It was not, however, until the last year of this period that I began to feel that permanent failure in strength which, combined with other circumstances, compelled me five years afterwards to withdraw at once and finally from my post. In this year (1859) after a careful consultation on my case by three eminent medical men, it was laid down that henceforth I must limit my days of work to four in the week. Amidst anxiety on this point, however, I had the satisfaction of believing myself pretty firmly established in public opinion, and in the confidence of Government. Two years before I had, without any movement whatever on my part, been elected a member of the Royal Society, my recommendation being signed by the Duke of Argyll, the Astronomer Royal, Sir Roderick Murchison, and several other distinguished members; this honour being followed a year later by my admission to that inner circle, the Royal Society Club. Later still, viz., in 1867, I had the honour to be elected a member of the Council of the Royal Society, though increasing infirmity soon compelled me to withdraw. Early in 1860,--the twenty-fourth year, I may observe, from that in which my attention was first seriously turned to the reform of the Post Office,--Her Majesty was pleased to confer upon me the honour of Knight Commander of the Bath; an honour at once unsolicited and unexpected. The first notification of this gracious intention was received in the following letter from Lord Elgin, then Postmaster-General:-- "30th January, 1860. "MY DEAR MR. HILL,--I beg leave to enclose for your perusal a note which I have received from Lord Palmerston. "Permit me at the same time to assure you of the great pleasure which I experience in conveying to you this proof of Her Majesty's appreciation of your distinguished services. "Very sincerely yours, "ELGIN AND KINCARDINE." [_Enclosure._] "94, Piccadilly, 30th January, 1860. "MY DEAR LORD ELGIN,--I have much pleasure in informing you that the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve of Mr. Rowland Hill being made a Knight Commander of the Civil Order of the Bath. "Yours sincerely, "PALMERSTON." By a pleasing coincidence, of which I was, however, at the moment quite unaware, the honour of C.B. was conferred at the time of my formal installation on one of my former pupils, Major Beecher, for important services in India.