Proposed Publication of Correspondence with the Treasury, 473—Earl Spencer, 474—Mr. Baring, 475—Mr. Cobden, 477—Thomas Hood, 479—Personal Expenditure, 480—Mr. Stephen, 481—Official Publication of Correspondence, 482—Petition to House of Commons, 483—Publication of the whole Correspondence, 484—Australian Letters and India, 485—Sir T. Wilde’s Motion, 487—Mr. Goulburn’s Amendment, 489—Sir Robert Peel’s Defence, 491—Committee of Enquiry, 492—Sir George Clerk, 493. APPENDICES. A.—Royal Astronomical Society, p. 497. B.—Preface to the Laws of the Society for Literary and Scientific Improvement, p. 511. C.—Cube Roots, p. 513. D.—Vernier Pendulum, p. 517. E.—Coach Company, p. 520. F.—Sir Rowland Hill’s Printing Press, p. 525. G.—Speech at Greenock, p. 529. H.—“Facts and Estimates as to the Increase of Letters,” p. 534. I.—Extracts from Reports of Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Mr. Edwin Hill), p. 539. J.—Letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (June 23rd, 1841), p. 542. LIST OF PLATES. PORTRAIT OF SIR ROWLAND HILL (_Frontispiece_) THOMAS WRIGHT HILL (Father of Sir Rowland Hill) Facing page 8 SARAH HILL (Mother of Sir Rowland Hill) ” 28 THE BIRTH-PLACE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL, KIDDERMINSTER ” 34 BRUCE CASTLE, TOTTENHAM ” 181 FAC-SIMILE OF THE MULREADY ENVELOPE ” 393 BOOK I. THE LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. “When I was yet a child ... ... my mind was set Serious to learn and know, and thence to do What might be public good; myself I thought Born to that end.” —MILTON THE LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. CHAPTER I.