In the camp on the right they had established barracks for the Emperor,
Admiral Bruix, Marshal Soult, and Decres, who was then minister of the
navy.

The Emperor's barrack was constructed under the direction of Sordi,
engineer, performing the functions of engineer-in-chief of military
roads; and his nephew, Lecat de Rue, attached at that time to the staff
of Marshal Soult as aide-de-camp, has been kind enough to furnish me with
information which did not come within my province.

The Emperor's barrack was built of plank, like the booths of a country
fair; with this difference, that the planks were neatly planed, and
painted a grayish white. In form it was a long square, having at each
end two pavilions of semicircular shape. A fence formed of wooden
lattice inclosed this barrack, which was lighted on the outside by lamps
placed four feet apart, and the windows were placed laterally. The
pavilion next to the sea consisted of three rooms and a hall, the
principal room, used as a council-chamber, being decorated with silver-
gray paper. On the ceiling were painted golden clouds, in the midst of
which appeared, upon the blue vault of the sky, an eagle holding the
lightning, and guided towards England by a star, the guardian star of the
Emperor. In the middle of this chamber was a large oval table with a
plain cover of green cloth; and before this table was placed only his
Majesty's armchair, which could be taken to pieces, and was made of
natural wood, unpainted, and covered with green morocco stuffed with
hair, while upon the table was a boxwood writing-desk. This was the
entire furniture of the council-chamber, in which his Majesty alone could
be seated. The generals stood before him, and had during these councils,
which sometimes lasted three or four hours, no other support than the
handles of their sabers.