The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

1855-9] GOVERNMENT FRANKING. 351
system of franking, adding that he had always thought that the
Penny Post Act was one of the greatest jobs ever perpetrated, and
one of the greatest financial mistakes ever committed by the country.
"
Sir Francis Baring, in reply, suggested that the hon. gentleman
should try to bring back the old rates of postage, and he would then
see what was the feeling of the country with regard to the penny
rate; . . . that the accounts ought to show the amount of
service performed by the Post Office, and the charge was brought
into the estimates in order to put a stop at once to the gross abuse of
official franks. He was inclined to think that abuse was carried to
an enormous extent, and he was afraid if they gave the public offices
the right of franking the same abuse would recur.
" Mr. Roebuck said there were two objects in voting this money, to
know what was expended and to check persons spending more than
necessary. The appearance of this item prevented any abuse of
the Post Office machinery. The '
Ambassadors' bag '
had been sadly weighted.
in past times
Coats, lace, boots, and other articles were
sent by it, even a pianoforte; and not only a pianoforte, but a
horse."*
I hear with much regret that in the present year
(1868) the old practice has been in some sort restored
at the various Government offices previously enjoying
the privilege, and even extended to such as never had
it before ; the whole change being doubly injurious,
since, in addition to the evil tendencies already adverted
to,t it gives to the estimates of expenditure in
the various offices a delusive appearance, to the extent,
in the aggregate, of about ^"200,000 a year, the annual
expenses of those offices, and the real earnings of the
Post Office, being alike understated by that amount.J
Before quitting the Reports from which I have
drawn so largely, I must mention that the historic
* "Hansard," Vol. CXLVI., pp. 1 88, 189.
t Some of the old abuses of the franking system have reappeared. Private
letters are often sent under the Government frank ; especially is this the case with
letters for the colonies. ED.
private
J It is important to observe that the amount actually paid by Government for
its postage before the abolition of franking was less, in proportion to the amount
of its correspondence, than that paid after the abolition.