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the  seriousness  of  his  language,  when  the  subject  under  <  1  i s -
oussion  was  important.  Although  he  sometimes  exhibited
rather  more  bauteur  than  was  agreeable,  yet  bis    wit  was

usually  kind  and  playful.  On  this  occasion  lie  absolutely
entranced  his  audience.  Ho  was  not  remarkable  for  readi-
ness of  reply  in  debate;  but  when  he  had  time  to  prepare  his
ideas  and  language  he  was  almost  always  sure  to  make  an
impression  on  his  hearers."

On  this  point  Mr.  Duncan  Campbell,  in  his  "History  of
Nova  Scotia"  (p.  334),  says  :  "The  late  Mr.  Howe  spoke  of
him  to  the  writer  as  a  polished  and  effective  speaker.  On
some  passages  of  his  more  elaborate  speeches  he  bestowed
great  pains,  and  in  the  delivery  of  them,  Mr.  Howe,  who
acted  in  the  capacity  of  a  reporter,  was  so  captivated  and
entranced  that  he  had  to  lay  down  his  pen  and  listen  to  his
sparkling  oratory.  It  is  doubtless  to  one  of  these  passages
that  Mr.  Beamish  Murdoch  refers."

It  is  difficult  to  imagine  a  more  uninviting  arena  than
was  presented  at  that  time  by  Nova  Scotian  politics,  or  more
undesirable  associates  in  public  life  than  the  politicians  of
that  day.  The  Province  was  ruled  over  by  a  Council  consist-
ing of  a  few  officials  living  at  Halifax,  one  of  the  leaders  of
which  was  the  Church  of  England  Bishop.  In  vain,  there-
fore, year  after  year  Mr.  Haliburton  got  the  House  to  vote
a  grant  to  a  Presbyterian  institution,  the  Pictou  Academy.
