ROGERS, SAMUEL, an English poet, was b. in London, July 30, 1763. His father was a banker and member of a dissenting body. After having been carefully educated, Rogers was placed in his father's bank. His taste for literature and the company of literary men awoke at an early period, and he, accompanied by a friend, went one day to call on Dr. Johnson, who was then living at Bolt Court, but his courage failed him when 'hiS hand was on the knocker. In 1786, lie published his first book, entitled An Ode to Superstition, and seine other Poems. In 1792 he published his Pleasures ef Memory the'work on which his fame most securely rests. For a considerable period after this he was silent. Meanwhile, he had retired from business, and in the possession of ample wealth, in his house in St. James's place, he employed himself with his muse, his cook, the company of the literary celebrities of his time, and the collecting of pictures and articles of virtu. Then, and during the whole period of his subsequent life, his break fasts were more famous than his poems. Critics might find fault with the one, but not
the other.
In 1812 lie published Columbus, a not very striking poetical In 1814 Jac queline appeared in the same volume with Lord Byron's Lara. In 7819 he issued Human Life; and in 1822, Italy. An edition of the last work, illustrated by the best artists, at the cost, it is said, of £10,000, appeared in 1830. After this date he published nothing —his lime being mainly devoted to taste, dining, epigram, and anecdote. Although aged, he was a greater gadder about than any man of his years in London. He rode or strolled in the parks, he haunted picture-galleries, he was a constant attender at the opera. He was by far the oldest English poet. An accident in the street at last confined him to his room, and on Dee. 18, 1555, he died, aged 93. He read Goldsmith's Traveller when it was published, and Ile might have read Tenuysou's Maud. He published his first book before Burns's first volume appeared at Kilmarnock. Since his death Rogers's Table Talk has been published.