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

was sitting to a celebrated Sardinian artist for his portrait. It was taken in his Redan dress, which was freed from the blood and dust of that day, as I think very injudiciously, which caused me to ask if it was the same; the general replied that it was. I believe the picture was for the King of Sardinia, to be added to his Majesty’s collection of the heroes of the Crimea. Captain Ponsonby was occupied in his open-air photographic studio, taking portraits of everybody who came in his way, amongst them myself. Captain Hall was herborizing in his _petite chambre_ upon some salad cress and cheroots. Colonel Blane was very busy writing and giving orders. Major Curzon and others of the Staff were very seriously occupied lunching. In the kitchen, the stoves were cooling, and all the cooks out. At the Post-office and Telegraph all seemed still. The printing press alone was slowly going. Upon returning to the dining-room, I found only a few at lunch; several were smoking at the door-steps--in fact, compared with the day previous, the contrast was so great, that it appeared like a holiday after a week’s hard labour. The conversation turned upon the grandeur of the review, and the success of the entertainment, which seemed to have given great satisfaction to all. In the evening a most charming entertainment was prepared for us at General Barnard’s. The company included General Rose; the French general, Bombaki; Colonel de Bathe, &c. After an excellent dinner, at which a very fine turkey was the _pièce de résistance_,--(it had been reared under the farming care of Captain Barnard; this is a valuable quality in the Crimea: the turkey was accompanied by a delicious piece of boiled ration pork, and in addition two made dishes, two sweets, vegetables, &c.; the whole washed down by delicate claret cup _à la Barnaby_,)--the topic of conversation turned upon the great events of the previous day. Perfect harmony prevailed, when suddenly a warlike sound was heard round the general’s wooden dwelling. A friend entered, crying aloud, “The Russians--the Russians are coming!” and