40 The Life and Writings of 



He was widely read and kept in touch with most of 

 the work of his day, but he does not seem to have 

 clearly interpreted all of his authors. In another place 

 will be found an estimate of his literary style which, as 

 attested by the very voluminous bibliography published 

 from Lexington, was none too clear; he delved in every 

 field of knowledge, and covered in his reading and his 

 writings almost every field of research. Subjects meteor 

 ological, geological, botanical, chemical, veterinary, astro 

 nomical, philological, theological, engaged his attention, 

 and were all made matter for several memoirs. He 

 even attempted poetry, sometimes in Latin, or French, 

 or English. These facts simply attest the work of a 

 mind devoid of the power of concentration. That these 

 peculiarities were known to his associate professors is 

 certain; that this knowledge had some influence in 

 determining their judgments of him is equally evident. 

 In 1823 Rafinesque undertook a considerable journey 

 across Middle Kentucky and into Tennessee, reaching 

 the Tennessee River. The unsettled character of the 

 country only prevented him from making the journey 

 westward to the Mississippi. On the return trip he 

 visited Mammoth Cave, of which he says, &quot;I spent 

 one day to survey it, and found it very different from 

 the printed exagerated accounts, but yet wonderful 



