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and established machinery of its own for the remission of
money。Lord Panmure； however； remained sceptical； 'it will do no
good；' he pronounced； 'the British soldier is not a remitting
animal。' But； in fact during the next six months ￡71；000 was sent
home。
Amid all these activities； Miss Nightingale took up the further
task of inspecting the hospitals in the Crimea itself。 The labour
was extreme； and the conditions of life were almost intolerable。
She spent whole days in the saddle； or was driven over those
bleak and rocky heights in a baggage cart。 Sometimes she stood
for hours in the heavily failing snow； and would only reach her
hut at dead of night after walking for miles through perilous
ravines。 Her powers of resistance seemed incredible； but at last
they were exhausted。 She was attacked by fever； and for a moment
came very near to death。 Yet she worked on； if she could not
move； she could at least write； and write she did until her mind
had left her； and after it had left her； in what seemed the
delirious trance of death itself； she still wrote。 When； after
many weeks； she was strong enough to travel； she was implored to
return to England； but she utterly refused。 She would not go
back； she said； before the last of the soldiers had left Scutari。
This happy moment had almost arrived； when suddenly the
smouldering hostilities of the medical authorities burst out into
a flame。 Dr。 Hall's labours had been rewarded by a K。C。B
letters which； as Miss Nightingale told Sidney Herbert； she could
only suppose to mean 'Knight of the Crimean Burial…Grounds' and
the honour had turned his head。 He was Sir John； and he would be
thwarted no longer。 Disputes had lately arisen between Miss
Nightingale and some of the nurses in the Crimean hospitals。 The
situation had been embittered by rumours of religious
dissensions； while the Crimean nurses were Roman Catholics； many
of those at Scutari were suspected of a regrettable propensity
towards the tenets of Dr。 Pusey。 Miss Nightingale was by no means
disturbed by these sectarian differences； but any suggestion that
her supreme authority over all the nurses with the Army was； no
doubt； enough to rouse her to fury； and it appeared that Mrs。
Bridgeman； the Reverend Mother in the Crimea； had ventured to
call that authority in question。 Sir John Hall thought that his
opportunity had come； and strongly supported Mrs。 Bridgeman or；
as Miss Nightingale preferred to call her； the 'Reverend
Brickbat'。
There was a violent struggle； Miss Nightingale's rage was
terrible。 Dr。 Hall； she declared； was doing his best to 'root her
out of the Crimea'。 She would bear it no longer； the War Office
was playing her false； there was only one thing to be done
Sidney Herbert must move for the production of papers in the
House of Commons； so that the public might be able to judge
between her and her enemies。 Sidney Herbert； with great
difficulty； calmed her down。 Orders were immediately dispatched
putting her supremacy beyond doubt； and the Reverend Brickbat
withdrew from the scene。 Sir John； however； was more tenacious。 A
few weeks later； Miss Nightingale and her nurses visited the
Crimea for the last time； and the brilliant idea occurred to him
that he could crush her by a very simple expedient he would
starve her into submission； and he actually ordered that no
rations of any kind should be supplied to her。 He had already
tried this plan with great effect upon an unfortunate medical man
whose presence in the Crimea he had considered an intrusion； but
he was now to learn that such tricks were thrown away upon Miss
Nightingale。 With extraordinary foresight； she had brought with
her a great supply of food； she succeeded in obtaining more at
her own expense and by her own exertions； and thus for ten days；
in that inhospitable country； she was able to feed herself and
twenty…four nurses。 Eventually； the military authorities
intervened in her favour； and Sir John had to confess that he was
beaten。
It was not until July； 1856four months after the Declaration of
Peace that Miss Nightingale left Scutari for England。 Her
reputation was now enormous； and the enthusiasm of the public was
unbounded。 The royal approbation was expressed by the gift of a
brooch； accompanied by a private letter。 'You are； I know； well
aware；' wrote Her Majesty； 'of the high sense I entertain of the
Christian devotion which you have displayed during this great and
bloody war； and I need hardly repeat to you how warm my
admiration is for your services； which are fully equal to those
of my dear and brave soldiers； whose sufferings you have had the
privilege of alleviating in so merciful a manner。 I am； however；
anxious of marking my feelings in a manner which I trust will be
agreeable to you； and therefore； send you with this letter a
brooch； the form and emblems of which commemorate your great and
blessed work； and which I hope you will wear as a mark of the
high approbation of your Sovereign！
'It will be a very great satisfaction to me；' Her Majesty added；
'to make the acquaintance of one who has set so bright an example
to our sex。'
The brooch； which was designed by the Prince Consort； bore a St 。
George's cross in red enamel； and the Royal cipher surmounted by
diamonds。 The whole was encircled by the inscription 'Blessed are
the Merciful'。
III
THE name of Florence Nightingale lives in the memory of the world
by virtue of the lurid and heroic adventure of the Crimea。 Had
she diedas she nearly didupon her return to England； her
reputation would hardly have been different； her legend would
have come down to us almost as we know it todaythat gentle
vision of female virtue which first took shape before the adoring
eyes of the sick soldiers at Scutari。 Yet； as a matter of fact；
she lived for more than half a century after the Crimean War； and
during the greater part of that long period； all the energy and
all the devotion of her extraordinary nature were working at
their highest pitch。 What she accomplished in those years of
unknown labour could； indeed； hardly have been more glorious than
her Crimean triumphs； but it was certainly more important。 The
true history was far stranger even than the myth。 In Miss
Nightingale's own eyes the adventure of the Crimea was a mere
incident scarcely more than a useful stepping…stone in her
career。 It was the fulcrum with which she hoped to move the
world； but it was only the fulcrum。 For more than a generation
she was to sit in secret； working her lever： and her real 〃life〃
began at the very moment when； in the popular imagination； it had
ended。
She arrived in England in a shattered state of health。 The
hardships and the ceaseless effort of the last two years had
undermined her nervous system； her heart was pronounced to be
affected； she suffered constantly from fainting…fits and terrible
attacks of utter physical prostration。 The doctors dec