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

Constantinople; we therefore passed at sea.” “So I heard. The young ladies were very much pleased with their trip; but Lady Paget remained there. I suppose you saw her?” “Yes, I did. Her ladyship was staying on board the _Star of the South_. I called several times, but at last met her ladyship in the camp, driving out in a species of vehicle, and accompanied by Lord Paget on horseback, to whom I had the honour of being introduced by her ladyship. She really looked so pretty, and her equipage was so bad, that a Canova would have sculptured her as a Venus in a wheelbarrow, instead of in a shell.” “Well, I must say, that would be a new, and, no doubt, an interesting subject. By the bye, we shall shortly have a visit from the Duke of Newcastle. I hope you will be here.”--“Indeed!” “Yes, I expect him in seven or eight days.” “I hope his grace will do me the honour of visiting my sanctorum.” “Of course he will, you may depend upon that; but I will let you know all about it.” “As it is near your dinner-time, I wish you good afternoon.” “Where are you going to dine, Monsieur Soyer? I believe I have but meagre fare to offer you--a little soup and a leg of mutton. Will you dine with me?” “Many thanks--not to-day: we had a late lunch on board; and I have not been to Soyer’s Castle yet, nor seen any of my people.” “I suppose Lord Ward has a first-rate cook on board his steamer?” “A very good one, and excellent provisions and wine. The only thing we required was missing--that was appetite. Though fine at starting, we had a rather rough passage for the time of year.” The conversation terminated, and I took my departure. It was now too late to make any more calls, so I went straight to the noble mansion called Soyer’s House--a real kiosque, built of wood, very much like a cage. The proprietor was a Turkish carriage-builder, a kind of a duck of a fellow,