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Whether they held it as a prescriptive right that all wise men resided in the east he knew not (laughter). It was the case in the antediluvian ages, but now wise men were sometimes found in the west. In the letter to the Duke, there was quite an unnecessary expression - "the confusion which has been caused". He was in the habit of receiving as many letters as most people, but he had never perceived any confusion. There were few persons who possessed a greater aptitude for business than their mutual friend, Mr. Southall. He thought that the persons who passed resolutions with a view to amalgamate St. Leonards with Hastings could scarcely be in a sane mind. Should the alteration take place, he supposed that in addressing his letters he should have to say "5 Upland Views, formerly of St Leonards, but now of Hastings." (cheers & laughter). Much had been very properly said by the last speaker of the strong connection of the people of Hastings and St. Leonards; that was one of the strongest grounds for teaching the former that they had unintentionally made a mistake (cheers). When a meeting of such importance as the present throughout the country, the Council would find it impossible to carry their resolutions into effect. The best-possible proof of the bad policy of the Hastings Council was that they wanted to do what, if it would annihilate the town of St. Leonards, would at least displease the people. The Council could scarcely suppose that what they were now attempting to adopt could possibly be acquiesced in by the people residing in St. Leonards. It was perfectly inconceivable to him. There must be something that they could not see through. The Council said there was confusion in the arrangements, but there was no evidence of that assertion as a fact; and when it was proposed to do away with this confusion by removing the post-office or by carrying a great deal more of the post-office to Hastings, it was a most extraordinary thing that the people of St. Leonards were never consulted, and that no explanation had been given to them. The Council had had their meeting, and in what the Council had done they were endeavouring to force an acquiescence. It was not at all a right way of going to work. If an alteration were to be made, it should be for him to know whether he would be getting his letters half an hour or an hour earlier of later. At present he had time to answer his letters before he left home, and as he often did not return home till late in the day, the matter was to him, personally of great importance. He thought the least the Council should have done would have been to show what were the particular advantages -