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e Right demanded that the Assembly be protected。 （Against whom？ Against me？） The Left replied with the shout of： 〃Long live the Republic！〃
When I was leaving I was notified that the crowd was waiting for me in the square。 To escape the ovation I went out by a side door； but the people caught sight of me； and I was immediately surrounded by an immense crowd shouting： 〃Long live Victor Hugo！〃 I replied： 〃Long live the Republic！〃 Everybody； including the National Guards and soldiers of the line； took up the shout。 I drove away in a carriage； which the people followed。
The Assembly to…day elected its committees。 Dufaure proposes Thiers as chief of the executive power。
We dined at home for the first time。 I had invited Louis Blanc； Schoelcher； Rochefort and Lockroy。 Rochefort was unable to come。 After dinner we went to Gent's； Quay des Chartrons； to attend a meeting of the Left。 My sons accompanied me。 The question of the chief executive was discussed。 I had the following added to the definition： appointed by the Assembly and revokable by that body。〃
General Cremer came this morning to enlighten us concerning the disposition of the army。
February 17。At the Assembly Gambetta came up to me and said： 〃Master； when can I see you？ I have a good many things to explain to you。〃
Thiers has been named chief of the executive power。 He is to leave to…night for Versailles； the headquarters of the Prussians。
February 18。To…night there was a meeting of the Left； in the Rue Lafaurie…Monbadon。 The meeting chose me as president。 The speakers were Louis Blanc； Schoelcher； Colonel Langlois； Brisson； Lockroy； Millière； Clémenceau； Martin Bernard； and Joigneaux。 I spoke last and summed up the debate。 Weighty questions were brought upthe Bismarck…Thiers treaty； peace； war； the intolerance of the Assembly； and the case in which it would be advisable to resign in a body。
February 19。The president of the National Club of Bordeaux came to place his salons at my disposal。
My hostess； Mme。 Porte； a very pretty woman； has sent me a bouquet。
Thiers has appointed his Ministers。 He has assumed the equivocal and suspicious title of 〃head president of the executive power。〃 The Assembly is to adjourn。 We are to be notified at our residences when it is to be convened again。
February 20。To…day the people again acclaimed me when I came out of the Assembly。 The crowd in an instant became enormous。 I was compelled to take refuge in the lodging of Martin Bernard； who lives in a street adjacent to the Assembly。
I spoke in the Eleventh Committee。 The question of the magistracy （which has petitioned us not to act against it） came up unexpectedly。 I spoke well。 I rather terrified the committee。
Little Jeanne is more than ever adorable。 She does not want to leave me at all now。
February 21。Mme。 Porte； my hostess of the Rue de la Course； sends me a bouquet every morning by her little daughter。
I take little Georges and little Jeanne out whenever I have a minute to spare。 I might very well be dubbed： 〃Victor Hugo； Representative of the People and dry nurse。〃
To…night I presided at the meeting of the Radical Left。
February 25。To…night there was a meeting of the two fractions of the Left； the Radical Left and Political Left； in the hall of the Academy； in the Rue Jacques Bell。 The speakers were Louis Blanc； Emmanuel Arago； Vacherot； Jean Brunet； Bethmont； Peyrat； Brisson； Gambetta； and myself。 I doubt whether my plan for fusion or even for an ~entente cordiale~ will succeed。 Schoelcher and Edmond Adam walked home with me。
February 26。I am 69 years old to…day。
I presided at a meeting of the Left。
February 27。I have resigned the presidency of the Radical Left in order to afford full independence to the meeting。
February 28。Thiers read the treaty （of peace） from the tribune to…day。 It is hideous。 I shall speak to…morrow。 My name is the seventh on the list； but Grévy； the president of the Assembly； said to me： 〃Rise and ask to be heard when you want to。 The Assembly will hear you。〃
To…night there was a meeting of the Assembly committees。 I belong to the eleventh。 I spoke。
March 1。There was a tragical session to…day。 The Empire was executed； also France； alas！ The Shylock…Bismarck treaty was adopted。 I spoke。
Louis Blanc spoke after me； and spoke grandly。
I had Louis Blanc and Charles Blanc to dinner。
This evening I went to the meeting in the Rue Lafaurie…Monbadon over which I have ceased to preside。 Schoelcher presided。 I spoke。 I am satisfied with myself。
March 2。Charles has returned。 No session to…day。 The adoption of peace has opened the Prussian net。 I have received a packet of letters and newspapers from Paris。 Two copies of the _Rappel_。
We dined ~en famille~； all five of us。 Then I went to the meeting。
Seeing that France has been mutilated； the Assembly ought to withdraw。 It has caused the wound and is powerless to cure it。 Let another Assembly replace it。 I would like to resign。 Louis Blanc does not want to。 Gambetta and Rochefort are of my way of thinking。 Debate。
March 3。This morning the Mayor of Strasburg； who died of grief； was buried。
Louis Blanc called in company with three Representatives； Brisson； Floquet and Cournet。 They came to consult me as to what ought to be done about the resignation question。 Rochefort and Pyat； with three others； are resigning。 I am in favour of resigning。 Louis Blanc resists。 The remainder of the Left do not appear to favour resignation ~en masse~。
Session。
As I ascended the stairs I heard a fellow belonging to the Right； whose back only I could see； say to another： 〃Louis Blanc is execrable； but Victor Hugo is worse。〃
We all dined with Charles； who had invited Louis Blanc and MM。 Lavertujon and Alexis Bouvier。
Afterwards we went to the meeting in the Rue Lafaurie…Monbadon。 The President of the Assembly having； on behalf of the Assembly； delivered a farewell address to the retiring members for Alsace and Lorraine； my motion to maintain their seats indefinitely； which was approved by the meeting； is without object； inasmuch as the question is settled。 The meeting； however； appears to hold to it。 We will consider the matter。
March 4。Meeting of the Left。 M。 Millière proposed； as did also M。 Delescluze； a motion of impeachment against the Government of the National Defence。 He concluded by saying that whoever failed to join him in pressing the motion was a 〃dupe or an accomplice。〃
Schoelcher rose and said：
〃Neither dupe nor accomplice。 You lie！〃
March 5。Session of the Assembly。
Meeting in the evening。 Louis Blanc； instead of a formal impeachment of the ex…Government of Paris； demands an inquiry。 I subscribe to this。 We sign。
Meeting of the Left。 They say there is great agitation in Paris。 The Government which usually never receives less than fifteen dispatches a day from Paris has not received a single one up to 10 o'clock to…night。 Six telegrams sent to Jules Favre have not been answered。 We decide that either Louis Blanc or I will interpellate the Government as to the situation in Paris； if the present