GOOCH. 319 Grievously as Gooch felt this affliction he did not sink under it. When a man has suffered the heaviest calamity which can befal him, (not arising from his own misconduct,) there is, after a short time, a sort of re-action, and in the early part of life a spirit of adventure not unfrequently succeeds. Gooch's religious feelings (and they were naturally strong) afforded him the best consolation, and next to religion schemes for a new scene of pro- fessional action. Being now somewhat better off in point of circumstances, he resolved to remove to London, and endeavour to obtain practice as an accoucheur-physician. Several of his friends were already established in the capital, doing well, and disposed to serve him ; he had gained some repu- tation by his writings, and had acquired a con- sciousness of his own powers. There was perhaps no period of his life when he was less inclined to despond with regard to his future success, than that at which he quitted Croydon. Having taken a house in Aldermanbury, be- fore he established himself permanently in Lon- don, he made an excursion into the north of England, in order to visit Dr. Fearon at Sun- derland, and Dr. Henry Southey at Durham. On this occasion he made the tour of the Eng- lish Lakes, and passed some days with Mr. Southey at Keswick. The poet had seen him at Edin- burgh in the autumn of 1805, as his brother's early and intimate friend, had liked him at first sight, and became more acquainted with him in London, and during his residence at Croydon. He had now better opportunity of appreciating his moral and intellectual worth ; and this visit led to an
