22 The Life and Writings of 



he taught Italian, drawing, and botany. It is more 

 than likely that the introduction which Mitchill gave 

 Rafinesque to New York literary society helped him 

 to this place. But before spring he resigned this post 

 because the family desired to spend the winter in the 

 South. He again became a child of fortune. As soon 

 as spring had sufficiently advanced he devoted his time 

 to geology and to the collection of the plants which 

 grew about New York. The summer following he 

 went as far north as Saratoga, and spent several weeks 

 at the series of falls which are so famous in Bast-central 

 New York. In a similar manner was passed the long 

 period of the four following years. Then he went to 

 Philadelphia, on business bent, and again met his old 

 friend John D. Clifford, known to all students of Ken 

 tucky history, who was and had been for some time a 

 resident of Lexington. In him he found a warm and 

 sympathizing friend, and was persuaded to visit the 

 West, which then meant Kentucky. 



The summer of 1818 finds the monotony of Rafin- 

 esque s life varied by a journey over the Alleghanies and 

 down the Ohio, which he descended from Pittsburg in a 

 flat-boat. He was one of a party of several men, who 

 traveled by day and rested by night. This must have 

 suited the taste of Rafinesque, who could thus give the 



