31 
on the rug, every attitude and motion he said was so fine and 
tiger-like.” 
William Greenip was sixty years of age when he entered upon 
his postal duties. After fifteen years service he retired with a 
small pension, and died two years later, aged seventy-seven years. 
The next rural post was to Bassenthwaite. The messenger 
appointed had a much longer route. He had to go by Orma- 
thwaite, Applethwaite, Millbeck, and on to Bassenthwaite village, 
where a sub-office was established, with Mr. William Hodgson, 
land surveyor, as first postmaster. This was on Sept. 22nd, 1848. 
Thomas Murray, then twenty-one years of age, was appointed rural 
postman. He had been well recommended by his employer, a 
clergyman. The neighbours, however, were anxious to have 
another man appointed, and some one wrote to Mr. Tilley that 
Tom was not sharp. Mr. Tilley came from Penrith by coach, and 
called at the office on his way to see the man, and judge for 
himself. He was very active, and walked very quickly, to return 
by the Penrith coach. He was very soon back again, having gone 
the distance at the rate of five miles an hour. He lost his errand, 
however, for Tom was at Robin Hood, two miles from Bassen- 
_ thwaite, and there was no time to send for him. Mr. Tilley en- 
trusted me with judging as to his fitness. I saw that he was very 
shy, but I believed him to be thoroughly competent. I took him 
_to Mr. T. S. Spedding, J.P., Greta Bank, to make the declaration, 
which Mr. Spedding read over to him, and then said, “You know, 
Tommy, it means that you are not to take anything that is not 
your own.” To which Tommy replied, “No, sir, I wadden’t for 
the wardeld.” 
Never were truer words spoken. For nearly forty years he 
travelled that long route with a mule and spring cart, and I cannot 
bring to mind a single instance of any report against him for 
mis-delivery or mistake of any kind. He had a remarkably good 
memory, and did his service very efficiently. So well had he done 
his duty, that when in 1862 he was laid up for a week or ten days, 
a private gentleman voluntarily undertook his duties, and drove 
his mail cart, to the great satisfaction of the whole neighbourhood. 
