The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

38 LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. [1846
spoken of difficulties had thought that the best post
for me would be, not at the Treasury as before, but
at the Post Office, into which, however, he did not yet
see how my introduction could be managed without
disturbance to the department. In short, the matter
was a problem, and time would be required for its
solution. I resolved, therefore, to make good use of
the interim, and entering on the I longest holiday had
ever known, went abroad for that change of scene and
which alone could fit me for the arduous
thought
duties in which I expected soon to be engaged.
Meantime, some events of interest passed at home.
On August 22nd Mr. Duncombe, in the House of
Commons, again complained of the management of the
Post Office. In the course of the debate Mr. Parker
(Secretary to the Treasury) stated that the new Postmaster-General
(Lord Clanricarde) had found " the
whole establishment in a most unsatisfactory condi-
tion." * Mr. Hume, in terms highly complimentary to
me, urged my recall. The Premier (Lord John Russell)
admitted " that he was by no means satisfied with the
state of the Post Office, nor did he think the plans of
reform instituted by Mr. Hill had been sufficiently
to Lord
carried out ;.t and Mr. Warburton, referring
John Russell's admission, strongly urged my reappointment
to office.
My
first intimation of this debate was received in a
letter from Mr. Warburton, of which the following is
the closing passage :
" I think it manifest from this statement of Lord John Russell
that a reform in the Post Office is meditated in good earnest. . . .
You must be within call, if wanted."
On November 2nd, five days after my
return from
* " Hansard," Vol. Lxxxvin., p. 957. t " Hansard," Vol. Lxxxvm., p. 959.