§ LORD TRUROrose to ask Her Majesty's Postmaster General, Whether the Rumour of Sir Rowland Hill's Resignation is well founded; and, if so, whether he has any Objection to state the Circumstances under which that Resignation has taken place? The noble Lord said he put the Question to satisfy the strongly expressed desire of the public to know the truth of the rumour to this effect which had got abroad. He was sure that it would cause general regret to hear of the existence of any cause for the retirement of a man who had conferred such an immeasurable benefit upon the country, and, indeed, upon the whole civilized world?
§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYsaid, it was true that Sir Rowland had recently resigned his position in the Post Office in consequence of the state of his health. Six months ago he applied for six months' leave of absence, in the hope that he might then be enabled to resume his duties; but at the end of that period—the beginning of this month—he forwarded his resignation, saying that the six months' leave of absence had not restored his health, and accompanying it with a medical certificate stating that it would not be safe for him to resume his duties in the Post Office. Those were the whole circumstances connected with Sir Rowland Hill's resignation, as far as he was acquainted with them. He was sure that he should meet with their Lordships' concurrence in expressing the deepest regret at the retirement of this able public servant. The name of Sir Rowland Hill would be inseparably connected with the establishment of the penny post system—one of the greatest improvements of the present age—and which had, perhaps, conferred more benefit on mankind than any other recent reform. Those who recollected the state of things before the penny post would know that to the poorer classes correspondence by letter was at that time almost practically interdicted, that to the class above them the cost of a letter was a very serious matter, and that in the commercial and mercantile world intercourse was injuriously 1627 restricted by the expense of correspondence. Since its first introduction the penny post system had been greatly extended; facilities of all sorts were given; money orders and savings banks had been connected with it, and in every way it had been largely developed. It had become popular all over the civilized world, and with it the name of Hill would be for ever connected. Their Lordships would confirm him in expressing the general regret which would be felt by the public at his retirement, and the universal acknowledgment of the value of his services would, no doubt, be a great satisfaction to Sir Rowland Hill.