“Then you ought to go and see it; they are building a large hospital there. Mind, they have reason to complain. I am aware they ought to have more time; but see what a fleet I have in such a small harbour, and every day there are more troops coming. Perhaps an expedition of our own troops will sail shortly, so I must be prepared for everything. That is what has kept me on this side of the harbour to-night; besides, I wished to see how they were going on with the new quay.” “You have done wonders, admiral, on this side of the harbour since my arrival.” “Remember, Monsieur Soyer, we cannot always do as we like. We are not in England.” We parted for the night. CHAPTER XIX. HAPS AND MISHAPS IN CAMP. Dinner on board the _Baraguay d’Hilliers_--Bread-biscuit--Good news of Miss Nightingale--Operations at the Sanatorium kitchen--A borrowed pony--Don’t lose the saddle--No police nor newspapers--Difficulties at Balaklava--Dry vegetables in cake--A receipt--Promise of support--A new mother--Mrs. Seacole’s enthusiasm--The lady’s sons--Advice--My pony lost--A friend in need--Mr. Russell--Mr. Angel--Crimean _Hue and Cry_--Useless inquiries--Monsieur Armand’s difficulties--A dinner at the Post-office--A jovial party--Festivity and song--Break up at last. On reaching the _London_, I found Mr. Bracebridge dressed and waiting for me to go and dine on board the _Baraguay d’Hilliers_, with Sir John Macneil and Captain Tulloch. We had that evening a most interesting conversation on all kinds of army stores and provisions. Sir John, who took a vital interest in my mission, gave me several important hints, and I submitted my opinion of the salt as well as fresh meats--fresh and dried vegetables, and especially the bread, which at that period arrived daily from Constantinople, but which, in consequence of its being sometimes put on board ship before it had got quite cool, lost a great deal of its nutritive quality during the passage. Had it been made in the Crimea of the same materials, it would have been very good. I was informed that bakeries were to be established. I told Sir John that I had made a kind of bread-biscuit, somewhat like common bread, but baked in flat cakes about twelve times the size of an ordinary biscuit; it would keep for months, and then eat well, though rather dry; it would soak well in tea, coffee, or soup, and be very palatable; it was made of three parts flour and one of peameal, and was reported upon by the medical gentlemen as being very nutritious and wholesome. A few days later I had the pleasure of showing some to those gentlemen, and they both highly approved of it. I afterwards had some made on board the _Abundance_. I submitted it to them, and they pronounced it excellent.[13]