The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

1848] FORMAL CLAIM FOR PROMOTION. IOI
had been conscious of. In fact, I found that most
of the improvements included in the list of agenda,
which I had laid before the Committee of 1843, were
either completed or at least in progress. Still, as I
felt it indispensable that my greater
should go forward,
reforms also
I continued from time to time to
urge that important change which the condition of my
and as the
engagement gave me a right to demand ;
year drew to its close without any step being taken in
reference to my claims, I naturally became more impatient.
Instead of the six months which had been
spoken of as my probable time of probation, two
whole years had now elapsed. I could not but regard
this interpretation of the virtual promise as more
than sufficiently loose.
After careful consultation with my brothers, I
resolved on making a formal application upon the
subject. In my letter, which is given in the Appendix
(A), after referring to past difficulties and
previous applications,
pectation
as also to the distinct ex-
which had induced me to accept my
present post, after appealing to his my having
lordship as "to
made every possible effort to surmount
and avoid the obstacles incident to my present position,"
I submitted a list of the chief improvements
(all of them, however, of a comparatively minor
character) which, under his lordship's authority, I
had been able to effect in the postal service.
I then described the improvements effected in the
Money Order Department, expressing my confident
expectation that in the course of the year
become self-supporting,* and that by additional mea-
it would
sures, then in progress, it would in time be made to
* This anticipation was realised. See Return to House of Commons, No. 645
1850.