The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

254 LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. [1851-4
When the privilege was extended from soldiers and sailors to the
general public, the three monopolists of the last century could
divide between them, on an average, no more than six hundred and
fifty pounds per annum. No longer ago than the year 1838, the
Money Order Office was absorbed into the Post Office; and,
although the charges were reduced to a commission of sixpence
for sums not exceeding two pounds, and of one shilling and sixpence
for sums up to five pounds (which was, and is still, the limit), a chief
clerk and two assistants were appointed to do all the business the
public brought to them ; and even they could only do it at a loss to
the department. People could not afford to increase even the
reduced charges for commission, by the eightpenny and shilling
postages for their letters of advice.
"
Penny postage, therefore, is the parent of the gigantic money-
order system, which now flourishes in full activity. In estimating
the advantages of that great stroke of economical, administrative,
and commercial sense, many of its less prominent agencies for good
are overlooked. The facilities it has afforded for epistolary intercommunication
are so wonderful and self-evident, that we who
benefit by them are blinded to the hidden impulses it has given to
social improvement and to commerce. Regarded only as the origin
of the present money-order system, penny postage has occasioned the
exercise of prudence, benevolence, and self-denial ; it has, in many
instances, stopped the sufferings of want by timely remittances ;
and
it has quickened the undercurrents of trade by causing small trans-
actions to be easily and promptly effected. These advantages can
only be estimated by a consideration of the following facts.
"
During the advent year of penny postage, the commission on
Post Office orders was reduced to threepence and sixpence for
sums not exceeding two pounds and not exceeding five pounds
respectively. In that year the number of orders granted in the
United Kingdom was (in round numbers, which we shall use
throughout, for the reader's greater convenience) 188,000, for an
aggregate amount of ^313,000. Even this was a great advance on
the business previously done at the old prices ; but what are the
figures for the tenth year of penny postage? During the year 1850
the number of orders granted in the United Kingdom was 4,440,000,
for amounts making up ,8,495,000 ; only a million less than the
yearly produce of the income and assessed taxes put together !
This marvellous increase can perhaps be better appreciated by being
seen through a diminished medium. In the first month of the
penny postage (1840), the issue of orders was about 10,000 in