General Post Office, October 18th, 1849. MY DEAR LORD,--I am greatly alarmed at your Lordship's note, and earnestly entreat that you will not authorize Mr. Bokenham to compel the attendance of a single man. During your Lordship's absence in Ireland, the excited state of the public mind made it necessary to take a decided course relative to this matter; and as it was always intended and fully understood by Mr. Bokenham that none but volunteers were to be employed on the Sunday duties, I did not hesitate to contradict the report which had been most unjustly raised to the effect that the men, notwithstanding conscientious objections to the work, were to be forced to engage in it. The pledge which, under the circumstances, I felt warranted and compelled to give, I trust your Lordship will enable me fully to maintain. I am still ready to undertake the responsibility of the sorting by volunteers, provided your Lordship will give me the powers which, by your approval of my minute of the 15th inst., were conferred on Mr. Bokenham. I submit, therefore, that there can be no necessity for resorting to any compulsion; and considering the manner in which the public has held me responsible for this measure, I trust I may be permitted to say that, so far as my own feelings are concerned, I would rather abandon the improvement altogether than run the risk of compelling any one to do that to which he has a conscientious objection. Until I received your Lordship's note I had no conception of any difficulty or hesitation on Mr. Bokenham's part. Mr. Tilley was present when Mr. Bokenham expressed his readiness to undertake the duty on the conditions stated in my minute of the 15th. Mr. Tilley read the minute a few hours later, and confirmed the accuracy of its statements. I need hardly say that I shall carefully follow the advice with which your Lordship has honoured me; but, as I am most anxious that this matter should be settled without delay, I beg that should you be unable to fulfil your intention of coming to town to-morrow, I may be favoured with immediate instructions to wait upon you at Brighton. I have, &c. ROWLAND HILL. The Most Noble the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, &c., &c., &c. APPENDIX F. [See p. 134.] _Anonymous Letter from a Sub-Sorter._ October 11th, 1849.