I am the more strongly impelled to ask for the fulfilment of the contingent expectation, because, in addition to the Treasury's demand and your Lordship's exercise for economy, there is, from time to time, a manifestation of some disappointment in the public mind. It is naturally expected that, under your Lordship's sanction, I should effect the improvements in reference to which my appointment was made. And as the public is far from being fully aware of the difficulties under which I labour, and as I am of course precluded by my position from giving explanations, I am exposed to attacks which I must not repel, and suffer in my reputation, without being conscious of blame. I have now finished a task which I began with reluctance, and which I feel much relieved to have drawn to a close. A more agreeable duty remains to be performed: it is to express my sincere thanks for the kind support with which your Lordship has been pleased to honour my efforts. I have, &c., ROWLAND HILL. The Most Noble The MARQUIS OF CLANRICARDE, &c., &c., &c. APPENDIX B. [See p. 105.] _Further letter to Postmaster-General (Lord Clanricarde)._ Hampstead, August 13th, 1849. MY DEAR LORD,--Knowing how fully your lordship's time and that of other ministers is occupied during the session of Parliament, I have hitherto refrained from again requesting attention to my letter of January 3rd, but now that a period of comparative leisure has arrived, I feel that I ought no longer to postpone the irksome task. I have enclosed a copy of the letter for the purpose of inviting a reperusal of it, and I think I may confidently appeal to your Lordship's knowledge of the state of the department for supporting me when I say that the experience of the seven months which have elapsed since that letter was written has strengthened the grounds, both public and private, on which my application was based. The various interviews with which I have been honoured by your lordship on nice and difficult points, arising in the course of business, would enable me to refer to many cases in which the public service has suffered from the continuance of the existing arrangements, while, though this is doubtless a matter of inferior importance, such arrangements are inconsistent both with my personal comfort and my pecuniary interests.