[16] "We were able to unite 40,000 men by telling the National Guards that Blanqui and Flourens occupied the Hotel-de-Ville. These two names did not fail to produce their usual effect."--_Enquete sur le 18 Mars_, ed. Adam, vol. ii. p. 157. "If the name of Blanqui had not been pronounced, the new elections announced by the placard of Dorian and Schoelcher would have taken place the next day."--_Enquete sur le 4 Septembre_, Jules Ferry, vol. i. p. 396-431. [17] See the affirmation of Dorian. _Enquete sur le 4 Septembre_, vol. i. p. 527-528. [18] He offered a musket of honour to any one who would kill the King of Prussia, and patronised a Greek-fire that was to roast the German army. [19] _Enquete sur le 18 Mars_, Jules Favre, vol. ii. p. 42. [20] Even Felix Pyat was arrested. He managed to get out of prison through a jest, writing to Emmanuel Arago: "What a pity that I should be your prisoner; you might have been my advocate." He was set free. [21] The Minister of War, Leflo, who naturally undervalues everything, says, "This left us, while assuring the operations of the siege against the Prussians, a disposable force of 230,000 to 240,000 men." [22] Appendix I. [23] _Enquete sur le 18 Mars_, Cresson, vol. ii. p. 135. [24] Jules Simon, _Souvenirs du 4 Septembre_. His textual expressions. [25] _Enquete sur le 18 Mars_, Jules Favre, vol. ii. p. 43. [26] After the disaster of Orleans, which cut in two our army, he wrote: "The army of the Loire is far from being annihilated; it is separated into two armies of equal force." [27] They avoided drawing up minutes to prevent even the appearance of being a municipality (_Enquete sur le 4 Septembre_, Jules Ferry, vol. i. p. 406). A dozen of these brave ones met with a few adjuncts at the mairie of the third arrondissement. They confined their whole efforts to seeking some one to replace Trochu. One of them, M. Corbon, has said (_Enquete sur le 18 Mars_, vol. ii. p. 613): "However displeased they might have been at the manner affairs were conducted by the Defence, they would not for the world overthrow or weaken the Government." [28] This placard was drawn up by Tridon and Valles. [29] "See," said they, "what a terrible responsibility we should incur if we consented any longer to remain the passive instruments of a policy condemned by the interests of France and of the Republic." [30] See the Minutes of the Government of the Defence, evidently arranged for the best by M. Dreo, the son-in-law of Garnier-Pages. [31] _Enquete sur le 18 Mars_, Ducrot, vol. iii. p. xx. [32] See the Minutes of the Government of Defence.