Soyer's Culinary Campaign: Being Historical Reminiscences of the Late War.: With The Plain Art of Cookery for Military and Civil Institutions

Miss Nightingale observed that although the Kululee hospitals were so well situated, it was reported by medical men that they were very unhealthy, more especially the lower one. “So I hear, Mademoiselle; but my opinion is, that it is owing to defective drainage. They were making fresh ventilators in the wards of the lower one yesterday, which will be a very great improvement. Miss Stanley is gone?” “Yes,” said Miss Nightingale; “she has been very unwell for some time.” We then passed before the Godfrey Tower, proudly standing on its rocky shore, at the base of which myriads of tombstones stagger about in pompous disorder, under the shady wings of multitudes of dark cypress-trees, the solemn guardians of this land of repose. Then we came to the Sweet Waters of Asia, where thousands of Turks and Turkish ladies resort on their days of festival. We next passed Therapia, where all the foreign ambassadors reside in summer; and I exchanged a few words with Miss Nightingale respecting the Naval Hospital there. Buyukderé, the Brighton of Constantinople, came next; and the large marble palace on our right, built, but never finished, by Ibrahim Pacha, and that of the Sultan Valide, the Giant’s Mountain. Ten minutes after, we entered the Euxine or Black Sea, full sail, with a fair wind and fine weather. The Oriental coast had partly disappeared, and every one was anxious to inspect his fellow-passengers, and find out whether he had any friends on board. The vessel was crammed with military men and Government officials, besides about six hundred troops. Having the pleasure of knowing many of the officers, a general conversation relating to the war soon commenced. Miss Nightingale had retired, with, several of her Sisters, to their apartment, and very few persons were aware of the fact of her being on board, and they were all very anxious to see her; but evening came on, and we were not again favoured with her presence that day. The next day being Sunday, Miss Nightingale and myself, accompanied by the captain, went round the lower deck to visit the soldiers,