The Insurrection in Paris | Page 9

to clear themselves of blame; for,
though there are doubtless many suspicious circumstances that maybe
explained away, there are also hard facts which will remain hard facts
in spite of the most elaborate attempts at refutation.
MAY 8th.
In consequence of the bombardment daily expected from the
Montretout batteries people have been hurriedly leaving Paris in great
numbers.
Fort Vanves took fire last night, and had to be evacuated. It was found
impossible to extinguish the fire. It is still burning.
The explosion at Issy arose from a torpedo, not a powder magazine.
The Fort is evacuated.

There has been a general heavy firing to-day, and the Point du Jour has
suffered severely.
Father Hogan, the curé of St. Sulpice, a British subject, was again
arrested yesterday. Mr. Malet has with difficulty procured his release
on condition that he leaves Paris.
The Government troops were compelled to evacuate the railway station
at Clamart in consequence of the effluvia arising from the great number
of unburied corpses in and about the station, which was then occupied
by the Federalists, subsequently again evacuated by them upon the
approach of the Versailles troops.
The Government have sent away to the Departments all the young
soldiers who have parents or relations domiciled in Paris.
The statement that M. Schneider intented to remove his iron foundries
from Creuzot to Stockton-on-Tees is incorrect. A large number of
models and designs have been sent from Creuzot to foundries at
Stockton-on-Tees, where it is intended to instruct a staff of workmen in
the production of steel before commencing that branch of manufacture
at the French establishment.
Fort Issy was captured and occupied by the Government troops this
morning.
MAY 9th.--AND 10th.
Forts Montrouge and Vanves have been reduced to silence by a battery
of mitrailleuses established on a parapet of Issy, which picks off
Federal artillerymen when they show themselves. Seven guns on
bastions 72, 73, and 74 have been dismounted by the new battery of
Montretout and the bastions silenced. Many prisoners are said to have
been taken at Issy yesterday.
The National Guards of Vaugirard and the Panthéon decline to march,
barely a third of their numbers having answered the call.

The Vendôme Column is definitively to fall on Friday.
The Lycée, on the high ground behind Issy, is being hurriedly formed
into a fortress mounted with guns, earthworks connecting it with
Vanves.
Three shells per second are said to have fallen on Auteuil this morning.
Nineteen battalions were reviewed yesterday by Colonel Rossel in the
Place de la Concorde. Rossel continues to command in spite of his
resignation yesterday, which is attributed to a quarrel with the Central
Committee. The Committee of Public Safety is still sitting. It is
rumoured that should he decline to withdraw his resignation, the
functions of the Ministry of War would be absorbed by the Committee
of Public Safety, who would attach to themselves an Assistant Military
Commission, headed by Dombrowski.
MAY 10th.
The Committee of Public Safety, in consequence of the proclamation of
M. Thiers, which was placarded in Paris, has issued a decree ordering
the furniture and property of M. Thiers to be seized, and his house in
the Place St. Georges to be immediately demolished.
The Commune, in its sitting of yesterday, decided to bring Colonel
Rossel before a court-martial.
Delescluze has been appointed Delegate of War.
Colonel Rossel was arrested yesterday and handed over to the custody
of Citizen Gerardin. At 5 p.m. an announcement was made to the
Commune that Rossel had left with Gerardin. The Commune accepted
the offer of General Bergeret to re-arrest Rossel. Nevertheless, at 2
o'clock this morning this had not been effected.
Félix Pyat, in the Vengeur, accuses Rossel of treason.
MAY 11th.

There is increasing discouragement among the National Guards, in
spite of the retaking of Vanves. The Vengeur hints at a plot headed by
Gerardin, and states that 400 National Guards, who exhibited no
numbers of their battalions, were assembled for an unknown purpose at
the Luxembourg; that at the same time officers who were making a
domiciliary visit at Gerardin's house were attacked, and that in another
quarter an attempt was made to assassinate Dombrowski.
A considerable portion of masonry from the Auteuil Viaduct has fallen
into the water.
A search has been made at the Bank of France under the excuse of
looking for arms. It is said that the employés of the Bank are armed and
victualled, and will stand a siege rather than surrender the gold under
their care.
In consequence of pressure from Delescluze the Central Committee
abandon the direction of the War Administration, and Moreau resigns
his office of Civil Delegate.
The furniture and pictures are being carted from M. Thiers' house, and
sounds of hammering within suggest the commencement of its
demolition.
Six newspapers