The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the History of Penny Postage, Vol. 2 (of 2)

“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 (1843-1846).

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 (1844-1846).

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 (1846-1848).

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 (1848-1849).

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 (1849-1850).

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 (1850-1851).

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 (1849-1851).

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 (1851-1852).

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 (1853-1854).

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 (1855-1859).

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 (1855-1860).

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.