The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

1847-8] ATTEMPTED ROBBERY. 79
contents. It is much to be wished that all persons
inclined to such carelessness would pause to think
how grievous is the temptation to which the humbler
servants of the Post Office are thereby exposed.
Attempted Robbery.
"July 7th. 1847. There was a serious attempt this morning
(fortunately unsuccessful) to rob a letter-carrier who was taking out a
large number of bankers' parcels for delivery. It is said in the office
that they contained nearly half-a-million of money."
The circumstances of this extraordinary proceeding
are thus described in the "Annual Register" :
From the " Annual Register" for 1847. Chronicle, p. 82.
"July 7. MURDEROUS ATTACK ON A LETTER-CARRIER.
"A most atrocious attack was made upon one of the letter
deliverers employed by the General Post Office, named Bradley.
He is one of those whose it particular duty is to make the early
delivery at the different bankers and merchants in Lombard Street of
what are called the '
registered letters.' He had received his bag of
letters as usual from the chief office, St. Martin's-le-Grand, at eight
o'clock, and was proceeding through Mitre Court, which leads from
Wood Street to Milk Street. After passing through the gate, which
at night closes the entrance to the court in Wood Street, he noticed
two or three men in the passage, one of whom suddenly locked the
gate; and when Bradley had nearly reached the iron posts in the
middle of the court he was struck a violent blow with a life-
preserver, which stunned him for a moment ;
he nevertheless called
out for assistance, keeping his bag of letters firmly grasped in his
hand and under his arm. The villains, alarmed by his cries, rapidly
made off into Milk Street, leaving behind them their deadly weapon.
Bradley was severely injured about the head, and being an old man,
was, in consideration of his resistance to this attack, allowed to retire
on full pay. A reward of ^300 was offered for the detection of the
perpetrators ; but as Bradley could give no description of them, and
no other person had observed them, the police did not get any clue
to their detection."
I am glad to learn (1867) that this faithful veteran
is still living.