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