GRAND CAIRO. 171 
with a reed the name of the Tahtar who brought 
o 
the news. Afterwards, addressing us, the Reis 
asked if we had understood what the Tahtar 
had said. We answered in the affirmative. 
*' I do not," said he, " place much faith in the 
news ; but I will send to the Vizier, and inquire 
if he has received any despatches." Having done 
this, an answer came, stating that Alexandria 
was not taken ; but that an armistice had taken 
place, and that the French were in treaty for the 
surrender of the city. With this welcome 
information we took our leave, and determined 
instantly to hasten to the British camp, and to 
make Lord Hutchinson acquainted with some 
particulars that had come to our knowledge 
respecting the antiquities collected by the 
French in Egypt, all of which we knew to be 
deposited in Alexandria. 
Previous to our departure, it was necessary 
to collect as much additional information as 
possible, and especially with regard to the 
Rosetta Tablet^; as there is no doubt but 
every artifice would be used to prevent our 
(l) See the account given of tke discovery by Bmtchard, Vol. IV. of 
these Travels, Ch. I. p. 7. Note (3). 
T 2 
