Miss Nightingale had also the satisfaction of knowing that the reforms at which she had laboured with him were already bearing fruit. This was being demonstrated in China at this time (1860–64) where General Gordon was waging war against the Taiping Rebellion. While, during the first seven months of the Crimean War, the mortality amongst the soldiers had been at the alarming rate of sixty-one in every hundred per annum, exclusive of those killed in action, in the Chinese campaign, when the army had been sent half across the globe to an unhealthy country, the death-rate, including the wounded, was little more than three men in every hundred per annum, while the loss of those killed in action amounted to less than six men in every hundred per annum. But now her chief was gone, cut off in the prime of his manhood, and at the pinnacle of public estimation and usefulness, and Miss Nightingale’s usually hopeful spirit grew despondent. The following letter, written fourteen months after Lord Herbert’s death, reveals how sorely she was suffering in body and in spirit. She writes:-- “_October 22nd, 1861._ “DEAR SIR,-- “... In answer to your kind inquiry, I have passed the last four years between four walls, only varied to other four walls once a year; and I believe there is no prospect but of my health becoming ever worse and worse till the hour of my release. But I have never ceased, during one waking hour since my return to England five years ago, labouring for the welfare of the army at home, as I did abroad, and no hour have I given to friendship or amusement during that time but all to work. To that work the death of my dear chief, Sidney Herbert, has been a fatal blow. I assure you it is always a support-giving strength to me to find a national sympathy with the army and our efforts for it--such a sympathy as you express. “Believe me, dear sir, “Sincerely yours, “FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.” Happily the succeeding years brought some improvement in health, and the gloomy forebodings of this letter were not realised. After her recovery from the shock occasioned by Lord Herbert’s death, Miss Nightingale continued to give her experience and advice in matters of army and hospital reform both at home and abroad. She had correspondents in all parts of the globe, and the builders of hospitals and pioneers in nursing and sanitary reforms all drew from the fount of her practical knowledge. She took a deep and sympathetic interest in the Italian War for Liberty, for she had herself been born on Italian soil, and felt something of the patriot’s spirit as she followed the progress of the Italian arms both in the struggle for independence and in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866.