Mention was made of the decree of the Minister of War or of the Commandant of the Town, ordering that particulars should be published of all valuables found in houses deserted by their owners, and that if not reclaimed within a certain time they were to be confiscated for the benefit of the war chest. The Minister said that he considered this decree to be perfectly justified, adding: “As a matter of fact such houses should be burned to the ground, only that punishment would also fall in part on the sensible people who have remained behind; and so unfortunately it is out of the question.” The Chief then observed, after a pause, and apparently without any connection with what had been previously said: “After all, war is, properly speaking, the natural condition of humanity.” He remained silent for a while, and then remarked: “It just occurs to me that the Bavarian proposes to surprise me to-day,” by which he meant that Count Bray was about to visit him. This led the conversation to the Bavarian Ambassador in Berlin, Pergler von Perglas, of whom the Chief does not appear to have a high opinion. “He is as bad as he can be. I do not say that because he is a Particularist, as I do not know how I should think myself if I were a Bavarian. But he has always been in favour of the French.” (The Minister maintained, if I heard him rightly, that this was owing to his wife.) “I never tell him anything when he comes to me, or at least not the truth.” Shortly afterwards the Chief told us that Thiers had been with him for about three hours to-day with the object of negotiating an armistice. Probably however it would not be possible to come to an understanding as to the conditions which he proposes or is prepared to grant. Once during the conversation Thiers wished to speak of the supply of provisions now in Paris; but the Minister interrupted him, saying, “Excuse me, but we know that better than you who have only been in the city for one day. Their store of provisions is sufficient to last until the end of January.” “What a look of surprise he gave me! My remark was only a feeler, and his astonishment showed that what I had said was not true.”