146 
we have of his illness and death is from 
the pen of Sir Stamford Raffles, as com- 
municated in a letter to Peter Auber, Esq. 
of the East India House, dated 
Bencoolen, Sept. 15th, 1899.—* We 
were to have embarked this morning for 
Singapore, but the wind has proved foul, 
and it was ordained that we should remain 
another day, to bury our dear and invalua- 
ble friend, William Jack. Poor fellow! a 
finer head or heart there never was, and 
whether as a bosom-friend or a scientific 
assistant, he was invaluable to me. He 
had been long ill, and returned from Java 
about a fortnight ago, after an unsuccessful 
visit for change of air. We embarked him 
yesterday morning in the Layton for the 
Cape, and he died this morning before the 
ship weighed her anchor. I am so de- 
pressed in spirits, and altogether so incom- 
petent to the task of writing to his father, 
at this hurried moment, when all is confu- 
sion for my embarkation, that I must post- 
pone doing it, till I arrive at Singapore, 
where I hope to meet Robert Jack, his 
brother, but as bad news flies apace, I beg 
you will satisfy him of the fact, should a 
reference be made to you, and at the same 
time assure him that the loss is as deeply 
deplored by his friends here, as it is possi- 
ble it can be by his family at home; and 
that for myself, I am so overwhelmed by 
the misfortune, that I cannot command 
myself to enter into particulars. His cha- 
racter and talents stood deservedly high 
with all who knew him, and if any thing 
can afford relief to a parent’s distress, on 
the loss of such.a son, it ought to be the 
reflection, that he has performed the course 
he was destined to run with honour and 
integrity, and that his sphere of usefulness 
was as extended as his talents and ability, 
themselves of no common order, would 
command.” 
Dr. Wallich thus addresses Principal 
Jack, i in a letter, dated 
y re, Oct. 10th, 1822.—“ When 
Fille Mood lisi, I had hopes of being 
eec able’ K ne to you more wel- 
e. ! it was otherwise 
ordained, and it hs become my lt to con- 
MEMOIR OF THE LATE MR. WILLIAM JACK. 
dole with you on the untimely departure 
of your most excellent son, my dear and 
beloved friend, William! This sudden 
and most melancholy intelligence was com- 
municated to me by Sir S. Raffles, who 
landed here this morning, and who deeply 
participates in our deplorable loss, Your 
son’s spotless integrity, his excellence of 
character and of heart, and the universal 
esteem which he enjoyed here, have now 
their reward. It is therefore only my own 
bitter loss, and that of his revered and af- 
flicted parents that distresses me, and 
which, recent as the shock is, almost over- 
comes me while I pen these words. For- 
give me, therefore, for dwelling in this 
manner on this sad event : I should endea- 
vour to console you—and I cannot console 
myself !”—And again, Sir S. Raffles bears 
the following high testimony to his charac- 
ter and abilities, in a letter addressed p 
Principal Jack, dated 
Singapore, Jan. 1st, 1823.—' I cannot, | 
without much pain, bring myself to the — 
performance of the duty I am now about 
to undertake; but under the expectation 
that you will, by this time, have overcome f 
the first effects, and in some degree become | 
reconciled to the dispensation of Provi- - 
dence, which has, in this instance, fallen so | 
severely upon you, I must no longer delay — 
the communication of such particulars rë- 
garding your late son, as you have a right - 
to expect from me. Before, however, I 
enter upon these, you must allow me,a$ | 
the sincere and devoted friend of your son, - 
to bear testimony to the spotless purity of 
his character, and to the high value and 
importance of his intellectual exertions; 
while he was permitted to remain among - 
us. The warmth of his heart and enthu- 
siasm in whatever his head and heart ap- — 
proved, united us in the bonds of the closest — 
etait FS tr 
ES 
— is 
uA«————— MÀ — 
dm of admiration for his character a 2 | 
uable career. His health was delicate w 
