[82] See on this point the references given below, p. 210 _n._
Dearth of creative brain-power showed itself in our Levantine hospitals, for there industrious functionaries worked hard at their accustomed tasks, and doggedly omitted to innovate at times when not to be innovating was surrendering, as it were, at discretion to want and misery. But happily, after a while, and in gentle, almost humble, disguise, which put foes of change off their guard, there acceded to the state a new power.--KINGLAKE.
Miss Nightingale reported the arrival of her expedition at Constantinople in a short note to her parents:--
CONSTANTINOPLE, _November_ 4, on board _Vectis_.--DEAREST PEOPLE-- Anchored off the Seraglio point, waiting for our fate whether we can disembark direct into the Hospital, which, with our heterogeneous mass, we should prefer.
At six o'clock yesterday morn I staggered on deck to look at the plains of Troy, the tomb of Achilles, the mouths of the Scamander, the little harbour of Tenedos, between which and the mainshore our _Vectis_, with steward's cabins and galley torn away, blustering, creaking, shrieking, storming, rushed on her way. It was in a dense mist that the ghosts of the Trojans answered my cordial hail, through which the old Gods, nevertheless, peered down from the hill of Ida upon their old plain. My enthusiasm for the heroes though was undiminished by wind and wave.
We made the castles of Europe and Asia (Dardanelles) by eleven, but also reached Constantinople this morn in a thick and heavy rain, through which the Sophia, Sulieman, the Seven Towers, the walls, and the Golden Horn looked like a bad daguerrotype washed out.
We have not yet heard what the Embassy or Military Hospital have done for us, nor received our orders.
Bad news from Balaclava. You will hear the awful wreck of our poor cavalry, 400 wounded, arriving _at this moment_ for us to nurse. We have just built another hospital at the Dardanelles.
You will want to know about our crew. One has turned out ill, others will do.
(_Later_) Just starting for Scutari. We are to be housed in the Hospital this very afternoon. Everybody is most kind. The fresh wounded are, I believe, to be placed under our care. They are landing them now.