CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_).

France in 1870--The Ollivier Ministry--Lull in European Affairs--The Hohenzollern Incident--Benedetti at Ems--His Second Interview with King William--War declared at Paris--Efforts of the British Government--Bismarck divulges a supposed Franco-German Treaty--Benedetti's Explanation--Earl Russell's Speech--Belgian Neutrality guaranteed--Unpreparedness of the French Army--The Emperor's Plans--Saarbrück--Weissenburg--The Emperor partially resigns Command--Wörth--MacMahon at Châlons--Spicheren--The Palikao Ministry--Bazaine Generalissimo--Battle of Borny--Mars-la-Tour--Gravelotte--English Associations for the Sick and Wounded--Palikao's Plan--MacMahon's Hesitation--De Failly's Defeat--MacMahon resolves to Fight--Sedan--The Surrender--Napoleon and his Captors--Receipt of the News in Paris--Impetuosity of Jules Favre--A Midnight Sitting--Jules Favre's Plan--Palikao's Alternative--Fall of the Empire--The Government of National Defence--Suppression of the Corps Législatif--The Neutral Powers: Great Britain, Austria, and Italy 548