29th.—­The subject now circulated and believed is, that Lafayette and his followers have placed themselves at the head of the people.  This rumour has quieted the fears of many, for his name exercises a great influence.  The fighting is still going on, and the report of the guns comes booming on the ear continually.

Hearing a noise in the street, ten minutes ago, I looked forth, and beheld some four or five men covered with stains of blood, their faces blackened by gunpowder, and streaming with perspiration, endeavouring to draw away a piece of cannon, of which they had taken possession in the Champs-Elysees.  Hearing the opening of my window, they entreated me, if there were any men in the house, to send them to their assistance, in order to draw away the gun from the reach of the enemy.  “And if there are no men,” continued the speaker, “let the women come out and help us in the good cause.”  While they yet spoke, a party of soldiers were seen rushing to the rescue of the gun, and its temporary conquerors were compelled to make a rapid retreat towards the Rue St.-Honore.

The name of M. Laffitte is now mixed with that of Lafayette among the crowds in the streets, and has a great effect on them.  His vast wealth, and the frequent and extensive aid it has afforded to the working classes, have rendered him one of, if not the most popular man in Paris:  so that those most conversant with the actual state of affairs, pronounce that with Lafayette and Laffitte now rest the destiny of France.  How strange is the alteration which has occurred within so short a space of time!  Five days ago, Charles the Tenth reigned in the Tuileries; at present, on Lafayette and Laffitte it depends whether he ever enters his palace again!  The tocsin is now sounding!  How strangely, how awfully it strikes on the ear!  All this appears like a dream.

The formation of a provisional government is to-day spoken of.  The cry of “Vive Napoleon!” has been heard repeatedly shouted from one mass of people, while “Vive la republique!” has been as loudly vociferated by another.  Various persons connected with both the royalist and popular party, have been here to-day, so that I hear the opinions entertained by the adherents of both sides of the question.  Which to credit I know not:  there is but one point on which both agree, and that is in praising the bravery and forbearance of the people.

When I look around on the precious objects that cover the tables, consoles, and cabinets in the salon where I am now writing, and reflect that these same people are not only in arms, but I may say masters of the town, I cannot help wondering at their total avoidance of pillage when such rich booties might be so easily acquired.  Perhaps there is no European city in which so many and such splendid collections of rare and precious articles are to be found, as at Paris.  In England, our nobility possess equal treasures, but they are contained in their country seats; whereas it is in the Parisian dwellings of the French noblesse, that their valuable possessions of rare objects are to be found, and at the present crisis, how soon could an armed mass seize them!