The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

156 LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. [1850
number of persons relieved to about eight thousand,
concludes as follows :
"
In reference to the question of total abolition of it
Sunday duty
should be remarked
"
First, that its advocates wholly overlook the interests of the poor.
To be obliged to resort, as has been proposed in case of need, to the
electric telegraph, or to a shilling postage, would be a severe tax
upon the poor man ; and,
" Secondly, that the Government, having a monopoly
of the de-
livery of letters, cannot refuse to deliver them except in places where
the demand is practically unanimous. Numerous small places (about
four hundred probably) have preferred such a request, and it has
been complied with. Several, however, finding the non-delivery
inconvenient, have requested that the delivery may be resumed;
and it has been resumed accordingly."
While the above was in preparation I received a
letter from Lord Ashley, urging me to hold out
expectations that Government would make further
reductions in the Sunday duty, admitting that we
"had already done a great deal," and, oddly enough,
inferring therefrom that we could do much more.
Not agreeing in this conclusion, I was obliged to
decline giving the pledge required.
On the following day, viz., that fixed for the motion,
I had my first interview with the Premier, waiting
upon him by
his desire. After a time the Chancellor
of the Exchequer came in ; both agreed that the
motion must be resisted, but I left them in fear
that they were not sufficiently prepared for the en-
counter ; I was desired to be under the gallery of
the House of Commons. The following entry in my
Journal
records what occurred :
''May 3Oth. At five o'clock went to the House of Commons.
. . . . owing partly to Lord Ashley having omitted the most
objectionable part of his motion (the stoppage of the mails), and still
more, I fear, to the cowardice of the . members, . . the motion
was carried, by ninety-three to sixty-eight."