The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-27 00:00:00

THE SITUATION IN THE CAPITAL.

The special correspondent of the Daily News, writing.
from Paris on the 20th inst, furnishes the following des-
cription of the situation of affairs in Paris :- The aspect
of the streets changes wonderfully from day to day.
Fewer peopl_ are in them ; more shops are closed, more
soldiers are out, and fewer women. People are solemn
and serious. At ten at night the cafes are rigorously
closed, and by eleven there is scarcely a cab upon the
Boulevards. The now continual passing of ambulances
bearing wounded soldiers and Mobiles is not calcul-
ated to enliven the spirits, nor are the reports current
of the mining of houses and streets, ready to be blown
up at a given moment. Vehicles passing near the line
of fortifications are prohibited from going at more than
a foot-pace, less the rattle should set off some too
susceptible explosive, and send people up in the air. I
don't know how true it is that the city swarms with
Prussian spies. I do know that everyboby looks at
his neighbour with suspicion, and I see no remedy for this
unpleasant state of citizenship but for everybody to give
everybody else into custody. No later than Saturday last
I was on the Place St. Pierre, Montmartre, looking
through an opera glass at the process of filling with gas
one of the two captive balloons. A pleasant-looking
young National Guard came up to me and said, " Citizen,
you will have your glass taken away." " Why ? " asked
I. " Because to look through an opera glass at anything
about here is strictly prohibited." " But I cannot see
without," I objected. " Well, citizen, do as you like. I
have only warned you. You can't conceive what a heap
of opera glasses are at the Porte close by." I
thanked my unknown friend, pocketed my glass,
and moved away whilst I was safe. I was up yesterday
in the immediate vicinity of the Barrier de Montrouge to
see the troops come in who had taken part in the fight.
They were dirty, dusty, and fatigued, but every soldier
was the centre of a group of people, who listened to hith
with avidity. A lieutenant of artillery was a great point
of attraction. His overcoat was riddled with bullet-holes,
and his side-bag had a hole in it into which a very
juvenile citizen thrust his forefinger. This officer
must have borne a charmed life. A bullet had
whizzed by his ear, describing a curve over it by
cutting his hair close to his head as though it
had been clipped by a skilful barber. His horse had also
received a trifling graze under the left ear. I have in
reserve a few incidents picked up on the ramparts, but no
time now to narrate them. By the way, I ought to add
that the Corps Diplomatique is following M. Cremieux to
Tours, where, with a delegation from the different Minis-
teres, he is charged to carry on the Government. The
United States Minister is still here, and has received
numerous ovations. He is exceedingly popular. Another
personage, less popular, perhaps, but more notorious, has
reappeared upon the public scene. M. de Vile-
messant re-assumes the editorial chair of the
Figaro, promising not to dabble in politics till he can do
so under different auspices, and asking his readers to have
"a little wit." Cool and not at all self-st.tficient. A
Prussian Uhlan, in the uniform of the French Artillery,
is being taken on foot through the street under my win-
dow. He is a young, fair man, utterly beardless. His
horse, a light brown, seems hardy, It is marked on the
neck on the left side. The people are running after the
prisoner in crowds, but he is well protected by the mili-
tary. His horse is ridden by a French dragoon in fatigue
dress.

LYONS AS THE PROVISIONAL CAPITA!.

OF FRANCE.

The Lyonese who have not hitherto appeared so well
able to govern themselves are ambitious of seeing their
town become the seat of Government. The Salut Public,
of the city, writing on the supposition that the Consti-
tuent Assembly would be speedily elected, demands that
it should meet at Lyons, which from its size, its
population, and its importance is the second
capital of France. Its situation is central ;
its communications with those districts not occu-
pied by the enemy are numerous and easy. Lyons
possesses suitable accommodation for the national repre-
sentatives, and being seated on two rivers, surrounded by
strong fortifications, and the centre of formation of a new
army, Lyons claims in the public interest that she should
be the provisional capital of France.

EMILE GIRARDIN'S APPEAL TO THE
PRESS.

Emile Girardin, who has been censured for leaving
Paris at this crisis, is said to be desirous of establishing a
journal in one of the departments, but has not yet suc-
ceeded in doing so. Meanwhile he has issued a long
address to the press of the departments, written in his
inflated style. He appeals to the provincial journals to
take the lead in their respective districts, and summon
the people to resistance. If guns are not to be had, let
them take scythes and reaping hooks; but let
there be no delay in organising two armies, the Army of
the Loire and the Army of Lyons, which must act
in the rear of the Prussians, and cut off, if possible, their
communications with the narrow channel by which they
draw from Germany numberless levies and a measueless
supply of ammunition. M. Girardin calls upon his com-
patriots to organise a local resistance to the advancing
Prussians, behind every wall and tree they pass, so as to
prevent them from overrunning the country in search of
supplies. Famine is an invincible ally, and the French
can readily obtain its aid. He reminds them that the
former history of France itself shews by the invasions of
Spain and Russia that wars which commence by brilliant
victories may close by lamentable disasters. With more
truth than consistency,the quondam enthusiastic supporter
of Emile 011ivier calls upon his countrymen not to be too
easily disheartened by the rapid successes of the Prus-
sians, which are " due to the presumption and incapacity
of lying ministers."