nd Portland had no money wherewith to build, and
the British provinces could not borrow at less than six per cent, if at
that. Howe had not been present at Portland, but he was the leader at
an enthusiastic Halifax meeting in August, {96} which voted unanimously
in favour of government construction of a line from Halifax to the New
Brunswick boundary, to connect with whatever line that province should
build. Later in the year he was sent by his government as a delegate
to Great Britain, in the endeavour to secure an Imperial guarantee,
which would reduce the interest on the money borrowed from six to three
and a half per cent. It seemed a hopeless quest. Earl Grey, who at
the time presided over the Colonial Office, was a strong believer in
private enterprise, and was opposed to government interference. In
July he had returned a curt refusal to Nova Scotia's request. But Howe
had a strong and, as the result proved, a well-founded belief in his
own powers of persuasion.

His visit was a triumph, or rather a series of triumphs. Landing early
in November, he had several interviews with Lord Grey, and with the
under-secretary, Mr Hawes. On the 25th of November 1850 he addressed
to Grey a long and forcible open letter, in which he urged the claims
of Nova Scotia. A month later he was met with a refusal. But Howe
knew that there were ways and means of bringing a government office to
terms. He had friends in Southampton, and at once arranged with {97}
them that a spontaneous request to address the citizens of that town
should come to him from the city authorities. Then he wrote to Lord
Grey and requested an interview. The reply came that 'His Lordship
will be glad to see Mr Howe on Monday.' Howe's comment in his private
diary is as follows:

'Will he, though? He would be glad if I were with the devil, or on the
sea with Hawes's note [of refusal] sticking out of my pocket. We shall
see. Head clears, as it always does when the tug of war approaches.
To-morrow must decide my course, and we shall have peace and fair
treatment, or a jolly row. Message from Hawes: "Don't despair." Never
did: What does the under-secretary mean? If kindness and rational
expectations, it is well; if more humbug, the hardest must fend off.'

His account of the interview is given in his diary: 'Letters from home;
thank God, all well, but evidently anxious. I am glad they do not know
how this day's work may affect their fortunes. Re