The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

1847] CLAIMANTS. 5 1
followed by intrigues to thwart my progress, undermine
my credit, and remove me from my post, will
be little surprised at the manifestations recorded
above. At the time of the first cabal,
I was in the
weakness of isolation ; this, the second, was formed
when I was in the weakness of a novel position ; and
it will be found hereafter that other such seasons were
chosen as times for similar proceedings. I felt too
truly that a struggle was to come, and I could not
yet foretell how far I should be supported in it by
the Postmaster-General.
I had scarcely got my department into somewhat
smoother working, when I was called upon to deal
with applicants of two separate kinds : first, depu-
tations from letter-carriers and stampers, suggesting
improvements and applying for increase of wages ;
all of whom, for the sake of discipline, I declined
receiving without the express
sanction of the Post-
master-General ; and, secondly, from persons claiming
compensation for inventions or devices already included
more or less explicitly in my published plan.
The most remarkable amongst these claimants was
a lady, who informed me by letter that the plan of
penny postage originated with her, and begged that
I would be so obliging as to aid her in obtaining due
compensation from Government !
Meantime I went to work with a view to the extension
of those facilities on which I had laid so much
stress :
"January jot/i, 2847. This week engaged chiefly in completing
the instructions to the surveyors, by means of which I hope to effect
important improvements simultaneously in all the large towns in the
kingdom."
These instructions, when completed, were sanc-
tioned by the Postmaster- General, who, however,
E 2