These are the last proclamations from the Hôtel de Ville. They refer
immediately to the burning of the capital.
In the evening of the thirty-first of May, when Delescluze denied with
vehemence that the regular army had made its entry, he wrote to
Dombrowski:—
“CITIZEN—I learn that the orders given for the construction of
barricades are contradictory.
“See that this be not repeated.
“Blow up or burn the houses which interfere with your plans for the
defence. The barricades ought to be unattackable from the houses.
“The defenders of the Commune must be removed above want: give to
the necessitous that which is contained in the houses about to be
destroyed.
“Moreover, make all necessary requisitions,
“DELESCLUZE, A. BILLICRAY.”
“Paris, 2nd Prairial, an 79.”