Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-01-18
Death of Samuel Roger.

Oh the morning or Tuesday, December 1er
Samuel Rogers, the author of the "Peasn,ddsId ,
Memory" and Italy," died at his residence is Of
Jamess Place IN London. He had reached the nor
age OF ninety three years. having been born Al Ne&
ington Green, village now swallowed IN bv 'te"'
don' in The year 1852. His grandfather was ~ Lon'
leman"-that is TO say, he lived at his ease zen
profession or other business His father, bomoOut
became banker and amassed a fortune. wbich ef'
scendlng to his son, the poet. made him ono &C. e'
richest commoners, and much the richest W. me
England f0e' IN
The life Of Rogers has been one Of se,ono H..
ness, undisturbed by striking events Born ir iPpH
and ease, literally educated, having no vicious "Fy
pensItles or strong passions, he began early ~ p"
poetry, and soon after to write and publish + ''n
volume containing an Ode to Superstition and o,b
Poems," appeared in 1876, which was well roo;eF
In 1892 he published the Pleasures of NsoSed
one of the most eegant poems in the languaoo W. :,
at once won for him high fame The Toyo a.,ca
Columbus" appeared in 1912 "Jacquelinn, KY U
lished in volume with Byron's Laura ~ in IS19
" Human Life" in 1918, and Italy" in 1922 M ~
are his chief works, but the first and the last,
&C Pleasures of Memory and "Italy" are ,hoso NE
which he will be longest remembered. The laH
consists OF blank sketches Of scenery. a1rS@
lures and legends of Italy bat it must be con(ssI
that it derived much of its vogue from the cirrnn
stance that it contained numerous engravngs fS
the best artists employed by the poet without raaa,3
to cost, so that it was really the most beautifully;
! NJ.
Rogers has written little. He has lived IN epa y-'
case at the house where he died. gathering arG~n
i'm choice works of art and collecting brarv %
rare books, so that the plain looking DWELLING Al ~
James's Place bad become a centre of attraction =
all who loved art and letters. He had never mar,iol
but he had lacked friends, since he posse.so'
in his amiable character the means of winnin,
these, even IT his enormous wealth hal failed to Sc
cue them. We have heard nothing of his Lavn
been III previous 10 his death, so that we presum
the vital energy failed suddenly, as it often does r
old age, without any disease.
! The death of Rogers is like the cutting Of ,bo
last link which bound us TO the worthless of the mas
century. He had lived through three generations
had seen the British throne occupied bv four suc
cesslve sovereigns; had seen France a MONARCHY
again, republic again, and at last an empire once
more He was man before our war of indepen
dencc closed, and he has been a witness of our
growth from infancy 10 our present exuberant man.
hood. He had called on good old DR. Johnson IN
Bolt Court; had seen and perhaps associated with
lItl, Fox, Burke, Grattan and Sir Joshua REYNOLDS
/ He knew Moore, Byron, Campbell, Wordsworth
scott, Southey, C0leridge, Crabbe Sheridan Madame
dc Stae Macintosh, Erskne, and all the celebrities
OF the present century. He had seen them all after
lives OF more or less dsquet 90 down 10 their
graves while he in luxurious ease alone survived and
saw new generation and a literature rising
around HIM. He received the homage given to pa.
traTch from all the new age, and when men or Wo.
men of letters visited London breakfast at Rogers
was the incident on which they led back with The
highest pride, and which they cherished with the
tondest memories. The closing scenes OF his pure
and equabIe life have been peaceful and happy an
his grave Will ever be al hOnOred one