claim got carried into one of the higher courts of law, they would most likely be defeated. He added that everybody knew that the town of Hastings and the borough of Hastings were not the same thing, and that Mr. Burton's town as they called it for distinction, was as much in the borough of Hastings as was the district eastward of that town on which the claim was made. He was well aware, he further said, the claim was based on a debateable wording of the Health of Towns' Act, but there was nothing to show that anything could be written on the houses but the names of streets roads, &c. There was, in fact, no clause which gave power to alter the name of a district which had so long existed as a town by itself or in association with an adjoining town. In justice to Mr. Growse, as Town Clerk, it should be said that this opinion of his was expressed after the Town Council had "ceased from troubling" in any active sense, albeit, the prime mover (Ald. Ross) continued to express his displeasure with the Postmaster General's reply and intimated that he should not give in. (See Council meetings in next chapter}. Mr. Growse's letter to the Duke of Argyll, was quickly followed by one from Mr. Burton as Chairman of the St. Leonards Commissioners; also a memorial, containing 400 signatures. To Mr. Burton's letter came the following reply:-
"Sir, -
The Postmaster-General having had under consideration your letter of the 16th inst, I am directed to inform you, in reply, that the existing postal arrangements at St. Leonards-on-sea are considered the best for the accommodation of the inhabitants generally, and his Grace has decided not to disturb the present regulations at that place.
I am, &c.
J. Tilley"
This letter was dated December 30th, and was received on the same day (Wednesday) with considerable excitement of a joyous character. A fife and drum band, followed by a crowd of inhabitants, paraded the whole district from the western part of St. Leonards to Verulam plae, and handkerchiefs were waved from some of the windows in token of gratification, the news of the Postmaster-General's decision having spread with great rapidity. A similar, but somewhat longer communication was received by the Hastings Mayor. In that letter, reference was made to the settlement of the postal question a few years before, and his Grace Lordship saw "no reason new circumstance in the case to justify a reversal of that decision." In the mean time, the Council had asked the Postmaster-General if his lordship would receive a deputation, but to this no reference was made in the letter to the Mayor. In a separate communication, however, his lordship declined to receive a deputation.
