CHAPTER II

SOWING THE SEED (NOVEMBER 1856-AUGUST 1857)

Power of departmental passive resistance: delay in setting up the Commission. Lord Panmure's gout--"The Bison is bullyable"--Miss Nightingale's weapon in reserve: her potential command of the public ear. II. The "Chelsea Board": the McNeill-Tulloch _affaire_ --Parliamentary pressure on the Government. III. Miss Nightingale's friendship with Lord Stanley--Miss Nightingale and the China expedition--The Netley Hospital--Her negotiations with Lord Panmure --Visit to Lord Palmerston--Her "fight for the pavilion." IV. Her preparation for the Royal Commission by writing her own official Report--Lord Panmure's instructions--This Report, the most remarkable of her works--Account of it. V. The experts and Miss Nightingale--Her inspection of hospitals and barracks--Visit to Chatham--Reform at Chelsea--Miss Nightingale and Robert Lowe--The proposed Army Medical School--Her suggestions of soldiers' reading-rooms. VI. The Royal Commission set up--Interview with Lord Panmure--Her revision of the instructions--Mr. Herbert's industry as chairman--Miss Nightingale's assistance--Dr. Sutherland--Her interviews with witnesses, suggestions for their examination--Her own evidence. VII. Report of the Commission--Its salient feature, the high rate of mortality in the barracks--Mr. Herbert and Miss Nightingale resolved on securing prompt reforms 334