With the highest consideration, I have the honour to be,
Your most obedient servant,
A. Soyer.
To the Right Hon. Lord Panmure, Secretary-at-War.
Barrack Hospital, Scutari, March 11th, 1856.
My Lord,—The ship Cape of Good Hope, with the first consignment of my stoves on board, has just passed through the Bosphorus to Balaklava, and, to my great disappointment, without stopping here; as I was in daily expectation of her arrival in order to proceed in her to the Crimea, and distribute them to the different regiments, having with that view requested from the Admiralty-office, and the wharf-master at Scutari, notice of her arrival. I have just been apprised that the ship was ordered direct for Balaklava, and I shall follow her as early as possible. I have written to head-quarters to that effect, and beg to enclose the copy of a letter to General Storks, in which your lordship will perceive how highly I approve of the introduction of the new Medical Staff Corps.
I have the honour to be,
Your most obedient servant,
A. Soyer.
CHAPTER XXXII.
CAMP OF THE FOURTH DIVISION.
Excellent quality of the stoves—Mr. Phillips—Strange way of repairing—Interview with General Codrington—installed on Cathcart’s Hill—Gourmet and gourmand—Lessons to the soldier-cooks—Receipt to cook salt meat for fifty men—Army soup for fifty men—Success of my stoves—The grand breakfast—Guests—Economy—Use of the fat—General Garrett’s testimony—Giving-parties mania—Invitations—My first dinner—Amusements—General Lüders’s invitation to the Allied Commanders—Scene on the Mackenzie Heights—Fraternization—Hospitality of the Tartar families.
I THUS had the opportunity of taking my civilian cooks away with me, as I wanted their services in the Crimea. Upon my arrival at Balaklava, I paid my respects to General Codrington. My stoves had arrived just before, and the fact of their having been adopted was mentioned in the orders of the day.
Mr. Phillips, the engineer I had requested the Government to send out to superintend or repair the stoves if required, arrived on board the Argo. I am happy to say that, as far as repairs were concerned, this gentleman’s services were not needed. Although the stoves were frequently moved from camp to camp, and from one regiment to another—were in continual use in the open air, exposed to all weathers, and some of them for above twelve months, they did not stand in need of any repairs. This fact speaks volumes for their fitness for campaigning.