Page:The Post Office of Fifty Years Ago.djvu/49

 of much later date than Sir Rowland's Hill's pamphlet of February, 1837. Probably these claimants, if they ever really devised anything, never published their ideas; but if that be the case, valuable suggestions never published are worth no more to the public than good advice never given, and any claims founded thereon are too absurd to deserve attention.]

Besides the Treasury minute above quoted, other cordial recognitions of his services were showered upon Sir Rowland Hill on his retirement. Her Majesty had, a short time before, been graciously pleased to confer upon him the dignity of a Knight Commander of the Bath. The Society of Arts, through the hands of the Prince of Wales, presented him with the Albert Gold Medal—the first ever conferred. From Oxford he received the honorary dignity of D.C.L.; from Parliament a grant of £20,000 and full salary as a pension for the remainder of his life.

Birmingham, and, later on, Kidderminster (his native town) and London, erected a statue in his honour. Liverpool and other towns presented him with valuable testimonials of their regard; amongst other such gifts was one to which he attached especial value—viz., a pair of china vases, made by the workmen of the Staffordshire potteries, who, when they knew for whom the vases were intended, had, at their own request, given their labour and skill without any remuneration.

Sir Rowland Hill lived in quiet retirement at