The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-20 00:00:00

'HIE WAR.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.

IBORMAUX, February 14.
Sunday Was a fine snnny day, and the streets were
crowded with people, all converging to the Place de la
Comddie to see the new Deputies go into
,the theatre.
Although the meeting was announced for two o'clock, the
house was crowded long before that hour, and when I
arrived, and with no small difficulty secured a seat, I saw
that most of the deputies were already present. The
theatre, in which all the meetings are to be held, has been
arranged roughly for the accommodation of the members,
and the carpenters were only just clearing away their
debris before the meeting commenced. The president's
chair is on the stage, just about the centre of the foot-
lights,
and the deputies filled the pit, stalls, and
first row of boxes, on either side of the stage sit the short-
hand writers, while the secretaries take up their position
to the right and left of the chair. As yet the journalists
have to obtain orders from the deputies as best they can,
and then scramble for seats, which, however, are, such is
the courtesy of the house, to be given up to any lady who
may require them: The ladies, with whom the house was
more than sprinkled, were in sombre colours, most of
them, indeed, in mourning. The building, with its hang-
ings, its gilding, its three splendid chandeliers blazing,
although in the daytime, with gas, and its gorgeously
attired attendants, presented a striking contrast to the
anxiety and the despondency written in the face
of every spectator or deputy. MM. Jules
Ftivre, Gamier Pagis, Jules Simon, Arago,
Pelletan, Esnuiros, and Magnin entered the house

together, walked up the centre of the pit, and took their
seats on the second row, which may be con-
sidered as the Ministerial bench. M. Cr6mieux, who is
believed not to be elected, took his seat in one of the
boxes. M. Jules Favre, when I had time, to look at him.
struck me as being sadly altered ; his black hair, which
formerly remarkable from the depth and glossiness of its
blackness, was bleached and grey, and his face had grown
haggard and careworn. The appearance of Garibaldi was
the signal for loud cheering and counter cheering, whilst
a certain number of persons present cried " A bas Gari-
baldi" He was dressed in his usual picturesque garb—a
dark blue cloak thrown over his famous red shirt, and a
grey conical hat, which he kept on his head during the
whole duration of the meeting.
M. Benoit d'Azy, the oldest member present, took the
presidential chair. This gentleman, belonged to the
moderate section of the Right in the last Chamber, and
as vice-president he had formerly protested with great
energy against the coup d'etat of the 2nd December. He
commenced proceedings by reading Garibaldi's resignation,
and for the moment the public seemed to take the matter
quietly and calmly enough. M. Jules Favre then rose,
and speaking in the name of all the Ministers, begged to
resign the power they had exercised since September 4.
The applause that followed was unanimous and sympa-
thetic. M. Thiers, who sat on the Ministerial Bench
b.twen M. Jules Simon and M. Arago, did not say a word
during the meeting, and had caused wonderfully little
excitement in his entry. Garibaldi now rose, and tried to
catch the President's eye, and M. Esquiros exclaimed,
" Garibaldi wants to speak ; hear him !" A fearful
tumult ensued, in which the public in the gallery and the
National Guard in the body of the theatre took his side,
shouting out, " It is infamous ; these men are sold !" and
were met with cries of "No Garibaldi 1" "No Italian ! "
The General sat still in his chair, looking immovable but
for the twitchings of his countenance, and very pale. The
President then rose, declared the meeting at an end, and
put on his hat ; and at this signal the deputies, like one
man, made for the door. At last an enthusiastic Gari-
baldian in the second gallery fulminated at the deputies
for the space of two or three minutes, insisting
in the name of their country and their liberty
that Garibaldi should be heard. The orator was ordered
to be arrested, and as no one attempted to stop him, he
escaped quickly and silently. Garibaldi, as soon as the
deputies were gone, rose from his seat and left the House ;
as he was leaving, the National Guard presented arms to
him. M. Thiers, who was passing at the time, went up
to the officer in command at once, and asked them why
they did so. " Because," replied the officer quickly,
"because he is General Garibaldi, because he is a deputy,
and because he is the only general who has taken a Prus-
sian flag." M. Thiers made no further inquiries. As
soon as Garibaldi reached his carriage he received quite
an ovation, and, standing up, he said a few words, to the
effect that his mission was over, and that he should leave
that very night for his home in Caprera. The public
followed him to the Hotel de Nantes with cheers and

vivas.
Gambetta did not appear at the meeting, and the true
reason of his absence is unknown. Some say that he is
ill, and some that he has an unconquerable repugnance to
face his former colleagues.
M. Thiers has never, till quite recently, been popular
with the masses ; but his election for so many different
constituencies is the strongest possible proof of confidence
they could give him. In 1848, Lamartine was, I believe,
elected for fourteen different constituencies ; but then it
is commonly reported that M. Thiers is chosen by upwards
of twenty-five. In spite of the Red element, I expect he
will have the Chamber entirely in his own hands, though
the predominant party is certainly that of the Orleanists ;
but as a rule party names are left out of sight, and all are
Liberal-Conservatives of M. Thiers' school.
Bordeaux is filling fast; the rents of lodgings are increasing
rapidly; peace is considered as certain, and people look
happier and gayer. The theatres are commencing to re-
open, and if it were not for the deep mourning which the
women of the higher classes almost unanimously wear, the
crowded streets would give one the idea of a festival.
Drill, too, as a natural consequenCe, has almost ceased,
though all kinds of strange rumours are afloat. Not the least
startling is that in a day or two M. Ducuinfi is to move
that the Ministers of the 011livier Administration, as well
as those of National Defence, shall be put on their trial
before the Constituent, Assembly. Though originated in
the Liberte, this rumour has, of course, no foundation
in truth. Six large steamers have recently
arrived from New York, loaded with cannon, ammuni-
tion, and war materiel generally ; but the very news
that Paris has been carried by the Reds has caused a very
great impression here, and it will add much to the agital
tion in favour of peace. Better, after all, to have the
Prussians, the people say, than to have anarchy.