The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-19 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—According to promise, I herewith forward you
a detailed report upon the economical and culinary ad-
vantages of the " Field Kitchen," instituted for the Bri-
tish army in the Crimea.—l am, &c.,

. . .
A. SOYER.
Ist Division, Guards' Camp, beforo Sebastopol, Oct. 5.

SOYER'S FIELD KITCHEN.—Each apparatus will contain
a cauldron holding 12t gallons. Two of the apparatus will
easily cook for a company of 100, and even more, if re-
quired ; and both stoves can be carried by one mule, and
loaded inside with sufficient dry wood for two days' con-
sumption for a full company, whereas an additional quan-
tity of fuel for one day's further consumption may be car-
ried outside between the apparatus on the animal's back.
The weight would then be 60 lbs. under the entire charge
of a mule. The cauldron is made of such material as not
to require tinning, and the saving of fuel is remarkable,
being above eight-ninths under the old system, the allow-
ance to each man being ,4 lbs. of wood during the spring
and summer months, which were formerly consumed for
cooking only. Therefore, taking two full companies of 100
each, a saving would be effected of 800 lbs. of fuel, wbils
t
upon an army consisting of 30,000 the saving is enormous.
The stoves will also burn any kind of fuel, and
en-
tirely free from smoke. The most important considera-
tions are
are the reduction in the shipping, the land transport,
the number of mules, and the numerous labourers usually
over the c in bad
employed for such a daily purpose, besides the removal of
the vast difficulty of distribution e
be
gained a
ismp , that the
weather. Another advantage
o raw,. will have but a few
cooks employed in each
.senpgiiinwt,iinstead of several hundreds.
pounds of fuel to saw and
il give a taste to soldiers to
Next, the facility in ctooeiki
of cooking, which they are now
hi. SoY°r's sY8!) will be much more nutrition b
follow
acquiring, and the food
quantities, as the lesser evaporation takesy
tus can cook in the •
cooking in large
open air, and
place.—N.B.. The APPar'-
ny weather or climate, resist the action of a .
will last
and from its
of construction will last for and
years,
extreme simplicity out of ,
.t.never getting . except by wilful da-
mage
insure i .vc
accident. In the winter season, two of the appa-
ratus, or accident.
will cook for a full company,
ratus,
might be placed
wooden huts occupied by 50 or'6 and the
cooking large -0 men,
cooking being conducted therein will thoroughly warm the
r 1.,„ in every part, and tkereby obviate the necessity of
other fires. When no longer required for camp cookery,
the stove can be applied to any public establishment, such
as workhouses, schools' barracks, hospitals, prisons, asy-
lums. colleges, &c. When a regiment is stationary, four
men with six assistant cooks may cook with ease for 1,000
persons. The camp stove is moderato in price, and will
be found much more economical than the present camp
kettle, which requires replacing every two or three months,
and is utterly impracticable to cook with in wet, stormy,
or snowy weather, except under shelter.
Extract from a letter addressed to head-quarters by
Colonel J. H. Daniel, in command of the Ist Battalion of
Coldstream Guards :

" Guards' Camp, before Sebastopol, Sept., 1855.
" I have this day attended M. Soyer's course of instruc-
tion to the cooks of my battalion. I have tasted the messes
cooked and served to the men, consisting of salt pork and
beef. The mode in which the salt is extracted and the
meat rendered tender by M. Soyer's field stoves and made
serviceable for other purposes is admirable, and I consider
the arrangements relative to the small consumption of fuel
and the simplicity with which the cooking is conducted
will, when fully carried out, add much to the health, corn.
fort, and well-being of the soldiers. I noticed to-day
43 lbs. of excellent lard saved out of 420 rations of salt
pork, which have been hitherto wasted by the old system
of the canteen saucepan, owing to its not containing sufi:
cient water for the quantity of meat boiled in each,
be-
sides forming a dark gelatinous stock, in which the water
and fat were mixed together and thrown
and I
the 'mcan
in
not too highly express my appreciation of
which M. Soyer conveys instruction to the men, and also
how highly 1 approve of his bivouac recipes, andtheplan
upon which he carries out his camp cookery."

BUTCUERS' CHARITABLE INSTITUTION.—Yesterday
the twenty-seventh anniversary of this valuable charity
was celebrated by an elegant and substantial dinner at
the London Tavern, at which about 200 gentlemen con-
nected with trade were assembled. The chair was taken
by J. J. Mechi, Esq., of Tiptree-hall, supported b
Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Kennedy ; C. Pearson,_Esq,.-
Alessrs. Bannister, W. Collins, R. Cooper, w-
Prentice, &c.
The specie brought by the West India steamer Yelter"
dal la 108,000/., of which 60,000/. is ell

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LA.N.E.
Lessee. Mr. E. T. Smith.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed MARRIED FOR NIONEY. Characters by
Mr. Charles Mathews, Messrs. Lobert Roxby and A. Younge ; Mrs.
F. Matthews, Miss W. Oliver, and Miss Mason will appear.
To be followed by NITOCRIS. Characters by Messrs. t.F. Ed-
gar, Stuart, B. Sullivan, G. Wild, C. Vincent, Sic.; Miss
c Glyn, Mrs.
Selby, Mies De Vere, Miss Anderton, Miss Cleveland, /s.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAY,,,,IARKET.
Under the Management of Mr. Duautone.
THIS EVENDIG, •
Will be performed THE MAN OF MANY FRIENDS.
After which, THE PRETTY GIPSEY AND THE BULL-
FIGHTER.
Followed by THE LITTLE TREASURE.
After which, THE SPANISTI DANCERS.
To conclude with A DAUGHTER TO MARRY.

THEATRE ROYAL ADELPRI,
proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste.

THIS EVENING,

WIII be performed RORY OnfORE, Characters by Messrs. 'Hud-
son, P. Redford, C. Selby, Par.elle, J. Maud, 'Garden, &c. ; Miabce
Diary Keeley, Kate Kelly, Wyndham, &c.
Followed by A MOVING TALE.
To conclude with OPEN SESAME.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Lessee, Mr. J.,H. Anderson,lB, Norfolk-street, Strand.
Increased Attractions, and success in spud ratio I
THIS, AND EVERY EVENING, at Eight o'Clock,
Will be presented. with entirely New and Magnificent Appoint-
ments, MAGIC and MYSTERY, in twelve eats, arranged In two
parts, by Professor Andersen.
After which, the startling illustrations of Spirit-Rapping. HALT-
AN-FLOUR WITH THE SPIRIT.S, being the mast surprising and
interesting series of experiments ever given within the walls of ally
theatre. •
84,721 person' have visited the Lyceum already to see the Great
Wizard of the North.
Prices of ,admission:—Private Boxes. 11. lie. 6d. and 11. Is.
,;
Orchestra Stalls, 45.: Dress Boxes, 3s. ; Upper Boxes, 2s. ; pit,
is.. Gallery, 6d. No Half-price. Box-office open from 11 to 6
daily.
Grand Morning Performance en Saturday Next at Two o'clock.
• Doors open at Half-past One.