New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-08
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DEATH OF THE POET ROGERS.

,enre.ens;ive Of English literature and -oeety 10 the
Inst century, while be filed Conspicuous place ID TIE
Intellectual history Of the present day Mr.. Rogers
wss in the ninetysixth year Of his age, having ocen
horn in l76O. His poetical works, though Il" n
number are well known TO cultivated readers a.
models Of elaborate and fnished composition, abound
inc in passages Of quiet beauty, and showing an eA-
ouse refinement Of taste, but without pfetensohs ~
originality If thought remarkable vigor OF eAp'e7
SION His earliest production published ID I1e'' wa
the Ode 10 Superstition and other Poems lhls W.
succeeded il five wears blythe Pleasures OF Memory
which work formed the basis Of hs reputation a.
NOT and il still read by the lovers OF smooth and
nelodops yer~fcstion. In i7es be published hi'
Fpistle TO q Friend and other Poems; N 1915, ms
"vison Of Columbus" and " Jacqu.lino;" in 1919,
"Uu,oon Life and in 1922, the first part OF hs
"Haly.v This last work was brought out in style OF
costly magni6cence - not hss than ten thoa'and
pouutls il is said, having been spent Oh ts embesh-
ments.
The eminence Of NJ Rogers in the literary circles OF
London depended more 90 hIs accomplishments ar a
connosseur and critic than on his merits az an
author. His great wealth also enabled hmt pay 'he
part of Mecsnas to perfection. HIS house was ne
center Of whatever brilliant and fascinating among
the literary celebrities OF the age but his enei dehght
was in extending his friendly aid to young and IN
known authors who were struggling with difficulties
Many man now living can remember that on a
- Saturday night he went 10 bed on unknown lad,
" thinking Of the celebrated men of DIS time az a
~ peIsOn thinks who has only read about them,
4" and on Sunday walked home from the hosptaole
"house of Mr.. Rogers, encouraged to perseVcre IA
"bis task bv the hearty good wishes and inendiy
" svmpathy of those who had heretofore appeared
ito lin almost as inhabitants of another world.
Combined with this kirdiness Of disposition toward
those who needed his sympathy was an opposite utt
which, in some relations, must have made him an oiect
Of intense social aversion On this point we quote from
@ London journal: He was, plainly speaking at once
"a Aatterer and cync. 1t was impossible for those
"who knew him best to say, at any moment, whether
"he was in earnest covert jest. Whether he ever
was in earnest there il sort of evidence but hs
"acts; and the consequence was thai his hatery went
for nothing except with novices while ms cansucty
" bit as deep as he intended. He would begin with
"series ofoutrageous compliments in measured style
(which forbade interruption; and II he was allowed
"to finish, would 90 away and boast how much he
chad made a victim swallow. lie would accept
constant seat at great mans table, Halter MS
Ghost to the top Of his bent and then, as is upon
"record 20 away and say that the company there
"was got up by coDscription-that there were two
parties before whom everybody must appear, his
Ghost and the police. Where il safe he
would Try his saTcasms the victims them
"selves A multitude of his sayings are ranking
in peopc's memories which could not possibly have
had any other origin than the love of giving PAM
"Some were so atrocous as to suggest the idea that
che Ind sort of psychological curiosity TO see how
"peope could bear such infections. Those who could
"bear them and especially those who despised them,
"stood well with him. In that case, there was some
ching more ike reality in the tone Of his subsequent
"intercoursc than in ordinary cases. The relation
(Which this propensity OF his bore 10 his position was
"direct. 1t placed him at great mems tables, and
kept him there, more than any other of his quaif-
"aations. His poetry alone would not have done 1t.
His love and knowledge of art would not have done
cit; and much less his wealth. His elasticity was
"his pass-kev everywhere. Except the worship paid
"to the Railway King for his wealth, we know OF
"nothing in modern society extraordinary and hui
"mating as the Difference paid to Rogers for his IL
"nature. II became sort Of public apprehension, III
'creasing with his years, till it ceased to be Disgrace
"fu in the eyes Of the cotercs, and the fotterer was
"Rattered. and the backbter propitiated almost
without disguise or shame, account Of ms bitter
"wit"
Mr. Rogers was extensively known as one oi lhe
richest bankers Of London. lie not proud of this
distinction however and reluctant that it should
be brought into notice. When some years since,
"his bank was robbed TO 30 enormous an amount 10y
"the pllage of a safe that everybody supposed It
"must stop payment; and when it did not stop, aud
"a his great friends testified their sympathy first,
." and then their joy it curious thing to observe
thc old poets bearing and TO hear the remarks upon
1T. He was wonderfully reserved and passed of
"the whole with few quiet jokes, through which was
plainly ,een his modification at being recog-
nized as banker, in sphere where he
"hoped he war known associate Of the
great aud the first connoisseur in England
His tenacity of life was wonderful. 4 few years
since he was run over by cab and received injuries
which every one supposed must prove fatal to per-
son of his advanced years But he soon recovered
from the shock and resumed his accustomed place in
society. His breakfasts, which gathered around the
genial board the most eminent literary men of all
countries were continued till within recent period
But of late their charm had passed away. The old
mans memory had failed, while his bitterness OF
spirit remained. Death brought & welcome relief to
this unseemy spectacle. The grave has now placed
its seal on whatever generous and kindly in his
nature let il also cOnsign his fraes to swift oblivion
-~
GRFATNFSs OF ALABANA.--We are clad 10 observe
that the people of Alabama at least the Governor
entertain very comfortable sense of their own
hnporance-ss much so almost as the geese mmor