Chapter XLIII: Appendix: L

[See p. 293.]

_Letter to Lord Canning, Governor-General of India._

October 24th, 1857.

DEAR LORD CANNING,--I hope it may do some little to relieve your Lordship's anxiety to learn that Government has adopted a plan of mine for giving to Calcutta and Madras four mails a month, to and from England, instead of two.

The plan is fully described in the enclosed copy of a minute; but, to save you the trouble of reference, I beg to say that the principle of the measure is as follows:--Leaving the Calcutta, Madras, and China mails, whether _viâ_ Southampton or Marseilles, unaltered, I despatch the Bombay mail from hence, _viâ_ Marseilles, about a week (a quarter of a month) after the despatch of the Calcutta mail by that route; and arrange the despatch from Bombay of the return mail, so that it may reach London, _viâ_ Marseilles, also about a week after the arrival of the Calcutta mail by that route.

Under this arrangement, the despatch across the peninsula, between Calcutta and Bombay, being fitted, in each direction, to the Bombay line of packets, will afford to Calcutta two good mails, each way, per month, _viâ_ Bombay, in addition to the two per month she now has by her own packets; and, as to cross the peninsula requires about a week, the arrivals, as well as the departures, will be at nearly equal intervals, _i.e._, one per week, or rather quarter of a month.

Madras will enjoy a similar advantage.

Bombay will not benefit by the change (except by electric telegraph to and from Madras). On the contrary, she will be somewhat injured in respect of her _slow_ mails, which must be conveyed between Southampton and Malta or Alexandria, by the Calcutta, or by the Australian packets, whichever will serve best, there to await the arrival of the Bombay packets; but, as the payment of an additional postage of threepence will not only avoid this delay, but will save several days, as compared with the existing state of things, I attach little importance to the objection.

As the plan involves comparatively little additional service, the Peninsula and Oriental Company have undertaken it for a further payment of £16,000 a year. I cannot, as yet, say when the change will be made.

I beg your Lordship will not think of replying to this letter. If the plan prove acceptable to you, a word to that effect from your private secretary will be welcome, more especially if he can add that your health, and that of Lady Canning,--to whom I beg to be most respectfully remembered--have not greatly suffered from the terrible anxieties to which you must have been exposed.

Under the trying circumstances to which I have alluded, I venture to think that your Lordship will not consider it obtrusive if I assure you that you have the earnest sympathy of every one at the Post Office--of every one at least who had the honour of knowing you--a sympathy accompanied, however, by the most entire conviction that under your able and energetic administration all that is possible to restore order and to prevent future outbreak will be accomplished.

In our small way we have done our best to expedite the arrival of the Indian mails. The last was conveyed from Paris to London, viâ Boulogne and Folkestone, all circumstances being favourable, in eight and a-half hours.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) ROWLAND HILL.

The Right Hon.
VISCOUNT CANNING
&c. &c. &c.