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

entering, I inquired of a waiter, a stranger to me, if he could inform me where my six friends intended to sup. “Yes, sir, directly.” Speaking down the trumpet: “Below! a Welsh rabbit and fresh toast--two kidneys underdone--scalloped oyster--a chop--two taters! Look sharp below!” To the barmaid: “Two stouts, miss--one pale--four brandies hot, two without--one whisky--three gin--pint sherry--bottle of port!” “What an intelligent waiter!” thought I, “to have so good a memory.” Having waited till he had given his orders, I again said, “Pray, my fine fellow, in which room are my friends going to sup? They have a private room, no doubt?” “Yes, sir, a private room for two.” “No, not for two--for six.” “Oh! I don’t mean that, sir: I want a rump-steak for two,” said he; “stewed tripe for one--three grogs--bottle pale Bass.” And off he went to the coffee-room. “Plague upon the fellow!” said I to myself. As the barmaid could not give me any information upon the subject, and I perceived through a half-opened door on the right-hand side of the bar a table laid for six, I went in, making sure it was for my friends, and that they had not yet arrived. Indeed, I had myself returned from my appointment much sooner than I had expected. I sat down, and was reading the evening paper, when a waiter came in. “After you with the paper, sir.” “I have done; you may take it.” “There’s the _Times_, sir, if you have not seen it.” “No, I have not; let me have a look at it.” After reading one of the leaders, my attention was drawn to a long article written by the Crimean correspondent of that journal. When I had read it carefully a second time, a few minutes’ reflection on my part enabled me to collect my ideas, and established in my mind a certain assurance that I could, if allowed by Government, render service in the cooking of the food, the administration of the same, as well as the distribution of the provisions. These were matters in which I could detect, through