Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/296

 advantage to them and to the public, I should like to pay my tribute of thanks for his many suggestions, large and small, possible and impossible. Why should not the ox be grateful to the goad if it causes him the better to plough the field?

On the occasion of Sir John's 62nd birthday he was good enough to send me a list of 62 desirable postal reforms. Several of them have since been carried into effect, with a few more which had escaped even his searching eye. But I am quite convinced that he will soon fill the gaps again, and we all hope to read on later birthday anniversaries fresh lists of seventy and of eighty changes which a truly progressive Post Office would hasten to adopt for the common weal.

In the hope that till those days, and later, he may enjoy his new honours, I ask leave for my Department and myself to join in the national manifestation of gratitude which is nightly being paid to a great and tireless reformer.

The successful organization was due to the untiring energies of Lord Blyth, who devoted himself whole-heartedly to the task of giving his old friend the best and warmest of welcomes in the best and warmest of ways. He was ably seconded by Mr Freeman Murray, who undertook the duties of Honorary Secretary for his friend H. H.

The last act of the great drama is finished and it remains for me to try to say to you that I feel it utterly impossible to express my gratitude. I did