CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
| [BOOK I.] |
| [CHAPTER I.] |
| Birth of Rowland Hill. His Father’s Ancestors, [1]—His Mother’s Ancestors, [5]—His Father’s unusual Character, [7]—His Relish of Life, [8]—His legal reading, [9]—Study of Astronomy. Priestley, [11]—His Short-hand, [13]—A Schoolmaster, [14]—His Love of Theories, [18]—Admirable as a Father, [19]—A Reformer, [20]—A Free-trader, [23]—A bad Man of Business, [24]—His Death, [26]—Rowland Hill’s Mother, [27]—He himself a Combination of the strong Qualities of each Parent, [31]—Bailie Lea, [32]—Birmingham Riots, [33]—Birth-place, [34]—Life at Horsehills. Dearth of 1800, [35]—A Night-alarm, [37]—Peace of Amiens, [38]—Trafalgar, [39]—Currency, [40]—Forgers, [41]—Mr. Joseph Pearson, [42]—Early Courtship, [43]—Love of Counting. Water-wheel, [44]—Perpetual Motion, [45]. |
| [CHAPTER II.] |
| Hill Top, [47]—School opened, [48]—Young Traders, [49]—Miss Edgeworth, [50]—Workshop. Household Work, [51]—Feeling of Responsibility, [52]—Debts. Ruling Machine, [53]—Rowland Hill becomes a Teacher, [54]—His Father’s Lectures, [55]—Electrical Machine, [56]—A young Astronomer, [57]—Habit of Criticism, [58]—Mathematics, [60]—Learning by teaching, [61]—Mr. Beasley, [62]—Discovery of his own Deficiencies, 63-[67]—Horse-dealing, [64]—Literary and Scientific Societies, [68]—Representation of Minorities, [69]—William Matthews, [73]—Prize for Drawing, [74]. |
| [CHAPTER III.] |
| Early Perseverance, [76]—School Theatre, [77]—Map-making, [79]—His Father’s Lecture on Electricity, [80]—Family Help, [82]—Alarum Water-clock, [83]—Screw Steamboats, [84]—Land Surveying. Map of Scene of Thornton’s Murder, [85]—Ambition. A model College, [87]—No Jealousy of the Sons in the Father, [88]—Punctuality, [89]—Enforcement of Penalties, [90]—Family Debts paid off. “Exhibition.” Shakespeare corrected, [91]—Eighteen Hours’ Work a-Day. Zerah Colbourn, [92]—Mental Arithmetic, [93]—Trigonometrical Survey, [94]—A Rival School, [97]—Survey of a Coal-pit, [98]—Roman Road, [99]. |
| [CHAPTER IV.] |
| Dr. Arnold, [100]—Charter House, [101]—“Public Education,” [103]—The New System, [104]—Overwork, [105]—Court of Justice, [107]—A Constitution, [108]—Benevolent Society, [109]—Magistrates, [110]—Character on leaving, [111]—Band. Corporal Punishment. Marks, [112]—School “a little World,” [113]—Conference of Teachers, [114]—Code of Laws, [115]—Juries. “Voluntary Labour,” [116]—Fights, [118]—“School Fund,” [119]—Punctuality, [120]—Rank, [121]—“Edinburgh Review.” Captain Basil Hall, [122]—Mr. W. L. Sargant, [123]—Unalterable Determinations. Enforcement of Penalties, [124]—Restraint of Temper. Rowland Hill’s Courage, [125]—His Brother Matthew goes to the Bar. His Brother Arthur takes his Place, [126]—Becomes his Father’s Partner. Architect of the new School-house, [128]—Hazelwood opened, [130]. |
| [CHAPTER V.] |
| Long Walks. Shrewsbury, [131]—Criminal Trial, [132]—Margate, [133]—Peace of 1814. Public Lectures, [134]—Illuminations after Waterloo. First Sight of a Steam-boat, [135]—Benjamin West. Sub-Secretary to a Deaf and Dumb Institution, [136]—Derbyshire, [137]—Floods, [138]—Hampden Club, [139]—Chester. Liverpool, [140]—John Howard. Uriconium, [141]—Gratitude to his Parents, [142]—Early Rising. John Kemble, [143]—Lord Mayor’s English. Habeas Corpus Act, [144]—Netley Abbey, [145]—Freshwater. Stonehenge, [146]—Diet, [147]—Thomas Campbell. New Hall Hill Meeting, [149]—Major Cartwright. Election of first Member for Birmingham, [150]. |
| [CHAPTER VI.] |
| Fire at Hazelwood, [151]—Origin of the Fire, [158]—Fire Insurance, [158]—Trip to Ireland. Gas. Steamboats, 160. Ireland in 1821, [161]—Edgeworth Town Assisting School, [162]—Miss Edgeworth, [163]—“Public Education,” [164]—Miss Edgeworth’s Father, [165]—A Sunday Evening at Edgeworth Town, [166]—The “Monsoons.” Steamboats, [168]—Hermit’s Cave, [169]. |
| [CHAPTER VII.] |
| “Public Education” published, [170]—Jeremy Bentham. An active Schoolmaster, [171]—The Greek Committee. Wilberforce. Grote, [172]—Hillska Skola. Hazelwood famous, [173]—Joseph Hume. “Edinburgh Review.” De Quincey, [174]—Overwork. Tour in Scotland, [175]—Paris, [176]—Break-down in Health, [177]—Hazelwood full, [178]—Plan of a model School, [179]—“A Sucker from the Hazelwood Tree,” [180]—Bruce Castle, [181]—Marriage, [182]. |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] |
| Family Group broken up, [184]—Brotherly Love, [185]—All Things in common, [186]—Articles of Partnership, [187]—Family Fund, [188]—Family Council, [191]—League of Brothers, [192]—Reason versus Authority, [194]—Rowland Hill’s Sisters, [195]—Howard Hill, [196]—“A little ideal World,” [198]—Early Prejudices, [199]—Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Vernier Pendulum, [201]—Home Colonies, [202]—Rowland Hill retires from School-keeping. Confidence in himself, [203]—Schemes, [204]—Robert Owen, [206]—Social Community, [207]—Sir J. Shaw-Lefevre, [209]—Professor Wheatstone, [210]—Pantisocracy, [213]—Mr. Roebuck, [214]—A new Career, [215]. |
| [CHAPTER IX.] |
| Mr. E. G. Wakefield. South Australian Association. Past Training, [216]—Stamp Duty on Newspapers, [217]—Mr. Charles Knight and Stamped Covers. Pauper Education, [218]—Lord Brougham. South Australian Colonisation, [219]—Secretary to the Commission, [220]—Survey of the Colony. Emigrant Ships, [221]—Progress of the Colony, [222]—Representation of Minorities. Resignation of Secretaryship, [223]—Printing Machine, [224]—First Hopes of Postal Reform, [229]. |
| [BOOK II.] |
| Preface to the History of Penny Postage, [233]. |
| [CHAPTER I.] CONCEPTION OF MY PLAN. CHIEFLY 1836. |
| The Post Office as it used to be, [237]—Coleridge and Miss Martineau, [239]—Franks, [240]—A Travelling Post Office, [241]—Effects of Reduction in Taxation, [243]—Post Office Revenue, [244]—Systematic Study of Postal Accounts, [246]—Cost of Primary Distribution, [248]—Cost of Conveying a Letter from London to Edinburgh, 249;—Uniform Rate, [250]—Secondary Distribution, [251]—Contraband Conveyance, [253]—Effects of Cheapness on Consumption, [255]—Mr. Wallace, [257]—Commission of Inquiry of 1835-8, [259]. |
| [CHAPTER II.] PROMULGATION OF MY PLAN. |
| “Post Office Reform,” [262]—Plan laid before Government. Mr. Villiers, [263]—Stamped Covers, [265]—Publication of “Post Office Reform,” [267]—Examined before the Commission of Inquiry, [268]—Stamps, [270]—Recommendation of Commissioners, [273]—Government does Nothing, [274]—Appeal to Public, [275]—Instances of heavy Postage, [276]—Support of the Press, [278]—Court of Common Council, [280]—Post Office Consolidation Act, [281]—“The old state of things,” [282]—Difficulties raised, [285]—Appointment of Parliamentary Committee, [287]—City of London Petition, [289]—Ignorance of the Postmaster-General, [290]. |
| [CHAPTER III.] PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. |
| Letters to Lord Lichfield, [292]—Mercantile Committee, [294]—Parliamentary Committee, [295]—Postage Rates, [296]—Number of Letters, [298]—Contraband Conveyance, 300-[4]—High Postage and the Poor, 305-[9]—Mr. Jones-Loyd, [310]—Low Postage no Tax, [311]—Uniform Rate, [312]—Mode of Prepayment, [315]—Charge by Weight, [317]—Conveyance of Mails, [319]—Letters not sent by Post, [320]—Franks, [321]—Colonel Maberly’s Plan, [323]—Examined before the Committee, [325]—Votes of Committee, [327]—Lord Seymour’s Report, [329]—Committee’s Report, [331]—Mr. Warburton, [333]. |
| [CHAPTER IV.] PENNY POSTAGE BILL. |
| United States, [336]—Issue of Report, [337]—Reduction by a Penny. Petitions, [339]—“Post Circular,” [340]—Deputation to Lord Melbourne, [341]—Adoption of Plan, [343]—Stamps, [345]—Envelopes, [346]—“Facts and Estimates,” [347]—Stationers. The Budget, [348]—The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Resolution, [350]—The Division, [352]—Duke of Wellington, [353]—Penny Postage Bill, [355]—“Kitchen” of the House of Commons, [356]—Interview with Lord Melbourne, [357]—The Bill before the Lords, [359]—The Bill becomes Law. Miss Martineau, [361]—Lord Ashburton, [362]—Wolverhampton Testimonial, [363]. |
| [CHAPTER V.] APPOINTMENT IN TREASURY (1839). |
| Interview with Mr. Baring, [365]—Mr. M. D. Hill’s letter, [366]—Appointment Accepted, [369]—First Visit to the Post Office, [371]—Proposed Establishment of London District Offices, [373]—Private Journal Resumed, [374]—Sorting of Letters, [375]—Visit to the French Post Office, [376]—“Quarterly Review.” Post-paid Envelopes in 1653, [377]—“Edinburgh Review,” [378]. |
| [CHAPTER VI.] PENNY POSTAGE (1839-40). |
| Competing Plans of Collecting the Postage, [381]—Mr. Cobden’s Expectations, [382]—Stamps, [383]—Fourpenny Rate, [384]—The Chancellor of the Exchequer at Home, [385]—“My Lords,” [386]—Franking Abolished, [388]—Treasury Warrant, [389]—Penny Postage begins, January 10th, 1840, [390]. |
| [CHAPTER VII.] STAMPS (1840). |
| Mr. Edwin Hill’s Appointment, [392]—The Mulready Envelope, [393]—Number of Letters in the First Quarter, [395]—Official Dignity, [396]—First Issue of Stamps, [397]—Attempts at Forgery. Obliteration of Stamps, [399]—The Commissioners of Stamps and Taxes and Mr. Edwin Hill, [405]—Manufacture of Stamps, [406]—Number Issued, [407]. |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] SUBSIDIARY PROCEEDINGS. |
| Registration. Negotiations with France, [410]—Money Orders. Increase in Expenditure partly caused by Railways, [411]—Applications for Increase of Salaries, [413]—Pillar Letter-Boxes, [417]—Captain Basil Hall. Gummed Envelopes, [418]—Envelope Folding Machine, [419]—“A Princess Royal,” [420]—Miss Edgeworth, [421]. |
| [CHAPTER IX.] PROGRESS UNDER DIFFICULTIES. |
| Mr. Baring’s increasing Confidence, [422]—Post-Office Correspondence. Messengers, [425]—Lecture at the Polytechnic, [426]—Threatened Break-down in the Post Office, [427]—Errors in Accounts. Distribution of Stamps, [429]—Slow Progress, [431]—Want of Statistics, [433]—Question of a Twopenny Rate, [435]—Liberal Administration falling, [437]—Change of Ministry, [439]—Mr. Baring’s Letter, [440]—Testimonials, [442]. |
| [CHAPTER X.] NEW MASTERS (1841-2). |
| Mr. Goulburn, [443]—Lord Lowther, [444]—Lack of Employment, [445]—Mr. Cole, [447]—Errors in Returns, [448]—“Penny Postage is safe,” [449]—Country Post Offices, [451]—Mr. Baring’s Minute on Rural Distribution, [452]—Modes of Waste, [453]—Frauds, [454]—Lord Lowther’s Plan of Registration, [455]—Cost of the Packet Service, [460]—Official Reticence, [462]—Letters to Mr. Goulburn, [463]—Announcement of Dismissal, [467]—Sir Robert Peel, [469]. |
| [CHAPTER XI.] OUT OF OFFICE (1842-3). |
| Proposed Publication of Correspondence with the Treasury, [473]—Earl Spencer, [474]—Mr. Baring, [475]—Mr. Cobden, [477]—Thomas Hood, [479]—Personal Expenditure, [480]—Mr. Stephen, [481]—Official Publication of Correspondence, [482]—Petition to House of Commons, [483]—Publication of the whole Correspondence, [484]—Australian Letters and India, [485]—Sir T. Wilde’s Motion, [487]—Mr. Goulburn’s Amendment, [489]—Sir Robert Peel’s Defence, [491]—Committee of Enquiry, [492]—Sir George Clerk, [493]. |
| [APPENDICES.] |
| A.—Royal Astronomical Society, [p. 497]. |
| B.—Preface to the Laws of the Society for Literary and Scientific Improvement, [p. 511]. |
| C.—Cube Roots, [p. 513]. |
| D.—Vernier Pendulum, [p. 517]. |
| E.—Coach Company, [p. 520]. |
| F.—Sir Rowland Hill’s Printing Press, [p. 525]. |
| G.—Speech at Greenock, [p. 529]. |
| H.—“Facts and Estimates as to the Increase of Letters,” [p. 534]. |
| I.—Extracts from Reports of Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Mr. Edwin Hill), [p. 539]. |
| J.—Letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (June 23rd, 1841), [p. 542]. |
LIST OF PLATES.
| Portrait of Sir Rowland Hill | ([Frontispiece]) | |
| Thomas Wright Hill (Father of Sir Rowland Hill) | Facing page | [8] |
| Sarah Hill (Mother of Sir Rowland Hill) | ” | [28] |
| The Birth-place of Sir Rowland Hill, Kidderminster | ” | [34] |
| Bruce Castle, Tottenham | ” | [181] |
| Fac-simile of the Mulready Envelope | ” | [393] |