“(Private and immediate.)
“Hampstead, March 15th, 1864.
“My dear Mr. Gladstone,—I have just received through the Postmaster-General a copy of the Treasury minute of the 11th inst.
“I need not say how much I feel indebted for the very handsome terms in which my services are acknowledged, and for the liberal retiring allowance which the Treasury has granted me.
“There is, however, one part of the minute which I trust their lordships may be induced to reconsider. It is that in which the original conception of the uniform penny rate is attributed to others than myself. As this forms the main feature of my plan, and as its discovery and first proposal were wholly my own, you will, I am sure, pardon me if I press that in a formal document like the one in question a mistake on so important a point may be corrected.
“But perhaps I ought to address an official letter to the Treasury, stating more formally and fully the facts of the case. Will you favour me with your wishes in this respect? My immediate object is to request that the copy of the minute to be laid before Parliament may not be issued until the point in question shall have been investigated.
“I remain, &c., in haste,
“Rowland Hill.
“The Right Hon.
“The Chancellor of the Exchequer, &c.”
Upon receiving Mr. Gladstone’s reply I wrote to the Treasury a letter in which I requested attention to the point in question. I also enclosed a memorandum recapitulating the facts of the case. Both documents will be found in the [Appendix (N)]. My object in marking as “Immediate” the letter containing the above memorandum was that it might be laid before Parliament as soon as possible after the publication of the unfortunate error which it was intended to correct; and more particularly that this might be done before the Easter holidays, then close at hand. This point Mr. Gladstone was kind enough to secure; and in a few days my letter, with the memorandum, appeared in the public papers. Moreover, he assured me, in a private letter, that it was not intended in the Treasury minute to put a negation on my claim to originality.