12 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



With the increase of his publications on all sorts of subjects, 

 many of them relating to hobbies undreamed of by his most 

 versatile fore-bears in biological science, the enemies and pecun- 

 iary troubles of Rafinesque increased. He had some friends in 

 Philadelphia, who were willing to overlook his faults and stand 

 by him in his worst extremities, but perhaps no man of his 

 talents suffered more keenly in his closing days the ingratitude 

 and neglect of the world which he had so actively endeavored 

 to benefit and enlighten by his researches. Anyone reading his 

 autobiography and willing to overlook the many egoisms and 

 exaggerations of it, will be impressed with the thought that here 

 was a man striving after truth, a real lover of nature, sincerely 

 endeavoring to impart his interpretation of the cosmos to his 

 fellowmen. At the same time he was sadly handicapped by 

 the necessity of making a living out of his discoveries, his 

 peculiarities depriving him of that patronage and encourage- 

 ment of wealthy friends Avhich is so essential to the best success 

 in the career of a scientific man addicted to poverty. 



In 1842 Rafinesque died in our City of Brotherly Love, un- 

 cared for, unloved, alone, and only through the exertions of Dr. 

 James Mease, his executor, was his body rescued from dissec- 

 tion by medical students, and was interred in Ronaldson's 

 Cemetery, 9th and Catherine streets. The exact spot of burial 

 is unmarked and unknown, though it is possible that it may be 

 located. There have been two or three attempts to locate it and 

 erect a monument there to his memory. It yet remains for 

 Philadelphia naturalists to help fulfil in this instance the 

 maxim which Rafinesque applied to himself at the conclusion 

 of his Life of Travels: " Time renders justice to all at last." 



Haddonfield, N. J., January 15^ 1912. 



