30
��Robert Rogers, the Ranger.
��neither marry nor are given in mar- riage," it is easy to believe.*
In returning to Major Rogers, we must not forget that he was an author as well as soldier. He seems to have been in England in 1765, and to have there published two respectable volumes of his writings. One is entitled *' Jour- nals of Major Robert Rogers; con- taining an account of the several excur- sions he made under the Generals who commanded upon the continent of North America, during the late War," and embraces the period from September 24, 1755, to February 14, 1761. It is doubtless quite reliable and valuable as a contribution to the history of our Army of the Lakes during the old French war.f
The other is called " a concise view of North America," and contains much interesting information relative to the country at the time of its publication. |
- Captain Roach died at Concord in May, 1811.
fThe full title is "Journals of Major Robert Rogers: containing an account of several excursions he made under the Generals who commanded upon the Continent of North America during the late war. From which may be collected the material circumstances of every campaign upon that continent from the commencement to the couclusion of the war. London: Printed for the Author, and sold by J. Millan, bookseller near Whitehall, MDCCLXV." 8vo., Introduction, pp. VIII; Journals, pp. 236.
An American edition of Roger's Journals, ably edited by Dr. F. B. Hough, was published at Albany in 1883, by J. Munsell's Sons. Besides a valuable introduction, it contains the whole text of the Journals, an appendix con- sisting largely of important official papers relating to Rogers, and a good index. It is by far the best edition, of the Journals ever published.
J The full title of this volume is "A Concise Ac- count of North America; Containing a description of the several British Colonies on that Continent, including the islands of New Foundland, Cape Breton, &c., as to their Situation, Extent, Climate, Soil, Produce, Rise, Government, Religon, Present Boundaries and the num- ber of Inhabitants supposed to be in each. Also of the In- terior and Westerly Parts of the Country, upon the rivers St. Lawrence, the Mrssissippi, Christino and the Great Lakes. To which is subjoined. An account of the sev- eral Nations and Tribes of Indians residing in those Parts, as to their Customs, Manners, Government, Num- bers, &c.,Containing many useful and Entertaining Facts, never before treated of. By Major Robert Rogers. London: Printed for the Author, and sold by J. Millan, bookseller, near Whitehall. MDCCLXV." 8vo., Intro- duction and Advertisement, pp. viii; Concise Ac- count, pp. 264.
��It is less reliable than the former, but is a readable book, and, when the author keeps within the bounds of his personal knowledge, is doubtless authentic.
Both works are a credit to Major Rog- ers. To the charge that he was an illit- erate person and that these works were written by another's hand, it may be urged, as to the " journals," that the correspondence of their matter to the written reports of his expeditions made to his superior officers and now preserved in the New York State Library, convinc- ingly show that this work is undoubtedly his. If revised before publication by a more practiced writer, this revision should not deprive him of the credit of their authorship.
Rogers laid no claims to fine writ- ing, but his OAvn manuscript reports, written mostly in camp and hastily, attest his possession of a fair chirog- raphy, a pretty good knowledge of grammar and spelling, together with a style of expression both lucid and simple; in short, these are such compositions as come naturally from a man, who, favored in youth with but a limited common school education, has in mature life mingled much with superiors and been often called upon to draft such writings as fall to the lot of a soldier or man of business. Mr. Parkman also attributes to Rogers a part authorship of a tragedy long forgotton, entitled " Ponteach, or the Savages in America," published in London in 1766. It is a work of httle merit and very few copies of it have been preserved.*
On the tenth of June, 1766, at the King's comand, General Gage ap- pointed Major Rogers Captain Com- mandant of the garrison of Michili-
��* The full title of this book Is " Ponteach; or the Sav- ages of America. A Tragedy. London. Printed f- r the Author, and sold by J. Millan, opposite the Admir- alty, Whitehall, MDCCLXVI."
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