In this letter I repeated the request so often made at an earlier period, that until the only effectual change could be made I might at least have such support to my authority as would arise from my being placed on perfect equality in all respects with my colleague,[102] and further have definitely assigned to me such departments of the secretarial duty as his lordship might judge proper, together with a transfer to my authority of the corresponding portions of the secretarial staff. An alternative expedient which I suggested was that I should suspend my present duties, and employ the interval in personally inspecting the postal arrangements of foreign countries, and in negotiating, under his lordship’s instructions, such changes as might appear best calculated to facilitate our foreign postal communications.
Three days later I spoke again to the Postmaster-General, pointing out that, by the death of Sir F. Adam, there was a vacant colonelcy. He was aware of the fact, but thought he could not move in the matter. In this posture of affairs, having first arranged with Mr. Hodgson for a letter to the Postmaster-General, which the latter had expressed his willingness to receive, I left town for a holiday, and passed a month in Scotland.
“October 13th.—The Postmaster-General came to the office for the first time since his holiday and mine commenced. . . . He entered on the subject of my letter of the 16th August. He told me that he had received Mr. Hodgson’s letter; that immediately on his return to town he saw the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject, and had, with some reluctance, called also on the Commander-in-Chief (here he noted the fact, of which I was aware, that three vacant colonelcies had arisen); that he was not at liberty to state what had passed at the interview, but that it had satisfied him of the high probability that, in a few months, if not weeks, Government would be able to offer Colonel Maberly the appointment of Chairman of the Board of Audit; and that though he must be understood as not pledging himself that such would be the case, and still less that Colonel M. would accept the offer if made, he had made up his mind to advise me to wait. Incidentally, he named Christmas as the probable maximum time. He added that he thought there would be great difficulty in adopting either of the temporary expedients suggested in my letter of the 16th August, more especially the first, and that he hoped to obviate the necessity altogether. After urging the unfairness of making my position contingent on Colonel M.’s decision, and suggesting the immediate adoption of the first alternative in my letter, which, while perfectly fair, would probably make Colonel M. the more ready to accept the offer, I inquired whether, in the event of his refusing, the Postmaster-General would be prepared then to adopt such alternative; to which he replied that he certainly should; but that he had reason to believe that the offer would not be refused, accompanied, as it would be, with such addition to the salary attached to the office as may be required to make up the amount Colonel M. now receives. In conclusion, I thanked the Postmaster-General, and promised carefully to consider his advice.”
The period of suspense which followed the above communication was agreeably broken by the visit of the Treasury Commission, which came to inquire into Post Office salaries, &c. The Commissioners were Lord Elcho, Sir Stafford Northcote, Sir Charles Trevelyan, and Mr. Hoffay. My Journal thus describes the mode of my examination:—
“December 2nd.—The Commissioners concluded my evidence. . . . Matters are conducted in a very pleasant, though discursive manner. As regards myself, it has been rather a conversation or discussion (as though I were a member of the Commission) than an examination.”
Of the results of the investigation I shall speak under the head “Salaries.”
The opening of the year 1854 still found me in the same position, though, certainly, with a better defined prospect than ever before. I had now, however, completed the seventh year of my service at the Post Office, and, perhaps, I may be excused if, in comparing fulfilment with expectations held out, I thought seven years a rather free interpretation of six months. Still, being convinced that the Postmaster-General was as earnest in my favour as even Lord Clanricarde had been, and also that the Chancellor of the Exchequer and even the Premier were sincerely desirous of speedily effecting the proposed change, I could afford to wait a little, though my health would not admit of a long delay. Fortunately, encouraging information soon came.
“January 6th, 1854.—The Postmaster-General entered on the subject of my position at the Post Office. Showed me a letter from Lord Hardinge, to which he, no doubt, referred on the 13th of October; it is dated in August. Lord H. states that, at the usual rate of mortality among colonels, Sir William Herries’ turn would occur before the end of January.”
“January 16th.—Dined at Lord Canning’s; a pleasant small party. I sat next to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with whom I had much agreeable conversation.”