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

horseback going to his office. We mounted the tumble-down rotten wooden staircase of this late palazzo, now converted into one of the principal and most important departments in the British army in the Crimea--viz., the office of the chief engineer. The large room which was dedicated to the captain would hold, at a pinch, seven or eight people of a very moderate size standing; the second about five; and the third none, being filled with plans, models, and drawings. Such was the castle of a king in Balaklava; and I have seen from thirty to forty people waiting in the mud to have an interview with his Majesty, who, I must confess, received his loyal subjects with a most humorous and happy countenance, having always a smile for a friend and kind words for everybody. When we got in, I immediately locked the door, informing him that he, the king, was my prisoner for at least ten minutes, as that was all the time I should require. We went earnestly to business. I submitted my various plans, and requested him to have the Sanatorium kitchen finished. To this he agreed, promising to do all he could for me, at the same time observing they were short of materials and good workmen. I then set the captain and king at liberty. I next went to see Commissary Filder, being anxious to fix a time for inspecting the provisions in general use. CHAPTER XVII. RECEPTION AT ENGLISH AND FRENCH HEAD-QUARTERS. Question of fuel--Saving of hundreds per cent.--Miss Nightingale’s indisposition--Mr. Upton--Who caught the rats?--Lots of acquaintances--A short cut--Arrive at head-quarters--General Della Marmora’s visit--Interview with Lord Raglan--Inspection of field-stove--Conversation--Model admired--Omer Pacha on army cookery--Valuable suggestions--Lord Raglan’s cook--Golding’s preserved meats--Various methods--Dr. Hall--The eccentric Louis--Dr. Cumming’s letter--French head-quarters--A flying visit--Fraternization--Ride home. On my return to our ship, I left my card at Colonel Hardinge’s. He kindly invited me to breakfast; and I regretted that I could not accept the invitation, having promised Colonel Steele to be at head-quarters at eleven o’clock. After a little business conversation respecting the arrival of the fuel, he gave me an