THE CHEMISTRY OF COOKERY. 97 



The cost of this soup he estimates as follows : 



d. 



Five pounds barley-meal, at l\d. per pound, or 5j. &d. per bushel *1\ 



Five pounds Indian corn, at \^d. per pound 6|- 



Four rcd-hcrrings 3 



Vinegar, 1 



Salt 1 



Pepper and sweet-herbs 2 



1 8| 



This makes sixty-four portions, which thus cost rather less than one 

 third of a penny each. As prices were higher then than now, it comes 

 down to a little more than one farthing, or one third of a penny, as 

 stated, when cost of preparation in making on a large scale is in- 

 cluded. I have not yet tried this soup. In reference to the others 

 specified in my last, I should add that I found it advantageous to use 

 a double vessel — a water-bath constructed on the glue-pot principle. 

 Such vessels are sold under the name of " milk-scalders." 



The reason of this is, that with our ordinary fireplaces the heat is 

 so great that the liability to char the bottom of the thick porridge 

 is a source of trouble. Rumford's fireplaces were so skillfully con- 

 structed, and used with just as much wood-fuel as was required to do 

 the work demanded, and thus this difficulty scarcely existed. I have 

 little doubt that one of the reasons why the thin broth of our work- 

 houses and prisons takes the place of his thick soup is, that the liquid 

 stuff demands no skill nor attention from the ofiicials who superintend 

 and the cooks who prepare it. Their convenience is, of course, sacred. 



The feeding of the Bavarian soldiers is stated in detail in Volume I 

 of " Rumford's Essays." Space will permit me only to take one exam- 

 ple, and that I must condense. It is from an official report on experi- 

 ments made " in obedience to the orders of Lieutenant-General Count 

 Rumford, by Sergeant Wickelhof's mess, in the first company of the 

 First (or Elector's own) Regiment of Grenadiers at Munich." 



Junk 10, 1795. — Bill of Fare. 

 Boiled beef, with soup and bread dumplings, 



DETAILS OP THE EXPENSE. 



First, for the boiled beef and the soup, 

 lbs. lotbs. Kreutzera. 



2 beef 16 



1 sweet-herbs 1 



OJ pepper 0^ 



6 salt 0| 



1 \i\ ammunition bread cut fine 2^ 



9 20 water 



Total. 13 10 Cost 20| 



The Bavarian pound is a little less than \\ pound avoirdupois, and 

 is divided into 32 loths. 



VOL. XIYI — Y 



