The construction of the first “purpose-built mail facility” in 1829 was one of many reforms that took place in the British Royal Mail system under the leadership of Roland Hill. The establishment of a general headquarters for the General Post Office is significant to Mill’s text because of how important letter correspondence was in allowing him to maintain connections with intellectuals across the UK and the world. The increasing organization of the postal system and subsequent invention of the stamp made mail more affordable, reliable, and fast. Following Hill’s reforms, postal traffic increased tenfold.

Sources:

• https://www.britannica.com/topic/postal-system/National-postal-systems
• https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/a-short-history-of-the-post-office/#:~:text=A%20key%20moment%20in%20terms,400ft%20long%20by%2080ft%20deep.
• https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35225183