66 The Life and Writings of 



physique and habits of Rafmesque. For it I am in 

 debted to the courtesy of Judge Belvard J. Peters, of 

 Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. He says:* 



&quot;I was a member of the graduating class of 1825, with Gen l 

 G. W. Jones, in the Transylvania University, Kentucky. I remember 

 Professor Rafinesque, and my recollection is he was a man of low 

 stature, not more than 5 feet 10 inches in height, strongly built, 

 and capable of great physical force; his head rather larger than 

 usual, square shoulders but not stooped, dark grey eyes, and dark 

 hair. While there was nothing in his countenance inviting to stran 

 gers, there was absolutely nothing forbidding. His face was far 

 from being ruddy ; but pale or perhaps wan is the best word, indicat 

 ing to me that his color was the result of hard study, for he was 

 a great student. He seemed to me to be careless of his style of 

 dressing, indeed, his clothes never fitted him and appeared to have 

 been made for some one else and he got them by accident. I think 

 he was not a cheerful man. I have no recollection of having ever 

 seen him enjoy a hearty laugh (as we Kentuckians would say). He 

 was an eccentric man, doubtless as much so as any account you 

 have of him represents him to have been. I never heard, and do 

 not believe, that his relations with Prest. Holly, or any of his 

 colleagues, were unpleasant. I never knew nor did I ever hear 

 of any such trouble. Prest. H., as I understood, was a Unitarian 

 and Professor Bishop was a Scotchman and Presbyterian of the 

 straightest sect, and but little intercourse [existed] between them. 

 Prest. Holly was the victim of persecutions of Presbyterian and 

 Baptist preachers, the first named the most bitter. They never 

 ceased their war upon him until they forced him to resign in the 

 Spring of 1827, and he was elected President of the New Orleans 

 College, and in July, 1827, he took yellow fever, on shipboard, going 

 from New Orleans to Boston, and died 3ist July, 1827. His body 



* In lit., dated September 24, 1894. 



