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THE LIFE
OF
SIR ROWLAND HILL
K.C.B., D.C.L., F.R.S., F.R.A.S., ETC.
AND THE
HISTORY OF PENNY POSTAGE.
BY
SIR ROWLAND HILL
AND
HIS NEPHEW
GEORGE BIRKBECK HILL, D.C.L.
AUTHOR OF
"DR. JOHNSON: HIS FRIENDS AND HIS CRITICS," ETC.
_IN TWO VOLUMES._
VOL. II.
LONDON:
THOS. DE LA RUE & CO.
110, BUNHILL ROW.
1880
(_The right of Translation and Reproduction is reserved._)
PRINTED BY
THOMAS DE LA RUE AND CO., BUNHILL ROW,
LONDON.
CONTENTS OF SECOND VOLUME.
BOOK II. (_Continued._)
CHAPTER XII.
COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY (1843).
"State and Prospects of Penny Postage," 1--Examined before the
Committee, 2--The "Fallacious Return," 4--Charge for the Packet
Service, 5--Treaty with France, 6--Colonel Maberly's Evidence,
7--Dockwra, Allen, and Palmer, 9--Australian Letters and India,
10--Committee's Report, 12--Spain and Russia, 13--Letters from
Sydney Smith and Miss Martineau, 14.
CHAPTER XIII.
RAILWAY DIRECTION (1843-6).
Director and then Chairman of the Brighton Railway Company,
16--Examination of Railway Officers, 18--Enforcement of Penalties,
19--Three Codes of Signals. Safety of the Line, 20--Excursion and
Express Trains, 21--Postal facilities for Brighton, 22--Value
of Shares. Resignation of Chairmanship, 23--Offer from the
South-Western Company, 24--Parliament and the Railways, 25.
CHAPTER XIV.
NATIONAL TESTIMONIAL (1844-6).
United States, 27--Mazzini and Sir James Graham, 28--"A Penny
Post," by John Hill, 29--Subscriptions to the Testimonial,
29--Income Tax Commissioners, 30--Mr. Cobden and the Anti-Corn Law
League, 31--Presentation of Testimonial, 32.
CHAPTER XV.
APPOINTMENT TO POST OFFICE (1846).
The New Ministry, 37--Lord Clanricarde Postmaster-General, 38--Mr.
Warburton, 39--Appointment offered, 40--Mr. Hawes, 41--A Painful
Dilemma, 42--Letter to Mr. Hawes. Appointment accepted, 43--Promise
of Promotion, 46.
CHAPTER XVI.
JOINT SECRETARYSHIP (1846-8).
The "Edinburgh Review" and Mr. Charles Dickens, 48--Restrictive
Minute, 49--Cabals, 51--Snowed up, 52--The Post Office a vast
Machine, 53--Liverpool Town Council, 54--Lord Clanricarde's
Boldness, 55--Bristol Post Office, 57--Lieutenant Waghorn, 59--A
Bundle of old Clothes by Post, 61--Applications for Increase
of Salary, 63--Statistics, 64--Book Post. Proposed System of
Promotion, 65--Railway Legislation, 66--Money Order Department,
70--Offensive Minute. Mr. Cobden's Advice, 73--Savings in
Stationery, 76--Arrears of Money Orders, 77--Carelessness in
Remittance, 78--Attempted Robbery, 79--Frauds, 80--Esquires in Low
Life, 81--Joseph Ady, 82--Telegraph, 83--Chartists, 84.
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XVI.
General Progress. Letter to Mr. Baring, 85--Number of Letters from
1839 to 1847, 86--Book Post. Professor De Morgan, 87--Evasion of
Postage, 88--Scale of Salaries. The Interpretation of a Fortnight's
Holiday, 89--Letter-boxes, 90--Railway Notices. Sir Erskine May,
91--United States, 92--France, Revolution of 1848, 93--Belgium, 94.
CHAPTER XVII.
EFFORTS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN POSITION (1848-9).
Discordant action in the Post Office, 95--Claim for Promotion,
96--Lord John Russell on Penny Postage, 98--The Ministry in Danger,
99--Great Increase of Expenditure, 100--Formal Application for
Promotion, 101--The Chancellor of the Exchequer's unreasonable
Demand, 103--Health again fails, 105.
CHAPTER XVIII.
SUNDAY RELIEF (1849-50).
Sunday Labour in Post Office, 107--Bath Post Office, 108--Closing
of Money Order Offices, 109--Other Measures of Relief. "Forward
Letters," 110--Minute on Reduction of Sunday Labour, 111--Lord's
Day Society, 113--Treachery in the Camp, 115--Bishop of London,
116--City Meeting, 118--Publication of Minute, 121--No Compulsion.
Extracts from Private Journal, 123--Hon. and Rev. Grantham Yorke.
Insubordination, 128--Slanders of Lord's Day Society, 129--The
first Sunday on the new Plan, 131--Anonymous Letters, 134--Lord
John Russell, 135--Further Slanders of the Lord's Day Society,
136--Railway Sorting, 137--Suburban Sunday Delivery, 138--General
Thompson and Dr. Vaughan, 139--Meetings of Surveyors, 140--Further
Sunday relief, 141--Cabals, 143--Demand for total Abolition of
Sunday Labour, 144--Mr. Wallace. Visit to Greenock, 148--Mr.
Matthew Forster, 149--The _Times_, 151--Lord Ashley's Motion,
155--No Sunday Deliveries, 158--Commission on Sunday Labour, 160.
CHAPTER XIX.
PARTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN POSITION (1850-1).
The Word of a Minister, 163--Renewed Claim for Promotion, 164--Mr.
Warburton, 165--Mr. Cobden, 166--Mr. Hume, 167--Sir C. Wood,
169--Application for an Assistant-Secretary, 170--Mr. Frederic
Hill--his Services as an Inspector of Prisons, 171--Ministry in
Danger, 173--Increase of Salary, 174--Death of Mr. T. W. Hill. Mr.
Frederic Hill's Appointment, 176--Staff of Clerks, 177.
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XIX (1849-51).
Money Order Department, 178--Clerks divided into Classes,
179--Clerks in Charge. Prepayment, 180--Mail Trains _versus_ Mail
Carts, 181--Rural Distribution, 182--Postal Treaties, 183--Salaries
and Promotion, 184; Rectification of Accounts, 185--Mr. Cunard and
the West Indian Mails, 186--United States. India, 187--France.
Revenue, 188--Mail Robbery, 189--Improved Condition of Officials.
Source of Dishonesty, 190--"Household Words" and "Quarterly
Review," 191.
CHAPTER XX.
EFFORTS FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IN POSITION (1851-2).
The Railway Department, 193--Letter from Mr. Cobden. Visit to the
West Riding, 194--The two Secretaries, 195--Renewed Application
for Promotion, 196--Mr. Cobden, Mr. Hume, and Sir C. Wood, 198--A
Mysterious Allusion in Mr. Cobden's Letter, 199--Resignation of
the Liberal Ministry, 200--Lord Clanricarde's Minute. Statement of
Improvements, 201.
CHAPTER XXI.
LORD HARDWICKE (1852).
Lord Hardwicke Postmaster-General, 203--Two Kings in Brentford,
205--Mr. Warburton, 206--Court Dress. The Latch-key, 207--Chevalier
Bunsen, 208--Who is to be Subordinate? 209--Lord Hardwicke's
peculiar Spelling. An Election Job, 210--Resignation of Tory
Ministry, 211--East Indian Post Office, 212.
CHAPTER XXII.
LORD CANNING (1853-4).
Lord Canning, Postmaster-General, 213--Treaty with France,
214--Large Savings, 215--Letter to Lord Canning, 215--Promotion or
Resignation, 217--Lord Canning's Answer, 218--Dangerous State of
Health, 219--Commission for Revising Salaries, 221--Dinner at Lord
Canning's. Mr. Gladstone, 222--Mortality among Colonels, 223--Sole
Secretary, 224.
CHAPTER XXIII.
PROGRESS OF REFORM FROM THE MIDDLE OF 1851 TO THE END OF 1854.
Railway Legislation, 227--Acceleration of Northern Mails,
231--Limited Mails, 232--A Transformation Scene, 233--Silence
under Misrepresentation. Premiums for Punctuality, 235--Mail-bag
Apparatus, 236--Rectification of Accounts, 237--Packet
Service (Lord Canning's Commission), 238--Colonial Postage,
241--The _Times_, 243--Foreign Book Post. Chevalier Bunsen
and Lord Hardwicke, 244--Salaries and Promotion, 245--Report
of Commissioners for Revising Salaries, 246--Patronage,
248--Competitive Examinations, 249--Telegraphs, 251--Postal Reform
abroad, 252.
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XXIII.
Money Orders. Article in "Household Words," 253--Hong-Kong
Post Office, 257--Prepayment. Early Deliveries, 258--Pillar
Letter-boxes. Number of Letters, 259--Increased Honesty, 260--Titus
Oates. Funeral of the Duke of Wellington, 261.
CHAPTER XXIV.
SOLE SECRETARYSHIP--FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, 1854.
PROGRESS OF IMPROVEMENT (1855-9).
Lord Canning, 263--Arrangement of Secretarial Duties, 264--The
Staff of Officers, 266--Annual Reports. Monthly Report of
Improvements in hand, 267--Post Office _versus_ Board of Works,
268--Free Delivery, 270--London District Offices, 271--Scotch
and Irish Mails, 273--Need of Railway Legislation, 276--Sir
G. C. Lewis, 277--Government Loans to Railway Companies,
278--Government Purchase of Railways. Royal Commission on Railways,
283--Arbitration, 284--True Interests of the Companies, 285--Money
Orders. Contract Work, 286--Post Office _versus_ Admiralty. Mr.
Trollope, 288--Panama Route, 290--Indian Mutiny, 292--Acceleration
of News, 294--Revenue and Expenditure, 295--Predictions Fulfilled,
297--Promotion by Merit. Sir W. Hayter, 298--Civil Service
Examination, 300--Letter from Sir C. Trevelyan, 301--Health
of Officers, 302--Life Insurance, 304--Mutual Guarantees,
307--Libraries, 308.
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XXIV.
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT (1854).
Soldiers' Letters. Colonial and Foreign Posts, 310--Street
Nomenclature and House Numbering, 311--Early History of the
Post Office, 312--Improvement in Accounts. Number of Offices,
313--Number of Letters. Returned Letters, 314--Registration,
315--Soldiers' Remittances. Extension of Money Order System
to Colonies, 316--Transference of Management of Colonial Post
Offices. Foreign Posts, 317--United States, 318--Mr. Pliny Miles,
319--Treaties made easily Terminable, 320.
CHAPTER XXV.
DISCONTENTS IN THE OFFICE (1855-9).
Demands for higher Wages, 321--"Civil Service Gazette,"
322--Letter-carriers--Eligibility of their Position,
324--Christmas-boxes, 325--Mutinous Meeting, 326--Threats of
Assassination, 327--A familiar Acquaintance, 328.
CHAPTER XXVI.
MISCELLANEOUS PROCEEDINGS FROM 1855 TO 1859.
Postal Guide and Postal Official Circular, 329--Date Stamps. Mr.
Pearson Hill's Stamping Machine, 330--Mr. C. W. Sikes and the
Post Office Savings Banks, 331--Salaries, 333--Volunteer Corps,
334--Compulsory Prepayment, 335--Parcels Post. Tubular Conveyance,
336--Inventors, 339--Telegraph Tube Service, 340--Mr. R.
Stephenson, 341--Postage on Newspapers, 342--The _Times_, 344--Mr.
Gladstone, 345--Serious Illness, 346--Plan for distributing
Newspapers, 347--Wreck of the "Violet" Mail-packet, 349--The Bey of
Tunis. Number of Letters posted in Russia and Manchester. The last
Attack on Penny Postage, 350--Government Franking, 351.
CHAPTER XXVII.
POSTMASTERS-GENERAL (1855-60).
Lord Canning, 353--Indian Mutiny. "Edinburgh Review," 354--Duke of
Argyll, 355--Lord Colchester, 356--Lord Elgin, 357--Health failing,
358--Royal Society. K.C.B., 359--Vigorous and harmonious Action
in the Office, 360--Dangerous Illness. Lord Stanley of Alderley,
361--Fourth Cabal. Mr. Gladstone's Support, 362.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
PROGRESS AFTER 1859.
Post Office Savings Banks--their Costliness, 364--Registration,
367--Pattern Post, 368--Packet Service. Transference from
Admiralty. Mr. Frederic Hill's Reforms, 369--Tenders. Surveys
of Mail-packets, 370--Readjustment of Transmarine Rates,
371--Punctuality, 372--Large Expenditure prevented, 373--Reward for
faithful Services, 374--Free-trade and subsidised Mail-packets, 375.
CHAPTER XXIX.
RESIGNATION (1864).
A Blow struck at Promotion by Merit. Appeal to the Treasury,
376--Interviews with Lord Palmerston, 377--Health broken down.
Medical Certificate, 378--Mr. Gladstone's Kindness. Letter of
Resignation, 379--Results of Postal Reform, 380--Number of Letters.
Revenue, 382--Letters from Lord Stanley of Alderley, 384--Lord
Stanley's Speech in the House of Lords, 386--Statue in Birmingham,
387--Mr. Joseph Parkes. "Sir F. Baring's opinion of Rowland Hill,"
388--Pension to Lady Hill. Notice by Lord Palmerston, 390--Treasury
Minute, 391--Authorship of Penny Postage, 393--Lady Hill's Address
to the Queen, 394--Grant from Parliament. Lord Palmerston's Speech,
395--Speeches by Lords Brougham and Clanricarde, 398--Letter to Mr.
Gladstone, 399--Mr. Gladstone's Answer, 400--University of Oxford.
Testimonials. Albert Gold Medal, 400--Happy among Reformers! Postal
Reforms of the Future, 401--Packet Service. Every Department should
be Self-supporting, 402--Contract Work. Female Labour. Parcels
Post, 403--Postal Union. Office of Postmaster-General should
be Permanent, 404--Patronage. Promotion by Merit. Post Office
Monopoly, 405--The Path that lies before Reformers, 406.
BOOK III.
CONCLUSION.
Squandering of Force, 411--Rowland Hill's Character. His
Pride in his Plan, 412--A rare Combination of Enthusiasm and
Practical Power. Never Complained of the World. His perfect
Integrity, 413--His high Standard of public Duty. His Generosity
and Consideration for the feelings of others, 414--Asked too
much of men in general, 415--A Member of the Political Economy
Club, 416--His continued Interest in Postal Affairs. Garibaldi,
417--Effect of Education on the Postal Revenue. Spelling. His Grief
at the Faults committed in the Post Office, 418--Mr. Gladstone's
Description of his Lot. State of his Health, 419--Royal Society
Club, 420--An overwrought Brain. Metropolitan Asylums Board,
421--Regularity of his Household, 422--The Resources of his Old
Age, 423--His Gratitude. Thoughtfulness for others, 424--Death
in the Family Group, 425--Colonel Torrens. His Son's Marriage,
426--Not Forgotten of Men. Statue in Kidderminster. Freedom of the
City of London, 428--Death, 429,--Westminster Abbey, 430.
APPENDICES.
A.--Letter to Postmaster-General Lord Clanricarde (January 3rd,
1849), p. 437.
B.--Letter to Postmaster-General Lord Clanricarde (August 13th,
1849), p. 443.
C.--Lord Clanricarde's Reply (August 23rd, 1849), p. 445.
D.--Minute on the Sunday Duties of the Post Office (February 3rd,
1849), p. 446.
E.--Letter to Postmaster-General deprecating Compulsory Employment
on the Sunday (October 18th, 1849), p. 453.
F.--Anonymous Letter from a Sub-Sorter (October 11th, 1849), p. 455.
G.--Letter to Mr. Warburton (November 16th, 1850), p. 457.
H.--Letter to Postmaster-General Lord Canning (June 18th, 1853), p.
460.
I.--Memorandum by Sir R. Hill on the Net Revenue of the Post Office
(December 18th, 1862), p. 466.
J.--Conveyance of Mails by Railway--Memorandum thereon (January
6th, 1857), p. 474.
K.--Minute relative to Panama Route to Australia (September 27th,
1858), p. 478.
L.--Letter to Lord Canning Governor-General of India (October 24th,
1857), p. 482.
M.--Proposed Reduction in the Postage on Newspapers and other
Printed Matter (June 12th, 1869), p. 484.
N.--Letter to the Lords of the Treasury--Superannuation Grant
(March 17th, 1864), p. 492.
BOOK II.
HISTORY
OF
PENNY POSTAGE.
(_Continued._)