The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-26 00:00:00

NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL.

I The uncertainty and delay of the means of communica-
tion between Paris and the provinces: is regarded as the
great grievance both within and .wit'neut the capital. At
Tours people were especially anxious to know if the
Parisians -had heard of the victory at Orleans, since at the
time when M. Thiers passed through the Prussian lines
the intelligence from the departments was any-
thing but cheering. Metz had capitulated, Beause,
Normandy, and the Orleannais were occupied,
and there was, in fact, scarcely a break in the
clouds which overhung- the national prospects,
but the resistance of Paris itself. Would this hold out
undaunted by the severest privation which the lively and
quick-witted Parisians can endure—the stoppage of news ?
,Men were beginning to get apprehensive of the effect on
the morale of the citizens. The Prussians, they say, know
very well what they are about in cutting off the supplies
of news and encouragement, quite as important in their
way as material provisions. The arrival of the welcome
balloon which has reached Tours within the
last day or two was therefore hailed with
the utmost delight. Now, at last, there was news of
Paris. The universal satisfaction was, however, tempo-
rarily damped by a rumour, originating, no doubt, in
some unavoidable delay in distributing the documents,
that the news from Paris was bad, and that the Govern-
ment was suppressing the despatches, Happily, this
alarming report proved very speedily to he altogether
without foundation, and to the eager demand
of the group who thronged round the aeronauts when
they made their appearance; "How goes it at Paris?"
came the cheerful reply, " A Paris ? mats cela va tres-
bien !" An official letter confirmed the aeronaut's intelli-
gence. Paris was keeping up its courage, had received a
number of the pigeons which had been sent from Tours,
and, best of all, knew of the victory at Orleans. It was
made known to the " Citizens and Defenders of Paris"
on the evening of the 14th, by the following address from
Jules Favre

" My dear Fellow-citizens,—lt is with indescribable joy
that I bring to your knowledge the good news you are
about to read. Thanks to the valour of our soldiers,
fortune returns to us ; your courage will retain her. Very
soon we shall join hands with our brothers in the provinces
to deliver the soil of our country. Vive la Republique !
Vive la France !

` The Minister of the Interior, par interim, .
`` JULES FAVRE."

The Journal Official contains the following report :
"The army of the Loire, commanded by the brave
GeneraLd'Aurelles has proved its existence by a victory.
Orleans has been retaken. The fight lasted two days, and
probably two, or even three, Prussian divisions, com-
manded by General Von der Tann, were engaged. It was
evidently an affair of some consequence, which is full
of promise and hope for us. Paris is not abandoned to
its sole resources ; the departments understand that their
interest is identical with ours, and that in waiting to
defend themselves against the enemy at their own doors
they are surrendering France to him. The population of
Paris has not been mistaken ht reckoning on its own
constancy and fortitude for obtaining a change of fortune.
Already on receipt of the good news, every one seems
impelled to fresh efforts. We have the right to hope for
the assistance of the organised troops of the West, North,
and East. We see France ready to repulse the invader of
her hearths and her fields, and resolved to seek her
salvation only in that powerful and glorious unity which
will call forth for her legions of defenders."
This address was, of course, welcome enough, and con-
trasted happily with the unlucky proclamation of General
Trochu, which the Figaro calls "a pompous funereal
proclamation." As, however, the journalist advises
Trochu to imitate the example of Bazaine, who gave the
public "many reports of battles, but no proclamations,"
his censures will not perhaps count for much. Many in-
teresting items of intelligence have reached Tours by the
balloon. Gas, which is running short, is cut off in the
private houses, and successful experiments have been
made with a new electric light, though this, of course, is
intended for public and not for private use. Government has
also ordered the delivery of all the horned animals now in
Paris, and has thus obtained 3,000 cattle, or a ten days'
supply of meat. In a few days the government
will suspend the sale of fresh meat, and only
issue salt meat during three days. After that in-
terval fresh meat will be sold again, alternating
with the salaison. By this means it is thought the popula-
tion can better accustom themselves to the constant use of
salt meat. Various devices are meanwhile resorted to,
to vary the supply of food and the old English prejudices
concerning the extraordinary compounds in French-made
dishes are at last virtually realised. " The prejudices,of
our fatheis," says one French*riter, " are disappearing.
Killed properly, carefully skinned, . suitably seasoned,

well cooked, and dressed with an ordinary kind of sauce,
the dog makes excellent food. The meat is delicate
and tender, in spite of the adage ' tough as a dog.' "
In the guardroom of the hospital of Midi is posted the
following notice :—" Whoever brings with him a cat, a
dog, or three rats shall be invited to breakfast or to dinner.
It is indispensiblo that these precious animals should be
brought alive. The generous donors may take away the
skins." There is some dissatisfaction at the destruction of
some of the rare and valuable animals, such as the ostriches,
and buffaloes still in Paris, for the purposes of food, so long
as any other kind of meat remains. Half the horses
belonging to the Compagnie des Petites Voitures have
been seized by the Government, and only those who are
not the requisite size for artillery service are left. The
manufacture of guns goes on with great energy, and the
fifteen factories established for the manufacture of
cartridges produce 500,000 daily. Voluntary subscriptions
for supplying the National Guard are vigorously kept up,
and a grand theatrical display for the purchase of breech-
loading cannon is in contemplation.