Lords Sitting of 10 July 1835

MINUTES.
Bill. Read a second time:—London Small Debt Loan Societies.

POST-OFFICE.
The Duke of Richmondgave notice, that on Monday next he should move for certain Returns connected with the Post-Office. He should do this with a view to show that there were certain Gentlemen who spoke about matters which they did not understand. He found it stated, that during the time he held the office of Postmaster-General, there was a sum of 1,970,000 l. unaccounted for. If these hon. Gentlemen knew anything of the matters they talked about, they would know that that sum included the Dead-Letter money, which could not be recovered; and also the sums of money for the Conway and Menai bridges, which were paid by Act of Parliament. He did not mean to say, that these hon. Gentlemen said what they did not believe, but he did think that they should make some inquiries before they made such statements. It had been also stated, that during the time he held the office of Postmaster-General he had appointed 300 individuals to situations. He only wished that he had had so much good fortune. If that had been the case, perhaps some of those who were now so eager in making complaints would have been silent.
Lord Broughamsaid, whether his noble Friend had or had not accounted for upwards of 1,000,000 l. of the public money, was a point to which he could not speak; but this he knew, that his noble Friend had promised him, for four years, to appoint a Postmaster, but during those four years he had not succeeded in procuring that appointment. His noble Friend might, at that time, have made him 300
400
promises for aught he knew—but certainly the appointment was still wanting.