A correspondent draws our attention to the dismissal of Mr.
Rowland Hill from his post at the Treasury as chief agent in establishing the Penny Post system. The fact that Mr. Hill was to withdraw on the expiry of his term of engagement was announced some months ago ; and the ease is no worse now than it was then. That his appoint- ment was only temporary, was the choice of the Whigs, not of the present Ministers ; and the reason assigned for not renewing his en- gagement is, that by this time his system ought to be so far established as to be able to go alone, by the ordinary machinery of the General Post-office. The question remains, how far has Mr. Hill's system been carried out at all? We believe that it has been honestly and efficiently supported by no functionary except Mr. Thornhill Baring, the late Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was indeed expected that Lord Low- ther, who had shown an active interest in Post-office Reform while in Opposition, would promote the improvement when he entered office ; but it is supposed that he has fallen under the same Maberly fascina- tions which inspired Lord Lichfield's bungling hostility. Perhaps, under all the circumstances, Mr. Hill may at present be more useful out of office than in it. The matter cannot rest where it does : it will be necessary to ascertain how far the plan has or has not been carried Out—whether it has or has not been impeded. There has been, for instance, a deal of ignorant and of dishonest talk about the increased expense and diminished revenue of the new system : but how much of the expense properly belongs to the new system ? have Mr. Bill's sug- gestions for saving expense and increasing revenue been used? There must be the means of settling these questions, but they are not before us. They will, however, be demanded before the subject can be dropped ; and, as usual, the real Minister, Sir Robert Peel, will most likely be -called on to see with his own eyes what is the matter, and to help in setting it straight. The Whigs used to be ridiculed for building walls to run their heads against : it will be a ridiculous thing if the Conservative Government make the state of the Post-office management a subject of popular opposition in the ensuing session.
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