ad letters and papers
and try to divert myself till hour for interview comes.

'It comes at last: a thousand thoughts go rushing through my brain as,
with a scowling {98} brow and infernal mental struggle to control my
passions, I ride, smoking, down to Downing Street. To be calm and
good-natured, even playful, down to the last, is my policy; to hint at
my resources without bullying and menace will be good taste. The
Ante-Room, the Abomination of Desolation. Enter Mr Howe at last, Earl
Grey and Mr Hawes looking very grim and self-complacent. Two to one is
long odds. But here goes at you: "Ye cogging Greeks, have at ye both."
The interview lasted two hours. What passed may be guessed by the
result. When I entered the room, my all trembled in the balance. When
I came out, Hawes had his letter of the 28th in his pocket, it being
suppressed and struck off the files. I had permission to go my own way
and finish my case before any decision was given. I had, besides,
general assurances of sympathy and aid, and permission to feel the
pulse of the public in any way I pleased. Viva! "Boldness in civil
business," says old Bacon, but as I go down Downing Street my heart is
too full of thankfulness to leave room for any throb of triumph.'

Thus his threat to appeal from Downing Street to parliament and people
had won; but could he win before the people? On the 14th {99} of
January he faced a crowded meeting at Southampton, which grew more and
more enthusiastic as he went on. Two days later he addressed another
open letter to Lord Grey, the result of six weeks' hard labour, during
which, he says, 'it seemed to me that I had read a cart-load and
written a horse-load.' Three times was it copied before he had it to
his satisfaction. The draft was carefully gone over by Lord Grey, who
suggested certain excisions and additions. Both of his open letters
and his Southampton speech were widely circulated, and attracted great
attention. Howe's name was on every lip. His praises were sung by
members of both parties in the House of Lords. After some delay, due
to a reorganization of the government, on the 10th of March he received
a formal letter from Mr Hawes, of which not only Lord Grey and himself
but also the Cabinet had already seen and approved the draft, pledging
the credit of the British government to the extent of seven million
pounds to an intercolonial railway uniting Canada, New Brunswick, and
Nova Scotia. Very