July 13.—In the Ecumenical Council, the dogma of papal infallibility was finally adopted by a vote of 450 to 88. July 14.—Count Benedetti the French ambassador, demanded an audience of the King of Prussia, at Ems in Nassau, to exact that Hohenzollern’s renunciation be made perpetual, and that the royal veto be applied to any fresh approach to the Prince on the subject of the Spanish crown. The King declined to receive the ambassador, and answered him, through an aid-de-camp, that he had no further communication to make. July 15.—The Duc D’Grammont, in the French Senate, made the following declaration in reference to the causes of the dissatisfaction with Prussia: “Messieurs:—The manner in which the country received our declaration of the 6th of July led us to commence negotiations with Prussia, to secure her recognition of the validity of our grievances. We did not treat with Spain, whose independence we have no wish to trammel, nor with the Prince of Hohenzollern, whom we consider to be under the shadow of the King. Nor have we advanced any other grievance than the candidacy of the Prince for the Spanish throne. “The Prussian Minister of Foreign Affairs opposed to us a determination not to receive our representation, pretending to ignore the affair. We then addressed ourselves to the King, who maintained that he was a stranger to the affair, and could not intervene except as head of the family, but he avowed that he had instructed Bismarck. We could not accept that answer, and we demanded that the King should influence the Prince of Hohenzollern. Desistance in the project came from the quarter whence it was least expected. We then demanded that the King should give a promise for the future. “This moderate demand, made in moderate terms, we declared to be without any reservations. The King declined to say that he would refuse in future to interfere with the candidature, and he refused to authorize us to transmit to you a declaration that he would in future oppose the candidature. He declared that he reserved to himself the right to consider circumstances. Even after this refusal we did not break off negotiations, but adjourned our explanation to you until this date. Yesterday we were apprised that the King of Prussia had notified our ambassador that he would no longer receive him, and to render a rupture more obvious, he gave notice of his actions to the Cabinets of Europe. “At the same time he announced that Baron Werther might take leave, and the armaments of Prussia had commenced. “On our part, we yesterday called out the reserves, and have taken such other measures as the interest and honor of the country demanded.” July 16.—The French Senate waited upon the Emperor and Empress at St. Cloud. M. Rucker, the President, said “the Senate thanked the Emperor for permission of expressing to the throne its patriotic sentiments. A monarchical combination, imperious to the prestige and security of France, had been mysteriously favored by Prussia. On our representations, Prince Leopold renounces the throne of Spain, who returns our friendship, then renounces a candidature so wounding to us. Without doubt, immediate danger was thus avoided, but a legitimate complaint remains. “Was it not evident that a foreign power, to the prejudice of our honor and interests, wished to disturb the balance of power in Europe? Had we not the right to demand of that power guarantees against a possible recurrence of such an attempt? This is refused, and the dignity of France insulted. Your majesty draws the sword, and the country is with you, eager for and proud of the occasion. You have waited long; but during this occasion you have raised to perfection the military organization of France. “By your care France is prepared. Her enthusiasm shows that, like your Majesty, she will not tolerate wrong. Let our august Empress become again the depositary of imperial power. The great body of the state surround Her Majesty with their absolute devotion. The nation has faith in her wisdom and energy. Let your Majesty resume with noble confidence the command of the legions, as you did at Magenta and Solferino. “If peril has come, the hour of victory is near; soon a grateful country will decree to her children the honors of triumph. Soon Germany will be freed from the domination which has oppressed her, and peace will be restored to Europe through the glory of our arms. Your Majesty, who so recently received a proof of the national good will, may then once more devote yourself to the reforms, the realization of which is only retarded. Time only is needed to conquer.” July 19.—The Reichstag or North German Parliament met at Berlin. The King of Prussia opened the session with a speech, in which he said: “Prussia had no interest in the election of the Prince of Hohenzollern for the Spanish throne, except that it might bring peace to a friendly people. It had, nevertheless, furnished the Emperor of the French with a pretext for war unknown to diplomacy, and, scorning peace, he had indulged in language toward Germany which could only have been prompted by a miscalculation of her strength. “Germany was powerful enough to resent such language and repel such violence. He said so in all reverence, knowing that the event was in God’s hands. He had fully weighed the responsibility which rested on the man who drives into war and havoc two great and tranquil nations, yearning for peace and the enjoyment of the common blessings of Christian civilization and prosperity, and for contests more salutary than those of blood. “Those who rule France have shrewdly studied the proper method of hitting the sensitive pride of that great neighboring nation, and to promote selfish interests have misguided it. Then, as our fathers have done, let us fight for liberty and our rights, against wrongs inflicted by a foreign conqueror; and as he was with our fathers, so God will be with us in a struggle without which Europe can never enjoy lasting peace.” ——The French troops passed the frontier of Prussia near Saarbruck, and seized the Prussian custom-house, being the first open act of war. July 20.—In the French Corps Législatif the Duc D’Grammont announced that war had been declared with Prussia and her allies in the following words: “Messieurs: The expose presented to you on the 15th inst. made known the causes we have for war against Prussia. According to the rules and usage of nations, and by order of the Emperor, I have requested the Charge d’Affairs at Berlin to notify the Cabinet of Prussia of our resolution to seek, with arms, the guarantee we could not obtain by discussion. This has been done, and I have the honor to make known to the Corps Législatif that, in consequence thereof, a state of war exists since the 19th, between France and Prussia. This declaration applies to all friends of Prussia who give her armed assistance.” July 21.—The French Minister of foreign affairs addressed a diplomatic circular to French agents at foreign capitals, setting forth the reasons which impelled France to war. July 23.—The Emperor of France issued a proclamation to the people of France. July 27.—The Emperor Napoleon III. published a decree, conferring the title of regent upon the Empress, with authority to exercise the functions of that office during the absence of the Emperor from the capital. August 1.—In consequence of negotiations between Italy and France, in which the former government undertook to protect the pope in the occupation of Rome, and guaranteed the preservation of order in that city, the French troops commenced an evacuation of that city. ——Austria gave notice to the pope that the Concordat was abrogated in consequence of the promulgation of the infallibility dogma. August 2.—French troops crossed the frontier, invaded the hights which overlooked Saarbruck, carried them, and drove the Prussians from the town. The Prussian force was but two companies. The losses were light on both sides. The Emperor Napoleon sent to the Empress the following despatch: “Louis has received his baptism of fire. He was admirably cool and little impressed. A division of Frossard’s command carried the hights overlooking the Saar. The Prussians made a brief resistance. Louis and I were in the front where bullets fell about us. Louis keeps a ball he picked up. The soldiers wept at his tranquillity. We lost an officer and ten men.” August 3.—Prussians crossed the frontier, and attacked Weissenburg, which was taken by storm by the army of the crown prince and Bavarian troops. General Douay’s division of Marshal McMahon’s corps was defeated and driven from its camp, and General Douay was killed. August 6.—Battle of Woerth (called by the French, battle of Froeschweiler) fought by the Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia and Marshal McMahon, in which the latter was defeated and retired upon Bitsche. The French lost two eagles, six mitrailleuses, 4000 prisoners, and 30 guns; 5000 killed, wounded, and missing. The Prussian loss, killed, wounded, and missing, 3500. ——Battle of Saarbrucken, or Hagenau, near Spichern Hills. The French were attacked by the Prussians of Steinmetz’s corps, under General Kamess. General Frossard, commanding the French army, was defeated, and retreated towards Metz. August 7.—The Empress-Regent Eugenie declared Paris in a state of siege. August 10.—Great agitation in Paris in consequence of the news of the defeat of the French troops. In the Corps Législatif violent attacks were made by members upon the ministry, in consequence of which, M. Ollivier and his colleagues resigned. The Empress Regent called upon Count Palikao (General Montauban) to form a new ministry. ——Strasburg was invested on all sides by the Prussians, who summoned the city to surrender. General Beyer, commanding the city, refused. Siege was then commenced. August 12.—The Prussians bombarded and captured the fortress of Duzelstein and Lichtenburg in the Vosges mountains. ——Nancy was evacuated by Marshal McMahon’s army, and entered by the army of the Crown Prince of Prussia. ——Pont a Mousson, south of Metz, was taken by a force of Prussians and held for some time. ——Fourichon, Vice Admiral of the French navy, commanding naval forces in North Sea, issued a proclamation declaring a blockade after the 15th August, 1870, of “the coasts of Prussia and the North German Confederation, extending from the island of Borkum to the north of Eider.” August 14.—Battle of Longeuville. The French army retreating on Metz, crossing to the left bank of the Moselle, were attacked by the Prussians and defeated. August 15.—Battle under the walls of Metz between the 1st and 7th Prussian army corps and French forces, who were driven into the city with a loss of 4000 men. August 16.—Battle of Doncourt, fought by General Steinmetz, of the 1st Prussian army corps, against the French center and left, with a design of forcing the French upon the 3d army corps under the Crown Prince. ——Battle of Pont a Mousson, fought by General Alvensleben with the 3d and 10th Prussian army corps, and the 8th and 7th army corps commanded by Prince Frederick Charles, and the French army under Generals De Caen, L’Admirault Frossard and Canrobert. The fight continued twelve hours. The Prussian Generals Doering and Widel were killed, and Generals Roucy and Gruscher wounded. The French retreated to Verdun. The French lost in killed Generals Le Grande and Montain. August 17.—Battle of Mars la Tour, between Metz and Verdun, which continued for five hours; the French were defeated, and retired upon Metz with a loss of 2000 prisoners, 2 eagles, 17 cannon, and a large number of killed and wounded. August 18.—Battle of Gravelotte (by the French called the battle of Rezonville) between the Prussians and French under Bazaine; the battle lasted ten hours; the French were repulsed and driven back on Metz, and communication between Metz and Paris, and Bazaine and McMahon destroyed. Loss 40,000 in killed and wounded. August 19.—General Trochu was declared Governor of Paris. August 24.—Chalons was evacuated by the French. August 25.—Battle at Stenay between the French and Prussians, in which the latter were successful, and the railway was cut between Chauvanges and La Mouilly. ——The garrison of Vitry La Francais surrendered to the Prussians 1000 men, 16 guns. August 28.—Battle of Mouzon between Prussians and French, being a flank movement by the Crown Prince against the army of McMahon, with intention to cut off his junction with Bazaine. The French were defeated. August 30.—Battle of Beaumont between the French and Prussians. The French, under McMahon, were driven upon the Belgian frontier, their camp fell into the hands of the Prussians, and the pursuit continued for several miles; 12 guns and several thousand prisoners were taken. August 31.—Battle of Sedan between the French and Prussians, in which the latter were successful. September 1.—Second day of the battle of Sedan. The French were beaten, and retreated on Mezieres. 10,000 officers and soldiers were forced into Belgian territory, where they were required to immediately surrender their arms. Sept. 2.—General Wimpfen, commanding the French army in place of McMahon, who was wounded, capitulated to the King of Prussia, surrendering to the latter his whole army, estimated at 122,000 strong. On the same day the Emperor Napoleon III., who was with McMahon’s army, also surrendered to King William of Prussia. Sept. 5.—The Corps Législatif, the members of the left and left center voting, pronounced a decree of “decheance,” or exclusion from the throne, of the Emperor Napoleon and his family. The Republic was proclaimed in the Hotel de Ville. ——A Government of National Defense, composed of eleven members and all deputies of Paris, constituted and ratified by popular acclamation. Their names are MM. Arago, Emanuel Cremieux, Jules Favre, Jules Ferry, Gambetta, Garnier Pages, Glais Bizoin, Eugene Pelleton, Picard, Rochefort, and Jules Simon. General Trochu was reappointed Minister of War in place of General Palikao. The officers of the Provisional Government at Paris were distributed as follows: Minister of the Interior, Leon Gambetta; Marine, Martin Fourichon; Foreign Affairs, Jules Favre; Finance, Ernest Picard; Public Instruction, Jules Simon; Justice, Isaac Cremieux; War, General Louis Jules Trochu; President of the Council, M. Grevry; Secretary, General Andre Laverlejon; Public Works, Pierre Doreau; Commerce, Joseph Magnin; Mayor of Paris, Etienne Arago; Prefect of Police, Keratry. In the streets of Paris there was much agitation, but no serious disturbance. The imperial insignia were torn down by the people wherever they were within reach. The statue of the Emperor Napoleon III., at the Bourse, was thrown down. Sept. 5.—Jules Favre, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, issued a circular containing the following points: “The policy of France is peace, leaving Germany mistress of her own destinies. The King of Prussia had said that he made war against the dynasty, and not against France; yet the dynasty is gone, and France is free; yet this impious war continues. Will the king face this responsibility before the world and before history? France yields not one foot of soil, not one stone of a fortress. A shameless peace means extermination of our cause and that of Europe. We are undismayed. The army is resolute and provided.” Sept. 6.—The garrison at Strasburg made a successful sortie on the Prussians, capturing many guns. The Prussians attempting to cross on pontoons, between Port Juifs and Port Austerlitz, were repulsed by mitrailleuses. From 8000 to 10,000 Prussians were killed and wounded in these movements. Sept. 11.—Laon, France, surrendered to the Prussian advance. After they had entered, the citadel was blown up, killing 200 French soldiers and 150 Prussians.59 Sept. 12.—The troops of Italy, under the command of General Cortona, crossed the boundaries of the papal territories with the intention of advancing upon Rome and occupying it. Proclamation was made that the local authority in the papal territories would be respected, and that the pope would be protected by the Italian troops. The papal troops made no resistance to the Italians. In some instances they withdrew before them; in others they fraternized with them. ——Proclamation issued by the King of Italy, who said: “Peace, order, and self-government, and not war, are brought and offered by the Italians, and the papacy will remain inviolate.” Sept. 13.—General Cortona advancing into the papal territories, was resisted at Civita Castellana, by the papal Zouaves of the garrison, who opened fire upon the Italians. After a battle of about an hour, the papal forces surrendered. ——The pope protested to the foreign diplomatic body against the invasion of the Roman territory by the Italian troops. Sept. 15.—Peace propositions made by the Prussian embassy—the cession of Alsace and Lorraine, and the dismantling of the French fortresses on the German frontier—were refused by the French Provisional Government. Sept. 16.—The French Provisional Government raised the blockade of the Baltic and North Sea ports. ——The Italian troops took Civita Vecchia without resistance. Sept. 17.—The Prussians being in front of, and nearly surrounding, Paris, the foreign Ministers left that city and went to Tours. Sept. 18.—Five divisions of Italian troops, under General Cortona, invested the city of Rome. Sept. 19.—Battle of Chatelon. The 2d Bavarian Corps, supported by the Prussians, were attacked by the French under General Du Crat. The French were defeated and driven back, losing 9 cannon and over 1000 prisoners. Sept. 21.—Rome was occupied by the Italian troops after a short fight with the papal Zouaves. The pope ordered the white flag to be hoisted. The Italian troops then entered the city, and they were received by the inhabitants with demonstrations of joy. Sept. 23.—The fortress of Toul, France, capitulated to the Prussians, with the garrison and all the material of war. Sept. 24.—Negotiations for peace, between M. Favre, on the part of France, and Count Bismarck, at the Prussian headquarters, having failed, the French Government issued the following, giving the proposed terms of the Prussians: Tours, Sept. 24.—The following news is official: “PROCLAMATION TO FRANCE.—Before the siege of Paris, M. Jules Favre desired to see Count von Bismarck, to know the intentions of the enemy and the following is the declaration of the enemy: “Prussia wishes to continue the war in order to reduce France to a second-rate power. She demands Alsace and Lorraine as far as Metz by right of conquest, and before consenting to an armistice she demands the rendition of Strasbourg, Toul, and Fort Mont Valerien at Paris. “Paris is exasperated, and will rather bury herself beneath her own ruins than agree to such insolent pretensions. We can respond but by resistance to the last extremity. France accepts the struggle, and counts upon her children. (Signed) “GLAIS BIZOIN. “FOURCHON.” “CREMIEUX. Sept. 28.—Strasbourg, which had been besieged by the Prussians, was surrendered by the French commander, General Ulrich, with 17,000 men and 451 officers. Sept. 30.—Battle before Paris; troops of the Crown Prince were attacked by the French, and some heavy fighting took place. The French were finally repulsed, and took refuge under the guns of the forts. Oct. 2.—The Plebiscitum was taken in the late Papal States upon the following question: “Is a union with the Kingdom of Italy under the constitutional rule of Victor Emanuel and his successors desirable?” The vote was as follows: In the province of Rome, ayes 47,961, noes 68; province of Viterbo, ayes 24,207, noes 228; province of Frosinone, ayes 25,536, noes 271. Oct. 7.—Battle near Streamy, in the neighborhood of Metz. Marshal Bazaine, commanding the garrison, made a desperate attempt to break through the Prussian line with his entire force. After a fight of several hours, he was repulsed, and driven back into Metz. The loss was severe on both sides. Oct. 9.—Battle of Artenay. The French troops were attacked by the Prussians, and finally driven from their positions into the forest. The battle lasted 6 hours. Oct. 10.—At Havana, the proclamation of Serrano, regent of Spain, was published, decreeing, under the sanction of the national Cortes, that slavery should be abolished. Oct. 12.—Battle of Orleans, France. French troops holding the approaches to the town were attacked by the Prussians, driven in, and the city finally taken by assault. 10,000 prisoners were taken by the Prussians. Oct. 16.—The city of Soissons (France) capitulated to the Prussians; 4000 prisoners and 132 guns were taken. Oct. 18.—Chateau D’Eau was captured by the Prussians after a siege of 10 hours. Oct. 24.—The city of Schlestadt (France) capitulated to the Prussians after a severe bombardment. There were surrendered 2400 prisoners, 120 cannon.60 Oct. 27.—Marshal Bazaine, holding the garrison of Metz, capitulated to the Prussians. They took possession of the fortress, 3 marshals of France, 66 generals, 6000 officers, and 173,000 troops. Oct. 30.—The French Government at Tours issued a proclamation to the people of France charging Marshal Bazaine with having betrayed France in the surrender of Metz, and having “made himself the agent of the man of Sedan, and an accomplice of the invader.” The proclamation appealed to Frenchmen to maintain the republic under every sacrifice, and in every danger. ——Dijon, France, capitulated to the Prussians after a bombardment of 8 hours.—Franklin Almanac for 1871.