The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-01-19
Biographical.
DEATH OF SAMUEL ROGERS.


On the morning of Tuesday, Decembc,
18th, Samuel Rogers, the author Of the
"rloasurcS of Memory and Italy" died at
his residence in st. James Place. London
lie had reached the great age of ninety-threc
years, having been born at Ncwington Green
a village now swallowed up in London. in
the year l1G2. His grandfather was a gen
tlcman THAT is to say, he lived at his ease,
without a profession or other business. His
father however, became a banker, and anlas-
std fortune, which descending to his son,
the poet made him one of the richest com
moners and much the richest poet i'll Eng
land.
The life of Rogers has been one of serene
happiness, undistnrbed by striking events
Born in luxury and case, literally educated,
having no vicious propcnSiticS or strong pas
sions. he began early to dream poetry, and
soon after to write and publish it. A volume
| containing an "Odc to Superstition and other
Poems" appeared in 1856, which was well
received, In 1892 he published the ''pea-
surcs Of Memory" one Of the most elegant
poems in the language, which at once won
for him high fame. The Voyage of Column
bus" appeared in 1872; '.Jacquclne' pub
lisncd i'll a volume with Bvron's Lara, y
in 1914 "l!uman Life in 1919, and Italy
in 1892. These are his chief works, but the
first and the ast-the Pleasures of Memory"
and Italy are those by which he will be
longest remembered. The latter consists of
blank verse sketches Of scenery, adventures
and legends of Italy: hut it must be confess
Scd that it derived much of its vogue from
the circumstance that it contained numerous
engravingS from the best artists, employed
by the poet without regard to the cost, so
that it was really the most beautifully Illus
tratcd book Of Its time. Since its puLlica.
ton Mr.. Rogers has written little. lie has
lived in elegant case at the house where he
died, gathering around him choice works of
art and collecting a library of rare books, so
that the plain looking dwelling in st. James S
Place had become a centre Of attraction to
all who loved art and letters. lie had never
married, but he never lacked friends, since he
possessed in his amiabe character the means
Of winning these, even ifhis enormous wealth
had failed to secure them. We have heard
nothing of his having been i'll previous to his
death, so that we presume the vital energy
failed suddenly. as it often docs in old age,
without any diaease.
The death of Rogers is like the cutting of
the last link which bound us to the worthless
OF the past century. He had lived through
thee generations had seen the British throne
occupied by four successive sovercigns; had
seen France monarchy, democracy, an
empire, monarchy again, a republic again,
and at last al empire once more. He was Il
man before our war of independence closed,
and he has been witness Of our growth from
infancy to our present cxrIbcrant manhood
He had called onsgood old DR.. johnson in
Bolt Court had seen and perhaps associated
with Pitt Fox, Burke, Gyattan and Sir josh
TIA Reynolds lie knew Moore, Byron, Camp.
bell, Wordsworth Scott, Southcy, Cccridge
Crabbe. Sheridan Madame dc Stacl, MacEin-
tosh, Erskinc and all the celebrities of the
present century. lie had seen them all af-
ter lives of more or less disquct, 90 down to
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 patriarch from all the
new age, and when men or women Of letters
visited London, a breakfast at Rogers was
the incident on which they looked back with
the highest pride, and which they cherished
with the fondrst memories. The closing
scenes Of his pure and equab,c life have been
peaceful and happy, and his grave will ever
BE- all honorcd one.