Hill, Sir Rowland; birth, vol. i. 1, 34;_The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the History of Penny Postage, Vol. 2 (of 2)

ancestors, 1-7;

parents, 8-33;

combines the strong qualities of each parent, 31;

early life at Horsehills, 35-46;

intimacy with the Pearson family, 42;

feeble health, 44;

makes a water-wheel, 44;

a model forge, 45;

removes to Birmingham, 47;

attends his father's school, 48;

a young trader, 49;

buys Miss Edgeworth's "Parent's Assistant," 50;

ambition, 50, 67, 87, 203;

builds a boat, 51;

helps in household work, 51;

feeling of responsibility, 51, 52, 76, 129;

shares in his mother's troubles, 52;

works a ruling-machine, 53;

turns bookbinder, 54;

assists in teaching, 54;

works at the assay office, 55;

makes an electrical machine, 55;

love of astronomy, 57-59;

habit of criticism, 58, 499;

studies mathematics, 60;

--navigation--architecture--would have puzzled an examiner, 61;

learns his deficiencies, 62, 65;

teaches at a neighbouring school, 65;

forms literary and scientific societies, 68-72;

studies French, 73, 74;

wins a prize for drawing, 74;

becomes a theatrical manager, 77;

begins a school atlas, 79;

makes a planisphere, 82;

a water-alarum, 83;

learns surveying, 85;

makes a map of the scene of a murder, 86;

scheme of a large college, 87, 104, 179, 180;

reforms his father's school, 88;

establishes punctuality, 89;

enforces penalties incurred, 90;

keeps the accounts and pays off his father's debts, 90;

corrects Shakespeare, 91;

rivals Zerah Colbourn, 92;

makes a trigonometrical survey, 94;

his audacity as a school-reformer, 102;

his plans always worked, 103;

helps in writing "Public Education," 103;

his faith in his system shaken in old age, 104;

over-worked, 105;

describes his system, 107-122;

a stern schoolmaster, 124;

plan for controlling his temper; his courage, 125;

becomes his father's partner, 128, 186;

plans Hazelwood School;

is his own architect, 128;

and clerk of the works, 129;

love of long walks, 131;

sees a criminal trial, 132; love of feats, 133;

sketches Dover Castle, 133;

lectures on electricity, 134;

sees a steamboat, 135;

becomes sub-secretary to Deaf and Dumb Institution, 136;

visits Derbyshire, 137;

describes a Hampden club, 139;

visits Liverpool, 140;

his need of trips, 141;

describes his parents, 142;

early rising;

sees John Kemble, 143;

hears a debate, 144;

sketches Netley Abbey, 145;

sees Stonehenge, 146;

experiments on diet, 147;

attends the New Hall Hill meeting, 149;

describes the fire at Hazelwood, 151;

saves a woman from burning, 152;

discusses the question of fire insurance, 158;

visits Edgeworth-town, 160;

climbs down to the Hermit's Cave, 168;

publishes "Public Education," 170;

thinks the celebrity of Hazelwood excessive, 174;

over-worked, 175-177;

trip to Scotland, 175;

Paris, 176;

his fortitude, 177;

intends to open a school near London, 180;

Bruce Castle, 181;

his marriage, 182;

helps his brothers, and is helped by them, 184, 191;

holds property in common, 186;

articles of partnership, 187;

family fund, 188;

family council, 191;

trained to reason, 194;

his early friends, 198;

his youthful judgments, 199;

gets rid of prejudices, 200;

one of the founders of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful

Knowledge, 201;

the "Vernier pendulum," 201;

health again breaks down, 202;

writes "Home Colonies," 202;

gives up school-keeping;

confidence in himself, 203;

forms various schemes, 205;

visits Robert Owen, 206;

scheme for a social community, 207-214;

Sir J. Shaw-Lefevre and he form a small society, 209;

his friendship with Mr. Roebuck, 214;

few careers open to him, 215;

tour in France;

describes his own character, 216;

joins the South Australian Association, 217;

works at abolishing the stamp duty on newspapers, 217;

his "Letter on Pauper Education," 218;

becomes secretary to the South Australian Commission, 220;

turns his mind towards postal reform, 223, 229;

invents a printing-machine, 224;

offered a partnership by Mr. Clowes, 230;

corrects error of Miss Martineau's, 239;

devises a travelling post office, 241;

examines the effects of reduction of taxation, 243;

analyses postal accounts, 246; ascertains

cost of conveying a letter, 248;

the conclusions at which he arrives, 256;

writes "Post Office Reform," 262;

lays it before Government, 263, 266;

publishes it, 267, 276;

examined before "Commission of Post Office Enquiry," 268;

proposes use of stamps, 270;

appeals to the public, 275;

present at a meeting of the Common Council, 280;

his caution in statement, 286;

parliamentary

committee granted, 287;

writes "Letters to Lord Lichfield;" mode of composition, 292;

examined before parliamentary committee, 295, 316, 325;

regards low postage as no tax, 311;

assists in preparing committee's report, 331;

examines rival claims to the authorship of Penny Postage, 332;

learns that Penny Postage is to be granted, 343;

writes "On the Collection of Postage by Means of Stamps," 345;

"Facts and Estimates," 347;

present at the division, 352;

letter to the Duke of Wellington, 354;

in the "kitchen" of the House of Commons, 356;

interview with Lord Melbourne, 357;

present in House of Lords, 360;

described by Miss Martineau, 361;

testimonials, 363, 442;

offered appointment in Treasury, 365;

consults Mr. M. D. Hill thereon, 366;

accepts appointment, 369;

first visit to the Post Office, 371;

hours of work, 374;

inspects the French Post Office, 376;

prepares for introduction of penny postage, 380;

visits Mr. Baring, 385;

learns who "My Lords" are, 386;

first day of penny postage, 390;

difficulties with the Stamp Office, 397;

obliteration of stamps, 399;

resists needless expenditure, 411;

proposes to set up pillar-boxes, 417;

wins Mr. Baring's confidence, 422;

detects errors in accounts, 429;

meets with constant opposition at the Post Office; over-worked, 431;

plan of rural distribution, 433, 451;

sets a high value on statistics, 434;

consulted about a twopenny rate, 435;

applies for office of secretary to the Post Office, 437;

alarmed by the change of ministry, 439;

under Mr. Goulburn, 443;

thwarted in his work, 444-447;

investigates railway charges, 452;

Lord Lowther's hostility, 459;

dismissal impending, 462;

his mother's death, 465;

notice of dismissal, 466;

correspondence with Sir Robert Peel, 469;

question of publishing correspondence with Treasury, 473;

offer of help from "the men of the League," 477;

cuts down personal expenditure, 480;

interview with Mr. Stephen, 481;

official publication of garbled correspondence, 482;

petitions Parliament, 483;

publishes all the correspondence, 484;

select committee moved for, 487;

committee granted, 492;

letter to Sir G. Clerk, 493;

publishes "State and Prospects of Penny Postage," vol. ii. 1, 14;

examined before the committee, 1-10;

director and then chairman of the Brighton Railway Company, 16;

resigns, 23;

offered appointment on the South-Western Railway, 24;

receives the national testimonial, 29;

takes the longest holiday he had ever known, 38;

offered appointment as secretary to the Postmaster-General, 39;

letter to Mr. Hawes, 43;

accepts the appointment, 45;

enters upon office, 47;

encounters obstructions, 49;

snowed-up, 52;

speech at Liverpool, 53;

undertakes Money Order Department, 56;

visits Bristol, 57;

assists at the Treasury, 59;

vexations tell upon his health, 60;

encounters unpopularity in the office, 63;

proposes a book post;

also a system of promotion, 65;

proposes railway legislation, 66;

reforms Money Order Office, 70, 178;

resists an offensive minute, 73;

a special constable, 84;

establishes book post, 87;

claims promotion, 95-106;

reduces Sunday labour, 108;

his measure for transmission of "forward letters," 110;

receives deputation from Lord's Day Society, 113;

attacked by Sabbatarians; treachery in the Post Office, 115;

objects to the use of compulsion, 120;

slandered by Lord's Day Society, 129;

complete success of his measure, 135;

device for railway sorting, 137;

establishes meeting of surveyors, 140;

reports on demand for total abolition of Sunday labour, 145;

visits Glasgow and Greenock, 148;

defended by the _Times_, 151;

Lord Ashley's motion, 155;

health again failing, 163;

claims promotion, 164;

consults Mr. Cobden and Mr. Hume, 166;

interview with Sir C. Wood, 169;

asks for appointment of Mr. F. Hill as assistant-secretary, 170;

his father's death, 176;

his limited staff of clerks, 177;

proposes a commission for revising salaries, 184;

manages the Railway Department, 193;

seeks Mr. Cobden's aid; visits towns in West Riding, 194;

claims promotion, 196;

consults his friends in Parliament, 198;

"a mysterious allusion in Mr. Cobden's letter," 199;

Lord Hardwicke Postmaster-General, 203;

Court-dress, 207;

discussion with Lord Hardwicke, 209;

does not expose his lordship's spelling, 210;

Tory ministry thrown out, 211;

Lord Canning Postmaster-General, 213;

letter to Lord Canning, 215;

promotion or resignation, 217;

dangerous state of health, 219;

meets Mr. Gladstone, 222;

sole secretary, 224;

proposes railway legislation, 227;

accelerates northern mails, 231;

replies to attacks, 235;

his minute on the true revenue of the Post Office, 238;

reduces Colonial postage, 241;

his evidence before the Commission for Revising Salaries, 246;

upholds promotion by merit;

dislikes competitive examinations, 249;

purchase of telegraphs, 251;

accelerates deliveries in London district, 258, 272;

arranges secretarial duties, 264;

establishes conference of secretary and assistant-secretaries, 265;

gives more power to the heads of departments, 266;

opposes the Board of Works, 269;

divides London into districts, 270;

accelerates mails, 273;

need of railway legislation, 276;

proposes Government loans to railway companies, 278;

a member of the Royal Commission on Railways, 283;

in favour of contract work, 286;

opposed to Panama route, 290;

doubles the mail to India, 292;

arranges scale of salaries, 296;

upholds promotion by merit, 298;

supports a system of life insurance in the office, 304;

lectures on the eclipse of 1858, 308;

encounters discontent in the office, 321;

threatened with assassination, 327;

approves of Mr. Sikes's scheme of savings banks, 332;

and of the volunteer corps, 334;

attempts compulsory prepayment, 335;

has for the first time to retrace a step, 336;

his plan of tubular conveyance, 336;

describes the lost labour of inventors, 339;

controversy with Mr. R. Stephenson, 341;

opposes the newspaper proprietors, 342;

attacked by the _Times_, 344;

his plan for the delivery of newspapers, 347;

condemns official franking, 351;

his account of the Postmasters-General from 1853-60, 353;

his difficulty of composition, 355;

his work limited to four days a week, 358;

F.R.S., K.C.B., 359;

peace in the office; dangerous illness, 360;

has not the confidence of Lord Stanley of Alderley, 361;

receives Mr. Gladstone's support, 362;

censures the management of the Post Office Savings Banks, 365;

wishes to establish parcels post, 368;

reforms the packet service, 369;

upholds promotion by merit;

appeals to the Treasury, 376;

interviews with Lord Palmerston, 377;

resigns, 379;

his character described by Sir F. Baring, 388;

receives copy of Treasury Minute, 390;

asserts his claim to the sole authorship of Penny Postage, 393;

receives a grant from Parliament, 399;

made D.C.L., receives presents from Liverpool and Longton, and the

Albert Gold Medal, 400;

looks upon himself as happy among reformers;

considers future postal reforms, 401;

his character, 411-415;

attends the Political Economy Club, 416;

meets Garibaldi, 417;

grieved by the state of the Post Office, 418;

describes the state of his health, 419;

suffers from the Metropolitan Asylums Board, 421;

regularity of his household, 422;

resources of his old age, 423;

thoughtfulness for others, 424;

death thins his family, 425;

his son's marriage, 426;

not forgotten of men, 427;

receives the freedom of the City, 428;

death, 429;

Westminster Abbey, 430

Hill, Sir Rowland: letters to Sir G. B. Airy, vol. i. 506;

Duke of Argyll, vol. ii. 280, 330;

Mr. E. Baines, vol. ii. 332;

Sir F. Baring, vol. i. 440, 542, vol. ii. 85;

a brother, vol. i. 206, 211;

Lord Canning, vol. ii. 225, 460, 478;

Mrs. F. Clark, vol. ii. 335;

Lord Clanricarde, vol. ii. 437, 443, 453;

Sir G. Clerk (a draft letter) vol. i. 493;

Council of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. i. 515;

Mr. Gladstone, vol. ii. 384, 393, 399;

Mr. Goulburn, vol. i. 464;

Sir B. Hawes, vol. ii. 43;

Sir W. Hayter, vol. ii. 299;

Lady Hill, vol. i, 201, 230;

Mr. M. D. Hill, vol. i. 175, 179, 185, 191, 220, vol. ii. 417;

"Journal of the Society of Arts," vol. i. 525;

Lords of the Treasury, vol. ii. 379, 492;

Colonel Maberly, vol. i. 445;

Sir R. Peel, vol. i. 471;

Mr. Schuster, vol. ii. 285;

Lord Stanley of Alderley, vol. ii. 385;

Admiral Smyth, vol. i. 500;

Mr. Warburton, vol. ii. 457;

Duke of Wellington, vol. i. 354;

Sir C. Wood, vol. ii. 168

Letters to him from Sir G. B. Airy, vol. i. 507, 509;

Duke of Argyll, vol. ii. 356;

Lord Ashburton, vol. i. 362;

Sir F. Baring, vol. i. 369, 439, 475, vol. ii. 86;

a brother, vol. i. 184;

Lord Canning, vol. ii. 218;

Lord Clanricarde, vol. ii. 40, 102, 445;

Mr. Cobden, vol. i. 382, 477, 478, vol. ii. 31, 194, 198;

Miss Edgeworth, vol. i. 421;

Lord Elgin, vol. ii. 359;

Mr. Gladstone, vol. ii. 362, 400;

Mr. Goulburn, vol. i. 466;

Captain Basil Hall, vol. i. 418;

Lord Hardwicke, vol. ii. 207;

Mr. T. W. Hill, vol. i. 173, 185, 213;

Mr. M. D. Hill, vol. i. 176, 366, vol. ii. 417;

Thomas Hood, vol. i. 479;

Mr. Hume, vol. ii. 170;

Miss Martineau, vol ii. 14;

Mr. Moffatt, vol. i. 467;

Sir R. Peel, vol. i. 469;

Sir A. G. Spearman, vol. i. 228;

Rev. Sydney Smith, vol. ii. 14;

Lord Stanley of Alderley, vol. ii. 384;

a sub-sorter, vol. ii. 455;

Colonel Torrens, vol. i. 223;

Sir C. E. Trevelyan, vol. ii. 301;

Mr. Warburton, vol. i. 343, 344, vol. ii. 38

Hill, Lady, childhood, vol. i. 43;

marriage, 182;

devotion to her husband, 183;

hears from her husband about his Vernier pendulum, 201, and his

printing press, 230;

congratulated by Mr. Wallace, 360;

conversation with Sir F. Baring, 441;

assists her husband in reducing his expenditure, 480;

her twenty-second wedding-day, vol. ii. 115;

her husband's amanuensis, 327;

proposed pension to her, 390;

address to the Queen, 394;

meets Garibaldi, 417;

her husband's death, 429

Hill, Thomas Wright (Rowland Hill's father), hurt in the Birmingham

riots, vol. i. 2, 34;

unusual character, 7;

relish of life, 8, 25;

wish to be a lawyer, 9;

knowledge of the Bible, 10;

an astronomer, 11, 57, 498;

under Priestley, 11;

lectures on natural philosophy, 12, 55;

on the formation of letter-sounds, 12;

short-hand, 13;

matchless benevolence, 13;

character as a schoolmaster, 14-19, 62;

a mathematician, 15, vol. ii. 177;

love of theories, vol. i. 18;

admirable as a father, 19, 55, 59;

a staunch Liberal, 19;

a student of Adam Smith, 23;

scheme for representing minorities, 24, 69;

imperfect side, 24;

death, 25, vol. ii. 176;

marriage, vol. i. 32;

children, 34;

opens a school, 47;

money difficulties, 52, 90;

buys a horse, 64;

not jealous of his sons, 88;

described by his son, 142;

chairman of Attwood's Committee, 150;

recommends spirit of co-operation, 185;

consolation in his children, 197;

discusses postal matters, 237, 241, 275;

present at presentation of national testimonial, vol. ii. 32;

remark on the first census, 260;

letters to one of his sons, vol. i. 13, 24;

his brother-in-law, 52;

Mr. M. D. Hill, 20, 105, 127, 172, 177;

Sir Rowland Hill, 185, 213

Hill, Sarah (Rowland Hill's mother), girlhood, 7;

character, 27;

moves her husband to turn schoolmaster, 30, 47;

economy, 30, 34, 52;

marriage, 32;

a "notable" woman, 43;

described by her son, 142;

death, 465

Hill Top. See School.

_Hillska Skola_, vol. i. 173

Hinks, Rev. W., vol. ii. 30

Hinde, Mr., vol. i. 465

Hodgson, Mr. Joseph, attends R. H. in times of illness, vol. i. 177,

vol. ii. 163, 219-221, 458

Hoffay, Mr., vol. ii. 221

Hogarth, William, vol. i. 39

Holgate, Mr., vol. i., 324

Holyhead, vol. ii. 275

Home Colonies, vol. i. 202

Honduras, vol. ii. 370

Hong-Kong Post Office, vol. ii. 257

Hood, Thomas, vol. i. 479

Horsehills, vol. i. 35, 45

Horsfall, Mr., vol. i. 429

"Household Words," vol. ii. 48, 192, 253

Howard, John, vol. i. 4, 141, 196

Huish, Captain, vol. ii. 231, 232, 274

Hull, vol. i. 150

Hume, Mr. Joseph, vol. i. 171, 173, 341, 357, vol. ii. 225;

visits Hazelwood, vol. i. 174;

a supporter of postal reform, 263, 288, 342, 350, vol. ii. 38;

consulted by R. H., vol. ii. 166, 167, 174, 198, 199;

letter to R. H., vol. ii. 170

Hunt, Leigh, vol. i. 276

Huskisson, Mr., vol. i. 198, 242

Hutchinson, Mr., vol. ii. 279, 281

Hutt, Sir W., vol. i. 220, 482

Income-Tax Commissioners, vol. ii. 30

India, postal reform in, vol. ii. 187, 212, 317;

postage to, 242;

book-post to, 245;

mutiny, 292, 354, 478

Inglis, Sir Robert, vol. i. 355

Inventors, not men who merely make lucky hits, vol. ii. 339;

described by Lord Brougham, 398;

their common lot, 401

Ireland in 1821, vol. i. 160, 161;

letters to (before 1840), 297;

Sunday labour, vol. ii. 112, 154;

mails to, 274, 338, 340;

life insurance, 307;

debts owing by postmasters, 313;

early history of Post Office, 352

Isle of Wight, vol. i. 146, 168

Jackson, Mr., vol. ii. 70, 77, 179

Jefferson, ex-President, vol. i. 174

Jeffrey, Lord, reviews "Public Education," vol. i. 178

"Jerusalem Coffee-house," vol. i. 303

Johnson, Dr., knew how to bind a book, vol. i. 54;

reads aloud the "Vanity of Human Wishes," 106;

receives a packet from Lisbon, 276;

rendering of a passage in Milton, vol. ii. 225;

quotes Bentley, 235;

to be read on the banks of the Wolga, 427

Johnson, Mr., vol. ii. 49, 74

Johnstone, Dr., vol. i. 64

Jones-Loyd, Mr. (Lord Overstone), evidence before committee (1838),

vol. i. 310, 312;

consulted by R. H., vol. ii. 43, 56, 216, 461

Jullien, M., vol. i. 174

Kater, Captain, vol. i. 95, 499

Kean, Edmund, vol. i. 135

Keble, Mr., vol. i. 194

Kemble, John, vol. i. 143

Kennedy, Dr., vol. i. 55

Keswick, vol. i. 339

Kidderminster, vol. i. 156; R. H's. birth-place, 1, 2, 34;

his statue to be set up there, vol. ii. 428

King, Lord, vol. i. 362

Kingston-on-Thames, vol. ii. 141

Kington, vol. ii. 277

Knight, Mr. Charles, suggests stamped covers for newspapers, vol. i.

218, 265, 270, 377

Knowles, Sheridan, vol. i. 200

Labouchere, Mr. (Lord Taunton), vol. i. 267, 268, vol. ii. 160

Land's End to John O'Groat's, vol. ii. 278

Laplace, vol. i. 59, 506

Lardner, Dr., vol. i. 173, 312, 322

Larpent, Sir George, vol. ii. 30

Lawrence, Mr. William, vol. i. 431

Lawrence, Mr. (of the Post Office), vol. i. 303

Lea, William, vol. i. 6

Lea, Bailie, vol. i. 7, 31, vol. ii. 148

Ledingham, Mr., vol. i. 374, 404, 448

Lee, Mr. James, vol. ii. 92

Leeds, vol. ii. 109, 194

_Leeds Mercury_, vol. ii. 150

Lees, Sir Edward, vol. i. 318

Leicester, vol. i. 366

Letters, postage rate before Penny Postage, vol. i. 238, 239, 247, 252,

276, 277, 281, 282, 295-297, 339, 381, vol. ii. 380, 396;

charges by enclosures, vol. i. 238, 282, 295;

effects of high rates on the poor, 239, 305-309, 342;

taxing, 247, 283, 372;

deliveries few and slow, 269, 281;

in large districts no deliveries, 253, 324, 451, vol. ii. 381;

illegal conveyance, vol. i. 238, 254, 300-304;

number as stated by government, 279, 290, 298, 299;

as stated by R. H., 298, 299;

average weight of London mail, 319, 339;

R. H.'s reforms;

proposed sorting in coaches, vol. i. 241;

actual cost of conveyance, 249, 280, vol. ii. 242, 493;

cost of distributing, vol. i. 248, 354;

uniform rate, 250, 312;

primary and secondary distribution, 251, vol. ii. 406;

rates suggested, vol. i. 251, 264, 269, 284, vol, ii. 404;

charges by weight, vol. i. 264, 318, 376, 386;

low postage no tax, 311;

prepayment, 250, 314, 378, vol. ii. 180, 258, 335;

uniform fourpenny rate, vol. i. 381, 384;

penny rate begins, 390;

number of letters after 1839, 395, 418, 435, 463, vol. ii. 86, 188,

190, 214, 259, 260, 314, 350, 382, 397;

registration, vol. i. 410, 455-459, vol. ii. 7, 315, 367, 381;

thefts, vol. i. 283, 410, 411, 455, vol, ii. 190, 315, 368;

forward letters, vol. i. 457, vol. ii. 110;

free delivery, vol. i. 252, vol. ii. 270, 381;

returned letters, vol. ii. 314;

increase of correspondence to distant places, vol. ii. 241, 371;

effect of school boards on letter writing,

418.

See also Letters.

Robinson, Mr. H. C., vol. i. 36

Robinson Crusoe, vol. i. 10, 51

Rochefoucauld, La, vol. i. 192

Roebuck, Mr. J. A., early friendship with R. H., vol. i. 214;

on the Sunday question, vol. ii. 129;

official franking, 351

Roman road, vol. i. 98

Romilly, Sir Samuel, his sole inheritance, vol. i. 2;

effect of the French Revolution, 21;

reform of the criminal law, vol. ii. 35

Romilly, Mr. Edward, vol. ii. 224

Rousseau, J. J., vol. i. 124

Roy, General, vol. i. 94

Royal Observatory, vol. i. 95

Royal Society, vol. ii. 359, 420

Rugby School, vol. i. 100, 115

Ruling Machine, vol. i. 53

Russell, Lord John (Earl Russell), vol. i. 278, 355, 400, vol. ii. 38,

98, 103, 171, 174;

extract from his "Recollections," vol. i. 343;

announces adoption of Penny Postage, 345;

the Sunday question, vol. ii. 111, 118, 121, 127, 133, 135, 147, 156,

157, 159

Russia, vol. ii. 118;

postal reforms, vol. ii. 13, 35, 252;

number of letters (1855), 350

Sabden, vol. i. 324

Salaries--demand for increase of, vol. i. 413, 450, vol. ii. 55, 63, 321,

326, 327;

statistics for arriving at, vol. i. 414, 433, vol. ii. 65;

scale of, vol. ii. 89, 245, 296;

commission for revision of, vol. ii. 89, 184, 221, 246-249;

salaries of higher officers, 333;

of Postmaster-General and Secretary, 345;

of officers generally, 345

Sargant, Mr. W. L., his account of Mr. T. W. Hill, vol. i. 15, 16;

of Hazelwood School, 93, 123

Säve, Professor, vol. i. 173

Savings Banks, vol. ii. 331, 364-367, 383

Scholefield, Mr., vol. i. 339

School, opened at Hill Top, vol. i. 47;

Hazelwood, built, 128;

opened, 129;

on fire, 151;

"a sucker from it," 180;

Bruce Castle opened, 181;

Hazelwood, given up, 202;

moral tone, 15;

teaching, 15-18, 63, 65-67, 91-94, 127, 212;

theatre, 77;

surveying, 85, 94;

system of government 87, 100-128;

punctuality, 89, 120;

"exhibitions," 91, 113, 127, 170;

benevolent society, 109;

band of music, 112, 122;

"a little world," 113;

magazine, 116, 171;

"school fund," 119;

described by Mr. Sargant, 15, 16, 93, 123;

by Captain Basil Hall, 122;

becomes famous, 130, 170-174, 178;

its fame excessive, 174;

number of pupils, 178

School Boards, vol. ii. 417

Schuster, Mr., vol. ii. 285

Scotland, charge on letters to, vol. i. 238, 249, 297, 381;

Sunday labour, vol. ii. 109, 112, 148, 157;

mails, 232-234, 273, 338;

life insurances, 307;

early history of Post Office, 352

Screw steamboat, vol. i. 84

Scudamore, Mr., vol. ii. 312, 333

Severn, the, vol. i. 131

Seymour, Lord (Duke of Somerset), vol. i. 268, 287, 327-330, vol. ii. 185

Shakespeare corrected, vol. i. 91

Shaw-Lefevre, Sir J., letter to R. H., vol. i. 209;

South-Australian commissioner, 220;

his account of Mr. Goulburn, 443

Shoemakers' Society, vol. i. 308

Short-hand, vol. i. 13

Shrewsbury, vol. i. 4, 131, 132, 140, 141

Sibthorpe, Colonel, vol. i. 352, 467, vol. ii. 98

Sikes, Mr. C. W., the originator of Post Office Savings Banks, vol. ii.

331, 364, 366;

his disinterestedness, Mr. Gladstone's letter to him, 332

Small-pox, vol. i. 305

Smith, Adam, vol. i. 23, 198

Smith, Mr. Egerton, vol. i. 442

Smith, Mr. John, vol. i. 180

Smith, Mr. Robert, vol. i. 272, 385, vol. ii. 139, 258

Smith, Dr. Southwood, vol. i. 214, vol. ii. 76

Smith, Rev. Sydney, ridiculed Penny Postage, vol. i. 361;

letter to R. H., vol. ii. 14

Smyth, Admiral, vol. i. 498

Social Community, scheme for a, vol. i. 207, 210

Society, Mutual Improvement, vol. i. 68, 72;

literary improvement, 69;

philosophical, 80;

one founded by Sir J. Shaw-Lefevre and R. H., 209, 226

Society of Arts, vol. ii. 336, 400

Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, vol. i. 201, 219

Soldiers' letters and remittances, vol. ii. 253, 310, 316

South-Australian Association and Commission, vol. i 216, 219-224;

vol. ii. 426;

mail service, 289

Southey, Robert, hatred of Bonapartism, vol. i. 19;

description of the Charter House, 101;

Pantisocracy, 213

Spain, Postal reform in, vol. ii. 13, 35, 252;

treaty with, 318

Spearman, Sir Alexander, vol. i. 228, vol. ii. 279, 333

_Spectator_, The, vol. i. 278

Spencer, Earl, advice on publication of correspondence with Treasury,

vol. i. 474, 477

St. Germans, Earl of, vol. ii. 99

St. Priest, M., vol. ii. 93

Stamps--Newspaper stamps impressed at the Stamp Office, vol. i. 226;

first suggested by Mr. Knight, 265;

for letters proposed by R. H., 265, 270, 345;

adhesive, 271, 346;

stamped covers, 271, 383, 393;

objection to use of stamps, 314, 316, 378, 382, 396, vol. ii. 86;

devised in France, vol. i. 377;

machinery for manufacture of, 392, 406-409;

prepayment by stamps begins May 6th, 1840, 396;

supply insufficient, 397;

forgery and frauds, 399-401;

obliteration, 399-404;

number issued, 407;

electrotype imitations, 426;

introduced into Spain and Russia, vol. ii. 13

Stamps, general distribution of, by Post Office, vol. i. 429

Stamping, illegibility, vol. ii. 330;

Mr. Pearson Hill's machine, 331

_Standard_, The, vol. ii. 120

Stanley of Alderley, Lord, vol. ii. 281;

R. H. has not his confidence, 361, 362, 376, 378, 412;

disapproves of contract system, 364;

not deficient in courage, 368, 371;

establishes pattern post, 368;

letter to R. H. on his resignation, 384;

R. H.'s answer, 385;

letter to Treasury, 385;

speech in House of Lords, 386

"State and Prospects of Penny Postage," vol. ii. 1, 13

"States," letters for Government, &c., vol. ii. 107

Stationers, deputation of, vol. i. 348

Statistics, Postal, vol. i. 414, 434, vol. ii. 55, 65

Steamboat, plan for working one by a screw, vol. i. 84;

by the hydrogen of sea water, 210;

R. H.'s first sight of, 135;

run only in the summer, 160, 168

Stephen, Sir James, vol. i. 443, 481;

R. H.'s opinion of, 482

Stephenson, George, vol. i. 242, vol. ii. 250

Stephenson, Robert, controversy with, vol. ii. 341

Sterling, life of, vol. i. xii., vol. ii. 411

Stonehenge, vol. i. 131, 146

Stourbridge, vol. i. 57, 133

Street nomenclature, vol. ii. 311

Sunday observance agitation, vol. ii. 107-161, 305, 446-456

Surveying, Land, vol. i. 85

Survey, Trigonometrical, vol. i. 94, 175, 221

Survey of mail-packets, Admiralty, vol. ii. 370

Surveyors, Meeting of Post Office, vol. ii. 140;

reports from, 267

Sweden slow to adopt postal reform, vol. ii. 252

Swinford, vol. i. 413

Switzerland, vol. ii. 252, 406

Symonds family, the, vol. i. 1, 4, 141

Symonds, Mr. Arthur, vol. i. 210, 281

Talma, vol. i. 144

Taxation, reduction of. See Revenue.

Telegraph brought to the Post Office, vol. ii. 83;

Government purchase, 251, 418;

pneumatic tube service, 340;

female labour, 403

Testimonials to R. H. from Wolverhampton, vol. i. 363;

Glasgow and Cupar-Fife, 442;

Liverpool, 442, vol. ii. 400;

Longton, 400;

national, 27

Thayer, M., vol. ii. 94

Theatre, School, vol. i. 75, 77, 91

Theodolite, improved use of, vol. i. 95

Thiers, M., vol. i. 410

Thomas á Becket, vol. i. 136

Thompson, General, vol. i. 477, vol. ii. 139

Thornley, Mr., vol. i. 287, 327, vol. ii. 185, 198

Thornton, demanded wager of battle, vol. i. 86

Thrale, Mrs., vol. i. 54, 106

Tilley, Mr. (Sir John), vol. ii. 119, 122, 125, 134, 139, 181, 185, 193,

203, 331, 374, 453;

his duties as assistant-secretary, 264;

mentioned in Sir C. E. Trevelyan's letter, 301;

interested in life assurance of officials, 304;

gave R. H. earnest support up to 1860, 360;

managed Savings Bank Department, 364

Timm, Mr., vol. i. 401

_Times_, The, vol. ii. 76;

strong support to Penny Postage, vol. i. 331, 334, 340;

Sunday agitation, vol. ii. 116, 117, 120, 132, 151;

colonial postage, 242;

competitive examinations, 249;

attack on R. H., 344;

reduction of postage on newspapers, 345-347;

R. H.'s resignation, 389

Torrens, Colonel, chairman of South Australian Commission, vol. i. 220,

224;

an intimate friend of R. H., vol. ii. 426;

a gallant soldier, 427

Trafalgar, vol. i. 39

Travelling post office, vol. i. 205, 241, vol. ii. 137, 236

Tremenheere, Mr., vol. ii. 31

Trevelyan, Sir Charles, vol. i. 447;

friendliness towards R. H., vol. i. 445, 457, vol. ii. 30;

one of the Treasury Commission on salaries, vol. ii. 221, 301;

letters from, 224, 301

Tripolitan Ambassador, vol. i. 172

Trollope, Mr. Anthony, vol. ii. 288

Truro, First Lord. See Sir T. Wilde.

Truro, Second Lord, vol. ii. 386

Tubular conveyance, vol. ii. 337-340, 402, 489

Tunis, Bey of, vol. ii. 350

Turner, J. M. W., vol. i. 135

United States, Contraband letters to, vol. i. 303;

postal reform in, 336, vol. ii. 27, 35, 93, 187, 319;

negotiations with, 92, 244, 318;

mail-packet charges, 310;

unjustly blames England, 319

Uriconium, vol. i. 141

Uxbridge, vol. i. 282

Vallance, Mr., vol. ii. 337

Valayer, M. de, vol. i. 377

Vaughan, Rev. Dr., vol. ii. 139, 144

Vernier pendulum, vol. i. 201, 517

Vickers, James, vol. ii. 312

Villiers, Mr. C. P., describes R. H.'s "great disinterestedness,"

vol. i. 263;

a supporter of Penny Postage, 263, 467, vol. ii. 166;

a member of the committee of 1838, vol. i. 287;

present at the funeral, vol. ii. 431

"Violet" mail-packet, wreck of, vol. ii. 349

Voluntary work, vol. i. 116

Volunteer Corps, Post Office, vol. ii. 334

Von der Heydt, Mr., vol. ii. 252

Waghorn, Lieutenant, vol. ii. 59

Wakefield, Mr. E. G., vol. i. 216, 219, 278

Wallace, Mr. Robert, vol. i. 272, 330, 331, 334, 337, 338, 360, 361,

436, 480;

an early Postal Reformer, 245, 246, 257-260;

national testimonial to, 260, 529, vol. ii. 147;

moves for committee, vol. i. 278, 287;

chairman of committee, 295;

his casting vote carries uniform rate, 328;

never claimed authorship of Penny Postage, 332, 344, 446, vol. ii. 493

Walliker, Mr., vol. ii. 178

Walsall, vol. i. 301

Warburton, Mr. Henry, a supporter of Postal Reform, vol. i. 263, 288,

299, 327, 477;

writes report of committee of 1838, 333, 337;

his house, 333;

deputation to Lord Melbourne, 342;

"a moral-force man," 358;

presides at presentation of testimonial, vol. ii. 32;

communicates with the Government about R. H.'s acceptance of office,

vol. ii. 37, 43, 45, 56, 164, 166, 170, 198, 200, 206, 460;

letters to R. H., vol. i. 343, 344, vol. ii. 38;

R. H.'s letter to him, vol. ii. 457

Warwick, vol. i. 42, 150

Water-clock alarum, vol. i. 83

Water-wheel, vol. i. 44

Waterloo, illumination for, vol. i. 135

Watson, Mr., vol. i. 403

Watson, Sir Thomas, vol. ii. 377

Watt, James, vol. i. 23, vol. ii. 433

Wellington, Duke of, vol. ii. 25, 30, 250;

letter to Mr. Moffatt, vol. i. 353;

R. H.'s letter to, 354;

votes for Penny Postage Bill, 359;

urges adoption of R. H.'s plan as a whole, vol. i. 359, 362, vol. ii. 9;

funeral, 261;

maintains that soldiers are not given to letter-writing, 310

West, Benjamin, vol. i. 136

West Indies, packet service, vol. ii. 288;

each Government manages its own Postal Service, 317

Westminster Abbey, vol. ii. 430

Weymouth, vol. ii. 87

Wheatley, Mr. Henry B., vol. ii. 29

Wheatstone, Professor, vol. i. 210

Whitmore, Mr., vol. i. 220

Wight, Isle of, vol. i. 145, 146, 168

Wilberforce, Mr., vol. i. 4, 172

Wilberforce, Bishop, vol. ii. 149

Wilde, Sir Thomas (Lord Truro), vol. i. 467;

undertakes R. H.'s case before Parliament, 469, 480, 482, 483;

moves for Select Committee, 487;

congratulates R. H., vol. ii. 225

Wilkes, John, vol. i. 40

William the Third, vol. ii. 261

Williams, Mr., "a tradesman and a scholar," vol. i. 52

Williams, Mr. (door-keeper to the House of Commons), vol. i. 352

Wilson, Mr., vol. ii. 213, 280, 293

Wolseley, Sir Charles, vol. i. 149

Wolverhampton, vol. i. 34-8, 42, 46, 140, 282;

testimonial from, 363

Wood, Sir Charles (Viscount Halifax), vol. ii. 37, 43, 57, 73, 75, 87,

113, 114, 118, 121, 142, 155, 156, 157, 173, 175, 176, 184, 213,

214, 215;

question of R. H.'s promotion, 72, 97, 165, 166, 168, 194, 196, 197, 200;

unreasonable demands, 100, 103, 104, 132

Wood, Mr. John, vol. i. 315, vol. ii. 214

Wrottesley, Lord, vol. ii. 244

Yatton, vol. i. 307

Yorke, Hon. and Rev. Grantham, vol. ii. 128

Yorkshire Penny Bank, vol. ii. 365

Young, Mr. Thomas, vol. ii. 96

FOOTNOTES:

[1] London: Charles Knight and Co., Ludgate Street, 1844.

[2] "State and Prospects," p. 3.

[3] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," question 24.

[4] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," question 25.

[5] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," question 72.

[6] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," question 72, p. 21.

[7] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," questions 78-82.

[8] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," question 85, p. 44.

[9] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," questions 84 and 85.

[10] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," question 1664.

[11] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," question 318.

[12] Question 1132.

[13] Question 1174.

[14] Question 1163.

[15] Question 1176.

[16] Question 1178.

[17] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," questions 407-421,

581-594.

[18] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," questions 563-570.

[19] I have since learnt that Mr. Allen had been in the Post Office.

[20] The plan was originally devised by a Mr. Murray, who, however,

transferred it to Mr. Dockwra.

[21] "State and Prospects of Penny Postage," pp. 35, 36.

[22] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," questions 1803 and

1804.

[23] Question 2968.

[24] Vide _ante_, pp. 485, 486.

[25] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," questions 423-439.

[26] "Report of the Committee on Postage (1843)," p. 3.

[27] "State and Prospects of Penny Postage," p. 42.

[28] The following anecdote I find recorded by Sir R. Hill, "The

Clayton tunnel, the longest one upon the London and Brighton Railway,

bore for some time, though quite undeservedly, the reputation of being

unsafe. One day when I was travelling through it, a man, addressing me

said; 'Sir this tunnel does a power of good.' 'How so?' I asked. 'Why,'

he replied, 'there are more prayers said in this tunnel than in all the

churches in Brighton put together.'"--ED.

[29] An interesting account of this tract, by Mr. Henry B. Wheatley,

will be found in "The Academy" of December 27th, 1879.--ED.

[30] Application of the same rule to the letters of the year 1868 would

raise the amount of relief to nearly £17,000,000. [In 1878 the amount

would be nearly £23,000,000.--ED.]

[31] "Hansard," Vol. LXXXVIII., p. 957.

[32] "Hansard," Vol. LXXXVIII., p. 959.

[33] Some months before his death Sir R. Hill sent to inform me of a

circumstance that had been lately brought back to his memory, but which

he had omitted, he said, to mention in the History of Penny Postage.

At the time when it was proposed that he should return to the Post

Office with a lower salary than Colonel Maberly's, and therefore in an

inferior position, he himself was unwilling to do so. He foresaw the

troubles that would arise. On mentioning this to some of his friends,

he found that they considered that he was bound to return to the Post

Office work, having received, as it were, a retaining fee in the public

subscription. If it had not been for this he should, he said, have

refused the place.--ED.

[34] "_February 24th, 1847._--I felt tempted to obtain returns, with a

view of settling some of the disputed points between the Post Office

and myself--the one as to the division of French postage between the

two Governments, for instance--but refrained, from a desire to avoid

all causes of irritation. Armstrong tells me that, in a statement of

French postage which I have attacked in my pamphlet as being too high

by about £30,000, an error of £32,000 was actually discovered in the

Accountant's office."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[35] "February 13th.--I met a Committee of the Town Council ...

encouraged them to communicate to me any carefully-considered

improvements which might occur to them. The results of this meeting

have satisfied me that it would be very useful to the Post Office to

have similar means in every large town of learning the well-considered

wishes of the inhabitants."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[36] See pp. 43-46.

[37] These vexations began to tell upon his health. Thus, in his

Journal, I find the following entries:--May 8th, 1847. "I have more to

do than I can accomplish satisfactorily; this produces headache and

incapacity, which make the matter worse." On September 28th of the

same year, after describing some fresh vexations, he writes: "I have

been reading my evidence given ten years ago before the Commissioners

of Post Office Enquiry.... There is a heartiness and freshness in my

replies which I fear I should not now evince."--ED.

[38] "The origin of this strange anomaly is this: Many years ago the

newspaper fees were the perquisite of certain officers, and they

therefore took newspapers in as late as possible."--Sir R. Hill's

Journal.--ED.

[39] The head of the Sorting Department.

[40] The Report (dated 1st January, 1847) was subsequently laid before

a Parliamentary Committee, and is given _in extenso_ in the Fifth

Report of the Select Committee on Railway and Canal Bills, Appendix, p.

246. (Par. Pro. 1853, No. 736.)

[41] This was written before 1871.--ED.

[42] Royal Commission on Railways, 1867.--Report from Sir Rowland Hill,

K.C.B., F.R.S., one of the Commissioners.

[43] Sir Charles Wood (now Lord Halifax).--ED.

[44] It was one of the senior clerks. "Armstrong has told him that,

if any obstacles are thrown in the way of improvement, it is my fixed

determination to apply to the Postmaster-General to dismiss the

offender, and that the higher his rank in the office, the more readily

I shall take the step. ---- is greatly alarmed, and promises all sorts

of things."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[45] "Maberly has contrived to make it appear very much his own act,

talks of _his_ laying down rules for my guidance, interdicts me from

punishing or even reprimanding anyone without the previous sanction of

the Postmaster-General, and in various ways contrives to make the very

act of extending my power the means of tying my hands."--Sir R. Hill's

Journal.--ED.

[46] The following is an instance of one of these circulars:--

"The Heads of Departments and Officers of the Secretary's Office are

requested, before acting on any papers forwarded by Mr. Hill to the

Postmaster-General, to satisfy themselves that the minutes upon such

papers have been entered in the books of the Secretary's Office, which

can be easily ascertained by an observation of the number of the

minutes endorsed in red ink on the back of the paper by the Minute

Clerk. Charles Johnson, Chief Clerk, Oct. 26th, 1847."--Sir R. Hill's

Journal.--ED.

[47] Under the same date I find the following entry in Sir R. Hill's

Journal:--"I am obliged to consult Dr. Southwood Smith as to the state

of my health, having for the last three weeks suffered from sleepless

nights, and almost constant headache. Dr. Smith enquires whether I had

not suffered from anxiety, or excessive labour, and I explained to him

my real position."--ED.

[48] "In perfecting my printing machine we spent about £2000, and

hitherto the saving now effected is the only advantageous result.

Without the knowledge thus obtained I could not have overcome the

difficulties as to printing."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[49] At the present rate of consumption (1869) the saving must amount

to about £6000 a year.

[50] "May 15th, 1849.--The Treasury concurs in the arrangement for

bringing the Electrical Telegraph to the Post Office. Under this

arrangement, which was settled by Mr. J. L. Ricardo and myself, with

the concurrence of the Postmaster-General, part of a spare passage

will be given up to the Company at the Post Office, in return for

which we are to have a right to transmit and receive messages at a low

rate (one shilling for not more than ten words), the Company bearing

all expenses. I am inclined to hope that the plan will prove mutually

advantageous."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[51] The estimate for 1839 is founded on the ascertained number of

letters for one week in the month of November, and strictly speaking

it is for the year ending December 5th, at which time 4_d._ was made

the maximum rate. The estimate for each subsequent year is founded on

the ascertained number of letters for one week in each calendar month

(_vide_ Return to the House of Commons, No. 586, 1847).

[52] This is exclusive of about 6-1/2 millions of franks.

[53] To make this clear, it may be necessary to mention that the gross

postage includes all postage charged; and that, to arrive at the real

postal revenue, there has, of course, to be deducted from this total so

much as, owing to rejection of unpaid letters by addressees, or other

similar causes, is never received.

[54] "June 8th, 1848.--I frequently detect some strange misuse of terms

which has become habitual in the office--_e.g._, many clerks have

applied for, and received, a fortnight's holiday; but I accidentally

discovered the other day that one to whom I had granted the indulgence

stayed away fourteen working days, and, on inquiry, I found that such

was the interpretation invariably put on the term. In my own department

I, of course, have put an end to this."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[55] "Mr. May is one of the few men I ever met with who, being

improvers themselves, desire the help of other improvers."--Sir R.

Hill's Journal. July 8th, 1848.--ED.

[56] See pp. 41 and 46.

[57] See Vol. 1., pp. 269 and 373.

[58] This anticipation was realised. See Return to House of Commons,

No. 645 1850.

[59] Lord Clanricarde said, in his reply, "I could not send forward

to the Treasury your letter of the 3rd of January without previously

communicating with Colonel Maberly." On this Sir R. Hill thus

remarks in his Journal:--"In saying that he could not forward, &c.,

he strangely forgets himself. He did send it forward as soon as he

received it. Perhaps he means that he cannot send it forward officially

or a second time; but this is unnecessary. I don't like the look of

things at all. If I consent to these indefinite delays, the result will

be that there will be a change of Ministry, and I shall be defrauded of

my promised promotion."--ED.

[60] "Forward letters" are letters coming from one post town to a

second, for despatch to a third.

[61] The Secretary to the Treasury. "Mr. Hayter and I think very

much alike on Post Office matters, and we consequently get on

swimmingly."--Sir R. Hill's Journal, Sept. 6, 1849.--ED.

[62] The following extracts from Sir R. Hill's Journal show how much

the question had occupied his attention:--

"November 26th, 1847.--I advised the Postmaster-General steadily to

oppose a delivery of letters in London on the Sunday, being convinced

that the large majority is opposed thereto."

"May 23rd, 1848.--Suggested to the Postmaster-General the expediency

of putting a stop to the agitation about the 'Lord's Day' by forthwith

doing all that is desirable, viz., closing the Offices throughout the

country for Money Order business, and for the receipt of money-paid

letters, and at the same time arranging for the transit of the 'forward

letters' through London on Sunday morning, adding that in my opinion

the latter measure would tend on the whole to the observance of the

Sabbath, as many letters would then be written and posted on the

Saturday which are now written and posted on Sunday."

"Oct. 19th.--On my recommendation the Postmaster-General has decided,

subject to the sanction of the Treasury, to put an end to the

transaction of Money Order business on the Sunday throughout England

and Wales."

"Nov. 23rd.--The Treasury has sanctioned the discontinuance of Money

Order business on the Sunday, and I propose to commence with the new

year."

"Dec. 7th.--The Postmaster-General has sanctioned a minute of mine

proposing that the opinion of the Surveyors shall be taken as to the

discontinuance of ordinary Post Office business from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

on the Sunday, with the exception of the despatch and delivery of

mails."

"Jan. 23rd, 1849.--I think I have fully established the position that

to transmit the 'forward letters' through London on the Sunday will not

only be a great convenience to the public, but will actually diminish

Sunday work on the part of the public and on that of the department."

"Feb. 15th.--The Treasury assents to the proposed discontinuance of

Money Order business on the Sunday in Ireland and Scotland, which was

submitted for their sanction a short time since."--ED.

[63] "Oct. 26th.--Roebuck has written to the Postmaster-General

accusing the postmaster at ---- of agitating against the measure, and

enclosing a hand-bill signed by the postmaster which fully establishes

the charge."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[64] "The custom of two religious societies for which he printed."--Sir

R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[65] "November 5th.--Told the Postmaster-General of anonymous letters

which I had received, charging ---- and ---- with encouraging the

opposition in the office. He says he has received a letter, not

anonymous, making similar charges."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[66] See p. 122.

[67] "It is a notable fact that, while so much has been said by the

London merchants and bankers against a delivery in London where their

places of business are, of course, closed, not a word has been said

against a delivery in the suburbs where they live."--Sir R. Hill's

Journal.--ED.

[68] See "Report of Select Committee on Postage, 1843," p. 35.

[69] One or two anecdotes are still preserved in the Post Office of

these meetings with the Surveyors. On one occasion Sir Rowland Hill had

noticed a certain disposition to insubordination on the part of some

of these gentlemen. "He rebuked them by reminding them that, according

to the conventional conclusion of his letter, he was their obedient

servant, 'whereas--I am nothing of the sort.'" On another occasion,

when talking of a certain able official who was rather a bore, he said,

"he is an excellent officer--at Edinburgh."--ED.

[70] On January 10th of the next year there is the following entry in

Sir R. Hill's Journal:--

"This being the tenth anniversary of the adoption of Penny Postage, we

had a family party to celebrate the event. My poor sister, however,

was too much affected by the consideration that it would be the last

meeting of the kind before her departure with her family for South

Australia; and I fear the same consideration affected the spirits of

all."--ED.

[71] Parliamentary Return, 1850, No. 185.

[72] Second Letter on the late Post Office Agitation, by Charles John

Vaughan, D.D., p. 32.

[73] Feb. 21st, 1850.--"Professor Henslow has sent me an amusing reply

to a letter from the Lord's Day Society, requesting him to procure from

his parish a petition in favour of total abolition. Mr. Henslow tells

them, 'Under the old dispensation I would willingly have joined you

in such a petition, but as a Christian, I feel I ought not.'"--Sir R.

Hill's Journal.--ED.

[74] Par. Pro. 1850, No. 185, p. 46.

[75] For this speech, which, in justice to Mr. Wallace, I give at

length, see Vol. I., Appendix G.

[76] Such inconsistency was not confined to Members of Parliament;

the incumbent of a certain parish in which Sunday delivery had been

suspended in consequence of a memorial, to which his own signature was

attached, no sooner felt the inconvenience of the change than he wrote

an indignant protest against it; naïvely declaring that he had never

thought the petition would be granted.

[77] "June 14th, 1850.--The Postmaster-General tells me in confidence

that the Queen was very much inclined to refuse compliance with the

address."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[78] "July 9th.--At the House of Commons.... In the course of the

evening ----, M.P. for ----, evinced a desire to renew acquaintance

with me. For a time I avoided him, but when this was no longer

possible, I told him very plainly my opinion as to the 'Lord's

Day Society.' (He was one of the deputation which came to me last

year.) He replied that he had always done me justice, and referred

to what Lord Ashley had said in the House of Commons. On which I

rejoined that neither Lord Ashley nor any one else had spoken out

in a straightforward, manly way. He left me, apparently much

nettled."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[79] "Hansard," Vol. CXII. pp. 1214, 1215.

[80] "Report of the Commissioners appointed to investigate the question

of Sunday labour at the Post Office." 1850.

[81] "Sept. 2nd.--Monday.--Yesterday the Sunday arrangements

were restored to exactly the same state as before Lord Ashley's

motion."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[82] "July 4th, 1850.--At the Postmaster-General's ... I spoke of

the absolute necessity of a change ... that my duties were too

miscellaneous and too difficult for my present staff to afford me

efficient aid, and that notwithstanding I paid £150 a year out of my

own pocket [his salary was but £1,200 a year] for assistance out of the

office, I had still more to do than my health would bear."

"July 17th.--Called on Mr. Hodgson to consult him on the state of my

health, which makes me very uneasy. Hodgson strongly recommends rest--a

week immediately, and two months as early as it can be got. A tendency

of blood to the head, occasioned by severe mental exertion and anxiety,

is my complaint. I have no hope of getting so much rest, but I must do

the best I can."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[83] "December 20th.-- ... Cobden advises that to prevent jealousy

on Hume's part he should at once be appealed to; the fact of his,

Cobden's, having been consulted first being concealed."--Sir R. Hill's

Journal.--ED.

[84] The Postmaster-General expressed great surprise--a surprise that

almost amounted to incredulity--on being informed that Mr. Frederic

Hill was willing to exchange the office which he already held for the

post of Assistant-Secretary. The Inspectorship of Prisons he looked

upon as the better appointment, as undoubtedly it was.--ED.

[85] "March 7th.--I spoke to the Postmaster-General on the subject,

telling him 'it was exceedingly unjust of the Chancellor of the

Exchequer to press me in this way, knowing as he does that I dare

not attempt the amalgamation until he keeps his promise by giving me

Maberly's place.' In this the Postmaster-General acquiesced."--Sir R.

Hill's Journal.--ED.

[86] "June 20th.--Attended my dear father's funeral."--Sir R. Hill's

Journal.--ED.

[87] I have thought it advisable to omit the description of some of

these proceedings, which, though important in themselves, yet would

have but little interest for the general reader.--ED.

[88] "Hansard," Vol. CXIV., p. 273.

[89] "June 13th, 1849.--The Postmaster-General has approved a proposal

of mine to carry the night-mail between Oxford and the main line of

the Great Western Railway by cart instead of by the branch railway. As

the journey both ways is in the middle of the night nothing whatever

is gained to Oxford by the [present] arrangement."--Sir R. Hill's

Journal.--ED.

[90] A striking instance of this mal-arrangement was reported to me

long afterwards. A very meritorious officer appointed by Colonel

Maberly, and said to be the first ever admitted into the permanent

staff save through political influence, had, during several years,

while rated at a salary never exceeding £120, to superintend men whose

salaries ranged up to £400.

[91] "Aug. 7th, 1849.--Summoned to the Treasury.... Explained to

Mr. Hayter the abuses as to promotion, viz., that there is no

correspondence between the rank of a clerk and his duties--that two

clerks may be engaged in the same duties, the one a secretary at £300 a

year, the other a junior at £70 a year. Of these facts Hayter was not

aware, and thinks the practice is familiar to the Post Office."--Sir R.

Hill's Journal.--ED.

[92] See Vol. I., pp. 461, 475, and 485; and Vol. II., p. 4.

[93] In effect California was the only State not reached at the lower

rate.

[94] "April 27th, 1842.--The proceedings in an election committee to

try the validity of the last return for Lichfield have brought to light

a gross abuse of Post Office patronage in that city. One of the many

clerks who have been appointed to secure votes is now in Newgate on a

charge of Post Office robbery. These, and similar proceedings, account

for the eagerness of the late Postmaster-General to create places, and

for much of the inefficiency and dishonesty among the clerks."--Sir R.

Hill's Journal.--ED.

[95] "January 8th, 1852.--I told him plainly that the Government has

not kept faith with me--that if they meant, as now stated, that I

should succeed Maberly merely in the event of a vacancy arising in the

ordinary manner, they ought clearly to have stated as much, and not

held out expectations of a different kind."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[96] "April 3rd, 1852.--In a minute of Maberly's on the custody of

the Post Office the following sentence occurs:--'That every officer

(including the housekeeper, &c.) within the building, except

the Postmaster-General, the Secretary, Assistant-Secretary, and

Chief Clerk, shall be considered as under the directions of the

clerk-in-waiting for the time being, whilst the Chief Clerk is not on

duty in the Office, and they shall take their instructions from that

officer alone, in case of any emergency or accident.'

"The effect of this would, of course, be to place myself and

Frederic under the direction of the 'clerk-in-waiting;' and the

Postmaster-General having passed it unnoticed, I have for some time

been uneasy on the subject; but on my pointing out the actual position

of things to the Postmaster-General, he at once altered Maberly's

minute, by adding an s in each case to the word 'secretary' (in

accordance with his peculiar orthography)."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[97] "'Full dress' means, I find, that I am to play the fool in a Court

dress with a cocked hat and sword."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[98] "I am to prepare a minute on the subject; but as no change can

be made without the consent of the Queen, there is no chance of

setting the matter right before the dinner. It is altogether a foolish

business, but it would be unwise to let matters continue as they

are."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[99] More than two years later I find the following entry in Sir R.

Hill's Journal:--

"December 16th, 1854.--Lord Hardwicke, having taken exception to

a statement by the Post Office Commission to the effect that it

had been found impossible to define the separate duties of Colonel

Maberly and myself, moved for a Return of a Minute in which he,

according to his own account, had accomplished such definition. I

felt tempted to give the Minute _literatim_ as well as _verbatim_,

but, recollecting that Lord Hardwicke was really a good-natured

man, refrained. The strength of the temptation will be seen by the

accompanying copy of the Return, altered so as to show his Lordship's

peculiar orthography." [Among other peculiarities his Lordship spelt

_Secretaries_--_Secritarys_.]--ED.

[100] "June 12th, 1852.--Some of the present Ministers are jobbing

in a very unprincipled manner, in order to influence the coming

elections, I have had to advise on a letter from Lord ---- to the

Postmaster-General, asking the latter to restore the second mail

between ---- and ---- arranging the matter so as to enable him to

announce the restoration when he next visits ---- for his election.

That is to say, the country is to spend £800 or £900 a-year to promote

his private interests. As Lord Hardwicke has sent the letter (a private

one) to me, I suppose he cannot be fully alive to the dishonesty of the

proposal. I shall, of course, prevent the job, if possible."--Sir R.

Hill's Journal.--ED.

[101] The late Mr. Joseph Hodgson, sometime President of the Royal

College of Surgeons; for nearly fifty years my medical adviser, and

likewise my valued and intimate friend.

[102] "As this arrangement involves an immediate addition of £500

a-year to my salary, I may, perhaps, be allowed to remind your Lordship

that emolument, simply as such, is not, and, indeed, never has been, my

object; but I have had bitter experience of the truth of the remarks

lately made in Parliament by Lord Palmerston to the effect that every

man's salary is really taken as the index of his position and authority.

"As, however, the necessity for such stamp of my official rank will

be greatly diminished whenever I become sole Secretary, I shall then

readily submit to a modification in the scale of remuneration attached

to the office, should your Lordship and the Treasury see fit to make

any such change."--Mr. Rowland Hill to Lord Canning. August 16th,

1853.--ED.

[103] The eloquent words of Milton might have come into the thoughts of

some of them when he says: "nihil esse in societate hominum magis vel

Deo gratum, vel rationi consentaneum, esse in civitate nihil æquius,

nihil utilius, quam potiri rerum dignissimum." "In the coalition of

human Society," to use Johnson's rendering, "nothing is more pleasing

to God, or more agreeable to reason, than that the highest mind should

have the sovereign power."--ED.

[104] "I have in this chapter also struck out not a few passages

describing matters that are not of permanent interest."--ED.

[105] "Fifth Report," pp. 175-191.

[106] "Fifth Report," p. 243.

[107] "Fifth Report," p. 246.

[108] "Fifth Report," p. 16.

[109] "July 26th, 1853.--Called at Euston Square and saw Huish and

Bruyères on the subject of a swift mail to the North. My notion is

to run a train with only one or two carriages in addition to those

required for the mail, and to stop only once in about forty miles."

"July 28th.--Called again at Euston Square, and ... proposed forty

miles an hour, including stoppages, thus reaching Edinburgh by 7

a.m."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[110] "It was said to old Bentley, upon the attacks against him, 'Why,

they'll write you down.' 'No, Sir,' he replied; 'depend upon it, no man

was ever written down but by himself.'"--"Boswell's Journal of a Tour

to the Hebrides." 4th Edition, p. 280.--ED.

[111] See page 185.--ED.

[112] The newspaper stamp duty was finally abolished in 1870.--ED.

[113] About five weeks earlier I find the following entry in

Sir R. Hill's Journal:--"May 30th, 1853.--Again pressed on the

Postmaster-General the unfairness of transferring to the Post Office

(as I fear is intended) the existing contracts for the Packet

Service.... I fear the injustice will be committed nevertheless, Sir

James Graham, who generally contrives to have his own way, having made

up his mind to the thing with a view, I suspect, to give an appearance

of retrenchment in the Admiralty expenditure."--ED.

[114] "Report," p. 4.

[115] Lord Hardwicke would seem to have had a strong dislike to the

book-post, to judge from the following entry in Sir R. Hill's Journal:--

"June 15th, 1853.--Breakfasted with Chevalier Bunsen. He promises

to urge on his Government the adoption of the Book-post. He told a

characteristic anecdote of Lord Hardwicke. At the time Lord H. was

Postmaster-General, Chevalier Bunsen met him at the Queen's Drawing

Room, where, it seems, if people talk at all, it must be in a low tone

of voice. Lord Hardwicke asked what Chevalier Bunsen thought of 'Hill's

Book-post,' expressing his own dislike of the measure. Chevalier Bunsen

defended it, on which Lord H. became excited, and talked so loud that

the Queen despatched an attendant to point out to him that, if he

wanted to converse, there was an adjoining room convenient for the

purpose."--ED.

[116] A subsequent concession reduced the minimum to £120.

[117] See p. 184.--ED.

[118] Since the above was written, the error, for such I unhesitatingly

pronounce it, has been aggravated by admission into the subjects for

competitive examination of some quite foreign to the business of the

office--as Latin and Greek.

[119] Sir R. Hill's foreboding has proved only too true. In our

high telegraph rate we pay, and shall long pay, for the reckless

extravagance with which the purchase of the telegraphs was made.--ED.

[120] Vol. v., p. 1, March 20, 1852.

[121] See Vol. I., p. 417.--ED.

[122] Macaulay's "History of England," Vol. v., p. 16 (edition in eight

volumes.)--ED.

[123] "Sixth Report," p. 10.

[124] "Second Report," p. 10.

[125] See Vol. II., p. 100.

[126] "Second Report," p. 10.

[127] "Second Report," pp. 9, 41.

[128] "Fifth Report," p. 9.

[129] "Fourth Report," p. 8.

[130] "Third Report," p. 5; "Fourth Report," p. 9; "Sixth Report," p. 9.

[131] The following extract from the "Industrial History of Birmingham"

supplies some evidence on this point:--

"The introduction of penny postage by Rowland Hill operated on this

branch of trade materially [Birmingham manufactures in brass]. How it

did so is strange but true. Immediately on its coming into effect came

the demand for letter-weighing machines, which were made in immense

quantities; and letter-box plates were introduced, made, and continue

to be made, in very considerable numbers."

[132] "Sixth Report," p. 9.

[133] "Fourth Report," p. 10.

[134] It appears that the district system is now (1869) introduced into

Calcutta. See "Greater Britain," by Sir C. Dilke, Vol. II., p. 263.

(Second Edition).

[135] "Second Report," p. 12.

[136] "Third Report," p. 7.

[137] "Fifth Report," p. 11.

[138] 1853, No. 747.

[139] "Seventh Annual Report of the Postmaster-General," p. 7.

[140] "Seventh Annual Report of the Postmaster-General," p. 18.

[141] "Fifth Report," p. 12.

[142] Written before 1871.--ED.

[143] "Fourth Annual Report," p. 13. The bill _in extenso_, with

explanatory remarks thereon, will be found at p. 46 of the same report.

[144] "Royal Commission on Railways. Report of the Commissioners, 1867."

[145] In 1878-79 the amount was more than twenty-seven millions. This

was, however, a decrease on the preceding year, when the amount had

been more than twenty-nine millions.--"Twenty-fifth Report," p. 45. The

profits for 1878-79 were £39,000. In the preceding year, when a much

larger business had been done, they were only £6,400.--"Twenty-fifth

Report," p. 21.--ED.

[146] "Sixth Report," p. 17

[147] Mr. Frederic Hill succeeded in the end in getting his plan

adopted. It works very well, I am informed, and has reduced the cost of

"the window duty" by about one-half.--ED.

[148] "Sixth Report," p. 27.

[149] "Sixth Report," p. 30.

[150] Even with the great assistance of the railway to California, it

is doubtful if the Western Route is the better for any colony except

New Zealand. The advantage of a bi-monthly mail is of course a distinct

question.

It is curious how inveterate is the mistake in question. Columbus

expected to reach Cathay more quickly by sailing westward, but was

stopped by the American continent. The projectors of the "Darien

Scheme" hoped to enrich themselves by making their settlement a great

_entrepôt_ between Europe and the East Indies; and Macaulay, in

his interesting narrative of the enterprise ("History of England,"

Vol. v., p. 200), considers their mistake to consist mainly in the

assumption that Spain would permit a settlement on its territory; but

it seems not to have occurred to him that, in any event, the scheme was

intrinsically hopeless, seeing that the old route by the Cape of Good

Hope, besides avoiding the cost and delay of transhipment, surpasses

the Darien route even in shortness. (October, 1872).

[151] "Fifth Report," p. 17.

[152] "Sixth Report," p. 22.

[153] "Fourth Report," p. 20.

[154] "Fourth Report," p. 22.

[155] "Parliamentary Return, 1868," No. 215.

[156] "First Report," p. 68.

[157] Ibid.

[158] "Fourth Report," p. 44.

[159] "Parliamentary Return, 1868," No. 215.

[160] "Sixth Report," pp. 32, 33.

[161] "Third Report," p. 28.

[162] "Second Report," pp. 27-29; "Third Report," pp. 24-29; "Fifth

Report," p. 23; "Sixth Report," pp. 38, 39.

[163] O! si sic omnia.--ED.

[164] "Fifth Report," p. 35.

[165] "Fourth Report," p. 77.

[166] "Fourth Report," p. 32.

[167] "Fourth Report," p. 77.

[168] "Before 1871 the money accruing from unclaimed money orders had,

for many years, been used in aiding officers of the department to

insure their lives; but in that year the Lords of the Treasury gave

directions for the discontinuance of the practice (except in regard

to then existing recipients of the aid), and for the payment of this

money into the Exchequer. In obedience to this order, the accumulated

capital, together with the interest thereon (amounting to £20,707), was

paid into the Exchequer. The actual amount of unclaimed money orders

for 1871 was £3,390."--"Twenty-fifth Report," p. 65.--ED.

[169] "Fourth Report," p. 33.

[170] "Sixth Report," p. 43.

[171] "Sixth Report," p. 42.

[172] "Fifth Report," p. 25.

[173] "Sixth Report," p. 43.

[174] "Sixth Annual Report," p. 43.

[175] "First Report of the Postmaster-General," p. 7.

[176] See p. 92.--ED.

[177] "April 7, 1849.--Accounts of debts due by late Postmasters not

yet discharged by the sureties (some many years old) show that, while

the amount of revenue collected in Great Britain is about ten times

as great as that collected in Ireland, the debts in Ireland more than

double those in Great Britain."--Sir R. Hill's Journal.--ED.

[178] "First Annual Report," p. 71.

[179] "Sixth Annual Report of the Postmaster-General," p. 7.

[180] The number of such receptacles in 1878-79 was more than 25,000,

of which nearly 12,000 were pillar-boxes.--"Twenty-fifth Report," p.

7.--ED.

[181] "Sixth Report," p. 9.

[182] "Sixth Report," p. 7.

[183] "First Report," p. 22.

[184] "Sixth Report," p. 14.

[185] For the numbers in 1878-79, see p. 382.--ED.

[186] "Second Report," p. 18.

[187] "Sixth Report," p. 15.

[188] "Fourth Report," p. 17.

[189] "Sixth Report," p. 15.

[190] "Sixth Report," p. 15.

[191] "Macaulay wrote to me at Harrow pretty constantly, sealing

his letters with an amorphous mass of red wax, which, in defiance

of post-office regulations, not unfrequently concealed a piece of

gold."--"The Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay." Second edition. Vol.

II., p. 426.--ED.

[192] "Third Report," p. 30.

[193] "Third Report," p. 12.

[194] "Sixth Report," p. 17.

[195] "Sixth Report," p. 18.

[196] "Third Report," p. 15.

[197] "Third Report," p. 17.

[198] "Fifth Report," p. 19.

[199] "Third Report," p. 18.

[200] "Sixth Report," p. 20.

[201] Since the above was written, a passage, though an erroneous one,

in an interesting and popular work, has reminded me of another American

labourer in the field of postal improvement. One of Miss Mitford's

letters would seem to show that as early as 1832, or four years before

my pamphlet was written, she went to hear Mr. Elihu Burritt lecture

on ocean penny postage. A letter lately received from Mr. Burritt

informs me that he never visited England before 1846, and never worked

in the cause of postal reform but in sequence to myself. Explanation

of the error may easily be found by reference to the difficulty which

must have been encountered in piecing together, with even plausible

correctness, the scraps of paper on which Miss Mitford's letters were

habitually written.

[202] One curious question bearing on the letter-carriers' position,

and which occupied some little attention at this time, I must

here mention, as it is connected with a popular misconception,

sometimes fruitful in trouble, viz., whether public gratuities,

such as Christmas-boxes, should be taken into account in estimating

a letter-carrier's emoluments or not. These Christmas-boxes, I may

observe, average about £13 per letter-carrier, and amount in some

cases, I am told, to as much as £50 or £60. At first sight it appears

most ungenerous to include them, and yet a short statement will show

that to some extent this is unavoidable. A letter-carrier, say, has

attained the highest position open to him as such, and is offered

admission to the class of sorters, where the minimum pay equals his

present maximum, while the maximum is more than double what he is

receiving. This offer he declines, because by accepting it he would

cease to have direct intercourse with the public, and so lose all

opportunity for gratuity. This, of course, he has a perfect right to

do; but when he continues, while rejecting the higher rate, to point

to the lower as ground of complaint, either the answer must explain

the anomaly by referring to the addition to his salary thus made every

Christmas, or a complaint really unfounded remains plausible, and

obtains inconsiderate support.

[203] "Fifth Report," p. 40. In the admonitory address from which the

above quotation is made, and which was afterwards published in the

Annual Report, the position of a letter-carrier is distinctly set forth.

[204] Among some "miscellaneous anecdotes" recorded by Sir R. Hill I

find the following: "I used at one time to walk to Camden Town, take an

omnibus as far as the corner of Gray's Inn Lane and Holborn, and thence

walk to St. Martin's Le Grand. One day, while sitting in the omnibus, I

overheard one gentleman say to another, 'I understand that Mr. Rowland

Hill often travels in these omnibuses.' 'Oh, yes,' replied the other,

who chanced to sit nearly opposite me, 'I very often meet him--I know

him quite well.' Of course I held my peace, not deeming it necessary to

disconcert my familiar acquaintance."--ED.

[205] "Sixth Report," p. 9.

[206] Mr. Gladstone wrote to Mr. Sikes the following letter:--

"14, Downing Street, Whitehall, 30th November, 1859.

"DEAR SIR,--I have read with much interest your tract on Post Office

Savings' Banks, and have discussed the subject with Sir A. Spearman,

who has also had some communication with the Post Office authorities.

"The difficulties are very serious, chiefly in connection with the

question of interest and the mode of account for it. "At the same time

there is so much of promise in the plan on the face of it, that we are

unwilling to let it drop without a most careful examination.

"If you are likely to be in London, or were disposed to come hither,

personal communication on details might be of advantage. Sir A.

Spearman would be most ready to see you for the purpose of entering

into them fully, and I should be very desirous myself to give any aid

in my power at the proper time.

"I remain, Dear Sir, yours very faithfully,

"W. E. GLADSTONE.

"C. W. SIKES, Esq."

--ED.

[207] "Report of Select Committee on Postage (1843)," p. 41.

[208] For further information on this subject, see Appendix

M.--"Pneumatic tubes for the conveyance of telegrams are in use,"

I am informed, "between the Central Telegraph Office in St.

Martin's-le-Grand and many branch offices, the longest line of tube

being that to the House of Parliament--upwards of two miles. They are

also in use in Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham, Newcastle,

and Dublin. In Berlin a costly tube service has been established for

the distribution of _letters_ to the various parts of that city."--ED.

[209] More detailed information on this subject will be found in

Appendix I.

[210] "Hansard," Vol. CLVIII., p. 1205.

[211] "Third Annual Report," p. 33.

[212] "Fourth Annual Report," p. 17.

[213] "Hansard," Vol. CLXVI., pp. 188, 189.

[214] Some of the old abuses of the franking system have re-appeared.

Private letters are often sent under the Government frank; especially

is this the case with private letters for the colonies.--ED.

[215] It is important to observe that the amount actually paid by

Government for its postage before the abolition of franking was less,

in proportion to the amount of its correspondence, than that paid after

the abolition.

[216] The following note on Lord Canning was added by Sir Rowland Hill

in June, 1876:--"In an able article in the last 'Edinburgh Review,'

on Lord Mayo's Indian administration, the writer thus speaks of Lord

Canning:--'And then we come to Earl Canning, who, almost without

exception among English statesmen, presents the grandest picture of

unswerving firmness, courage and magnanimity in the midst of the most

appalling dangers; who, without losing hope and strong resolve, saw the

fabric of an empire fading away from his vision like an iceberg in the

Gulf Stream; who at the same time had to confront a native rebellion,

the panic fear and disaffection of his countrymen, and the opinion at

home which was the reverberation of the latter. He met the rebellion,

and he put it down. He met the panic fear, and he triumphed over

it. When blood and punishment and cruelty were preached, he stepped

forward as a grand and magnanimous ruler, as the representative of

British humanity and civilization, and with mild but absolute accent

proclaimed, "This shall not be," and it was not. The greatness of the

man who could so speak and so act, at such a time as the crisis of the

mutiny and rebellion in India in 1857, is not to be measured by the

ordinary deeds of war and peace, however grand in execution the former,

however wise and beneficent the latter may be.' That such a man, after

acquiring a thorough knowledge of myself, should have selected me for

the difficult and responsible post of Secretary to the Post Office, and

have continued throughout my attached friend, is to me a source of the

highest gratification."--ED.

[217] "The trace of Marlborough's neglected education was seen to

the last in his reluctance to write. 'Of all things,' he said to his

wife, 'I do not love writing.' To pen a despatch, indeed, was a far

greater trouble to him than to plan a campaign. But nature had given

him qualities which in other men spring specially from culture. His

capacity for business was immense."--"Green's Short History of the

English People," p. 691.--ED.

[218] "Sixth Annual Report," pp. 38 and 39.

[219] "I must confess," wrote his eldest brother to one of his friends,

"I must confess that the thought of that noble intellect paralyzed and

all but extinguished, struck me with a grief of greater intensity than

I ever felt before in all the bereavements which have been my lot."--ED.

[220] According to the Postmaster-General's Report for 1879,

every transaction costs 7·55_d._ exclusive of postage; while "the

Yorkshire Penny Bank (an old-established, widely-spread and very

thriving institution) does its work (I am informed) at 2_d._ per

transaction."--ED.

[221] The recent large reduction in cost is owing to the non-charge of

postage.--Note by Sir R. Hill in October, 1872.

[222] "Eighth Annual Report," pp. 12-14.

[223] "Fifteenth Annual Report," p. 16.

[224] "Eighth Annual Report," p. 14.

[225] "Eighth Annual Report," p. 15. Any of my readers desirous of

further information on this subject may refer with advantage to an

interesting work on the "History of Savings Banks," by Mr. William

Lewins, author of "Her Majesty's Mails." (Sampson Low and Co.)

[226] See Vol. I., p. 459.--ED.

[227] See Vol. II., p. 315.--ED.

[228] "Ninth Annual Report," p. 10.

[229] The following passage from Sir C. W. Dilke's valuable work

"Greater Britain," published since the above was written, throws

further light on the retrogressive course in question:--

"Writing for the Englishmen of Old England, it is not necessary for

me to defend free trade by any arguments. As far as we in our island

are concerned, it is so manifestly to the pocket-interest of almost

all of us, and, at the same time, on account of the minuteness of our

territory, so little dangerous, politically, that for Britain there can

be no fear of a deliberate relapse into protection, although we have

but little right to talk about free trade so long as we continue our

enormous subsidies to the Cunard liners.

"The American argument in favour of prohibition is in the main, it

will be seen, political; the economical objection being admitted, but

outweighed. Our action in the matter of our postal contracts, and in

the case of the Factory Acts, at all events shows that we are not

ourselves invariably averse to distinguish between the political and

the economical aspect of certain questions."--("Greater Britain,"

second edition, p. 69.)

[230] See my Letter of Appointment, Vol. II., p. 224.

[231] In a paper drawn up some years after this passage was

written, Sir R. Hill has thus expressed himself as regards Mr.

Gladstone:--"There are few public men with whom I have been on such

intimate terms, from whom I have received so much kindness, and for

whom I entertain so high a respect."--ED.

[232] When my plan was published, the lowest General Post rate was

fourpence; but while the plan was under the consideration of Government

the rate between post towns not more than eight miles asunder was

reduced from fourpence to twopence.

[233] In this comparison of revenue, the mode of calculation in use

before the adoption of Penny Postage has of course been retained--that

is to say, the cost of the packets on the one hand, and the produce

of the impressed newspaper stamps on the other, have been excluded.

The amounts for 1863 are, to some extent, estimated, the accounts not

having as yet been fully made up.

[234] In 1868 the letters had increased more than ten and a-half fold.

In 1867 the gross revenue had increased by £2,202,000, and the net

revenue by £467,000.

[235] In 1868 the amount transmitted had risen to £19,079,000, or more

than sixty fold--("Fifteenth Report of the Postmaster-General," p.

4.) [In 1878-79 it had risen to £27,303,000. In the preceding year,

however, it had been as high as £29,153,000. See Vol. II. p. 286.--ED.]

[236] In the _Morning Star_.--ED.

[237] See in correction of this mistake, p. 393 and Appendix N.

[238] In Sir R. Hill's Journal for June 23rd there is the following

entry:--"Received a letter from Mr. Joseph Parkes, giving a brief

account of the negociations with Government on the subject of the

Parliamentary grant, in which he states that a Baronetcy, in lieu of

the grant, was offered, but declined by my friends. This is the first

intimation I have had of the kind. Wrote to say that I fully confirm

the views taken by himself and Mr. Forster as to the Baronetcy."--ED.

[239] "Projectors see no difficulties, and critics see nothing

else."--Edmund Burke. "Correspondence of Edmund Burke." Vol. II., p.

332.--ED.

[240] The above report is taken, with abridgments, from the _Times_ of

June 15th, 1864.

[241] "June 9th, 1864.--Yesterday, received at Oxford the Honorary

Degree of D.C.L. Undergraduates most enthusiastic."--Sir R. Hill's

Journal.--ED.

[242] The following year Sir R. Hill dined at Marlborough House:--"The

Prince of Wales," he wrote, "reminded me of the pleasure he had had,

during the previous year, in presenting me with the Albert Medal,

on which I told him that he really presented me with an empty box,

and explained the cause, viz., that the successive blows required

for obtaining high relief of the medal had broken the die before the

work was completed. The interval being too short for the engraving of

another die, the Council of the Society had judged it better not to

delay matters; consequently the presentation took place 'in dummy.' The

Prince laughed heartily at the story."--ED.

[243] See p. 336.

[244] I have lately learnt (1870) with much pleasure, that this

improvement has been adopted in the new department of Telegraphy.

[245] In the Postal Union Mr. Frederic Hill's plan was at length

brought to effect.--ED.

[246] In 1867, proceedings were taken against the Circular Delivery

Company "for delivering letters contrary to the privilege of the

Postmaster-General." This Company delivered circulars at a very low

rate. "The proper mode of proceeding," Sir Rowland Hill recorded in his

Journal, "would have been to adopt a plan which I long ago frequently

discussed with the Assistant-Secretaries, and which has, I believe,

been recently proposed in writing by my son, viz., to undertake the

delivery of circulars at reduced rates (say a halfpenny), on certain

conditions made with a view to the convenience of the Post-Office.

* * * "_I do not like an enforcement of the monopoly. It covers

mismanagement._"--ED.

[247] In Prussia this is effected by means similar to my plan of

secondary distribution (see Vol. I., p. 251). The same means might be

resorted to here.

[248] Carlyle's "Life of Sterling" (edition of 1857), p. 221.

[249] See Vol. II., p. 389.

[250] See Vol. I., p. 438.

[251] Johnson's "Life of Milton."

[252] See Vol. II., p. 283.

[253] It is foreign to my present purpose to describe the after

administration of the Post Office. I would refer my readers to "The

Edinburgh Review," Nos. 263 and 291, for articles on the Postal

Telegraphs.

[254] The journal closes in the year 1869.

[255] The deputation consisted of Mr. Washington Lyon, mover of the

resolution; Sir John Bennett, the seconder; Mr. Peter McKinlay, the

Chairman of General Purposes Committee; Mr. Scott, F.R.A.S., the

Chamberlain; and Mr. Monckton, F.S.A. (now Sir John Monckton), the Town

Clerk.

[256] Before sending this letter Sir R. Hill read it to his eldest

brother. "I remember," says one who was present at the time, "Mr. M. D.

Hill saying, 'Mind, Rowland, if you send this, and if they do not do

what you ask, you must resign.' Sir Rowland answered, 'I know that, and

I am ready to resign.'"--ED.

[257] "Eighth Report of Postmaster-General," p. 31.

[258] "Eighth Report of Postmaster-General," p. 20.

[259] The number of free newspapers delivered in the United

Kingdom, in 1861, was about 45,700,000.--_Vide_ "Eighth Report of

Postmaster-General," p. 28.--But of these about 4-1/2 millions were

newspapers from abroad.

[260] "Seventh Report of Postmaster-General," p. 12.

[261] It is true that some few newspapers exceed the limit of weight

(4 ozs.) which is carried for one penny, and they are therefore

charged higher rates; but, on the other hand, two or more of the

lighter newspapers--the aggregate weight of which does not exceed the

4 ozs.--are frequently sent under the same cover, and only one penny

is charged on the packet. The average postage of each newspaper, when

prepaid with the postage stamp, will therefore, in all probability, not

exceed one penny per transmission.

[262] "Report of Select Committee on Postage (1843)," Mr. R. Hill's

evidence, p. 46.

[263] "Hansard"--Debate in Lords, June 21, 1842.

[264] Letter to Postmaster-General, 10th January, 1860.

[265] Pp. 20-22.

[266] "Second Report of Select Committee on Postage (1843)," question

11,070.

[267] "Eighth Report of Postmaster-General," p. 31.

[268] "Eighth Report of Postmaster-General," p. 31.

[269] The £45,000 and £110,000 charged for Government postage

(exclusive of that of the Post Office itself) for the year 1838 and

the present time, do not show the whole amounts received, the charges

on the official foreign correspondence being omitted from the first

amount, and that for the official bye and cross post letters from both.

In the "Second Report of the Select Committee on Postage" (Appendix, p.

115) is a table showing with greater accuracy the amounts received for

postage on the official _inland_ correspondence for each year from 1833

to 1837. The amounts given above, however, will suffice for comparison.

[270] "Report of Select Committee of Lords (1847)," question 352.

[271] "Railway Intelligence for the Period," ending 31st December,

1856. Published "under the Sanction of the Committee of the Stock

Exchange."

[272] Now (1868) 6-1/2 days.

[273] This caveat is abundantly justified by information published

in the "Journal of the Society of Arts" (October 28th, 1870), by

which it appears that in North Germany, one of the countries pointed

to for our example, newspapers are subject to a regular stamp duty,

such as was formerly paid in England, but the amount of which is not

easily stated, since it depends upon the size of the paper and other

circumstances; and, further, that the compulsory stamp has not the

franking power it possessed here, so that the postage constitutes an

additional charge; and it is with the sum of these two charges that

our postage should in fairness be compared. But the postage alone

(2/3_d._ for rather less than 1-1/2 oz., with a proportionate increase

for greater weights) is higher than that which was charged in this

country on many papers of large circulation, _e.g._, the _Times_ (with

its supplement of four pages, or, under the impressed stamp, with its

supplement of eight pages), the _Spectator_, the _Economist_, and the

_Athenæum_. While, besides exemption from stamp duty, other important

advantages were enjoyed by the British, as compared with the North

German, papers, _e.g._, under the adhesive stamp, permission to write

upon them anything except a letter, and, with the like exception,

to enclose with them either one or more additional newspapers, or

other printed or written matter, on paying book postage according to

the total weight; or again, under the impressed stamp, the power of

repeated retransmission. But, above all, the right to resort to other

and cheaper means of conveyance, a right barred in North Germany by

postal monopoly. In short, all things considered, there can scarcely be

a doubt, that even before the reductions of 1870, our much depreciated

newspaper arrangements were more favourable, alike to publishers and

the public, than those of North Germany, which are held up as our

example. Further, that the North German Post Office, instead of having

to pay, like the British Post Office, £600,000 a year for the railway

conveyance of its mails, has the use of all railways without subjecting

itself to any charge whatever, though its operations include parcels

up to the individual weight of twenty pounds; lastly, that with all

these advantages, and with a higher postage rate on the prevailing

class of letters, the North German Post Office, though serving a

population about equal to our own, yields in annual net revenue only

about £60,000, while the British Post Office, with all its burdens

and its lower rate of postage, yields, even if debited with the whole

expense of the mail packet service, more than £1,400,000, of course

relieving taxpayers to that extent.--_Vide_ Fifteenth Report of the

Postmaster-General--the latest issued--p. 14).

[274] Full information of this subject may be found in a minute of mine

dated 13th July, 1858, and included in a Parliamentary Return, No. 302,

1860.

[275] This was written at a time when, as yet, there were no halfpenny

stamps.--ED.

The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the History of Penny Postage, Vol. 2 (of 2) · 第 21 / 21 章