The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-03 00:00:00

Resignation of Sir Rowland RilL

It is with keen regret we learn that the
state of his health and the advice of his physi-
cians have obliged Sir Rowland Hill to resign
the Secretaryship of the General Post-office, and to
retire from the public service, if not in- a critical or
dangerous condition, at all events a worn out and
exhausted man, still retaining, indeed, all the in-
clination and intellectual capacity to be useful, but
with a shattered nervous system—the consequence
of long and unsparing work, which has established
in his case also that discordance between mind and
body under which too many of the best servants of
the public break down. To compliment Sir Row-
land Hill on his retirement from a career of benefit
to his country, and, through England, to the world,
is superfluous, when every postman's ring, answered
by finding letters, journals, pamphlets, patterns,
Sze., in our door-receiver, associates, and will keep
associated, his name with one of the constant com-
forts and conveniences of life. We do but anticipate
the public regret at losing a servant who united the
capacity of devising the largest plans of improvemeht
with the ability of carrying out their smallest and
nicest details, whose desire for, and study of further
amendment was continuous and incessant, who
allowed no personal mortification or disappoint-
ment, DO ungracious criticism or jealous obstructive-
ness to impede his course, who regarded difficulties
only as something to be overcome, and who be-
queaths to his successors ample and well prepared
materials for acquiring distinction and doing the
country further service. Calm, self-reliant, inde-
fatigable, resolved, Sir Rowland Hill went on, until
nature and strength would no longer respond to his
efforts. Six months ago the Government suggested
a period of repose, trusting again to hava the con-
tinued benefit of his exertions; but repose has not
brought back the wonted vigour, and Sir Rowland,
feeling that his time for work was over, has con-
scientiously accepted the warning, and, without
reference to pecuniary interest, has retired,
leaving a name identified with ever present fami-
liar benefits, and claims on the nation which it
is for the public, in its own interests, to enforce.
It is now twenty-seven years, nearly a genera.
tion of man, since the great postal revolution of
which Sir Rowland Hill was the author, was prc-
clairaed by the public voice. In that term the
number of chargeable letters has risen from 76 mil-
lions to the almost fabulous figure of more than 600
millions, and, after defraying all the costs of a
largely increased establishment, the nett revenue of
the Post-office now is considerably larger than it
was 30 years ago. In the same period the annual
amount transmitted through the post has increased
from £313,000 to far upwards of £15,000,000. Con-
traband oonveyance of letters has ceased. Quick
delivery of letters has been secured by the almost
universal resort to the flee of the stamp. Increased
security for passing valuable property through the
post has been gained by an inexpensive registration.
More rapid and more frequent 'communications be-
tween the Metropolis and the larger provincial
towns, as also between one provincial town and
another, a great extension of free deliveries, in-
creased facilities for the transmission of foreign and
colonial correspondence by improved conventions
with foreign countries, by better arrangements of
the packet services, by sorting on board and other
means, a more prompt despatch of letters when
posted, and a more prompt delivery on arrival, the
division of London and its suburbs into postal dis-
tricts, a vast extension of rural deliveries, the esta-
blishment of a book post, have all followed in due
order, the result of immense forethought and care.
Patronage and jobbing in Post-office appointments
have been displaced by the introduction of the prin-
ciple of promotion, which is doing incalculable good.
The condition of the employes has been in many
respects materially improved, their labours, espe-
cially on Sundays, reduced, their salaries increased.
These are some of the great and good works accom-
plished in the Postal Department of the State by Sir
Rowland Hill ; they will well bear comparison with
the result at any other public servant's career, and
for them the nation, as it hopes to be well and
faithfully served, has on his retirement to thank
their author, and to take care that its gratitude is
not recorded in mere words.—Daily News.

A CURIOUS AMERICAN INVENTION IN CON-
NECTION WITH THE STEREOSCOPE.—Wo are
allowed to mention the remarkable instrument contrived by
our friend, Dr. 11. J. Bigelow, for holding 50 glass slides.
The spectator looks in : all is darkness. He turns a crank :
the grey dawn of morning steals over some beautiful scene
or the facade of a stately temple. Still, as he turns, the
morning brightens through various tints of rose and purple,
until it reaches the golden richness of high noon. Still
turning, all at once night shuts down upon the picture as
at a tropical sunset, without blur or gradual dimness.
THE SIXTH VOLUME OF THE " MEMOIRES BE
Ciaizot " ie published,