There, at the present moment, we lie shut up, a portion of our force only remaining outside the walls.
"The place itself is strong.

The town lies round a lofty rock, on which stands the fortress, which commands the country for some distance round.

Still, there is no question that the French could take it, if they attacked it.

Our men are utterly dispirited with defeat.
Cope and Gingen have neither enterprise nor talent.
"At present the enemy, who are now under the command of Colonel Law, who has succeeded D'Auteuil, are contenting themselves with beleaguering the place.

But as we have no troops whatever to send to its rescue, and Muhammud Ali has no friends elsewhere to whom to look for aid, it is a matter of absolute certainty that the place must fall, and then Dupleix will only have to request us to leave, and we shall have nothing else to do but to go at once.