432 WILLIAM BARTON ROGERS. 



forgot tlieir age; they were again young, and showed their enthusi- 

 asm as wihlly as when, in days of yore, enraptured by his eloquence, 

 they made the lecture-room of the Uuiversity ring with their ap- 

 plause." 



Besides his geological papers. Professor Rogers published, while at 

 the University of Virginia, a number of important chemical contribu- 

 tions, relating chiefly to new and improved methods in chemical analy- 

 sis and research. These papers were published in connection with his 

 youngest brother, Robert E. Rogers, now become his colleague as Pro- 

 fessor of Chemistry and Materia Medica in the University ; and such 

 were the singularly intimate relations between the brothers that it is 

 often impossible to dissociate their scientific work. Among these 

 were papers " On a New Process for obtaining Pure Chlorine " ; 

 "A New Process for obtaining Formic Acid, Aldehyde, etc."; "On 

 the Oxidation of the Diamond in the Liquid Way " ; " On New In- 

 struments and Processes for the Analysis of the Carbonates"; "On 

 the Absorption of Carbonic Acid by Liquids " ; besides the extended 

 investio-ation " On the Decomposition of Minerals and Rocks by Car- 

 bonated and Meteoric Waters," to which we have referred above. 

 There was also at this time a large amount of chemical work con- 

 stantly on hand in connection with the Geological Survey, such as 

 analyses of mineral waters, ores, and the like. Moreover, while at 

 the University of Virginia, Professor Rogers published a short treatise 

 on " The Strength of Materials," and a volume on " The Elements of 

 Mechanics," — books which, though long out of print, were very use- 

 ful text-books in their day, and are marked by the clearness of style 

 and felicity of explanation for which the author was so distinguished. 



The year 1853 formed a turning-point in Professor Rogers's life. 

 Four years previously he had married Miss Emma Savage, daughter 

 of Hon. James Savage of Boston, the well-known author of the New 

 England Genealogical Dictionary, and President of the Massachusetts 

 Historical Society. This connection proved to be the crowning bless- 

 ing of his life. Mrs. Rogers, by her energy, her intelligence, her 

 cheerful equanimity, her unfailing sympathy, became the promoter of 

 his labors, the ornament and solace of his middle life, and the devoted 

 companion and support of his declining years. Immediately after his 

 marriage, June 20, 1849, he visited Europe with his wife, and was 

 present at the meeting of the British Association for tlie Advancement 

 of Science, held that year at Birmingham, where he was received with 

 great warmth, and made a most marked impression. Returning home 

 in the autumn, Professor Rogers resumed his work at the University 



