42 The Life and Writings of 



New Orleans, having been driven from Lexington by public opinion : 

 and the College has been burnt in 1828 with all its contents. But 

 Clifford s cabinet was saved (like mine) by being removed previously 

 like mine, and is now partly in Cincinnati and partly in Philadelphia. 

 This was a lucky escape.&quot;* 



FIRST OBJECT TEACHER IN KENTUCKY. 



During the time that Rafinesque occupied the chair 

 of modern languages and the natural sciences in Tran 

 sylvania University, was introduced west of the Allegha- 

 nies the modern method of object teaching. During 

 the three winters from 1823 to I 8a6, among other duties 

 he lectured on medical botany to the students in the 

 medical department, giving his course with &quot; exhibition 

 of specimens&quot;. In this he was far ahead of the teachers 

 of his time, and introduced a method which now every 

 where obtains among competent instructors. 



* It will probably never be known what led to this action on the part of 

 President Holly, but it would appear to have some relation to absenteeism on 

 the part of Rafinesque. It is but just to the memory of the famous Transyl 

 vania University President to say that always Rafinesque had received cordial 

 welcome to his home. The following facts appear lo controvert the opinion 

 Rafinesque had formed of the President; they are quoted from a letter I have 

 received from an inmate of the Holly household, by permission : &quot; He . 

 [Rafinesque] was a great admirer of Doctor Holly and came frequently to the 

 house to talk on subjects of interest to him. He was never an inmate of the 

 house although his face was a familiar one there. . . . He wrote verses, 

 English, and Italian, and Latin, I think, and brought them to find an audience 

 with us. . . ,&quot; 



