The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

194 LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. [1851
My friends were still moving in my behalf, as appears
by the following letter from Mr. Cobden :
"Midhurst, Sussex,
" I4th September, 1851.
" MY DEAR SIR, Having learnt your address from your brother,
I write merely to say that, although I did not forget to fulfil my
promise, yet the conversation I had with the Chancellor (which I
took care was a casual one) ended in leaving matters where they
were. He spoke, as usual, in terms of high regard for yourself, and
is, I believe, sincerely desirous of promoting the object I had in view
in speaking to him. But the difficulty in the way of the arrangement
is the same now as before.
' M is not an old man he cannot
;
with decency be shelved; and at present there is nothing good
enough in point of salary to which he could be transferred so as to
create a vacancy in his post,' &c. I confess I don't see why this
should not be treated as an exceptional case, and believe that a very
good defence might be made of such an arrangement as was spoken
of; but I gathered from the Chancellor that he was not disposed to
take upon himself the responsibility of such a proceeding. And so
the matter must remain for the present. We will talk the subject
over again when we meet.
"
Hoping you are finding health in the sea-breezes,
" I remain,
" Very truly yours,
"R. COBDEN."
Soon afterwards, at the request of the Postmaster-
General, I visited, in company with my son, the more
important towns in the West Riding of Yorkshire,
where I discussed with Mr. Godby, the surveyor,
numerous demands for postal improvement lately
received from that important district. At Leeds,
Halifax, Bradford, and Huddersfield I received
deputations. The result of my proceedings
recorded :
is thus
" November igth. Succeeded in every instance in satisfying the
parties that we were desirous of doing all that was practicable that
some of their demands were unreasonable, or of doubtful practi-