Within a few weeks of her
return she visited Balmoral, and had several interviews with both
the Queen and the Prince, Consort. 'She put before us,' wrote the
Prince in his diary, 'all the defects of our present military
hospital system, and the reforms that are needed.' She related
'the whole story' of her experiences in the East; and, in
addition, she managed to have some long and confidential talks
with His Royal Highness on metaphysics and religion. The
impression which she created was excellent. 'Sie gefallt uns
sehr,' noted the Prince, 'ist sehr bescheiden.' Her Majesty's
comment was different--'Such a HEAD! I wish we had her at the War
Office.'
But Miss Nightingale was not at the War Office, and for a very
simple reason: she was a woman. Lord Panmure, however, was
(though indeed the reason for that was not quite so simple); and
it was upon Lord Panmure that the issue of Miss Nightingale's
efforts for reform must primarily depend. That burly Scottish
nobleman had not, in spite of his most earnest endeavours, had a
very easy time of it as Secretary of State for War. He had come
into office in the middle of the SebastopolCampaign, and had felt
himself very well fitted for the position, since he had acquired
in former days an inside knowledge of the Army--as a Captain of
Hussars. It was this inside knowledge which had enabled him to
inform Miss Nightingale with such authority that 'the British
soldier is not a remitting animal'.
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