[BuRPEE] HOWE AND THE ANTI-CONFEDERATION LEAGUE 449 
von thinks it probable that he can receive us and permit us to submit the views of 
those we represent. 
We have no wish to press prematurely for an interview or to involve His Lord- 
ship in any irregular discussion but would be very glad to know if His Lordship is 
able to inform us at what time we ought to be in town. 
I have the honor to be Sir, 
Your very obedient servant, 
JOSEPH HOWE. 
Downing Street, 
14th December, 1866. 
Honble. Joseph Howe. 
Sir, 
With reference to your letter dated the 10th Instant I am directed by the 
Earl of Carnarvon to inform you that His Lordship will be ready to receive you to- 
gether with Mr. Annand and Mr. McDonald at his office on Tuesday next the 18th 
Instant at 12.30. 
I am to add that if that day be not convenient to you, Lord Carnarvon will be 
happy to receive you after Christmas. 
I am Sir, 
Your obedient Servant, 
FREDERICK ROGERS. 
London, 
25 Saville Row, 
Jany. 5, 1867. 
Wm. J. Stairs, Esq. 
My dear Stairs, 
I have but a short report to make. During the Christmas Holidays every body 
who has friends or a home to go to gets out of town and business is not expected to 
be resumed till Twelfth Night is over. I spent my Christmas with Lord Overstone, 
but was too ill to enjoy it much, my bronchital tubes were stuffed with cold and my 
voice completely gone. I am now all right again, but for five or six weeks have suf- 
fered a good deal with cold and inflammation of the eyes, very much aggravated by 
the dense atmosphere and darkness of London. Iam writing now (12 oclock) by gas 
light and although the frost is unusually severe, the atmosphere is dense and heavy. 
Keeping one’s eyes and throat all right under such conditions is no easy task, but by 
simple remedies to which I am accustomed, I am now quite well again without the 
necessity of calling in the Doctor. 
I wrote you that I had, after our interview, sent to Earl Carnarvon two long 
private letters which had been prepared for others but bore strongly on the question'® 
His acknowledgement of this communication, written after he had read the letters, 
was very kind and complimentary. This gave an opening for another note which I 
addressed to him on New Year’s Day. This reached him at his Country Seat where 
he was ill, but was acknowledged in very kind language. He is to communicate 
with me again, which I presume he will do either when he comes to town on the 7th 
or after the Cabinet Meeting which is announced for the 8th. 

108 This is the letter to Carnarvon referred to in his letter to Stairs of Oct. 12th, the concluding 
page of which is missing. See Note 48. 
