Sir,—One of your cooking-stoves was tried by me yesterday and to-day.
It answers to perfection; I never tasted better soup than was this day made by a soldier out of the regular rations.
The quantity of fuel saved by this stove is enormous.
I trust that your information is correct—viz., that Government have made arrangements to supply the army with these cooking-stoves.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Alexander Maxwell, Lieut.-Col.,
Commanding 46th Regiment.
Monsieur Alexis Soyer.
Camp, Sevastopol, May 21st, 1856.
My dear Monsieur Soyer,—I can have no hesitation in saying that your stove is the best I have seen, and the men of my regiment are very much pleased with it.
I think you told me that ovens could be fitted to them also; if so, they will be a boon conferred on the British soldier, which he will, I am sure, highly appreciate.
Yours very faithfully,
B. Daubeney,
Commanding 55th Regiment.