Léon Gambetta (1838–1882).

A fine letter written during the Commune. He will not return to France ‘until we are able to march straight into Paris; but as soon as the gates are open, I’ll be off. […] For the moment, here are my proposals. To await the outcome of the struggle, which can only be lamentable, but whose worst effects the recent municipal elections will enable us to avert. Once established in Paris, set out a political line, rally all the young and vigorous elements of the Republican Party to our cause, and, to effectively achieve this goal, secure a proper newspaper’… He is in negotiations with a financier in Versailles, but the matter is not yet settled. He will let him know as soon as possible: ‘this time we shall not board a boat but a fine ship’…