The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

1855-9] THE POST OFFICE AND THE RAILWAYS. 2/7
George Cornewall Lewis, then Chancellor of the Exchequer,
for such an acceleration of the mail to Hereford
as would enable letters to reach Kington (Radnor-
shire), near which he morning delivery.
resided, in time for an early
As the readiest means of effecting
this was by the use of the Gloucester and Hereford
to know on what
Railway, I applied to the company
terms they would perform the duty, the distance upon
their line being twenty-three miles. The answer was
a very heavy demand (according to my recollection,
,3,000 per annum) ; the reason given for this
enormous charge being that the line, which was
ordinarily closed during the night, would have to
be kept open for the special service. Though Sir
Cornewall Lewis forbore to urge a demand involving
so large a sacrifice, I could not but desire to attain
the end, if practicable, knowing how inconvenient it
must be for important official correspondence to be
delayed. Taking advantage, therefore, of the clearness
of the line by night, I proposed that the Post
Office should itself run a train (as by law any one
is entitled to do), paying, however, the appointed tolls,
though legally exempted therefrom. This, however,
was obviously impracticable without supplies of coal
and water, and standing room for the engine and
carriage, which the company alone had the means
of furnishing; and for these I offered to pay according
to arbitration. This offer the company absolutely
declined, though, as a further inducement, I had
included in it the tender to the company of a carriage
for passengers. Other means being sought for, it was
at length suggested that Kington might be reached
in sufficient time by another route, if the Shrewsbury
and Hereford Company would allow the use of their
line on moderate terms ; and, this company agreeing