172 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



When at length they succeeded in obtaining 

 another interview with Pitt and disclosed these 

 letters, there was, of course, an end of Palmer's 

 official career. But it was sorely against his will 

 that the Great Commoner left the Comptroller- 

 General to his fate. He saw that a great deal of 

 the animus shown against him l)y my lords was 

 due to their sense of the enormity of a person of 

 his rank Avithstanding not merely Postmasters- 

 General, but Postmasters- General who were also 

 peers of the realm. He saw, too, that a peer 

 with the dignity of his caste offended can descend 

 to more despicable depths to avenge himself than 

 a mere untitled person Avould plumb. The pity 

 is that even Pitt could not ignore letters written 

 in confidence and treacherously disclosed. 



But, although Palmer was left to the mercy 

 of his enemies, Avho instantly dismissed him, he 

 did not go without acknoAvledgment. His salary 

 and commission had by noAV reached £3,000 a year, 

 and this sum Pitt continued to him as a pension 

 from 1792, the date of his dismissal. 



Palmer Avas noAv fifty years of age, and in his 

 prime. He naturally was not CDutent Avith this 

 settlement, and moved the Avhole influential Avorld 

 to aid him, petitioning the House of Commons, 

 and at length securing a committee to investigate 

 his case. Sheridan, moving the appointment of 

 this body, urged Palmer's claims Avith generous 

 eloquence. He described hoAV the reformer had 

 formed the i)lan of a mail-coach service, and had 

 introduced it to the notice of the Government, 



