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

course, left behind. The furnaces were also constructed of loose stones, held together by iron hoops; upon these the tin cans were placed and the rations cooked. By this plan an immense quantity of wood was inevitably wasted, and the fires were sometimes extinguished by the heavy rains. My stoves completely obviated all those previously insurmountable difficulties. Having listened to this explanation, the Commanders-in-chief admitted the beneficial results and advantages of the stoves. However, General Simpson observed, that I, of course, applied the contrast to my advantage; but also said, it was nothing but fair, and I was perfectly justified in so doing. In the first place, my stoves occupied but little room, and cooked much better than those formerly in use. The Generals were so much pleased with them, that before leaving the camp they wrote the annexed letters in my album. The same evening I received one from the War-office, relative to my success in the hospitals at Scutari, which I also append. The Allied Generals remained with me above an hour. This gave me an excellent opportunity of conversing with General Pelissier, who minutely described camp life in Algeria, after which the General and Staff retired. As it was then nearly seven o’clock, a great number of officers followed. No less than eight hundred or a thousand persons of distinction visited the kitchens during the day: many were not invited, in consequence of the unfortunate accident to Colonel Seymour. About nine all was over, and the band played “God save the Queen.” Nothing could have succeeded better than this opening, a drawing of which appeared in the _Illustrated News_ of September 22nd, 1855. _General Pelissier’s Letter._ J’ai eu le plaisir, le vingt-sept Août, 1855, de visiter l’établissement culinaire de Monsieur Soyer, et j’ai été bien satisfait de ce que j’y ai vu; j’ai été frappé surtout de l’économie de temps et de chauffage apporté dans l’alimentation des troupes. Les chaudières paraissent bien entendues; j’ai tout goûté, et à tout, je le reconnais, j’ai trouvé un goût excellent et très-appétissant. GENERAL A. PELISSIER. [Illustration: OPENING OF SOYER’S FIELD