Year: 1871

that he must see him, and ascertain whether
| he was in want of anything. General Clu-
| seret at once complied, and went with Mr..
| Washburne to the prefecture of police, when
| permission was given to visit the archbishop
| freely at any time. Taking advantage of
| the permission, the minister, in company
! with his secretary, visited the prison, and,
after being shown into a vacant cell, the
| archbishop was very soon brought in.
Mr. Wash6urne was deeply touched by
| the appearance of the venerable man, and
told him he had taken great pleasure, at
| the instance of some of his faithful friends,
| in intervening in his behalf; and while he
could not promise himself the satisfaction
of seeing him released, he was very glad to
! be able to visit him, to ascertain his wants


and to assuage the cruel position in which


he was placed. The archbishop expressed
his thanks most heartily and cordially for
| the interest the minister had manifested
toward him, and Mr.. Washburne was
charmed with cheerful spirit and interest
ing conversation.


he seemed to fully appreciate his critical
situation, and to be prepared for the worst.
lie had no word of bitterness or reproach
for his prosecutors, but remarked that the
world Judged them to be worse than they
/ really were. He was patiently awaiting


the logic of events, and praying that Proyi-
dence might find solution of these terrible
troubles without the further shedding of
human blood. He is confined in a cell


about six feet by ten, possibly little larger,


which has the ordinary furniture of the


Mazas prison, a wooden chair, small


wooden table and a prison bed, and is light


ed by one small window.


AS political prisoner he is permitted to


have his food brought to him from the out
side.


In answer to the suggestion of Mr. Wash


burne that the latter.would be glad to be of
any service to him, he said that he was not
in need at present.


Mr.. Washburne was the first man he had
seen from outside since his imprisonment,
and he has not been permitted to see the
newspapers or to have any intelligence of
passing events.


Mr.. Washburne will make arrangements
to send him newspapers and other reading
matter, and woald also visit him, to the
end that he might afford him any proper
assistance i'll his power. The fact could
not be concealed that he Was in great dan
ger, which Mr.. Washburne would do all in
his power to prevent.


The Secretary of State is in receipt of
dispatch from Minister Washburne, dated
Paris, April 25, in which he states that on
the morning of the above date application
was made to him by Mr.. Nalet, of the
British embassy, to interfere to prevent the
enforcement of decree of the commune
by which a requisition was made on all the
vacant apartments in Paris, so far as the
decree related to the apartments of
foreigners.


Mr.. Washburne Immediately communica-
ted with Mr.. Paschal Grousset, who at once
informed him that the decree did not include
the apartments of foreigners, though, by
inadvertence, it was not so stated. The cor
recton was made, and the apartments were
not disturbed. From the foreign office, Mr..
Washburne went to the prefecture of police
to obtain the discharge of several Germans,
some of them at present incarcerated at
Mazas. He obtained orders for the release
of the men referred to.


An American lady called at the house of
Mr.. Washburne to induce him to interest
himself in procuring the release of two
French Sisters of Charity, who were in
prison. The lady was herself nun, and
daughter of the late Governor Roman, of
Louisiana. Mr.. Washburne told her he
could do nothing officially, but willingly
consented, as an act of friendship, to do
what he could with the authorities He
accordingly mentioned the matter to the
man in charge at the prefecture, who with
out hesitation gave an order for the release
of the parties.


In an hour Mr.. Washburne had the salts
faction of seeing the two sisters safely out
SIDE the prison walls. He also secured the
release of priest who had been incarce-
rated for some time, and while in the prison
called upon the archbishop of Paris, whe
appeared to be quite cheerful.