Chapter I: Front Matter

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THE LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL AND THE HISTORY OF PENNY POSTAGE.

THE LIFE
OF
SIR ROWLAND HILL
K.C.B., D.C.L., F.R.S., F.R.A.S., etc.
AND THE
HISTORY OF PENNY POSTAGE.

BY
SIR ROWLAND HILL
AND
HIS NEPHEW
GEORGE BIRKBECK HILL, D.C.L.

AUTHOR OF
“DR. JOHNSON: HIS FRIENDS AND HIS CRITICS,” ETC.

_IN TWO VOLUMES._

VOL. I.

LONDON:
THOS. DE LA RUE & CO.
110, BUNHILL ROW.
1880
(_The right of Translation and Reproduction is reserved._)

PRINTED BY
THOMAS DE LA RUE AND CO., BUNHILL ROW,
LONDON.

TO THE RIGHT HON. WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE, M.P.

FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY, CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, ETC., ETC.

_Sir_,

_The following pages tell how much Sir Rowland Hill felt your kindness in a time of great trouble. In his Private Journal I find even stronger expressions of his gratitude. “I spoke,” he says in recording one of his interviews with you, “in strong terms, and with emotion which I in vain tried to suppress, of the feeling I entertained towards him for the uniform kindness, sympathy, and support I have received at his hands.” In asking you, therefore, to allow me to dedicate to you all in this work that is mine, I am sure that I have done what would have been pleasing to him._

_I am, Sir, with the highest respect_,

_Your obedient servant_,

_G. B. HILL._