[228] “Ninth Annual Report,” p. 10.
[229] The following passage from Sir C. W. Dilke’s valuable work “Greater Britain,” published since the above was written, throws further light on the retrogressive course in question:—
“Writing for the Englishmen of Old England, it is not necessary for me to defend free trade by any arguments. As far as we in our island are concerned, it is so manifestly to the pocket-interest of almost all of us, and, at the same time, on account of the minuteness of our territory, so little dangerous, politically, that for Britain there can be no fear of a deliberate relapse into protection, although we have but little right to talk about free trade so long as we continue our enormous subsidies to the Cunard liners.
“The American argument in favour of prohibition is in the main, it will be seen, political; the economical objection being admitted, but outweighed. Our action in the matter of our postal contracts, and in the case of the Factory Acts, at all events shows that we are not ourselves invariably averse to distinguish between the political and the economical aspect of certain questions.”—(“Greater Britain,” second edition, p. 69.)
[230] See my Letter of Appointment, Vol. II., p. 224.
[231] In a paper drawn up some years after this passage was written, Sir R. Hill has thus expressed himself as regards Mr. Gladstone:—“There are few public men with whom I have been on such intimate terms, from whom I have received so much kindness, and for whom I entertain so high a respect.”—Ed.
[232] When my plan was published, the lowest General Post rate was fourpence; but while the plan was under the consideration of Government the rate between post towns not more than eight miles asunder was reduced from fourpence to twopence.
[233] In this comparison of revenue, the mode of calculation in use before the adoption of Penny Postage has of course been retained—that is to say, the cost of the packets on the one hand, and the produce of the impressed newspaper stamps on the other, have been excluded. The amounts for 1863 are, to some extent, estimated, the accounts not having as yet been fully made up.
[234] In 1868 the letters had increased more than ten and a-half fold. In 1867 the gross revenue had increased by £2,202,000, and the net revenue by £467,000.
[235] In 1868 the amount transmitted had risen to £19,079,000, or more than sixty fold—(“Fifteenth Report of the Postmaster-General,” p. 4.) [In 1878-79 it had risen to £27,303,000. In the preceding year, however, it had been as high as £29,153,000. See Vol. II. p. 286.—Ed.]