The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

APPENDIX I. 473
prepared with a view to a comparison such as that now under consideration.
It is proper to state, however, that a certain change of
circumstances has led to a corresponding change in the mode of
presenting the account. Formerly, when the year's disbursements
were almost identical with its liabilities, their unmodified appearance
in the account was sufficient for practical purposes ; but, of late
years, when, owing to unavoidable irregularities in the large payments
made to railway companies, the disbursements and liabilities
have often been largely at variance, the latter have been presented in
the account in preference to the former, as obviously affording better
means for determining the net revenue of the year.
The amount arrived at by this mode of proceeding is ^1,525,311,
or ^134,199 less than the net revenue of 1838.
It may, perhaps, be objected to the above comparison, that the
revenue derived from the packets is greater now than heretofore, and
that equity requires a corresponding adjustment of the account.
There can be no doubt that the revenue in question has considerably
increased, although such increase is not wholly attributable to the
improvements in the packet service. If, however, the adjustment
thus called for should be made, equity would require corresponding
adjustments on other points. Thus, allowance would have to be
made, ist, for a considerable amount of net revenue formerly
accruing from various colonial post offices, as, for instance, those
of British North America and the West Indies, which have recently
been made independent. 2nd, for the great increase in the expense
of conveying the mails, which increase, contrary to all that might
have been expected, has arisen from the establishment and extension
of the railway system. And, 3rd, for the additional expenditure
caused by a general increase of salary and by a reduction of indi-
vidual labour, both made to remedy admitted eyils under the old
system. It would, indeed, be very difficult, if not wholly imprac-
ticable, now to ascertain the result of all these adjustments; but it
may safely be maintained that it would leave the account at
favourable to the Post Office as at present.
least as
ROWLAND HILL.
December 18, 1862.