Constanttne Samuel Rafinesque. 



119 



critique from David G. Burnett, some time president of 

 the Lone Star State, who also furnished the Gazette 

 a series of articles on the Indians of Texas. Perhaps 

 it would be quite sufficient to say, in brief, that the 

 work done by Rafinesque in this field possesses so few 

 of the elements of permanency and of value that it can 

 not be quoted as authoritative nor depended upon as 

 exact by any modern author. His claim to scientific 

 recognition would surely fail if it rested on his arch- 

 seologic work. 



LITERARY WORK FROM 1825- TO 1840. 



When Rafinesque left Kentucky, in the fall of 1825, 

 the period of his most valuable scientific work came to an 

 end. From that time his literary efforts partake more 

 and more of the character of vagaries. His life now 

 became a series of disappointments and constant strug 

 gles with poverty. Every man s hand appeared to him 

 to be against him; a certain misanthropy, which had 

 developed, became very marked and dominated all his 

 work. If he failed in any enterprise his &quot;secret foes&quot; 

 accomplished it; if his books were not issued to him 

 fresh from the press without payment, and were therefore 

 held back, it was &quot;the secret machinations of enemies&quot; 



