The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

214 LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. [1853
At such a time as this every confirmation of my
former calculations and predictions was highly acceptable,
and particularly welcome was a return just then
received, which showed that the number of letters had
at length attained that five-fold increase on which I
had originally counted, progress of late having been
very rapid.
I soon had the satisfaction to find that I was treated
with confidence, Lord Canning consulting me on various
matters which his predecessor had withdrawn from my
charge.
" March I2th. The Postmaster-General voluntarily entered on the
subject of my position. He intends to speak to Lord Clanricarde,
and probably to Sir Charles Wood, on the matter."
I saw also fresh evidence of confidence in me at the
Treasury :
"
April 8th. Mr. John Wood, by direction of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer [Mr. Gladstone], consulted me confidentially on some
points of the intended Budget. ... I inquired if I was at
liberty to name the subject to the Postmaster-General, but was told,
to my surprise, that I was not at liberty to do so."
Not malapropos to the present question, I discovered
that a serious obstacle to improvement in our treaty
with France had arisen from a concession heedlessly
made to the French Post Office about two years before,
increasing the undue advantages already spoken of.
This concession had been made, not only without my
knowledge, but, improbable as this may appear, without
authority from the Treasury. Although, however, the
direct loss produced by this blunder was at the rate of
more than .3,000 a year, the old punctilious notions
of the
as to ostensible economy still stood in the way
change by which alone real economy could be obtained,