Soyer's Culinary Campaign

Home again-Another summons-The War Office-An appointment made-Second interview with

oor library by the Duke's piper, young Mackenzie. "Her Grace will be with you presently," said he. "

e, and requested all to be seated, which request was at once complied with; and her Grace addressed me in these terms:-"Monsieur Soyer, we have read with deep interest your letter which has appeared in the Times, and I cannot but express my admiration of your noble devotion when any good can be effected, or the position of the suffering be relieved or ameliorated by your assistance. The results of your interference would be very important-and especially at the present time-in our hospit

to observe that, were there no great difficulties to surmount, I should not have offered my services. But will you pe

e continued, "Pray, Mr. Soyer, give me a slight conception of your project, as I have only a few minutes to stay. The Council of the Ministry, of which

department, without the slightest delay, as the want of such power would tend to certain failure-which I wish to avoid; while the possession of their confidence will ensure success. I will then pledge my word to do everything in my power, and with the greatest economy, and, if possible, with the same quantity of provisions as at present allowed by Government, or even less, which would be a source of high gratific

"that what you request will be gr

ying my difficult undertaking in such a manner as to ensure success. I should also claim the power of being able to condemn inferior provisions, and to substitute better, always without deviating from any army contract which has been, or may be, made by the Government, as I do not mean to hold myself responsible for the purchase of any provisions or stores, but merely to give my approval or

rrying out your plan s

g now, as I have but a short time to get to Downing-street. Mr. Soyer, I shall have muc

and the Duchess of Sutherland, who kindly promised to acquaint me with the result, I withdrew, and left Stafford House. No sooner home, hav

out ten o'clock, I received the fol

Panmure upon the subject of Mr. Soyer's offer. I think Lord Panmure is willing to forward the

leasure of seeing Monsieur Soyer

t gentleman was a most favourable augur, and encouraged me to persist in the very precarious undertaking in which I was about to engage, although many friends and near relations strongly tried to prevent me from pursuing it, pla

diets and aliments I had prepared from the soldiers' rations; placing the whole of them in small vases, well packed, I sent them to Stafford House, there to remain till my arrival. In about an

ouble his lordship to remit another letter from me on the subject to Lord Panmure, who has, at the

's time, in a few minutes I shall be able to unfold my plan, and he will no doubt at once perceive whether it is practicable or not, and will give me a decided answer; therefore, to lose time, on either side, would be impolitic. But, before

some here,

e of the footmen has taken c

were tasted by the select and noble party, who at once pronounced them very palatable, and to which

will vouch that a diet properly seasoned is far more generous and invigorating to the patient than the unpalatable food prepared without anything of the sort; at the same time many maladies will require various degrees of seasoning, as too much in some cases would prove equally if not more injurious than the want of it in others. This point must be left to the doctor's discretion. I am also aware that in some hospitals sal

"for, even when in the enjoyment of good health,

at the cook must season for guests or

hip opine that salt and pepper should be almost excluded from the ward, and that the cook should be as re

can you persuade

up in the kitchen, so that any person, even a soldier (provided he can read), will

most valuable, and readily

ent and thick purée of peas quite hot. I one day, as a trial, ate nothing but that and a biscuit, and did not feel the least inclined for anything else. I do not mean to imply that such fare would do for a continuance, but when nothing else could be obtained, it certainly would be a great comfort for the troops to get a hot meal, made in a few minutes, and without tro