AMERICAN GEOLOGY DECADE OF 1830-4839. 843 



used in the prosecution of his scientific work. The list comprised 1 

 platinum capsule, 1 pound of absolute alcohol (French), one-half ounce 

 oxide of ammonia, one-half pound distilled muriatic acid (pure), 1 

 pound distilled nitric acid, one 4-ounce vial of phosphate of ammonia. 

 1 foot small platinum wire for blowpipe. 

 He wrote: 



My alcohol, with all the economy I have used, is almost exhausted. The gill 

 which I had at the opening of the course has been used at least ten times in 

 analysis, ami though carefully distilled off in each operation, a portion is, of 

 course, lost. 



In August of 1835 Rogers was elected to the chair of natural philos- 

 ophy in the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville, a position which 

 he gladly accepted, being, undoubtedly, influenced in part at least by 

 the more healthful climate of the latter place. 



His first years here were, however, full of trial, owing to the dual 

 nature of his duties — teacher and State geologist — and the lawless char- 

 acter of many of the students. Lacking, as he was, in physical stamina 

 at the beginning, the trials as professor and the lack of appreciation of 

 his work b}*- the State legislature undoubtedly wore upon him severely 

 and had to do with his comparatively early breaking down. 



Like other of the broader men of his time, Rogers was an all-round 

 scientist, and wrote not merely on geology, but made observations on 

 the aurora, experiments with reference to binocular visions, and other 

 subjects. 



As early as 1846, in connection with his brother Henry, he formu- 

 lated plans for the Polytechnic School in Boston, which place he felt 

 persuaded was on all accounts the best suited for an institution of this 

 kind. " I long for an atmosphere of more stimulating power," he wrote 

 from Charlottesville, and with these thoughts in mind he resigned his 

 professorship in 1848, but was induced to reconsider and remain for 

 five years longer. On his final removal to Boston in 1S53 he con- 

 tinued to take an active part in scientific and educational matters. The 

 year 1859 found him again actively advocating his plan for an institute of 

 technology, the matter being brought forward at this time in connection 

 with the so-called Back Bay lands and their rapidly enhancing value, 

 and in 1801 an act to incorporate the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- 

 nology passed the legislature and was approved by the governor. In 

 1862, an organization having been perfected, he was elected its first 

 president, an office he continued to hold until forced to resign by ill 

 health in 1870. In 1878, his health having improved, he was again 

 induced to temporarily accept the presidency, holding the position 

 three years, and being succeeded by Gen. F. A. Walker. 



His reputation as a geologist rests mainly upon his work as State 

 geologist of Virginia and that on the structure of the Appalachian 



