 Under the Empire he was conspicuous in the Republican opposition and opposed the war with Prussia, and after the fall of Napoleon III became a member of the Government of National Defence.Unsuccessful at the elections for the National Assembly (8 February 1871), he retired into private life.He wrote "Histoire de la revolution de 1848" (1860–1862); "Histoire de la commission executive" (1869–1872); and "L'Opposition et l'empire" (1872).