No. 89.
Mr. E. B. Washburne to Mr. Fish.
Sir: Much to my surprise and gratification General Burnside and Paul Forbes, esq., made their appearance at my house this morning, at 8.30 o’clock. They were courteously permitted to come through the Prussian lines by Count Bismarck, and to bring me a small dispatch bag, made up by Mr. Stevens, on the 23d ultimo, in London. It contained the dispatch of Mr. Davis, of the 8th ultimo, and New York dates to the 10th.
These gentlemen are the first and only persons who have entered Paris from the Prussian lines for two weeks. I have sent dispatches out on two or three different occasions, by persons leaving the city, but have not before to-day received anything whatever from outside of the city.
Of course, I know nothing of the Prussian force around Paris, nor anything of their plans or operations. As to matters in Paris, I can only say that there has been the most wonderful change in the last two weeks. The report of Jules Favre seems to have changed the face of things entirely. All Paris is now apparently united and determined. They claim to have five hundred thousand troops in the city. Ten thousand sailors man their outer forts, which are mostly supplied with naval guns of the heaviest caliber.
The inner defenses are wonderfully strong.
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The diplomatic corps has come to no decision in regard to leaving Paris. I expect we shall know to-day the decision of the Prussian authorities in regard to our sending out and receiving our dispatches. I think there must be some three hundred of our countrymen now in Paris, and many of them are anxious to get away. It is now doubtful whether they will be permitted to go out, either by the French or Prussian authorities. I would, no doubt, be permitted to leave at any time, but should permission to depart be refused to my countrymen I should consider it my duty to remain. However anxious I might be myself to get away, I should deem it a species of cowardice to avail myself of my diplomatic privilege to depart and leave my nationaux behind me to take care of themselves. I am certain such a course would not meet with the approbation of my Government, as it certainly would not of my own conscience. If, however, such Americans as may want to depart are permitted to go, I may then leave whenever I think the interest of my Government would be better served by my being out of Paris than by remaining in it.