Steam-ship “Argo,” Constantinople, 16th July, 1856.
I hereby certify that a Russian boy, about twelve or fifteen years of ago, was found on board this ship after leaving the Crimea. He states that he came on board for the purpose of getting employment. His name, he says, is Daniel, and that he was a serf of Prince Meshersky’s. Monsieur Soyer, a passenger on board, now takes him into his service, to prevent his starving.
H. B. Benson, Commander.
N.B.—The boy’s name is Daniel Maximovitch Chimachenka. He says he is an orphan—has been very badly treated by his master’s steward—and begged of Monsieur Soyer to grant him protection, and is very willing to go with him wheresoever he pleases rather than return to his former master. As he was quite destitute on arriving at Constantinople, Monsieur Soyer is kind enough to take him under his protection.
I hereby certify that the above is quite correct, having interrogated the boy in his own language (Russian).
P. Pouteau, Kt. S. A.
I then bade a cordial farewell to all my compagnons de voyage, who were very anxious to have my company to London; but I had made up my mind to take six months’ holiday, and travel wherever my fancy might lead me, especially to my native city of Meaux, which I had not seen for twenty-six long years. I also wished to write this work in peace, having lost my notes. I informed them that I could not have the pleasure of accompanying them, as I meant to take a Continental tour, but hoped to meet them in London upon my return, which would probably be in the beginning of the then ensuing spring.
Wishing to visit at my leisure the civil and military institutions of this interesting city of Constantine, and, above all, to become well acquainted with the system of cookery, in which I had already recognised a deal of merit and originality, I determined to remain some weeks at Constantinople, as well as to offer to his Sublime Majesty the Sultan, through the kind intercession of Lord de Redcliffe, to whom I had paid my humble duty, a complete set of my various culinary works, as well as my magic and model stoves. I established myself at the hotel, and, accompanied by a friend, and my Russian boy dressed à la Cosaque, proceeded to visit on horseback all the curiosities of the Mahomedan city.
As I have already observed, though I frequently wished to inspect minutely the great metropolis of Constantine, my incessant duties never allowed me time for this: I therefore now devoted my leisure time to seeing Constantinople. I had fixed three weeks as the space requisite to visit in detail the wonders of that city. To do this, I engaged a dragoman of some intelligence, and requested him to conduct me to every place worthy of being seen, at the same time acquainting him that three weeks would be the utmost stay I should make in Constantinople.