Mr. Hoffman to Mr. Fish
Sir: I do not know whether Mr. Washburne, who is at Paris, will be able to send a messenger to-day to London as usual. Very strict orders, have been given to permit no one to pass the gates. I think it well therefore to inform you, that when I last heard from the legation, on the evening of the 24th, that part of the city in which it is situated was perfectly tranquil and safe. The office had been struck by a shell, but no one had been hurt. According to the last reports from Paris, the insurrection is now confined to Belleville and to Fort d’Ivey. Everywhere else it has been crushed, and in the strongholds referred to it can hold out but a few hours. The vandalism of the insurgents in destroying the public buildings they could not hold has never been equaled in history. Happily the Louvre and Bibliothèque Nationale, the most valuable of them all, have been saved. The Tuileries, the Hotel de Ville, and others of inferior historic interest, have perished.
Petroleum is now the madness of the hour. Quiet housekeepers are stopping up the vault openings in the pavement, on the ridiculous pretext that bands of women are roaming through the streets pouring petroleum into the vaults and then setting fire to it.
You will, no doubt, receive full information from Mr. Washburne of all that is passing in Paris as soon as the gates are open. It is expected that this will be in a day or two, and that early next week trains will be running to and from Paris as usual.
I am, &c.,