The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

1854] THE ASSISTANT-SECRETARIES. 265
This provision proved to be exceedingly useful. Mr.
Tilley, who had been between thirty and forty years in
the department, and had made good use of his opportunities,
was always ready to furnish such information
relative to details as occasion might require while ; my
brother, who had, for seventeen years, been engaged in
duties of a higher order and greater difficulty than those
now devolving upon him, brought with him a mastery of
and a habit of
general principles, a power of origination,
constantly striving for improvement, which gave him
special fitness for the duty to which, indeed, he was
more especially appointed, that of aiding me in the
work of amelioration. This conference continued its
sittings during the whole of my secretaryship ; and I
felt much concern when I learnt that on my withdrawal
it came to an end.
In the division of duties between the assistant-secre-
taries, I was guided by my knowledge of their respective
powers, as well as by a reference to the speciality
of my brother's appointment. Whatever departments
required to be efficiently conducted with but moderate
change in their arrangements were committed
to the charge of Mr. Tilley, while those which seemed
most susceptible of great improvement, with the exception
of such as I retained in my own hands, were
given in charge to my brother. The principal of these
were the Money Order Department, already mentioned,
the mail conveyance by land and by sea, and the Foreign
and Colonial Department generally, including, of course,
conventions with foreign countries. I need scarcely
add, however, that I exercised a general control over
the whole ; and as the reader will be but little interested
in knowing whether particular reforms owe their origin
or execution to my brother or myself, I shall, save in a
few more marked cases, sink individuality and speak