a late period of his life of the continuance of his powers of mind, and of his taste and judgment in poetry, it may be mentioned that on the death of Mr. Wordsworth, in the year 1850, the post of Laureate was offered to him by Her Majesty. This offer, made in a letter from Prince Albert, was in such gratifying terms as to require great strength of mind, and self-denial, on the part of Mr. Rogers to refuse it. He felt, however, that his time of life was so advanced, for he was then eighty-seven, as made it imperative on him to decline the honor intended him; and on this ground alone, and after a considerable struggle, he communicated his refusal to His Royal Highness. The appointment was afterwards conferred by Her Majesty on Mr. Tennyson. The following pages are not the production of that part of Mr. Rogers's life to which allusion has just been made; but, although written at earlier periods, they have the sanction of his later years; as, until a short time before his death, it was his habit to refer to them frequently, and occasionally to select or arrange parts of them with a view to future publication. They will be interesting as showing who were among his most valued friends, and what conversation he thought most worthy of being remembered, during that time of his life when his faculties were the strongest, and when, from his mixing most in society, he had the widest field to gather from. And, although they are but few and short, yet the existence of them in manuscript has been so often made known to his intimate friends, and they are SO characteristic of the mind and thoughts of the Writer, that it is believed that the publication of them may be felt as not en tirely unlooked for; and it is hoped they may be favorably received as a slight contribution to the biography of a generation that has now passed away. The extreme conciseness of some parts of the Recollections often seems to render explanation necessary; and the Editor has therefore ventured to add occasional Notes, containing dates or other references, which, it is hoped, may assist in making clear some otherwise obscure passages. These Notes are, however, very imperfect, and additions might be made to them with advantage, as there are still several passages which the Editor has not been able to clear up, but which it is believed that further search, or a more intimate acquaintance with parties named, might assist in explaining. For the information conveyed in several of these Notes he is in |