[51] The estimate for 1839 is founded on the ascertained number of letters for one week in the month of November, and strictly speaking it is for the year ending December 5th, at which time 4d. was made the maximum rate. The estimate for each subsequent year is founded on the ascertained number of letters for one week in each calendar month (vide Return to the House of Commons, No. 586, 1847).
[52] This is exclusive of about 6½ millions of franks.
[53] To make this clear, it may be necessary to mention that the gross postage includes all postage charged; and that, to arrive at the real postal revenue, there has, of course, to be deducted from this total so much as, owing to rejection of unpaid letters by addressees, or other similar causes, is never received.
[54] “June 8th, 1848.—I frequently detect some strange misuse of terms which has become habitual in the office—e.g., many clerks have applied for, and received, a fortnight’s holiday; but I accidentally discovered the other day that one to whom I had granted the indulgence stayed away fourteen working days, and, on inquiry, I found that such was the interpretation invariably put on the term. In my own department I, of course, have put an end to this.”—Sir R. Hill’s Journal.—Ed.
[55] “Mr. May is one of the few men I ever met with who, being improvers themselves, desire the help of other improvers.”—Sir R. Hill’s Journal. July 8th, 1848.—Ed.
[57] See Vol. 1., pp. 269 and 373.
[58] This anticipation was realised. See Return to House of Commons, No. 645 1850.
[59] Lord Clanricarde said, in his reply, “I could not send forward to the Treasury your letter of the 3rd of January without previously communicating with Colonel Maberly.” On this Sir R. Hill thus remarks in his Journal:—“In saying that he could not forward, &c., he strangely forgets himself. He did send it forward as soon as he received it. Perhaps he means that he cannot send it forward officially or a second time; but this is unnecessary. I don’t like the look of things at all. If I consent to these indefinite delays, the result will be that there will be a change of Ministry, and I shall be defrauded of my promised promotion.”—Ed.
[60] “Forward letters” are letters coming from one post town to a second, for despatch to a third.