field
Regiment, Las Cases, and Gourgaud. The Admiral invited one or two of
the officers to dinner every day, and the band of the 53d, newly-formed,
played during dinner-time.

On the 10th of August the Northumberland cleared the Channel, and lost
sight of land. The course of the ship was shaped to cross the Bay of
Biscay and double Cape Finisterre. The wind was fair, though light, and
the heat excessive. Napoleon breakfasted in his own cabin at irregular
hours. He sent for one of his attendants every morning to know the
distance run, the state of the wind, and other particulars connected with
their progress. He read a great deal, dressed towards four o'clock, and
then came into the public saloon; here he played at chess with one of the
party; at five o'clock the Admiral announced that dinner was on the
table. It is well known that Napoleon was scarcely ever more than
fifteen minutes at dinner; here the two courses alone took up nearly an
hour and a half. This was a serious annoyance to him, though his
features and manner always evinced perfect equanimity. Neither the new
system of cookery nor the quality of the dishes ever met with his
censure. He was waited on by two valets, who stood behind his chair.
At first the Admiral was in the habit of offering several dishes to the
Emperor, but the acknowledgment of the latter was expressed so coldly
that the practice was given up. The Admiral thenceforth only pointed out
to the servants what was preferable. Napoleon was generally silent, as
if unacquainted with the language, though it was French. If he spoke, it
was to ask some technical or scientific question, or to address a few
words to those whom the Admiral occasionally asked to dinner.

The Emperor rose immediately after coffee had been handed round, and went
on deck, followed by the Grand-Marshal and Las Cases. This disconcerted
Admiral Cockburn, who expressed his surprise to his officers; but Madame
Bertrand, whose maternal language was English, replied with spirit, "Do
not forget, sir, that your guest is a man who has governed a large
portion of the world, and that kings once contended for the honour of
being admitted to his table."--"Very true," rejoined the Admiral; and
from that time he did his utmost to comply with Napoleon's habits. He
shortened the time of sitting at table, ordering coffee for Napoleon and
those who accompanied him even before the rest of the company had
finished their dinner. The Emperor remai