It must be admitted that waiting for dead men's shoes has but little tendency to promote kindly sympathy, and I fear my family, in consulting the military obituary about this time were not so much impressed as could be wished with the loss sustained by the country in the death of its veterans. The desired information, however, did not come in the expected form. "_April 8th._--Somewhat startled with the announcement in the newspapers that Sir William Herries had resigned his appointment as Chairman of the Audit Office. But the Postmaster-General tells me that this is a necessary preliminary to his being nominated to a colonelcy now vacant; that he (the Postmaster-General) has seen Lord Aberdeen respecting Sir William Herries' successor, and that 'all is right.'" A week later I was again taken by surprise, not unmingled with alarm:-- "_April 15th._--Yesterday the _Daily News_ announced that Mr. Edward Romilly had been appointed to succeed Sir William Herries. This I concluded was a mistake; but this morning a similar announcement appearing in the _Morning Chronicle_, I sent a note of inquiry to the Postmaster-General, and received by return of messenger a note as follows:--'Dear Mr. Hill,--The announcement in the _Chronicle_ is true, but the fact in nowise affects any arrangements respecting yourself. Yours, very faithfully, CANNING.' Later in the day the Postmaster-General came to the office and explained that the Government was unwilling to place a new man at the head of the office; they had, therefore, promoted Mr. Romilly, one of the previous Commissioners, and that Colonel Maberly was to take Mr. R.'s place; that he had consented so to do, and that the whole thing was settled.... The Postmaster-General added that the whole scheme was near being knocked on the head a few days ago by the breaking-up of the Ministry on the question of postponing the Reform Bill; for twelve hours they had in effect resigned." Notwithstanding the announcement that "the whole thing was settled," it may well be supposed that, after receiving the last part of Lord Canning's communication, I retained some little suppressed anxiety until the necessary forms should be completed; for this, however, ten days sufficed. "_April 25th._--The following letter was this morning received from the Treasury:-- "Treasury Chambers, 24th April, 1854. "MY LORD,--I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit for your information and guidance a copy of their Lordships' minute of the 21st instant, appointing Lieut.-Colonel Maberly to a seat at the Board of Audit, and consolidating the appointments of Secretary to the General Post Office and Secretary to the Postmaster-General in the person of Mr. Rowland Hill.