Letter to Dr. Taylor
1857-03-28

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Private and Confidential
30 Old Burlington St.
London W
March 28/57
My dear Sir
I have been waiting
for a moment's leisure to
write to you - I was
much struck with all
you said & showed to me
I should be very glad,
if I could, to give any
help, however humble,
if you would accept it,
in your plans.
The simplest seems
to be that of the "Hospital
Kit" for the men, & of the
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Infirmary for the women.
I dare say you know
that I am no favourite
with Dr. Andrew Smith,
which I deeply regret.
Whatever improvements
are made must be made
through you, & while you
are at Chatham.
Lord Panmure acceded
to the "Hospital Kit" plan
some months ago, and
informed me that it
should be carried out
at once.
I therefore conclude
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that I am acting in
conformity with the
War Minister's plans in
placing at your disposal
that portion of the "Free
Gifts" (for the use of the
War Hospitals) which
has returned home, &
which I informed the
War Department I should
destine to this purpose
& in filling up the
deficiencies myself.
Their sanction was
granted immediately.
As it is important that
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the thing should be done
as quietly as possible, I
will ask you to instruct
me how to proceed. Whether
I should send you an
Inventory of what I have
or whether you should
send me one of what you
want.
I will go to Lord Panmure
(I cannot, alas! to Dr. Smith)
to settle the matter if you
recommend it. It strikes
me that Fort Pitt is a
very good place to begin
because it must have
room for Pack Stores.
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2. Would you be kind
enough to place the
accompanying cheque at
the disposal of the Female
Hospital? I have thought
much on the subject of
Soldiers' Wives, since what
you told me & what I
have seen.
I have not forgotten
your kind invitation to
visit Fort Pitt again -
which I shall gladly
do under your sanction
I need not remind you
of what you probably
know already. That
I have heard enough
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of my "ostentatious &
unnecessary benevolence"
to be aware that, even
were I not a woman,
it is of the highest
importance for me that
all things should be
done quietly.
Believe me, dear Sir
with kind regards to
Mrs. Taylor
very faithfully yours
Florence Nightingale
I hope you do not
think me a "turbulent
character" as I have been
called