The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the History of Penny Postage, Vol. 2 (of 2)Hill, Rowland, Sir
History
The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the History of Penny Postage, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Hill, Rowland, Sir
Hill, Rowland, Sir, 1795-1879; Postal service -- Great Britain -- Rates
SIR,--Before taking up too much of your time, it is but fair to state
that I shall not conform to the usage of society nor to the regulations
of the Post Office. My communication will be anonymous, and, as you
perceive, in the handwriting of a female. The dangers which beset the
"usual channel," have forced me to take this course in offering an
observation or two on the opposition to the extension of Sunday duty.
This opposition in the office is not really against the duty, but is a
strong attempt to level the author of Penny Postage, and was originated
in Mr. ----'s room! The Clerks received the cue, and artfully led the
Subsorters, Letter-carriers, and Messengers to believe that the duty
was to be performed without pay. The Inspector of Letter-carriers
lent assistance by expressing a determination to resign if the order
came into operation. Old tales of cutting down of salaries on railway
lines were revived, and anecdotes manufactured telling of meanness in
private matters. The men saw what was expected from them, and were
soon employed on their walks in announcing their doleful prospects and
looking up mawworms to protest against such a prophane decree. Of the
success of this plan out of doors, Sir, you are aware. In the office,
the pretensions to piety are quite sickening. Fellows who have broken
nearly every commandment are now fearful of causing ever so slight a
flaw on the fourth. Still, there are plenty of men willing and able to
carry out your object if certain of protection. That this is wanted,
the following instance will show. The first man who made application
for the Sunday duty was told it must be in writing. Before, however, he
could put the few words required to paper, it was known all over the
office. A system of annoyance was commenced, strong enough to deter
him from proceeding further in the matter. He was hooted at inside the
building and insulted in the street.
Last night a report was in circulation that the morning despatch had
been abandoned from the difficulty of obtaining hands. I hope, Sir,
that this will not be the case with the evening duty, but that you will
persist in the determination to benefit the public, in spite of in door
opposition and out-of-door twaddle. Never mind if every letter is not
got off on the first attempt--it will soon improve. Give the clerks an
intimation that if they refuse this modification, it will be offered to
the Subsorters on the same terms. They are afraid of us now. Educated
in a better school--the Newspaper Office--for becoming officially
dexterous, we could beat them at their own duties, and not one of them
could accept a challenge to play the return match at those which we
perform.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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