The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. [1855-9
consequence of an attempt to make prepayment of inland letters
compulsory to the extent of one penny. By this post I send you a
parliamentary return, showing our reasons for the measure, and the
grounds of its abandonment.
"
This is the first time I have had to retrace a step and to confess
;
the truth, I don't like it. Since the measure was abandoned, many
have come forward to defend the restriction ; had they done so
in the first instance the result might, perhaps, have been different."
PARCELS POST.
As early as 1842 * I had recommended the estab-
lishment of a parcels post, but was prevented from any
immediate action by my dismissal in that year from the
Treasury ; and for a long time after my recall to office,
measures of more pressing importance, combined with
the difficulties of my position, compelled further delay.
Even when I had more leisure, and was on firmer
ground, the ill-judged opposition of the railway com-
panies remained a constant obstacle. In the year 1858
the question was taken up by the Society of Arts, a
meeting being held on the subject, with Lord
Ebrington, now Earl Fortescue, in the chair, and an
able Report, drawn up by my friend, Mr. Chadwick,
was adopted. Nevertheless, this valuable addition to
public
convenience is still a desideratum.
TUBULAR CONVEYANCE.
The division of London into districts naturally
induced inquiry as to the swiftest and cheapest means
of conveyance over the comparatively short distances
between office and office. Mail-carts were at once put
in use, but I was inclined to hope that a swifter mode
* "Report of Select Committee on Postage (1843)," P- 4*