[BURPEE] HOWE AND THE ANTI-CONFEDERATION LEAGUE 447 
A question, not raised by us, but one which is calculated to have an important 
bearing on our affairs, has arisen out of the Lamerand Case.’ You will see in 
the Times of yesterday and in the Star of this morning, articles in which Cartier is 
accused of Conspiring with the Bank of France and the Grand Trunk Officials to 
deceive Lord Monk and violate British Law. The language used is of unusual 
severity. This is rather a hot welcome for the little Frenchman on his arrival here. 
What is to come out of all this we cannot yet tell, but it is a serious thing to be charged 
with “‘infamous’’ conduct by the leading journals of this great metropolis. 
We shall probably reopen communication with Carnarvon early next week. 
He may not wish to do this till the Delegates have formally presented their scheme, 
but we shall let him know that we are on hand. 
Annand has not been very well for a few days and will not probably write much. 
He is much better and he, McDonald & Garvie send kind regards to all our 
friends, 
Believe me, 
Yours truly, 
JOSEPH HOWE. 
London, 
William J. Stairs, Esq. Dec. 21, 1866. 
My dear Stairs, 
On the 10th instant I addressed to Lord Carnarvon’s Private Secretary the 
Letter a copy of which is enclosed. His Lordship was out of town but a few days 
after we received an answer through Sir Frederick Rogers! which is also enclosed. 
We of course kept the appointment, and His Lordship came to town to meet us. 
Nothing could be more gracious and kindly than our reception. There was no asking 
for credentials or exceptions taken to our position. We had already presented 
our credentials to the people of England and our position, fairly won, could not be 
ignored, even had the disposition existed, which I am quite sure it did not. 
We discussed the subject with His Lordship in presence of Sir Frederick Rogers, 
the Permanent Under Secretary for an hour and a half. As we had been nearly 
six months thinking of little else you may be sure that we condensed into that hour 
and a half as vividly as we could all the main points of our case. We did our best. 
McDonald’s presence, representing a large interest, and being able to speak for the 
Eastern Counties was timely and very useful.!% 
Before leaving he gave me permission to send him two long private letters which 
had been addressed to persons in high positions here, and in which a good many 
new views had been presented with the utmost freedom. These have been en- 
closed this morning with a note intimating that when the Confederates have complet- 
ed their Act of Parliament we shall be prepared to review it and perhaps to suggest 
some safe and easy solution of existing complications. 

101 Lamorand, a criminal, had fled to Canada from France. His extradition had been demanded, 
and Cartier was interested in the case as Attorney General. 
1922 Afterwards Baron Blachford (1811-1899). Permanent Under Secretary of State for the 
Colonies, 1860-71. 
103 Hugh McDonald sat for Inverness County in the N. S. Legislature, and in a general way repre- 
sented the interests of Cape Breton. 
