Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/267

 H. H. replied as follows:

Only those who have grown grey in the pursuit of some high and cherished aim can understand the feelings with which I read your inclusion of Australia in the scope of Imperial Penny Postage. At last my reproach is removed, and an invidious exception, which went to my heart, is put an end to. No longer shall I be pained by reading such notices as "Penny Postage to all parts of the Empire, excepting Australia," or "Postage to all foreign countries and Australia, 2½d."

But my feelings are of small concern. It only remains for me, as a humble representative of public opinion in this matter, to tender you, as Postmaster-General, Mr Austen Chamberlain, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr Alfred Lyttelton, Colonial Secretary, and I ought to add the editor of the "Times," the sincere felicitations and gratitude of our countrymen on the happy completion of the Imperial Penny Postage scheme. It had already, like the sections of an unfinished railroad, produced considerable benefits. But so long as the island-continent stood aloof there was a kind of stigma attaching to it, which is now removed for ever. You have forged the last link in the intangible chain that binds the widely scattered fragments of the King's dominions into one solid mass. You have thrown the mantle of imperial unity over the shoulders of the Sovereign. You have struck the "Lost Chord" in the imperial symphony, and one grand, perfect chorus ascends over land and sea.

Let me mention that I have the strongest and most authoritative assurance that Australia will reciprocate your action at the earliest possible moment. I have never expressed impatience on the subject of her attitude, since I know that the adoption of the penny rate to England would involve the reduction