The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

1846] MR. WARBURTON. 45
influences would be removed, I cannot doubt that Government and
the country will do me the justice to bear in mind the peculiar
difficulties of my position, and to recollect that, whatever circum-
stances limit my power, they to the same extent limit my responsi-
bility also.
"Though the fact does not at all touch the public ground to
which, in considering this question, I have endeavoured to confine
my attention, I may be excused for mentioning that my acceptance
of the appointment, accompanied as it must be by the abandonment
of my present occupation, will be attended with an increase of labour
and a sacrifice of income.
"
I am sure you will excuse my troubling you with this letter. My
object is, first, to give you the earliest intimation of my decision,
and, second, to place on record the
they
circumstances of the case while
are fresh in our memories. To any other member of the
Government than
manner.
yourself I could not speak in so unreserved a
"I remain, &c., &c.,
"ROWLAND HILL.
"P.S. . . . November 24th. I have kept back my letter in
order that I may show it to Mr. Warburton, who authorizes me to
say that he approves of it."
Two days afterwards I received a letter from the
Postmaster-General, requesting that I would call upon
him on the following Saturday. Having meantime
inquired of Mr. Warburton whether there were any
further information which he thought it important for
me to receive before this interview,
I had a letter from
him, in which he mentioned that he had told Lord
Clanricarde of my acceptance of the offer made by
Government, accompanying
his announcement with
the remark that those whom I had consulted had been
in doubt as to the advice they should give, fearing that
Colonel Maberly would be able to thwart me in my
exertions. Mr. Warburton's letter then proceeded as
follows :
"That the objections had been overcome by the promises of
support which had been given both by his lordship and the