TO BE CREATED A KNIGHT HOSPITALLER.--Mr. PETER REID. * * * * * [Illustration: Another Version of "La Toss-ca." The Cow in the Drury Lane Pantomime.] * * * * * THE JUBILEE OF THE PENNY POST. "On Jan. 10, 1840, the Penny Post became an accomplished fact."--_Times_. ATTEND, all ye who like to hear a noble Briton's praise! I tell of valiant deeds one wrought in the Century's early days: When all the legions of Red Tape against him tore in vain, Man of stout will, brave ROWLAND HILL, of true heroic strain. It was about the gloomy close of Eighteen Thirty Nine, MELBOURNE and PEEL began to melt, the P.O. "sticks" to pine, For vainly the Official ranks and the Obstructive host Had formed and squared 'gainst ROWLAND HILL'S plan, of the Penny Post. Still poor men paid their Ninepences for sending one thin sheet From Bethnal Green to Birmingham by service far from fleet; Still she who'd post a _billet doux_ to Dublin from Thames shore, For loving word and trope absurd must stump up One-and-four; Still frequent "friendly lines" were barred to all save Wealth and Rank, Or Parliamentary "pots" who held the privilege of "Frank;" Still people stooped to dubious dodge and curious device To send their letters yet evade the most preposterous price; Still to despatch to London Town a business "line or two" Would cost a Connemara peasant half his weekly "screw;" Still mothers, longing much for news, must let their letter lie Unread at country post-offices, the postage being too high For their lean purses, unprepared. And Trade was hampered then, And Love was checked, and barriers raised--by cost--'twixt men and men. Then up and spake brave ROWLAND HILL in accents clear and warm, "This misery can be mended! Read my _Post Office Reform_!" St. Stephens heard, and "Red Tape" read, and both cried out "Pooh! Pooh! The fellow is a lunatic; his plan will never do!" All this was fifty years ago. And now,--well, are there any Who do not bless brave ROWLAND HILL and his ubiquitous Penny? One head, if 'tis a _thinking_ one, is very often better Than two, or twenty millions! That's just why _we_ get our letter From Aberdeen, or Melbourne, from Alaska or Japan, So cheaply, quickly, certainly--thanks to one stout-soul'd Man.