Note 99 — Chapter XXI
Reading edition
More than two years later I find the following entry in Sir R. Hill’s Journal:—
“December 16th, 1854.—Lord Hardwicke, having taken exception to a statement by the Post Office Commission to the effect that it had been found impossible to define the separate duties of Colonel Maberly and myself, moved for a Return of a Minute in which he, according to his own account, had accomplished such definition. I felt tempted to give the Minute literatim as well as verbatim, but, recollecting that Lord Hardwicke was really a good-natured man, refrained. The strength of the temptation will be seen by the accompanying copy of the Return, altered so as to show his Lordship’s peculiar orthography.” [Among other peculiarities his Lordship spelt Secretaries—Secritarys.]—Ed.