The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

310 LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. [1854
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XXIV.
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, 1854.
The first of the series of Annual Reports was prefaced with an
historical sketch of the Post Office from its origin, written by my
nephew, Mr. Alfred Hill. To this interesting narrative I beg to
refer such of my readers as may desire to become acquainted with
the early history of the department.* Like all similar documents,
it will be found in any collection of Parliamentary papers. Here,
however, I shall only quote one or two statements not previously
given, and some few other passages that may interest or amuse.
Soldier? Letters.
It had formerly been maintained, even by so high an authority as
the Duke of Wellington, that British soldiers were but little dis-
posed to make use of their long-existing privilege of penny postage.
That opinion found little confirmation at this time, since during the
first eight months, after arrangements had been made for postal
communication during the Crimean War, more than three hundred
and fifty thousand letters each way passed between England and the
seat of war ; neither did the higher rate attaching to the quicker
route through France prevent its engrossing six-sevenths of the
whole correspondence.
Colonial and Foreign Posts.
Under this head the Report deals with one of a numerous class
of misapprehensions. I think I have already referred t to the wellknown
propensity of Englishmen to make comparisons unfavourable
to their own country. The simplified and reduced postage on
letters to and from the Colonies, viz., sixpence
for the whole
distance, had, as respects the Australian Colonies, been unfavourably
*
"First Report of the Postmaster-General, " p. 7.
t See p. 92. ED.