Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/283

 including such substantial boons as imperial penny postage, and penny postage to the whole of the English-speaking countries of the world.

There remain the 62 given herewith—one, by an accidental correspondence, for every year of my life. Many of these you may meet at a little greater expenditure than that of the ink used for your signature. All represent real and urgent public needs. Some of them I drew up as a young and hopeful reformer. They still utter the wishes of the public—an appealing note of truth, like the old gramophone records into which Browning breathed poetry and Patti music. They stand as a Pygmalion's gallery of statues waiting for life to be breathed into them. Need I say by whom?

Of one thing all who know you will be assured—that not one reform will be refused or delayed without your personal and unbiased investigation of the question involved, or because the interest of humble toilers only are at stake.

In conclusion, permit me to express a hope that you may adopt the suggestions and reforms given below; in other words, so signalize your term of office by improving the communications of the people by post, telegraph, and telephone, that at its termination you will need no other memorial than the record of these achievements.

1. Universal penny postage.

2. An Imperial Postmaster-General.

3. International Conference between Postmasters-General in reference to telegraphic and telephonic communications.