The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

1851-4] RAILWAY LEGISLATION. 22Q
chairman, I gave evidence,* of which the following is a
summary.
I showed that the existing relations between the Post
Office and the railway companies were very unsatisfac-
tory, tending greatly to restrict the use of the railways
for the conveyance of mails, to the real injury of the
companies, and still more to that of the public. I
showed, also, that while the construction of railways
had greatly reduced the cost of conveying passengers
and goods, it had largely increased that of conveying the
mails. Thus, since the opening of railways, although
the total weight of mail had increased by only 140 per
cent., the cost of its conveyance had increased by
nearly 300 per cent, viz., from ,112,000 in 1836 to
about "442,000 (of which about ,362,000 was for
railway conveyance) in 1852. I laid before the committee
a billt (approved first by Lord Hardwicke, and
afterwards by Lord Canning) framed with a view of
prescribing rates of charge for mails conveyed by
ordinary trains (those run at hours determined by the
companies), such rates being fully equal, all things con-
sidered, to those charged to the public for like services,
and of laying down a principle of arbitration in respect
of trains run at hours fixed by the Postmaster-General.
I also laid before the committee a copy of my Report
to the Postmaster -General of the ist of January,
18474
The committee, in its Report, referred especially to
my evidence, and, in the main, adopted my view, ex-
pressing an opinion " that the companies should afford
to the Post Office, at the same charge as would be paid
by private individuals for similar services, every assistance
which might add to the convenience of the public.
* "Fifth Report," pp. 175-191. t " Fifth Report," p. 243.
J " Fifth Report," p. 246.