recourse to the Russian fashion, and sleep with the feather bed over me, or between the blankets, but even then, poor nosey and its neighbours will receive no benefit, and the gentlemen, I suppose, will complain of the injustice done to them, while all the other parts are so cozy, and they are left to bounce against the icy formations produced by the moisture from the breath; but, as little Herbert would say, we must breathe, and so poor nosey and company must take their chance. I think I have not, as yet, alluded to one of the chief Canadian annoyances, the amazing prevalence of the house fly. All places swarm with them, and the most respectable persons, who feel the annoyance greatly, quite despair of getting rid of them. In a few days, however, I effected a clearance, and afterwards only a comparatively few stragglers made their appearance, which were daily removed; and this must be done, if you would have any comfort. I took up a volume in boards at a lady’s here, which had been lying on its side on the shelves, and when I touched it it was so rough with the abundance of their excrement, that I wondered what kind of excrement it was covered with, till I examined and discovered the cause of the evil. Gauze or muslin covers most of their things, but as to the mass of them, they are filthy beyond endurance; and then the creatures keep buzzing about you incessantly, and keep you in a continual fidget with their intolerable tickling. Then, again, they almost cover your plate while you are eating, and as to indulging in a siesta, that is impossible. If a loaf of bread is left uncovered a short space, its surface is so eaten as to appear quite grated; and all other articles are laid by them under similar contribution, though it may not be quite so discernible. I guess that my Mary will be equally zealous with myself in attempting this clearance.