CHAP. X.
III.
The Crimean Army Fund. When even against the conclusions that chap. seemed to be enforced by our sick lists, there thus began to appear small, doubtful germs of hope, an auspicious arrival took place. On the 13th of February, the Erminia sailed into port. She was only a schooner under the flag of the Eoyal Yacht Squadron — a schooner that belonged to Lord EUesmere — but she brought nothing less than an Embassy — an Embassy of affection and gratitude from our people at home to the survivors of that valiant army which had borne the privations and hardships of November, December, and January, and was still locked in strife with its foe. administered by Tower and Egerton. The Erminia had on board her both Tower[1] and Egerton,[2] the two 'Honorary Agents' who had undertaken to administer what went by the name of 'the Crimean 'Army Fund ' — a fund contributed by the Association which, under the Presidency of Lord Ellesmere, undertook to do what it could for the comforting of our troops at the seat of war.
What manner of man Tower was we shall presently learn by seeing him busied in work. Egerton was a man much younger than his colleague, who now suddenly found himself associated with Tower in one of those difficult tasks of army administration which were understood to
