Letter from Constantine Rafinesque to Charles Wilkins Short, 21 December 1819

Dr. C.W. Short Lexington, Ky, 21st Dec 1819 Hopkinsville

Dear Sir

I have rec'd your favr. 6th. Instt. and although partly disappointed in observing that you have neglected me this year: I trust that you will fulfil your promises next Spring & amply compensate for both years. Since you mean to watch your vegetation closely next year, I would advise you and even beg, that you may at the same time keep a kind of Journal of the progress of vegetation, in the blossomg budding, foliation & of your plants, shrubs & trees, & noticing when you shall first see in blossom every plant. I am going to keep the same kind of Journal here. I have already two such Journals from near Pittsburg & the banks of the Wabash kept by Dr. Muller; and from all those I hope to be enabled to draw a Comparative Vernal Calendarium of the Western States. You know that such Journals are very interesting in many points of view, & particularly in acquiring a comparative knowledge of climates. I invite you to begin yours in January, carry it as far as the end of May, and then throughout the whole year ocasionally, if it is useful to know the first flowers of Spring, it is not less so to know the last days of Autumn.

Your cousin young Mr. Ridgely, has presented me a small, but fine collection of plants, collected with you,

and partly named by you. I have been much pleased with some of them: a few are not currectly named, & I should wish more specimens of others them. I am going to mention some

1. The Arethura (anonyma) with small racemose flowers & no leaves appears to be a Corrallorhiga but which? is it a new one? send me the root.

2. Y^r Anemone hepatica is the Van Denta / send me more of it.

3. Y^r Polygala senega, is a var of a or G. corymbia.

4. Y^r Prunella penytranica is Salvia claytoni.

5. Y^r Vivla anvynia is V. peclata Var bicolor Pusih

6. Y^r Vivla punytranica is a diff^t sp which?

7. Y^r Triviteum minus is a new species! sent me many spec

8. Y - majus is real Trivitium minus!

9 Y^r Erigeum (anonym) is perhaps Billis integrifolia send me more

10 Y^r Arabis (Anonym) is a New Spec? or a fine var. of A. lyrata.

11 Y^r Iris Verna is Iris cristata or a New sp! send me many sp

12 Y^r Uvularia perfol. is Uv. grandiflora.

13. Y^r Panax guinguefol. cant be that since it has primate leaves; but as it has no flowers, I cannot know what it is!

14. Op Orchis malaxis is O. spectabilis

15. Is Adviris autumnalis naturalind in the barrens?

16. Send me all Dodecathevirs, I believe to have 4 species of that G[cut off- Genus?]

17. Y^r Stellaria Anon is St. pubera Mx.

18 Y^r fine Delphinium Anon is doubtful perhaps new! Sent me [cut off]

19. Y^r Ararum Canad. is A. virgin send me flowers.

20. Y^r Trillium [?], has larger Calyx than the Carol. species is it a New one? send me many spec.

21. Y^r Phlox Anon is a new sp or Var of P. pilvsa-

22. Y^r Gnaphalium, is certainly a new sp. next to Gn. plan tagineum, the flowers are similar, but the scales white obtuse & large. I shall call it Antennaria corollata; both belong to the genus Antennaria of Gaertner. Send me many specimens.

This is only a sketch of my opinions, since many of the specimens are not complete, the Gnaph. for instance wants the radical leaves &

I have both Elliot & Barton's work. Elliot's I think is the best original botanical work ever published in America. I have reviewed the 5 first numbers, & am anxiously expecting the continuation. Barton's Compendium is tolerable; but a compilation in many parts, & has many defects.

I send you my review of Nuttall's, where you will perceive many of the general errors of our Botanists. I send also by mail the Prospectus of my Lectures. I am now lecturing on Natural History to abt 16 Ladies & 12 Gentlemen; the lectures on Botany are delayed till the Spring. I am very well pleased with Lexington, and although every thing is not as it should be, I think upon all that we shall do tolerably well. We have now about 200 Collegiate students, including the grammar School, and abt 35 medical students. Their Catalogue will soon be published.

We mean to take a journey somewhere next Summer, Mr Clifford & I; but are undecided whether to go towards the Lakes, the Mobile or the Arkansas - Springs; in that latter case, we mught visit you in the way perhaps. When will you come here, if you come?

I am publishing my Natural history of the fishes of the Ohio, in our review, & by itself. I shall next month publish the first Annual Number of my Discoveries or Annals of Nature. I am besides writing my travels; my Lectures & many tracts to send to Europe & Therefore I am not idle, & shall not disgrace the Western States; which have adopted me.

Believe me meantime Yours C. S. Rafinesque

P.S. Mr Clifford desires to be remembered to you, & not to forget him & the museum, if you should be able to procure Some indian antiquities or fossils.

If your amorphous rocks contain shells & they must be Secondary you know. Some may be primitive scattered as in Ohio; but carried there, not in real situation

D^r C W. Short 18 1/2 Hopkinsville Christian Cy Kent^y

Professor Rafinesque Dec^r 21^st 1819.