84 The Life and Writings of 



care, it is not wonderful that many papers published 

 during this time possess so little real value. 



An episode of considerable interest occurred in the 

 last year of Rafinesque s Sicilian residence. It was the 

 reception of his first diploma of membership in a learned 

 society. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Naples 

 bestowed the honor. The item is insignificant in itself, 

 but it seems to have aroused a desire in him for other 

 similar honors. The method by which some of these 

 doubtless were secured may be gathered from a letter 

 by Rafinesque, published a few years since.* This 

 letter is here presented in full, not only for the reason 

 above assigned, but also because it indicates that Rafin 

 esque had in mind, for the cryptogamia at least, an 

 extensive work on American plants, and thus helps 

 to a further understanding of the wide range of his 

 literary efforts. The letter runs as follows: 



&quot; PALERMO, Jan. 28, 1807. 

 &quot; DOCTOR M. CUTLER. 



Dear Sir . I had the pleasure to receive last month, via Mar 

 seilles, your esteemed favor of 8th May last, and being the first 

 that reached me from you since I am in Europe, you may easily 

 conceive how gratifying it has been. I perceive by it that you had 

 formerly wrote me and sent me some plants via Leghorn, which 

 both never came to hand, and I regret it exceedingly, but have no 



*I,ife, Journal, and Correspondence of Rev. Manasseh Cutler, LX,. D. 

 Vol. II, pp. 311-314. 1888. Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati. 



