Note 53 — SECTION XVII: CHAPTER III
Reading edition
The very interesting list of the prices of commodities at the commencement and the end of the siege, drawn up by Dr. Ruiz, one of the Gerona diarists, may be found on p. 579 of Arteche’s vol. vii. Note the following—the real (20 to the dollar) = 2½d. :—
Reals.
In June. In Sept.
Wheat flour, the qr. 80 112
Barleymeal, the qr. 30 56
Oatmeal, the qr. 48 80
Coffee, the lb. 8 24
Chocolate, the lb. 16 64
Oil, the measure 2½ 24
Salt fish, the lb. 2¼ 32
Cheese, the lb. 4 40
Wood, the arroba (32 lb.) 5 48
Charcoal, ditto 3½ 40
Tobacco, the lb. 24 100
A fowl 14 320
Rice, the lb. 1½ 32
Fresh fish from the Ter, the lb. 4 36
Thus while flour and meal had not doubled in value, coffee had gone up threefold, chocolate and tobacco fourfold, cheese and fuel tenfold, and the other commodities far more.