450 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
The Delegates, it is said, have prepared their scheme, and it was announced in 
the Canada News that Earl Carnarvon had directed a Bill to be prepared. This 
cannot be true for we know that the three Attornies General were at work at the Bill 
yesterday at the Alexandra. If done by the Imperial Government the English Crown 
Officers would prepare it. So matters rest, but it is satisfactory to know that they 
are approaching a crisis, and that we cannot be kept much longer in suspense. It is 
six months, today, since I left home, and as you may easily conceive I often weary to 
see it again. This is no time for such thoughts, however, and I put them aside. I 
cannot desert my post till the fight is over. 
Mr. Annand, and Mr. McDonald are both well and actively and usefully em- 
ployed every day at something that aids the good cause. Garvie is doing us good 
service as a volunteer, and his ready pen tells where he gets an opening. 
It is satisfactory to know that the public mind is waking up in a manner before 
unknown here, in respect to Colonial subjects generally, and the consolidation and 
defence of the Empire in particular whatever Mr. Archibald and Dr. Tupper may 
say the broad views propounded by your Delegates are meeting with very general 
favor. 
You will find that Colburn’s New Monthly!” has an article of 15 pages. The 
writer favors Confederation but admits that the Colonies should not be coerced and 
goes strongly for Organization. The new Imperial Review (the new organ of the 
Conservatives, got up in opposition to the Saturday Reviler, as Bright called it) has 
a long and excellent article on the Consolidation of the Empire. The Independent 
gives a column to British America, taking our side. Annand will send you the 
Examiner in which a good article, written by him, also appears. The Spectator 
has a spiritted article against us but it is followed by a solid one on our side. So the 
war rages, and there being only four Needle guns on our side to eighteen on the 
other, we contrive to return their fire pretty well. 
The Canadian News contains a sort of rehash of the Quebec Resolutions, which 
it was at first assumed were those adapted by the Conference. This was an error. 
The same paper announces that the Lord Mayor will entertain the Delegates. He 
could do no less without being inhospitable. Do not let these things frighten you. 
Watkin "°has been active and in communication with the Mayor about the Quebec 
Subscription and the dinner comes of his suggestions no doubt. 
Parliament meets on the 5th Feb. A series of Cabinet Councils will be held in 
the meantime and we shall soon learn something of the Ministerial programme. 
The day after New Year we had a fall of snow covering London and the country 
for miles around to the depth of eight inches. The weather has been since severely 
cold. Yesterday it was said to be 10 below zero. The Railroads every where were 
much impeded. On the evening of the 2d no omnibus or Cab could be got. There 
were not 20 Sleighs in all London and you can imagine the difficulty with which its 
immense traffic has been carried on upon wheels during the week. The weather is 
still cold, with no signs of a thaw. 
Wishing you all many happy returns of the gay season that will be past before 
this reaches you I am ever 
Sincerely Yours 
JOSEPH HOWE. 
See Letter and Article in today’s Spectator. Also article on “political positivism” 
in Imperial Review as an indication of the Colonial policy of the present Cabinet. 


109 The New Monthly Magazine was established by Henry Colburn, a London publisher, in 1814. 
10 Sir Edwin William Watkin, Bart. (1819-1901) Represented Yarmouth in the Imperial Parlia- 
ment. President of the Grand Trunk Railway, 1862-68, and financially interested in several of the 
English railways. 
