The "Dundee Advertiser," a consistent support during a past lengthened
period, including powerful leading articles and notices.
The "Montrose Standard," several cordial and able articles of the
highest value, while the same is to be gratefully noticed of the other
Forfarshire papers.
The "Brechin Advertiser," the "Forfar Herald," the "Arbroath Guide," the
"Montrose Review."
The "North British Daily Mail," of Glasgow, in a leading article headed
"A Neglected Inventor," after stating the case, goes on to say: "It is
not creditable to the generosity of the Government of this country that
an important invention of this kind, which has conferred such a great
boon upon the public, should have remained so long unacknowledged and
unrewarded." This article has been extensively reproduced.
The "Glasgow News" and the "Christian Leader," of Glasgow, cordial
articles.
The "Paisley Herald," the same on several occasions.
The "Aberdeen Free Press," a warm and able support.
The "Blairgowrie Advertiser" has taken much interest and pains to
support me; also the "Perthshire Constitutional," the "Fifeshire
Journal," the "North British Advertiser," to all of which my best thanks
are due.
In the Metropolis and neighbourhood, considering how short a period has
elapsed since the opinion has been almost unanimously expressed that the
reformed Penny Postage scheme was the "sole and undisputed invention of
Sir Rowland Hill," to whom has also been erroneously attributed the
invention and proposal as well as the ultimate adoption of the adhesive
stamp, fair progress has already been made in obtaining a recognition of
Mr. Chalmers' services. That greater progress has not been made may be
attributed to the powerful influences which have been at work to stifle
the whole subject, including an attempt on the part of Mr. Pearson Hill
to stop the publication of pamphlets.
In the "Illustrated London News" Mr. G. A. Sala writes: "It seems
tolerably clear that Sir Rowland Hill was not the inventor, in the
strict sense of the term, either of the Penny Postage or of the Adhesive
Postage Stamp ... Anent the invention of the Adhesive Stamp, a pamphlet
has recently been published, but I have not yet had time to read it....
Whoever discovered the Adhesive Stamp, the discovery has socially
revolutionised the world." According to this high authority, the
Adhesive Stamp was thus at least _not_ the invention of Sir Rowland
Hill.
The "Whitehall Review" has given me consistent and most valuable
support; also the "Metropolitan," the "People," the "Home and Colonial
Mail." The "Machinery Market," of London and Darlington, a practical
monthly journal of high position, while retaining all its former
admiration for Sir Rowland Hill's services, decides, in a long and able
article, in favour of James Chalmers as respects the stamp. The
"Inventors' Record," in an article on "Disputed Inventions," supports
the same view. The pretensions brought forward on the part of Sir
Rowland Hill are declared to be wholly groundless, and the invention
accorded to James Chalmers.
The "Croydon Review," a monthly, in a series of able articles, has
informed its readers candidly with respect to the untenable pretensions
of Sir Rowland Hill, both as respects the scheme and the stamp,
cordially ascribing the latter to James Chalmers.
The "Surrey Independent" has ably supported me in several leading
articles. As far as conception went, "Sir Rowland Hill displayed a
remarkable facility for picking other people's brains."
To the "Surrey Comet" and "Wimbledon Courier" my best thanks are due for
cordial notices and recognition; as also to the "West Middlesex
Advertiser," the "South Hampstead Advertiser," the "North Middlesex
Advertiser," the "Christian Union," the "Hornsey and Finsbury Park
Journal," the "American Bookseller," the "Acton and Chiswick Gazette,"
"Figaro," "Vanity Fair," the "Kensington News," "Life," and others.