967 



A short Memoir of Mechithar Ghosh, the Armenian Legislator. By 

 Johannes Avdall, Esq., M.A.S. ^c. 



Armenia, that favoured portion of the globe, famed in the page 

 of ancient and modern history both for its physical resources and 

 political changes, is generally admitted to have been prolific in 

 giving birth to men of vigorous minds, and no ordinary attain- 

 ments, maugre the lamentable disasters consequent on the overthrow 

 of the dynasties of its kings^ and the invasion of the barbaric hordes, by 

 which it was overrun in the various periods of its history. 



The subject of this memoir, Mechithar Ghosh, was born in the 

 Armenian era 592, corresponding with Anno Domini 1143, in the 

 city of Ganzak, once the capital of Armenia Major, situated between 

 the sea or lake of Gelam and the river Kur, or Cyrus. While in 

 his teens, he devoted himself to the study of the Armenian language 

 and classical literature, under the able and paternal tuition of the 

 learned friar Johannes of Tavush. His heart burned with a love 

 of knowledge, and his whole attention was literally absorbed in the 

 acquisition of the learning of his country. The death of his preceptor, 

 which imbued his mind with a tinge of melancholy, and subjected 

 him to a temporary dejection of spirits, was not allowed to cool his 

 ardour in the pursuit of his favourite study. From an association with 

 learned men of all ages and all grades, he derived an exhaustless 

 fund of knowledge, and was thus enabled to enrich his mind 

 with the gems of science and literature. Not content with the 

 intellectual riches of which he was already possessed, he repaired 

 towards the frontier of the Black mountain,(0 then the acknowledged 

 centre of all HaicanC) learning and science, and the reputed resort 

 of all men of letters and genius, with the view of extending his mental 

 acquirements, and attaining to the highest possible eminence amongst 

 his contemporaneous literati of Armenia. Here he was received with 

 the greatest kindness, and the most marked attention, by his kindred 

 spirits ; and ultimately had the gratification to see his laudable endea- 

 vours crowned with the most triumphant success. He had the merit 



(1) \^Itu$l. XjriuiuU inA-rmenian. 



(2) Haic ^"uk was the grand progenitor of the Armenians, who arc also called 

 Haics ^"H'§^ » after his name. 



