The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

378 LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. [1864
been raised, Dr. Watson, supported by the others, earnestly advised
that the main question should now be finally decided, as they considered
it very important, in the state of my health, that all doubt on
the subject should be removed. They afterwards gave the following
certificate :
" '
1 6, Henrietta Street, Cavendish Square,
" '
February i8th, 1864.
" ' We certify that the state of Sir Rowland Hill's health is such as
to render it unsafe for him to resume his duties at the Post Office.' "
In yielding to the necessity thus falling upon me,
I had some comfort in knowing that I left behind
me, in addition to several men of tried zeal and
ability in their respective stations, a few on whose
zeal, talent, and earnest support of my plans,
I could
implicitly rely ; for though I feared that under existing
circumstances their efforts would be comparatively un-
availing, yet I trusted they would have strength to
endure until the return of better times. Unfortunately
while my trust in their firmness has been
fully justified, my hope seems as far as ever from
fulfilment.
My whole family concurring in the necessity of the
contemplated step, I called on the Chancellor of
the Exchequer : my interview with him is thus re-
corded in my Journal :
" Gladstone greatly regrets my determination to resign. Presses
upon me an offer to arrange for another six months' absence, with a
clear understanding that I do not return to the Post Office while
Lord Stanley of Alderley is there. At his urgent request, promised to
reconsider the question."
I fulfilled this promise, but could not venture to
change my determination. Before sending in my
resignation, however, I thought
it due to Mr. Glad-
stone to wait upon him, and state the reasons which