Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-23
= SAMUEL lIeaRRs.

- SAMUEL A0aERS IS
! The steamer Assgo brings u sSssIligsnec of the
death Of Samuel Rogers tie venerable poet. He
died ut his house ia st James place. London, on the
morning of December 10, one honr after midnight
DR.. Beattie, and his attendant, Mr.. E. Paine, were
present.
The London Times, in commenting upon the event,
says:
1.-THE biography of Samuel Rogers would involve
the history of Europe since George Ill., then in the
bloom of youth, declared to his subjects that he
gloried in the name of Briton 1t is now more than
quarter of century since that monarch was car
ricd to his grave in extreme age, worn out with
mental and bodily disease. Let us take the most
notable historic drama of the century, 17S3-1Sl5
the rise, decline and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte.
"This but episode in the life of Samuel
Rogers He was young man Of some standing in
the world fully of an age to appreciate the meaning
and Importance Of the event, when the States-Gen-
eral were assembled in France If remember
right he actually present in Paris ut or about
the ti.ne and may have heard with his own ears
Mirabeau hurting defiance at the Court, and seen
Danton and Robespierre whispering to each other
that their time not yet come. Let us go back
to other events standards of admcasuremeht-
As the war of the French Revolution and that
against Napoleon Bonaparte were episodes in the
ripe manhood so the American episode
in the boyhood of Rogers lie of an age to
appreciate the grandeur if not the political meaning
of events, when Rodney his naval victories
and when General Elliot successfully defended Iii
bralta. - --
He could remember our differences with our Anne
rican colonies, and the battles of Bunkers Hill,
Brandywine and Germantown, we'll as man now
in manhood can remember the three glorious days
of July and the Polish instruction. To have lived
in the days of General Washington, and to have
heard discussions as to the propriety of admitting
the independence of the North American Provinces,
and to have been alive but yesterday, seems well
nigh an impossibility; but such the case Of
Samuel Rogers. When he opened his eyes upon
the world, that great and powerful country which Is
known as the Unted States of North America,
butian insignificant dependence OF the mother
country something not important as the An
titles, even in their for.orn condition, at the pre-
sent moment. They We're just rising to be some
what of a little more significance than the planta
tons to which Dcfoe uggled off the troublesome
characters in his fictitious tales. They now const
tute of the most powerful states i'll the comfy OF
nations.
Let us take another teSt-that of our Indian
pire. FM three four years before the birth "i
the subject of these remarks. Colonel Give fought
the battle of Plassy, and lai the foundation of it;
lc lived through the government of India 10y War
rem Hastings, and being in London at the time,
conld we'll understand the discussions which took
place upon the subject of the India bill. The battle
of Assayc found him man forty years Of age. lie
was in full possession of his faculties when Lords
Hardinge and Cough their victories in North
western India but the other day. 1t would be
pertnous to lay before readers any contrast be-
tween the dates of other political events at which
this remarkable man have assisted, at least
intelligent spectator. Let them carry back their
minds to the days of Wilkes aud the Duke Of Graf
ton and remember but the Of the states
men who have administered the affairs Of the
try from that time the present. and they will have
present their recollection list OF the associates
and friends of the late Mr.. Rogers.
AS might be expected his more intimate associa-
s. 81.
more liberia! party, but such his courtesy of
temper and Of manner that he received upon a
friendly footing even by those with whom he was
known to differ points of political principle.
mere politician he never was at any period OF his
career.
1t is however, to the literary history of the CEN
fury must mainly look for corr.c, appreciation
of Rogers II. not only outlived two
three generations of men, but two three literary
styles. The Poet of Memory, as he has been called.
not be rashly Judged by the modern student,
whose taste has been partly exlited partly vulgar
lied, by the performances of later wIiters-we
speaking Of n contemporary Of DR.. Johnson. Ros-
crS must have been young man some twenty years
old when the great photographer died, and there
fore great portion Of JohlSonS writings have
been to him contemporary literature.
Let those who are inclined to cavil at the gentler
inspirations of Rogers, think for moment upon
what English poetry was between the deaths Of
Goldsmith and johnson and the appearance Of Wal
ter SCOTS first great poem. Cowpcr rcdccns the
solitary waste from absolute condemnation as the
most unfortunate epoch in our literature. Rogers
dcubt formed his style upon earlier models, but
he was no servic copyist; he could feel, without
any tendency to apsil imitation, the batteries of
such authors as Dryden and Pope. The poem by
which his name is principally known to the pubic
will always remain as among the classical pieces OF
English literature, while some Of his smaller poems
wal. never cease to hang in the memory of men
while the English language is understood
Rogers precise aye has yet been recorded
by any Of his biOgraphers. He was born about
1860, and was therefore ninety-s years old. He
commenced life us a Banker, and amassed an im-
mensc fortune, of which he has spent the
tire income. His first p etcaI publication, entitled
"Ne to Superstition, and Other Poems" pub
lshed in 1871, just after his return from Of
foreign travel Five years later appeared his "Peas
ures of Memory" He published the first part Of
the poem which has determined his position among
English poets, in 1922. lie is said to have expeud-
ed 10000 pounds in illustrating this work alone -
He was liberal and judlcous patron of art, and
his house has for many years been the habitua
sort Of the first talent of the age.
SAMUEL RoGEEs-The death of the poet Rogers
seems almost like the extinction of an institution
The world by his departure has one object the less
of interest and reverence. The elegant hospitality
which he dispensed for nearly threc-quarters Of a
century, and in which Americans had large share,
is brought end, and vacaity is created which
no Ensshman can supply. Rogers loved to speak
of his relations with Americans "Three American
Presidents, he used to say, "have been entertained
under my roof" and then he would enumerate, in
his succinct way, the illusrious men, founders of
our republic eminent in its later history who had
been his guests He claimed an hereditary interest
in our country On the news of the battle Of Lex.
ington his father put on mourning. "Have you