Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/521

APPKNnix. 477 Note 23. — An account of the tilings sent is given in the Report of the Committee. NoTK 24. — To the means of transport thus provided by the Committee, Tower and Egerton, having touched at Malta, added two Maltese cai'ts and sets of hai-ness, which proved to be of great service. They also most thoughtfully — as though foresee- ing scurvy — brought from Malta a large quantity of oranges. Note 25. — Were at least causing ' various difficulties.' — Rep., p. 29. Note 26. — The efforts to hire workmen had been made in various quarters ; but at a time when our people were looking out more especially for the arrival of some men from Croatia, the importation of Asiatics took place, and the labourers who thus really came received the designation intended for those who had been expected to come. Apparently that was the way in which the misnomer obtained. Note 27. — In reference to Tower's vast energies, and his invet- erate habit of taking thought for the morrow, it was said of him that if he had been a member of the Government at the time of the war, he would have destroyed all repose in Whitehall, and tormented his colleagues to death ; but that still at that cost — a cost cheerfully borne by our people — he would have saved the army from want. Note 28. — Report of the Committee with appended thereto the Report of Tower and Egerton, dated August 6, 1855. Note 29. — For, although the cost of stores, freight insurance, shipping expenses, wharfage, and packing was altogether £19,794, 18s. 7d., and although the goods distributed are believed to have been of the value of about £60,000, the expenses of the Honorary Agency, including the purchase of twenty-four transport animals, and the salaries and wages of their staff, their hired men, their ' cavash,' their interpreter, their twenty Turkish ' hamals ' or porters, and their ten muleteers, and including also all the food and forage required for the men and the beasts during a period of several months, was only £1600, 2s. 8d. ! There remained an unexpended surplus of more than £7000. From first to last (thanks to Lord EUesmere's generosity) the Honorary Agents were receiving the priceless aid afforded them by the Erminia yacht, by her crew and her stores ; but from the time of their reaching Constantinople on the 8th of Februaiy (they had sailed from England on the 3d of January), their administrative expense,