The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

124 LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. [1849
Hundreds of persons, through measures adopted on
my recommendation, had been released from the
greater part of their Sunday duty. I had, in fact,
been strenuously, though quietly, doing the very
work of the Lord's Day Society ; and, now, because
a further important measure in the same direction
required a small temporary addition to the Sunday
force of the London office alone, this even being so
arranged as that all engaged would be released from
duty an hour before the usual time for the commence-
ment of Divine Service,
I was denounced as the chief
enemy of the due observance of the Sunday, and
charged with a wicked intention to compel, whereas,
on the contrary, I was doing my very best to prevent
compulsion. These attacks, too, so painful and in-
jurious to myself, were no less endangering the great
measure of relief which I was striving to carry
through. As I have said, the public could not yet
think it only felt. Under such circumstances I was
bound to be most heedful lest any act or even
acquiescence on my part, real or apparent, might
give, or seem to give, ground, however slight, for
just imputation.
Mr. Bokenham had twice applied to me to obtain
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. I5th. 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.