ALEXANDRIA. 331 
eagerly when the English were to enter the 
city : and being told that some days would 
elapse before this could take place, they burst 
into tears. Every individual beneath the Consul's 
roof exhibited proof of the privation which 
his family had sustained : fallen cheeks ; clothes 
hanging loose, as if too large for their bodies ; 
and a general appearance of wretchedness and 
dejection. The Consul said, that his family had 
tasted neither bread nor meat for many months : 
that their principal food had been bad rice and 
onions. Upon the landing of our army, most of 
the inhabitants were under the necessity of 
making biscuit for the support of their families; 
but as soon as this was known to Menou, he 
ordered the whole of it to be seized for the use 
of the garrison. When we inquired what other 
measures the French had adopted to maintain 
themselves, we were informed, that they had 
seized all the specie, plate, and merchandize in 
the city ; and given, in lieu thereof, bills upon 
their one and indivisible Republic ; thus having 
the means of buying up, at enormous prices, 
whatever article of food might be brought in by 
the Araks, or appear in the markets of the place*. 
(2) The following prices were given, upen the day of our arrival, 
for provisions; which, of course, the merchants were precliKlecl from 
' hiiyinj. 
