our lines, as he wished to go to Paris. Hatzfeldt had breakfasted with Thiers at the Hôtel des Reservoirs, and afterwards saw him into the carriage, in which, accompanied by Lieutenant von Winterfeldt, he was conducted to the French outposts. He told us at lunch that Thiers “still remained the same bright witty old gentleman, but was weak as a baby.” Hatzfeldt had been the first to recognise him on his calling at our place, and told him that the Chief was just getting up. He then showed him into the salon, and informed the Minister, who hastily finished his toilet and shortly afterwards came down. They were, however, only together alone for a few minutes, the Chief then instructing Hatzfeldt to make the necessary preparations for Thiers’ visit to Paris. The Minister afterwards told Hatzfeldt that Thiers said to him immediately after they had exchanged greetings, that he had not come to speak to him. “That strikes me as quite natural,” added Hatzfeldt, “as although Thiers would like to conclude peace with us (just because it would be Thiers’ peace, since he is terribly ambitious) he does not know what the people in Paris would say to it.” In the meantime the Chief had ridden off with his cousin to the review of 9,000 Landwehr Guards which was being held this morning by the King. At lunch the Chief referred to the Landwehr, who had arrived that morning, and said they were tall, broad-shouldered fellows, who must have impressed the people of Versailles. “The front of one of their companies is at least five feet broader than that of a French company, particularly in the Pomeranian Landwehr.” The Minister then turned to Hatzfeldt, and said: “I hope you have not mentioned anything about Metz to Thiers.” “No, and he also said nothing about it, although there is no doubt that he knows.” “He certainly does, but I did not speak about it either.” Hatzfeldt then observed once more that Thiers was very charming in his manner, but had lost nothing of his old vanity and self-complacency. As evidence of this Hatzfeldt mentioned that Thiers had told him that a few days before he met a peasant whom he asked whether he desired to see peace concluded. “Certainly, very much.” “Whether he knew who he (Thiers) was?” “No,” the peasant replied, and appealed to a neighbour who had come on the scene, and who passed as the oldest inhabitant. This ancient was of opinion that M. Thiers must be a member of the Chamber. Hatzfeldt added, “It was obvious that Thiers was angry at not being better known.” The Chief went out for a moment, and brought back a case containing a gold pen, which a jeweller of Pforzheim presented to him for the purpose of signing the Treaty of Peace.