GOOCH. 309 and the clamour, he went straight to the hospital. I went round the wards with him, and was much interested in observing his demeanour to the sailors : he stopped at every bed, and to every man he had something kind and cheering to say ; at length he stopped opposite a bed on which a sailor was lying, who had lost his right arm close to the shoulder joint, and the following short dia- logue passed between them. Nelson — 'Well, Jack, what's the matter with you ? ' Sailor — ' Lost my right arm, your honour.' Nelson paused, looked down at his own empty sleeve, then at the sailor, and said, playfully, ' ^V^ell, Jack, then you and I are spoiled for fishermen — cheer up, my brave fellow ! ' And he passed briskly on to the next bed ; but these few words had a magical effect upon the poor fellow, for I saw his eyes sparkle with dehght as Nelson turned away and pursued his course through the wards." Gooch, while occasionally visiting the Naval Hospital, became acquainted with Mr. Tupper, (now an eminent practitioner in London,) who was then connected with the Government Hospitals at Yarmouth. This gentleman was more advanced in his medical education than Gooch, having at- tended the Borough hospitals. He possessed a manuscript copy of Mr. Astley Cooper's Lectures, which he lent to his young friend, by whom they were eagerly transcribed. Little at that time could he have anticipated the probability of coming, at a comparatively early period of life, into contact with the leading practitioners of his age, and taking his place amongst them upon no unequal footing ; still less, that he should pass
