The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

1847-8] OFFENSIVE CIRCULAR. 75
Edinburgh. I insisted on their recall. Mr. Cornwall,
after conferring with Colonel Maberly, promised the
withdrawal of the objectionable clause, hoping that I
would then raise no further obstacle to the issue of the
circular. I was obliged, however, still to object to
this, as the circular would give effect to the minute
against which I had protested, and thus pledge me to
duties without awarding me the necessary power.
The result of Mr. Cornwall's application was communicated
to me in a private letter from the Postmaster-General,
by which I learnt that, though he
intended to draw a fresh minute in place of Colonel
Maberly's, he had found nothing to object to in the
circular, and consequently had directed its issue without
further delay. He added that his own view was
confirmed by that of the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
of whose opinion he sent me a memorandum. By
this, however, I perceived that the nature of my
objection had been misunderstood, probably by both.
My Journal proceeds as follows :
" On inquiry I found that the circular about to be despatched
retained the objectionable clause. It was not, I think, asking too
much to be heard before any irretrievable step was taken."
However, the Postmaster-General's intention was
soon
own
fulfilled and ;
hand) differed
the
in
new minute
no material
(written in
point from
his
the
draft which I had prepared. I had also some little
satisfaction in finding that, though the circular had
now been issued, yet, in the new minute, all autho-
rity for the offensive part
of it had been removed.
Anxiety as to my true position relative to the Money
Order Department being now sufficiently relieved I
advanced in good spirits, and at once entered on my
new duties.