§ THE DUKE OF RICHMONDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Government had received any official information respecting the state of affairs in Paris, accounts of which had appeared in some of the evening papers?
§ EARL GRANVILLEI am sorry to say that I have received information of a very sad character, entirely confirming what your Lordships have already seen in the newspapers—particularly with regard to the frightful massacre of unarmed persons. It seems to have been a most wanton outrage. I have heard that when the National Guard fired on the people, they were so close to them that they had hardly room to raise their muskets, and that it was under these circumstances they killed or wounded a large number of persons. Having fired, they threw up their muskets, and those behind them fired over their shoulders. On the other hand, I may mention that Lord Lyons informs me that M. Thiers has communicated to him his strong belief that the Government is master of the situation, and that in no very long time they will be able to deal effectually with the state of things in Paris.