The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

242 LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. [1851-4
result may be counted on in our correspondence with
the most distant colonies. Here it is forgotten that
before a penny postage was established at home it was
ascertained that a penny charge was more than suffi-
cient to defray all expenses, while no such proof has
been given with regard to expenses abroad. Distance
by land was not disregarded
the variation in cost was far too small to be expressed
in the lowest coin of the realm. Moreover, where
until it was shown that
very great distances are concerned, where in the
nature of things answer is slow, multiplication of
letters is but moderately affected by the lowering
of rate. When contractors will undertake to carry
letters to India or Australia for the same charge as
to Glasgow or Aberdeen starting at fixed times and
proceeding at the highest practicable speed ocean
penny postage will become a practical question. Till
then the consideration must, I fear, be postponed.
On the subject of the deputation my Journal thus
continues :
"The Postmaster-General explained the intentions of the Government
on the subject. The Treasury authority for the sixpenny rate
has now been received ; it postpones, however, the extension of the
measure to any of the colonies till the necessary negotiations have
been entered into with those not under our control."
Here, too, it may be useful to touch on a popular
misconception. It is commonly supposed that the
Home Government can of its own authority make
changes as regards colonial postage, whereas, save in
some of the smallest colonies, such changes must
await the consent of the Colonial Governments.
" March Jth, 1853. The Times of this morning contains an ad-
mirable leader on the above subject [the general reduction of
Colonial Postage]. A little complaining at the hardship of charging