March 23, 1900.] 



SCIENCE. 



449 



to the absolutely pure substance, oi- to some 

 numerical value (atomic weight and the 

 like), in the same way the machine builder 

 strives for the conveyance of energy with 

 the least possible loss, and the engineer for 

 the lightest possible carrier. 



And if indeed, the complete solution of 

 these problems lies beyond the scope of our 

 powers, if from the side of nature the in- 

 exorable ' No ' stands against us ; neverthe- 

 less, we have in our hands in the increasing 

 accuracy of our methods of work the true 

 philosopher's stone, by means of which we 

 can ever come nearer and nearer to our 

 goal. Let us look upon the creation of new 

 methods of experimentation and the im- 

 provement of the old methods in our prac- 

 tical science, as one of the most important 

 duties for those who seek for progress and 

 see in the development of our powers of 

 reason the foremost task of the cultured 



mind. 



Feiedeich Emich. 

 Geaz, Hungaey. 



CORRESPONDENCE OF C. S. BAFINESQUE AND 

 PROFESSOR WM. WAGNER. 



In hunting through the natural history 

 material collected by the late Professor 

 William Wagner in the Wagner Free In- 

 stitute of Science, some fourteen years ago, 

 I discovered several letters from the eccen- 

 tric naturalist Eafinesque, together with a 

 number of pamphlets written by him. 



Professor Wagner had evidently taken up 

 Eafinesque upon his return to Philadelphia 

 from Kentucky with all the enthusiasm 

 that a man interested in the development 

 of the study of natural history must have 

 for one who gave his whole time and all the 

 money he could scrape together for the 

 amassing of collections in every depart- 

 ment of zoology and botany. It would ap- 

 pear from the context that Eafinesque had 

 got into trouble (no unusual thing for 

 him) and wished Professor Wagner to go 



on his note for the amount necessary to 

 relieve him. This was promptly refused 

 for the reasons given in Professor Wagner's 

 letter, and Rafinesque writes to him on the 

 10th of April, 1840, as follows : 



Dkae Sik : — I wish you will send me five dollars 

 aty'r convenience (or my 'Amenities of Nature' or 

 at least One Dollar for the first Number that you have 

 already had — that is the price. The value of Mont- 

 ford is $10. having 261 plates & with my notes $12. to 

 15 ; while Mantell is only worth $3. 



I sell my works, my shells, my drawings and my 

 services — I give them away sometimes to particular 

 friends only, altho' I can hardly afford it. 

 Yours, &c, 



C. S. Rafinesque. 



Professor Wagner immediately replied on 

 the 10th of April, 1840 : 



Dbak Sir : — Your note of this morning I found on 

 my table on my return home at noon. 



Your singular request to send you five dollars " at 

 my convenience for your 'Amenities of Nature,' or' 

 one dollar for the one you say I have rec'd really 

 surprises me. I now return to you unread, as my time 

 has been otherwise much oecnpied that which you 

 loaned me for my perusal and to which I never sub- 

 scribed. It you have done perusing my copy of Man- 

 tell which, you informed me, you had read with in- 

 terest & pleasure, you will please hand it to the 

 bearer, as I wish to lend it to other of my friends. 

 You inform me you sell your works, shells, drawings 

 & services. I would beg leave to remark I have no 

 occasion for any of them at present. You add "you 

 give them away sometimes to particular friends 

 only." I would add if you intend the remark for me 

 you must know I never asked you for anything, 

 neither have I ever received an atom of any of your 

 property or effects, no not the most trifiing, neither 

 do I want them. I really regret my refusal yesterday 

 to enter the requested security has produced an ebul- 

 lition of feeling as your note indicates. I would 

 have thought that your age and philosophy would 

 have controlled your passions particularly after my 

 explaining my reasons. 



Yours, &c, 



Wm. Wagner. 



The reply from Eafinesque is dated April 

 12, 1840, and reads as follows : 



Me. William Wagner. — The work of Mantell 

 was delivered to your servant as you requested. I 

 am used to disappointments — it was not an angry 

 feeling but sorrow I experienced at your refusal ; 



