The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

1864] MR. GLADSTONE. 379
compelled me to take this step, as also to warn him
of the evils that must follow some of the changes
then in progress at the Post Office Mr. Gladstone,
receiving me with much kindness and evincing great
sympathy, expressed his readiness to do anything in
his power that might enable me to remain ; but, while
sincerely thanking him for all his kindness past and
present, I was obliged to say that measures of even if practicable, were now too
relief,
late. Thus ended
my last official interview with that distinguished
statesman.*
My letter of resignation, which was addressed to
the Lords of the Treasury, a copy being also sent
to the Postmaster-General, was as follows :
" Hampstead, zgth February, 1864.
" MY LORDS, Referring to my letter to your lordships of the
1 2th March last for explanation of the circumstances which rendered
my position at the Post Office so difficult, especially in the impaired
state of my health, I regret to say that the leave of absence subse-
quently accorded me having elapsed without any satisfactory result,
I have no course left but to resign my appointment as Secretary to
the Post Office into your lordships' hands, which I now accordingly
beg leave to do. The necessity for this step will at once appear on
reference to the enclosed medical certificate.
" I will not, my lords, attempt to conceal the extreme regret with
which I have come to the resolution to retire from a pursuit which
has been the absorbing occupation of so many years of my life. I
had once hoped to assist, for some considerable time to come, in the
great work of perfecting our postal system. My disappointment,
severe as your lordships will feel it must be, is nevertheless greatly
mitigated by the consolation of knowing that all the expectations I
ever held out to Parliament and the country have been surpassed by
the results. Of these, I beg leave to enclose a brief and necessarily
imperfect statement
* In a paper drawn up some years after this passage was written, Sir R. Hill
has thus expressed himself as regards Mr. Gladstone : "There are few public
men with whom I have been on such intimate terms, from whom I have received
so much kindness, and for whom I entertain so high a respect."
ED.