Soyer's Culinary Campaign

omantic illusions dispelled-Crossing the Bosphorus-The Barrack Hospital-Lord William Paulet-Warm welcome-Dr. Cumming's apartment-Plans discussed-Melancholy si

what hour his lordship would favour me with an interview. Upon my return from the Palais d'Angleterre, I found that my man Julian had arrived from Scutari, much, pleased with his lordship's reception, but terrib

as you have seen his lordship

at the H?tel des Ambassadeurs.' 'I had the pleasure of knowing M. Soyer,' said his lordship, 'when he came to Ireland in the year of the famine. Tell him I shall be happy to se

all the officers on board the Simois expressed considerable interest in my undertaking. As General Cannon was out, I had the pleasure of seeing his aide-de-camp, Captain Harbuckle, who promised to inform the General of the subject of my visit. On inquiring for Mr. Messerie, I found him busily engaged in the entrance-hall. He took me to his private room

the case, considering the immense influx o

I shall, as a confrère, be happy to give you, and will als

to imagine the immense number of persons who daily went in and out of this large hotel. The spacious hall was cro

of my fellow-travellers, all come, as they said, in expectation of finding a better dinner than at their hotel, in consequence of my being there. We certainly had a very tolerable dinner, which stamped for a time the reputation of the hotel for ha

of ladies at our board. Not one adorned our festival. This gave us a sad prestige of the deprivation of female society we should be condemned to in the Crimea. Such was to be our fate throughout the campaign. At the time, none seemed to feel the loss of those they loved or had loved so dearly. No; all were for war! war! and glory at any risk. Bloodshed, epidemics, destruction, loss of life, &c., were matters of lit

, a few minutes after, the same sentiment was expressed for the Emperor of France; and again, for the union and alliance of the three nations. This proceeding, instead of opening the heart to feelings of love, and of calling forth the last sentiment of the kind which might have lingered there, aroused a sterner inspiration. Such are what I call the calamities, if not the horrors, of war; where a

ing out their to me unknown language, and performing, at the same time, a peculiar pantomime with their fists so close to your visage, you might almost fancy they were telling you that, if you dared to take any other caique than theirs, they would punch your head for you, or t

utes after, just as we were pushing off, two English officers made their appearance, and experienced more trouble than I had done, as I had with me a man who spoke their language. We got afloat quickly enough, and the short spiteful waves constantly dashed in our faces, and rocked us about in all directions. To my astonishment, the rowers took quite a different direction to the Barrack Hospital, whi

djees respecting this wonderful story was, that they knew of no young maiden who dwelt there; but that, on the contrary, an old Armenian woman, in summer time, sold bad coffee and worse tobacco. A few weeks afte

A few minutes after, under shelter of the high Scutari banks and out of the current, we were, comparatively speaking, in smooth water. But our poor caidjees were in a violent perspiration, though the weather was rather cold, a

t, my courage failed me, and for the second time I regretted having undertaken such a difficult task. I immediately went to the grand hospital entrance, the residence of Lord W. Paulet, thanking my stars that

pleasure of meeting since 1847, when I saw you

called the sce

he Lord-Lieutenant opened it. You had nearly a thousand visitors that morning, and fed between four and five thousand poor people in the course of the day. The samples of food prepare

success at that period; and I accept the same as a good omen for my present

y support; but I tell you beforehand,

e his lordship was reading it, I was asked by several officers present, "What are you sent out for?" Lord William Paulet, overhearing them, replied, "To set us to rights

d Panmure had given instruction

ip, "how many cooks hav

, my

y more than that. However, let me know w

ming over to-morrow,

town; we are so full here

a change of air-though I shall re

t tell me, of how many d

seven o

get you a hous

d I am aware that your lordship's is highly valuable-will you kindly instruct some one to show me Dr. Cumming's apartment, as I have a letter of introduction t

ck and wounded. The apartment was full of persons waiting to see the doctor. On sending in my card I was immediately admitted, and very politely received. Dr. Cumming wa

nts, of which, he highly approved. "The next thing," I o

en used as an hospital. You will find everything more appropriate there." I expressed a gre

cting a suitable spot to commence operations." Doctor Cumming again repeated his promise of giving me every

rouble you with indispensable matters, and such with

tween seeing the thing upon the spot, in all its painful and wretched truth, and in merely reading a well-written description. This fact all who have witnessed such spectacles have felt, without being able or willing to describe. I must say that, in spite of the sang froid and energy I possess, the sight of such calamities made a most extraordinary impression upon me, and produced an effect which lasted fo

e that our visit to Kululee with her ladyship was deferred for a day or two on account of so many visitors staying at the Embassy on their way to the Crimea. This news I received with much pleasure, being anxious to commence operat

even days after from his wounds. He had received three bayonet thrusts, and two balls had passed through his body: his age was sixty-five. He lies in the Cemetery near the General Hospital at Scutari. A small piece of rotten plank marks the resting-place of this brave defender of his country's cause, from which in a short time the inscription will probably be erased.[8] Signor Marco Vido, brother of Roco Vido, who afterwards acted as Miss Nightingale's interpreter, informed me that at that time the barracks which w

ten a few words of thanks. He said, "I have told my lady you are

hip; but pray tell her that I am entirely at her ord

rrow to Hyder Pacha,-perhaps you wo

e o'clock," I replied, "as at that hour I have

at eight o'cloc