198 
LETTERS FROM 
cold at length overcame our disgust, and 
compelled us to take refuge in this den, 
where, hoping to pass a few hours of the 
tedious night in sleep, we wrapped our¬ 
selves up in our cloaks, and ventured to lie 
down on some mattresses which had been 
placed for our accommodation. We soon 
repented of our rashness, for an army of 
fleas had already taken possession of our 
quarters, and then* envenomed attacks effec¬ 
tually prevented us from obtaining sleep. 
Capt. R-, however, seemed to be proof 
against the assaults of the enemy, either 
from a constitutional want of irritability or 
from a soldier’s life having accustomed him 
to the annoyance. 
After a very miserable night, by daylight 
we found ourselves becalmed, about thirty 
miles from Malta, and during the whole of 
that day, I believe, we did not advance a 
