The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

2/2 LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. [1855-9
about three years from the first positive movement the
district system, though still imperfect, was in some
sort established throughout. The beneficial effect
had already distinctly appeared in the augmented
rate of increase in the number of district letters ; the
annual increment rising from somewhat less than a
million and a half to somewhat more than six millions
and a quarter.* Early delivery, meantime, so far
advanced as to bring the completion of the first round
of the day nearly to the point aimed at, viz., 9 a.m.t
The number of deliveries, too, was raised to ten, and
communication within the whole suburban district
rendered much more frequent and rapid. J These
improvements had received some aid from the public
in the multiplication of street-door boxes, and yet
more in the use in addresses of initial letters indicating
while the Metropolitan Board of Works also
districts, ||
had somewhat amended the nomenclature of streets
and the numbering of houses ;1F but on all three
points very much remained then, and, I must add,
remains still, to be done.
Shortly afterwards a similar system was applied to
Liverpool, by which means not only the deliveries
were much improved, but the cost of erecting a new
chief office was avoided.**
*
J
"Fifth Report," p. 9.
"Third Report," p. 5 ;
t "Fourth Report," p. 8.
"Fourth "
Report," p. 9 ; Sixth Report," p. 9.
The following extract from the "Industrial History of Birmingham"
supplies some evidence on this point :
"The introduction of penny postage by Rowland Hill operated on this branch
of trade materially [Birmingham manufactures in brass]. How it did so is strange
but true. Immediately on its coming into effect came the demand for letter-
weighing machines, which were made in immense quantities ; and letter-box
plates were introduced, made, and continue to be made, in very considerable
numbers."
|| "Sixth Report," p. 9. IT "Fourth Report," p. 10.
* * It appears that the district system is now (1869) introduced into Calcutta.
See "Greater Britain," by Sir C. Dilke, Vol. n., p. 263. (Second Edition).