The Royal Mail: Its Curiosities and RomanceHyde, James Wilson
History
The Royal Mail: Its Curiosities and Romance
Hyde, James Wilson
Postal service -- Great Britain
Mr Anthony Trollope has left us, in the account of his life, a capital
specimen of the frivolous and groundless complaints with which the
Post-office has frequently to deal. His account is as follows:--"A
gentleman in county Cavan had complained most bitterly of the injury
done to him by some arrangement of the Post-office. The nature of his
grievance has no present significance; but it was so unendurable that he
had written many letters, couched in the strongest language. He was most
irate, and indulged himself in that scorn which is so easy to an angry
mind. The place was not in my district; but I was borrowed, being young
and strong, that I might remember the edge of his personal wrath. It was
mid-winter, and I drove up to his house, a squire's country seat, in the
middle of a snowstorm, just as it was becoming dark. I was on an open
jaunting-car, and was on my way from one little town to another, the
cause of his complaint having reference to some mail-conveyance between
the two. I was certainly very cold, and very wet, and very uncomfortable
when I entered his house. I was admitted by a butler, but the gentleman
himself hurried into the hall. I at once began to explain my business.
'God bless me!' he said, 'you are wet through. John, get Mr Trollope
some brandy-and-water,--very hot.' I was beginning my story about the
post again, when he himself took off my greatcoat, and suggested that I
should go up to my bedroom before I troubled myself with business.
'Bedroom!' I exclaimed. Then he assured me that he would not turn a dog
out on such a night as that, and into a bedroom I was shown, having
first drank the brandy-and-water standing at the drawing-room fire. When
I came down I was introduced to his daughter, and the three of us went
in to dinner. I shall never forget his righteous indignation when I
again brought up the postal question, on the departure of the young
lady. Was I such a Goth as to contaminate wine with business? So I
drank my wine, and then heard the young lady sing, while her father
slept in his arm-chair. I spent a very pleasant evening, but my host was
too sleepy to hear anything about the Post-office that night. It was
absolutely necessary that I should go away the next morning after
breakfast, and I explained that the matter must be discussed then. He
shook his head and wrung his hands in unmistakable disgust,--almost in
despair. 'But what am I to say in my report?' I asked. 'Anything you
please,' he said. 'Don't spare me, if you want an excuse for yourself.
Here I sit all the day,--with nothing to do; and I like writing
letters.' I did report that Mr ---- was now quite satisfied with the
postal arrangement of his district; and I felt a soft regret that I
should have robbed my friend of his occupation. Perhaps he was able to
take up the Poor-law Board, or to attack the Excise. At the Post-office
nothing more was heard from him."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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