[Footnote 50:  Busch, Bismarck on the Franco-German War, vol. i. p. 109.  Contrast this statement with his later efforts (Reminiscences, vol. ii. pp. 95-100) to prove that he helped to bring on war.]

The fallen monarch accepted the King’s offer of the castle of Wilhelmshoehe near Cassel for his residence up to the end of the war; it was the abode on which Jerome Bonaparte had spent millions of thalers, wrung from Westphalian burghers, during his brief sovereignty in 1807-1813.  Thither his nephew set out two days after the catastrophe of Sedan.  And this, as it seems, was the end of a dynasty whose rise to power dated from the thrilling events of the Bridge of Lodi, Arcola, Rivoli, and the Pyramids.  The French losses on September 1 were about 3000 killed, 14,000 wounded, and 21,000 prisoners.  On the next day there surrendered 83,000 prisoners by virtue of the capitulation, along with 419 field-pieces and 139 cannon of the fortress.  Some 3000 had escaped, through the gap in the German lines on the north-east, to the Belgian frontier, and there laid down their arms.

The news of this unparalleled disaster began to leak out at Paris late on the 2nd; on the morrow, when details were known, crowds thronged into the streets shouting “Down with the Empire!  Long live the Republic!” Power still remained with the Empress-Regent and the Palikao Ministry.  All must admit that the Empress Eugenie did what was possible in this hopeless position.  She appealed to that charming literary man, M. Prosper Merimee, to go to his friend, M. Thiers (at whom we shall glance presently), and beg him to form a Ministry that would save the Empire for the young Prince Imperial.  M. Thiers politely but firmly refused to give a helping hand to the dynasty which he looked on as the author of his country’s ruin.

On that day the Empress also summoned the Chambers—­the Senate and the Corps Legislatif—­a vain expedient, for in times of crisis the French look to a man, not to Chambers.  The Empire had no man at hand.  General Trochu, Governor of Paris, was suspected of being a Republican—­at any rate he let matters take their course.  On the 4th, vast crowds filled the streets; a rush was made to the Chamber, where various compromises were being discussed; the doors were forced, and amid wild excitement a proposal to dethrone the Napoleonic dynasty was put.  Two Republican deputies, Gambetta and Jules Favre, declared that the Hotel de Ville was the fit place to declare the Republic.  There, accordingly, it was proclaimed, the deputies for the city of Paris taking office as the Government of National Defence.  They were just in time to prevent Socialists like Blanqui, Flourens, and Henri Rochefort from installing the “Commune” in power.  The Empress and the Prince Imperial at once fled, and, apart from a protest by the Senate, no voice was raised in defence of the Empire.  Jules Favre who took up the burden of Foreign Affairs in the new Government of National Defence was able to say in his circular note of September 6 that “the Revolution of September 4 took place without the shedding of a drop of blood or the loss of liberty to a single person[51].”