The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WIEIDINESDAY EVENING. MAY 17, 1854.

FOOD FOR THE BRITISH TROOPS TY

TURKEY.

Some short time ago, in common with our con-
temporaries, we noticed, in terms of deserved
commendation, Mr. O'Brien's interesting "Travels
in Wallachia and along the Coasts of the Black
Sea." The book has since obtained such public
repute that a second edition has been called for.
In his preface Mr. O'Brien makes the following
interesting remarks, which we copy as being highly
important at the present moment, and likely to
become still more so in future, if full reliance may
be placed on the value of the food described, of
which there seems no reasonable doubt :

"The supply of the British troops destined for the East,
with wholesome, palatable, and nutritious food, in a
condensed and portable form, at a moderate price, has
naturally occupied the attention of the authorities at
the Horse Guards.

" In the first editi n of this work I neglected to men-
tion that whilst at Bucharest I met there with a Mr.
Pouteau, an English gentleman, who had invented a
meat cake, which seems to me to be admirably adapted
for soldiers engaged in a campaign like that in which
we are about to embark in Turkey. Each cake affords
three good meals, weighs 71 ounces, divided in three
rations of 2/ ounces each, which can be eaten dry, or
when broken up and mixed with warm or cold water
affords a nutritious soup.
" These meat cakes are easily stowed away, and a
soldier might, with ease, carry a dozen in his haversack,
to be used as reserved rations whenever the supply of
other provisions failed, thereby being independent of
the Commissariat for 12 days.
"This provision must be invaluablefor long sea voyages
and explorations by sea or by land ; also to emigrants.
"I have more than once tasted the soup made from these
cakes, and found it excellent. Mr. Colquhoun approved
of them so highly that he sent some to Constantinople,
with a recommendation that they should be used in the
Turkish army,

" I understand it is the intention of Mr. Pouteau, in
conjunction with his brother, who resides in London, to
establish a manufactory of these meat cakes and other
provisions, and to supply them at a moderate price to
the British Expedition in Turkey. Mr. Pouteau told
us that from calculations which he and his brother, Mr.
J. A. Pouteau, had made, they knew it to be possible
to furnish the material for a nutritious meal for one
penny, and that it was their intention shortly to carry
their extensive plans into execution. This certainly
would be a great blessing to thousands in th►s country,
whose poverty forces them to be content with insufficient
or unwholesome food."

11,1 }-4.4

THE WAR.

populations -along the (3oft3ts of thr, Baitic follow
the movements of our squadrons with sympathetic
interest.

COPENHAGEN, May 12.—The Tyne, Master Com-
mander Tucker, left Copenhagen at three yesterday
afternoon, and at a few minutes before 7 she took
the ground, just above Provesteen in the King's
Channel. At half-past seven p.m. the Dragon left
with a pilot to go to her assistance. The Dragon
laid out an anchor and sent men on board the
Tyne. At half-past ten p.m. the Tyne got off. The
Dragon and the Tyne sailed away in company at
half-past 5 this morning. Pilots say that had the
weather been bad the Tyne would have gone to pieces
in two or three hours, but as it was exceedingly
fine it is probable that she has not received any
damage beyond the loss of a few sheets of copper.
Great excitement prevails here. Every hour is
expected to bring news from the eastward, and the
credulous anxiety of the public is continually prac-
tised on by the fabricators of rumours, to which cir-
cumstances give a semblance of truth so like reality
that no little truth is required to debit the impos-
ture ; and one has reason to dread that the truth
itself may be disbelieved, so frequently has it been
counterfeited. There is every reason to think that
some frigates have been sent up the Gulf to Both-
nia, and this belief has given rise to a report that
there has been an action with the Russian gun-
boats. But no information upon the subject has yet
arrived here; nevertheless, it is a supposition which
will probably prove true.