Mr. Bailey accompanied me to the various kitchens, where I had ordered the men to proceed as usual, and the same in the extra diet kitchen. During our progress I had the pleasure of meeting and being introduced to most of the medical gentlemen as they were visiting the patients in the corridors and wards. Having been informed that Mr. Milton, the purveyor in chief, had arrived, I called at his office, but unfortunately he had just gone to some storeroom--no one could tell which. I left my compliments, and a message to say that I should call again. I went to see Dr. Cumming, and report progress, and engaged to let him taste some of my cooking the following day. My next visit was to Lord W. Paulet, whom I found surrounded by military gentlemen of all ranks. He called me in, and, in a most good-natured manner, introduced me to his visitors, saying, “Now M. Soyer is come, I fear he will feed the sick soldiers so well, that they will be sorry to recover and leave the hospital.” “Should such prove to be the case, it will be the best of all bad complaints.” Some of the company inquired whether I was going to the Crimea. “I must first make my _début_ here,” was my reply, “and then we shall see.” “Monsieur Soyer, what can I do for you?” “Your lordship can do what I require in two minutes. Will you be kind enough to send me a carpenter or two, and a bricklayer, to do some little matters I wish to have attended to?” “Certainly; I will drop a line to Captain Gordon, the chief engineer, to that effect. His office is over the way--you had better go and see him.” “Captain Gordon,” said a soldier, who brought some letters, “is gone to Pera.” “I am happy to be able to inform your lordship that I am progressing very fast, and that every one is very obliging to me.” “I am glad to hear that, Monsieur Soyer.” “I suppose you could not spare time about one o’clock, to go round and see the meals served out?” “I will try; but I fear I shall hardly have leisure. See what I have to do,” he continued, pointing to a pile of letters which the soldier had just brought in; “as Doctor Macgregor is going round with you, he will give me an account of everything.”