The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

1848] THE MINISTRY IN DANGER. 99
Ministers had determined to resign if beaten on the Jamaica ques-
tion, now pending a result which he thought probable ; his object
in telling me this appeared to be to enable me, as far as possible, to
prepare for the change. I repeated what I have before told him, that
his own resignation would in all probability be followed by mine, for
that, judging from former experience, I was sure that unless I was
well backed by the Postmaster-General,
himself as to render my position
would so conduct
unbearable. He replied that he
had no doubt I should have much opposition to contend with, not
only from , but from the heads of the other departments, who
to a man were opposed to reduction. I reminded the Postmaster-
General of his minute, prescribing a course of proceeding on my
part much more restrictive than the actual practice of the office, and
stated that, should he resign, would, I felt sure, endeavour to
enforce the regulations to the letter. I also inquired if the Post-
master-General would have any objection to modify his minute in
accordance with
him to assent.
the practice of the
He says there will
office. To this I understood
be plenty of time, after the
question of resignation is settled, to attend to such matters. Lord
St. Germans, he thinks, would be his successor. He has noticed
that Lord St. G. has rarely deviated from Maberly's advice."
"
June 28th. E. H., A. H., F. H., and I, met to consult on the
steps to be taken in consequence of the Postmaster-General's com-
munication of the 24th, and decided what should be done. These
family consultations are a great aid to me. Wrote a minute, modi-
fying the one [alluded to above]."
"June 2qth. Called on the Postmaster-General at his house, and
had a very satisfactory interview. He is fully satisfied as to my
administrative powers, and offers to leave a memorandum for his
successor (should the Ministry resign, of which there is now less
probability), expressing his high opinion thereon. Fully admits that
the prospect of promotion held out when I entered on office had
reference to my succeeding Maberly. That all doubt of my ability
to manage the department had long ceased, and that he had repeatedly
expressed himself to other members of the Government
quite ready to conduct the Post Office with my aid only ; that he
expected a vacancy in some other department would have been found
for M. before this, but that his present post was so good a one that it
was difficult to find another equally good, and that Parliament and
the public would not justify their allowing so young a man as M. to
retire upon a pension. I proposed, as an intermediate step, that I
should be declared joint secretary with M. ; but, as I could not
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