3-028-487 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Disturbances in Paris: barricade in the Faubourg du Temple, 1870. 'Paris during the vote on the plébiscite was literally crowded with troops, the French Government having taken every precaution to suppress any kind of disturbances that might occur during the voting...The Engraving represents one of the barricades that were formed during the rioting [in] Paris...last week; and, although it presented a somewhat formidable appearance, no attempt whatever was made to defend it. It would be difficult to imagine anything more ludicrous than the construction of a barricade by the canaille of the present generation. The horses of any vehicles that happen to pass that way are coolly unharnessed by a dozen disreputable individuals, and the coachman, seeing that it would be folly to resist, lead them into a by-street. The vehicles are then wheeled into the middle of the road and upset, paving-stones are torn up and piled in a heap between them, and building materials, and, in fact, any kind of rubbish is thrown on the top. Then, as soon as the cocked hat of a sergent-de-ville is perceived in the distance, the mob scampers off at full speed down the side streets, those who are unfamiliar with the quarter being usually the ones who are captured'. From "Illustrated London News", 1870.