Letters were sent by posts— The first institution of posts is generally ascribed to the Persians; for the kings of Persia, as Diodorus Siculus observes, lib. 19: in order that they might have intelligence of what passed in all the provinces of their vast dominions, placed centinels on eminences, at convenient distances, where towers were built; and these centinels gave notice of public occurrences to each other, with a very loud and shrill voice; by which method news was transmitted from one extremity of the kingdom to the other with great expedition. But, as this could be practised only in the case of general news, which might be communicated to the whole nation, Cyrus, as Xenophon relates, Cyropaed. lib. 8: set up couriers, places for post-horses on all high roads, and officers where they might deliver their pacquets to each other. The like is said by Herodotus, lib. 8:; and he acquaints us further, that Xerxes, in his famous expedition against Greece, planted posts from the AEgean sea to Shushan, at certain distances as far as a horse could ride with speed; that thereby he might send notice to his capital city of whatever should happen in his army. The Greeks borrowed the use of posts from the Persians: and, in imitation of them, called them αγγαροι. Among the Romans, Augustus was the person that set up public posts, who at first were running footmen, but were afterwards changed for post-chariots and horses. For the greater expedition, Adrian improved upon this; and, having reduced the posts to great regularity, discharged the people from the obligation they were under before of furnishing horses and chariots. With the empire the use of posts declined. About the year 807, Charlemagne endeavoured to restore them, but his design was not prosecuted by his successors. In France, Lewis XI. set up posts at two leagues distance through the kingdom. In Germany, Count Taxis set them up, and had for his recompence, in 1616, a grant of the office of postmaster-general to himself and his heirs for ever. About eight hundred years ago couriers were set up in the Ottoman empire; and at this time there are some among the Chinese; but their appointment is only to carry orders from the king and the governors of provinces, and, in a word, for public affairs, and those of the greatest consequence.
Related Commentaries of Esther 3:13
Esther 3:13
13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.