e lady
who is to release the gentleman in the same way, till all the ladies
and gentlemen have been seated in their turn.

As soon as this queer species of Mazurka was concluded, the company
broke up, seemingly well pleased with their entertainment. The
introduction of English manners and customs during the last quarter of
a century has tended greatly to improve society. It is now only amongst
the lower orders that parties of this kind would be tolerated.

On my return home, I found an official letter from the Adjutant-general
of the Upper Canada Militia, in which I was informed I was appointed by
his Excellency Sir P. Maitland to an Ensigncy in the first regiment of
Durham Militia. The effective militia of this province is, I believe,
about 150,000 men. All persons, from sixteen to sixty, must enrol their
names once a year, and all from sixteen to forty, must muster for
general training on the 28th of June in each year. The officers, in
time of war, receive the same pay and allowances as those in the line.

The winters of 1825 and 1826 were considered cold, even for Canada. The
sleighing was good from the middle of December to the middle of March,
with the exception of the January thaw, which continued for upwards of
a week, and took away nearly all the snow. This thaw, though
periodical, is not every year of the same duration, nor does it always
take away the snow. Sometimes it is attended by strong gales of wind,
from the southward, and with heavy thunder and lightning, which was
particularly the case last January. The month of February is generally
considered the coldest of the winter months. I have frequently known
the thermometer range from 16 degrees to 20 degrees below zero, for a
week together. On one day of the winter of which I am speaking, it was
as low as 35 degrees. This, however, is unusual.

The coldest day I ever remember was in the winter of 1833. It was
called the "Cold Sunday." The quicksilver in Fahrenheit's thermometer
was frozen in the ball, which marks 39 degrees below zero. It was,
however, stated in the papers, both in Canada and the State of New
York, that the real cold was 40 degrees below zero, or 72 degrees below
freezing point. I dined at a friend's that day, who resided three miles
from my farm in Douro. The day was clear, not a cloud being above the
horizon. The sun was of a dull copper-colour, and the horizon towards
the north-west tinged with the same hue. Not a breath of wind was