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essays-1-第45部分

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s good since the barley and the peas have been cooked together as before。

As soon as the soup is done; and the boilers are emptied; they are immediately refilled with water; and the barley for the soup for the next day is put into it; and left to steep over night; and at six o'clock the next morning the fires are lighted under the boilers'8'。

The peas; however; are never suffered to remain in the water over…night; as we have found; by repeated trials; that they never boil soft if the water in which they are boiled is not boiling hot when they are put into it。Whether this is peculiar to the peas which grow in Bavaria; I know not。

When I began to feed the Poor of Munich; there was also a quantity of meat boiled in their soup; but as the quantity was small; and the quality of it but very indifferent; I never thought it contributed much to rendering the victuals more nourishing: but as soon as means were found for rendering the soup palatable without meat; the quantity of it used was gradually diminished; and it was at length entirely omitted。 I never heard that the Poor complained of the want of it; and much doubt whether they took notice of it。

The management of the fire in cooking is; in all cases; a matter of great importance; but in no case is it so necessary to be attended to as in preparing the cheap and nutritive soups here recommended。Not only the palatableness; but even the strength or richness of the soup; seems to depend very much upon the management of the heat employed in cooking it。

From the beginning of the process to the end of it; the boiling should be as gentle as possible;and if it were possible to keep the soup always JUST BOILING HOT; without actually boiling; it would be so much the better。

Causing any thing to boil violently in any culinary process is very ill judged; for it not only does not expedite; even in the smallest degree; the process of cooking; but it occasions a most enormous waste of fuel; and by driving away with the steam many of the more volatile and more savoury particles of the ingredients; renders the victuals less good and less palatable。 To those who are acquainted with the experimental philosophy of heat; and who know that water once brought to be BOILING HOT; however gently it may boil in fact; CANNOT BE MADE ANY HOTTER; however large and intense the fire under it may be made; and who know that it is by the HEATthat is to say; THE DEGREE or intensify of it; and the TIME of its being continued; and not by the bubbling up or BOILING; (as it is called) of the water that culinary operations are performedthis will be evident; and those who know that more than FIVE TIMES as much heat is required to SEND OFF IN STEAM any given quantity of water ALREADY BOILING HOT as would be necessary to heat the same quantity of ICE…COLD water TO THE BOILING POINT will see the enormous waste of heat; and consequently of fuel; which; in all cases must result from violent boiling in culinary processes。

To prevent the soup from burning to the boiler; the bottom of the boiler should be made DOUBLE; the false bottom; (which may be very thin) being fixed on the inside of the boiler; the two sheets of copper being every where in contact with each other; but they ought not to be attached to each other with solder; except only at the edge of the false bottom where it is joined to the sides of the boiler。The false bottom should have a rim about an inch and a half wide; projecting upwards; by which it should be riveted to the sides of the boiler; but only few rivets; or nails; should be used for fixing the two bottoms together below; and those used should be very small; otherwise where large nails are employed at the bottom of the boiler; where the fire is most intense; the soup will be apt to BURN TO; at least on the heads of those large nails。

The two sheets of metal may be made to touch each other every where; by hammering them together after the false bottom is fixed in its place; and they may be tacked together by a few small rivets placed here and there; at considerable distances from each other; and after this is done; the boiler may be tinned。

In tinning the boiler; if proper care be taken; the edge of the false bottom may be soldered by the tin to the sides of the boiler; and this will prevent the water; or other liquids put into the boiler; from getting between the two bottoms。

In this manner double bottoms may be made to sauce…pans and kettles of all kinds used in cooking; and this contrivance will; in all cases; most effectually prevent what is called by the cooks burning to'9'。

The heat is so much obstructed in its passage through the thin sheet of air; which; notwithstanding all the care that is taken to bring the two bottoms into actual contact; will still remain between them; the second has time to give its heat as fast as it receives it; to the fluid in the boiler; and consequently never acquires a degree of heat sufficient for burning any thing that may be upon it。

Perhaps it would be best to double copper sauce…pans and small kettles throughout; and as this may and ought to be done with a very thin sheet of metal; it could not cost much; even if this lining were to be made of silver。

But I must not enlarge here upon a subject I shall have occasion to treat more fully in another place。To return; therefore; to the subject more immediately under consideration; Food。


CHAPTER。 IV。

 Of the small expense at which the Bavarian soldiers are fed。  Details of their housekeeping; founded on actual experiment。  An account of the fuel expended by them in cooking。

It has often been matter of surprise to many; and even to those who are most conversant in military affairs; that soldiers can find means to live upon the very small allowances granted them for their subsistence; and I have often wondered that nobody has undertaken to investigate that matter; and to explain a mystery at the same time curious and interesting; in a high degree。

The pay of a private soldier is in all countries very small; much less than the wages of a day…labourer; and in some countries it is so mere a pittance; that it is quite astonishing how it can be made to support life。

The pay of a private foot…soldier in the service of His Most Serene Highness the Elector Palatine; (and it is the same for a private grenadier in the regiment of guards;) is FIVE CREUTZERS a…day; and no more。Formerly the pay of a private foot…soldier was only four creutzers and a half a…day; but lately; upon the introduction of the new military arrangements in the country; his pay has been raised to five creutzers;and with this he receives one pound thirteen ounces and a half; Avoirdupois weight; of rye…bread; which; at the medium price of grain in Bavaria and the Palatinate; costs something less than three creutzers; or just about ONE PENNY sterling。

The pay which the soldier receives in money; (five creutzers a…day;) equal to one penny three farthings sterling; added to his daily allowance of bread; valued at one penny; make TWO PENCE THREE FARTHINGS a…day; for the sum total of his allowance。

That it is possible; in any country; to procure Food sufficient to support life with so small a sum; will doubtless app
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