“Believe me, &c.,
“Rowland Hill.
“The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
“&c., &c., &c.”
To the above letter Mr. Gladstone replied as follows:—
“11, Carlton House Terrace, June 15th, 1864.
“My dear Sir R. Hill,—The support you have had from me has been the very best that I could give; but had it been much better and more effective, it would not have been equal to your deserts and claims.
“I sincerely hope you are deriving much benefit from a lightened mind,
“And remain,
“Always sincerely yours,
“W. E. Gladstone.”
Amidst the above transactions some events occurred of no small interest to myself; the first being that I had the gratification of receiving from the University of Oxford the honorary degree of D.C.L.;[241] and the second an address voted at a town’s meeting at Liverpool, followed by a valuable presentation of pictures. I will also mention here that, a year later, the town of Longton presented me with two fine china vases, specimens of its manufacture. About a week after the date of Mr. Gladstone’s letter I had the honour of receiving the Albert Gold Medal of the Society of Arts from the hands of the Prince of Wales.[242]
Some time afterwards I received a letter from the Treasury stating that their lordships had “cordial satisfaction in giving directions to the Paymaster-General to issue to me the amount of the Parliamentary grant, £20,000.”