809 
NOTE 
Respecting James Claudius Rich, Esq ., late British Resident at 
Bagdad, who died at Shiraz, October 5th, 1821. 
I - 
St. Petersburgh, March 22d, 1822. 
Under a probability that the latter pages of his Travels may 
yet be in the press when this reaches England, the author indulges 
the just dictates of a sorrow in which so many share, to pay his 
tribute of regret to the memory of Rich : a man whose luminous 
mind, and prompt benevolence, enlightened and smoothed the way 
of all travellers who came within the sphere of his influence; while 
the faithful fulfilment of every duty as a diplomatic agent, fully 
equalled that of his general philanthropy. His mastery in 
science, and the depth of his erudition in every subject con¬ 
nected with antiquity, are well known to all who sought those 
pursuits in the East; while the pleasures of his converse, and 
the value of his friendship in guiding to their objects, can only 
be appreciated by those who have walked by such a light, and 
now mourn its deprivation. 
The progress of the fatal disorder that led to the death of so 
estimable a man, cannot be more impressively described than 
in the following extract from the last letter the author received 
from him. It was dated Mousul, December 8th, 1820. 
“ I scarcely know how to begin a letter to you after so very- 
long a silence ; I can hardly recollect when, or whence I wrote 
to you last, but I am sure that the last letter (or perhaps even 
the two last) which passed between us was from you, not to you. 
5 L 
VOL. II. 
