Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/174

130 TUK WINTER TROUBLES. CHAP, side of the Straits. A fine building obtained for VI . the purpose afforded space enough for the wants of nearly 900 patients ; and whilst under the eye of Lord Eaglan, with, moreover, no huge crowd of sick to strain its resources, the ' Gen- ' eral Hospital ' proved itself a good beginning and sample of the newly centralised system. The two favourable conditions were neither of them destined to last ; for Lord llaglan — approaching the enemy — moved forward to other regions, and the few men — few by comparison — invalided in June 1854 were unhappily about to be follow- ed by cargoes and cargoes of helpless sufferers brought down from the seat of war in numbers appallingly great. But the good beginning it made under the auspices of Lord Raglan must apparently have governed the destiny of this General Hospital ; for, if not indeed perfect, yet in comparison with our other establishments it seems to have been always well ordered. The establishment of this institution by Lord Eaglan in person was apparently the exact kind of aid to which our Government trusted when omitting itself to provide for the organisation of general hospitals ; but at even an early period, there were ample grounds for inferring that the cam- paigns undertaken would draw the commander of our army into countries far nortli of the Bos- phorus, and it would therefore seem clear that, to meet the want caused by his absence, men competent to organise hospitals should have been sent to the Levant in good time, with full powers and specific instructions.