426 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
of the Admiralty and may be disposed to hear us on the Naval and Military part of 
the question, particularly as he has an old grudge against the Canadians.“ 
Kind regards to all and 
Believe me 
Sincerely Yours, 
JOSEPH HOWE. 
London, 
43 Sackville St., 
Wm. J. Stairs, Esq. July 20, 1866. 
My dear Stairs, 
I have just had an interview with the New Under Secretary Mr. Adderley," 
and left with him my Letter of instructions. I am to see Lord Carnarvon whenever 
I wish an interview which I shall ask for next week. 
I spent two days looking for Mr. O’Brien in Ireland and when I got to his place 
found that he had gone on a visit to the Bishop of Kerry. I shall write and post him 
up if he does not come to London which I rather hope he will. 
The change of Ministry so far works in our favor. The new men, uncertain of a 
majority on any question, are naturally desirous to see the end of the Session that 
they may have a six months lease of power, with a chance to strengthen themselves 
in the chapter of accidents. 
The Whigs appear to have wrecked themselves by bad steering and by the want 
of that amalgum of which Palmerstone had so much," and by which all sorts of ele- 
ments are bound together for common objects. There is no great excitement in 
the Country, consequent upon their fall. People talk about the War, the heat and 
the Bank rate of interest but very little about the Reform Bill. 
It is not possible for any Bill of Confederation to be passed during this Session. 
If the Delegates leave on the 19th they cannot get here before the 29th!’ and as the 
4th of Aug. has been named for the close of the Session it would be quite out of the 
question to expect that Parliament would entertain a measure of such importance 
even if the Delegates and the Ministry were united in a policy and disposed to press 
it on. 
I shall wait the arrival of the Delegations and then be governed by their action 
and by the circumstances that grow out of their Mission, and in the meantime shall 
make what friends I can should help by and bye be required. 
With kind regards to all friends. 
Believe me, 
Yours truly, 
JOSEPH HOWE. 

14 Pakington as Colonial Secretary in the previous Derby Administration had strongly opposed the 
action of the Canadian Government in the matter of the secularization of the Clergy Reserves. 
16 Sir Charles B. Adderley, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. 
16 Viscount Palmerston (1784-1865). He has been described as an unrivalled political tactician. 
17 The Canadian delegates did not actually reach London until the middle of November, 1866, 
although their Maritime Province colleagues had arrived in July. The delay is partly explained in the 
following telegram from Lord Monck to Sir Fenwick Williams, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, 
July 14th, 1866: “I have seen Dr. Tupper’s telegram to Mr. Macdonald. In the present condition 
of political affairs in England, it is simply absurd to send delegates home until we have some commu- 
nication with the new Secretary of State. I have a letter from a political friend in England to-day 
to say that the general impression there is that the session will be immediately wound up whatever 
ministry is in office. Please keep your people quiet if you can and all will be right.’’ See also 
Macdonald’s letter to Tilley, October 8th, 1866, and Report of Committee of Executive Council of 
Canada, September 24th, 1866. Pope, Memoirs, 1, 305-9, 374-76. 
