The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

372 LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. [1860-3
received the cordial approbation of Mr. Gladstone,
then Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Fiscal Benefits.
The effect of these combined measures is most
strongly exemplified in the service to the Cape of
Good Hope and Natal the loss on which was reduced
;
in six years from about .28,000 to about .5,400 per
annum. In short, I believe that the large annual loss
involved in the foreign and colonial packet service was
actually reduced during the time that the department
was in my brother's hands by more than "200,000 ;
and the
1
; 00,000 being saved by reduced expenditure,
like sum gained by increased yield from the correspondence
; while the cost to the British taxpayer was
further diminished by the extension of arrangements
previously adopted for calling upon the colonies, once
exempt from all expense of transmission, to bear their
just share of the charge.
Increased Punctuality.
Whilst thus successfully striving for increased eco-
nomy, my brother also took measures for improving the
service. By a system of exact accounts he obtained
quarterly tables showing at a glance how each line of
packets stood with respect to punctuality, together
with the length of its quickest and of its slowest
voyage ;
so as to have ground of comparison with sub-
He also introduced into all
sequent performances.
new contracts a stipulation
for penalties to be levied in
cases of over time. Lastly, while the Annual Report
was in his hands, he was careful that, whenever a