The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-24 00:00:00

midst of a etrugg'.e, and appear to lose, and
another to tone down and modify the measures
which are introduced, and the plans proposed in
the conduct of affairs. The philosophical poli-
tician and the lover of independence seem destined
to have their feelings outraged, and their wishes
frustrated in some shape or another, but it
is encouraging if all does not go wrong
together, and if there appears a certain prospect of
Polish peace, and a good hope of some emendation
taking place in her policy, there will be a consola-
tion to the lookers-on for the disheartening aspect
of Danish affairs, It must appear, also, that what-
ever blame was attributable to Russia for the line
adopted by her Cabinet lest year, some of those
nations who criticised the course of the CZAR and
his followers are now themselves enacting a worse
pert. Certainly Austria and Prussia have fallen
from their high estate since they contended for the
glory of leading Germany, and of renovating and
reorganisicg the Constitution of that Empire.
Already there are rumours Lfloat concerning dis-
turbances and disaffections, which are sure to accrue
when once the trumpet of war has sounded. Thus
the Austrian Government has been full of concern
regarding suspicious symptoms in Pesth. Doubt-
less as yet all this is trivial enough, but before long
laths may assume a more portentous aspect. With
foreign wars and home disturbances, with liberal
nations scandalised at their want of consistency,
and their own people sent back a long way in the
progress of civilisation, it must be certified that the
Germanic Powers have retrograded considerably of
late. In perusing the accounts which are con-
tinually met with cor cerning the position of the
States of Europe, and on hearing the comments
which perplexity puts forth and surprise gives
utterance to, it suggests itself forcibly and pain-
fully to the mind that a great and governing in-
fluence is unfelt, and a mighty power inactive
which once was exercised not in vain in the sacred
cause of freedom and the noble rights of indepen-
dence. Where is England's place now amid the
tumult and strife which reign triumphant ? and
why is our country no longer a guiding spirit in
the right direction, instead of wavering between
L two opinions, and serving neither party.

Sir Rowland Rill

x _,_ 'r

The folio win copy of a" Letfer igetaatatappi

from Sir Rowland Hill, K.C.13., to •the ,Commis-,
aioners of the Treasury,; with reference ;to their
lo#3,ips' 4iNiCuitairanti.og him.aBPecial Superan- -
nnation Allowance," has, been:i'sSned 'in return fo
an order of the House of Commons ;
Hampstead, March 17, 1864.
My Lords,—The Postmaster• General, as requested by
your lordships, has done me the favour to furnish me with
a copy of your minute of the 11th inst., granting me a spe-
cial superannuation allowance oa retiring from my office
as Secretary to the Post-office, and conveying to me the
very favourable opinion which your lordships are pleased to
express of the manner in which I have discharged my duties.
It cannot be 'accessary to assure your lordships of the
deep gratification with which I have received so handsome
and elaborate a recognition of my services. I have only to
beg that you will be pleased to accept my most respectful
thanks.

In a document so highly complimentary, I hesitate to
notice what would appear to be an admission, inadvertently
made, to the effect that the adoption of the uniform penny
postage was urged by others before the development of my
plans; this, I assure your lordships, is an error; and, as
uniformity of rate constitutes the main feature of my plan,
I am naturally anxious to place before you the real facts of
the case. I trust, therefore, you will patdon me it I request
attention to the enclosed memorandum on the subject.

I need scarcely ad 1, that should the expectations of my
medical frien Is, of improved health, from rest, be realised.
and any occasion arise iu which it may appear to your lord-
ships that my assistance or advice in further postal improve-
ments may be of advantage, I shall feel iionoured by being
permitted to place them at your disposal.—l have, &c.
(Signed) IioWLAND HILL.
The Right Hon. the Lords Commissioners
of her Majesty's Treasury, &c.
MEMORANDUM.

A low and uniform rate of postage forms the most essen

ial feature of my plan of postal reform, and I have no hes:

tation in stating that its cinception originated wholly with
myself. To guard against future error I ask permission to
place on record a brief statement of facts.
The principle of uniformity of rate, now that it has been

in successful operation for nearly a quarter of a century,
appears, perhaps, simple and obvious; bur. so far from its
haying been, as it is sometimes supposed, the happy thought
of a moment, it was the result of most laborious investiga-

ion on ray part. Indeed, a slight consideration will show

that its conception necessarily involved a previous disco•
very, viz., that the cost per letter of mere transit within the
limits of the United Kingdom was practically inappre-
ciable, or at least that it was not dependent mainly on dis-
tance, being in fact quite as much dependent on the number
of letters contained in the particular mail, as on the distance
that mail was carried. Indeed, it was shown from careful
investigation that the cost of mere conveyance, even for so
great a distance as from London to Elinburgh, was only
the 36th part of a penny per letter. From this and other
facts it followed that a uniform rate was more just than one
varying according to distance. The convenience of uni-
formity was obvious.
I may add that when I first entered on the investigations
preparatory to the construction of my plan, I myself had no
conception of the practicability of a uniform rate; and that
the discovery referred to above was as startling to myself,
as it proved when announced to the public at large.
A reference to my original pamphlet, a
copy of which is,
I presume, still in your lordships' possession, or to my evi.•
dente before the select committee o:: 1838, appointed to in-
quire into the practicability of my plans, will show the
various steps by which I arrived at the conclusion that a
uniform penny rate was at once just and practicable.
There is but one other person, so far as I am aware, to
whom the suggestion of a uniform penny rate has, with even
the slightest plausibility, even been assigned—l refer to the
late Mr. 'Wallace, formerly rnembar for Greenock, and chair-
man of the select committee on postage in 1838 ; but
though Mr. Wallace frequently urged, among other useful
reforms, a great redaction in the postal charges, I can say
from personal knowledge that he had no idea whatever of a
uriforna rate until after the publication of my pamphlet.
Indeed, this sufficiently appears from the speech in Parlia •
ment in July, 1836, the last occasion on which, before the
publication of my pamphltt, he referred to the rates of
postage.
The fellowing is an extract from Hansard (vol.
35, 3d series, p. 422) :
" At the same time the rates of postage ought to be re-
duced. it would be proper not to charge more than 3d for
any letter sent a distance of 50
miles;
for 100 miles, 41;
200, 6d; and the highest rate of postage ought not to be
more than 8d or 9d at most."
Farther evidence upon this point is also in my possession,
which can be submitted should it be deemed necessary.
(Signed) ROWLAND HILL,
Hampstead, March 17, 1864.