But by degrees the superiority of numbers proved too much for him, and being shut at last within the walls--where, to increase all his difficulties, a great part of the population was violently hostile to the French cause--his sufferings from want of provisions, and the necessity of constant watchfulness and daily skirmishes, began to be severe.

In his sorties, Massena had for the most part the advantage; and never in the whole war was the heroism of the French soldiery more brilliantly displayed than during this siege.[36] The news of the expedition of Napoleon at length penetrated to the beleaguered garrison, and the expectation of relief gave them from day to day new courage to hold out.

But day passed after day without any deliverer making his appearance, and the scarcity of food rendered it almost impossible to keep the inhabitants from rising _en masse_ to throw open the gates.

The English, meanwhile, anchored closer to the city, and having cut out the vessels which guarded the entrance of the harbour, were bombarding the French quarters at their pleasure.

Everything eatable, not excepting the shoes and knapsacks of the soldiers, had been devoured, ere Massena at length listened to the proposal of a conference with General Ott and Lord Keith.