The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-15 00:00:00

SPECIAL SUPERANNUATION ALLOWANCE TO

SIR ROWLAND HILL.

The following is a copy of a Treasury minute
granting a special superannuation allowaaos to Sir Rowlead
Hill, H.C.8., secretary to the Goners' Poet-office.
" TILIAIORT MINIM, DATZD )(ARCH 11, 1861.

"Read letter from Sir Rowland Hill, 1C.0.8., dated the
29th February, stating that six months' Avoca having
alai:wed without any satisfactory results es regards the
state of his health, he has now so mazes loft bat to resign
his appointment as secretary to the Post-office.
" Read also letter from the Postmaster-Clues:al of the

instant, stating that Sir Rowland Hill has in come-
quince of the state of his health been compelled to retire
from the public service, and bearing his testimony to the
eminent services which Sr Rowland Hill has rendered.
'• The retirement of Sir Rowland Hill from the office of
secretary to the Post-office would, if treated under the
ordinary machinery of the Superannuation AM, afford to
my lords the power of granting him no more than a papal=
of 5661. 13s. 44., or at the utmost 6681. 13.. 4d., but it
supplies, in the judgment of my lords, an occasion of pecu-
liar fitness for calling into action the 9th or special clause
of the Superannuation Act, and thus, by a proceeding
which marks their moss of his services, of drawing to those
services the attention of parliament.
" The period during which Sir Rowland Hill has held
office, either by a temporary or a permanent appointment,
is but little in excess of twenty years ; yet my lords have to
regret that while he remains full as ever of ability, energy,
and resources, and of disposition to expend them for the
public good, the state of his health, due without doubt in
great part to hie indefatigable labours, compels him to
solicit a retirement.

" It is not, however, by length of service that the merits
and claims of such a man are to be measured. It is not
even by any ►cknowledgment or reward which the executive
government, in the exercise of the powers confided to it,
can confer.

" The postal system, one of the most powerful organs
which modern civilisation has placed at the command of
government, has, mainly under the auspices and by the
agency of Sir Rowland Hill, been, within the last quarter
of a century, not merely improved, but transformed. The
letters transmitted have increased nearly nine-fold, and
have been carried at what may be estimated as little more
than one•ninth of the former charge. In numerous re-
sports convenience has been consult/3 and provided for
even more than cheapness.

" Upon the machinery for the transmission of letters
there have been grafted other schemes, which, at a former
period, would justly have been deemed visionary, for the
transmission of books with other printed matter, and of
money, and for receiving and storing the savings of the
people.
" While these arduous duties have been undertaken, the
condition of the persons employed in this vest department
has been improved, and, ooald attention be adequately
drawn to what lies beneath the surface, my lords are per-
suaded that the methods of communication by letter which
are now in action have prodtmed for the maw of the popu-
lation social and moral benefits which might well have
thrown even these brilliant results into the shade.

"As respects purely fiscal interests, advantages no great
as those which have been recited were, of course, not to be
obtained without some effort or sacrifice. But the receipts
on account of postal service, which on the first adoption of
the change were reduced by above a minim sterling, have
Dow more than recovered themselves, sad if computed on
the same basis as under the old system, the grow sum
realised is about 3,870,0011/. instead of 2,346,000/., and the
net about 1,790,0001. in lieu of 1,660,0001.; at the same
time contnbaod in letters may be stated to have ceased,
and instead of a stationary revenue, such as that derived
from letters between 1815 and 1835, the state has one
which is steadily and even rapidly programers*.
" My lords do not forget that it has been by the power-
ful agency of the railway system that them results bare
been rendered practicable. Neither do they enter into the
question, as foreign to the occasion, what bower may be
due to those who, before the development of the plans of
Sir Rowland Hill, urged tho adoption of the uniform poesy
postage. Nor are they insensible to the fact that the co.
operation of many able public serrants has been essential
to the work performed. Hot after all justice has been
done to others, Sir Rowland HrU is beyond doubt the
person to whom it was given to surmount every kind of
obstacle, and to bring what had been theretofore matter of
speculation into the world of practice, without whom the
country would not have enjoyed the booe, or would only
have enjoyed it at a later date, and to whom, accordingly,
its enjoyment may justly be deemed due.
" Nor is it in this country alone that are to be perceived
the happy fruits of his labours ; the recognition of hie plans
has spread with a rapidity to be amounted for °sly by their
excellence from lend to lard. and truly may now be said so
have met with acceptance throughout the civilised world.
" Under these circumstances it may justly be averred ii
that my lords are dealing oo the present occasion with the
case not merely of a meritorious public servant, but of a
beoefactor of his race ; and that hie fitting reward is to be
towed not in this or that amount of pension, but in the
grateful recollection of his cometry.
' But my lords discharge the portion of duty which
belongs to them with oordial setisfaetiou, is awarding to Sir
Rowland Hill foe life, his full 'story of 2,0001, per annum.
" Lai a copy of this minute be laid before parliament.
" Transmit copy to the Postmaster-General, with a request
that it may be communicated to Sir Rowland Hill."