'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎237] (272/450)

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LETTER IV.
Extract of a Letter from James Baillie Eraser, Esq., to William
Ersldne, Esq., containing the Account of the Death of Mr.
Rich.
Shirauz, October 6, 1821.
My dear Sir,
I did not expect to have occasion to address you
from this place, and far less that a correspondence
should commence in so melancholy a communication
as it falls to my lot to make you. Preparation, could
it be made for such intelligence, I generally hold to
be fruitless, and now 1 know not how to set about it.
Mr. Rich is no more ! He has fallen a victim to the
dreadful prevailing malady (the cholera), which has
for some weeks past desolated this city. I have just
come from paying the last sad duty to his remains,
as yesterday at this hour I attended, in company with
Dr. Tod, his dying moments. Gloomy and desolate
as we all feel after this most distressing event, I lose
no time in giving you the particulars, while they are
strongly impressed on my memory.
Mr. Rich had, for the whole of the last month,
been in rather delicate health. He had, on or about
tlie 2nd ol September, made use of the warm bath,
which had a severe effect on him, producing a vomit-