Chapter XL, of Cassells Illustrated History of England, Volume 9 page 4

The preliminaries were submitted by M. Thiers to the National Assembly on the 28th February. The terms of peace were oppressive and exorbitant; they were terms which Germany, having found France ill prepared for war, had been enabled by her admirable preparation, her profound study of the art and thorough elaboration of the means of war, to impose on the vanquished; nor is it to be supposed for an instant that the Assembly assented to them except under compulsion, and from the conviction that their refusal would bring still more terrible misfortunes upon France. In the course of the discussion which ensued, the Assembly solemnly voted the deposition of Louis Napoleon and his dynasty, by a resolution which declared him responsible for the invasion, dismemberment, and ruin of France. On the 1st March the preliminaries of peace were accepted by a majority of 546 votes against 107. The Emperor of Germany (for to that dignity had the King of Prussia been raised in December, 1870, complying with the request made to him by letters and deputations sent to him at Versailles from the Princes and free towns of Germany) telegraphed his supreme satisfaction to the Empress-Queen, declaring that " the Lord of Hosts," who had visibly blessed their exertions, had " by His mercy permitted this honourable peace to be achieved."