Madras will enjoy a similar advantage.
Bombay will not benefit by the change (except by electric telegraph to and from Madras). On the contrary, she will be somewhat injured in respect of her slow mails, which must be conveyed between Southampton and Malta or Alexandria, by the Calcutta, or by the Australian packets, whichever will serve best, there to await the arrival of the Bombay packets; but, as the payment of an additional postage of threepence will not only avoid this delay, but will save several days, as compared with the existing state of things, I attach little importance to the objection.
As the plan involves comparatively little additional service, the Peninsula and Oriental Company have undertaken it for a further payment of £16,000 a year. I cannot, as yet, say when the change will be made.
I beg your Lordship will not think of replying to this letter. If the plan prove acceptable to you, a word to that effect from your private secretary will be welcome, more especially if he can add that your health, and that of Lady Canning,—to whom I beg to be most respectfully remembered—have not greatly suffered from the terrible anxieties to which you must have been exposed.
Under the trying circumstances to which I have alluded, I venture to think that your Lordship will not consider it obtrusive if I assure you that you have the earnest sympathy of every one at the Post Office—of every one at least who had the honour of knowing you—a sympathy accompanied, however, by the most entire conviction that under your able and energetic administration all that is possible to restore order and to prevent future outbreak will be accomplished.
In our small way we have done our best to expedite the arrival of the Indian mails. The last was conveyed from Paris to London, viâ Boulogne and Folkestone, all circumstances being favourable, in eight and a-half hours.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) Rowland Hill.
The Right Hon.
Viscount Canning
&c. &c. &c.