tensive experience, and in no degree disappointed the highest expectation of his friends. It is an interesting fact, that nearly all his writings were composed whilst confined to his bed by sickness, and often, when too feeble to hold his pen, he would dictate page by page with a mind as active and powerful as ever. His bodily powers now began to fail progressively, and on the 16th of February, 1830, he breathed his last.

With regard to personal appearance, Dr. Gooch was rather below the ordinary height, and always thin: his dark full eyes were remarkably fine-the habitual expression of his countenance was made up of sagacity and melancholy, though no features could exhibit occasionally a more happy play of humour. As a physician, he was eminently successful, particularly excelling in the tact with which he seized the symptoms of obscure diseases. His manners were singularly well adapted to a sick room, and the kindness of his heart led him to sympathise readily with the feelings of others, and rarely failed to attach his patients strongly.

SIR WILLIAM KNIGHTON, BART., M.D. WILLIAM KNIGHTON was born at Beer Ferris, in the county of Devon, in the year 1776. He was the grandson of William Knighton, esq., of

Greenoven, in the same county. His father, in consequence of irregular conduct and an imprudent marriage, had been cut off from the family property; he died at the early age of twenty-nine, and his widow afterwards formed another alliance. The education of the subject of our memoir was not, however, neglected. He was placed at a respectable school, and at an early age was articled to his uncle, Mr. Bredall, a surgeon and apothecary at Tavistock, for the purpose of studying medicine. In his nineteenth year, he repaired to London, to complete his medical education, by the usual course of attendance at the hospitals and dissectingrooms. But previously to this period, he had become known to Dr. Geach, chief surgeon of the Royal Naval Hospital at Plymouth, who early discovered in his youthful acquaintance an unusual degree of talent and ability, and, on his return to Devonshire, took him entirely under his own protection and roof; with the intention, as his own words expressed, "to model you as I like, introduce you into life and business, and make your talents known." In the year 1796, he procured him the appointment of assistant surgeon to the Royal Naval Hospital, and also obtained for him a diploma from Aberdeen, for an essay on "putrid fever." He had now the prospect of being introduced to most influential connexions, as well as of laying up an ample store of information from his patron's learning and experience. Of all these advantages he was at once deprived, in a

very short time, by the sudden death of Dr. Geach, and left without patron, guide, or money, and with the additional embarrassment of a lawsuit, which he had been obliged to undertake, to recover a small estate to which he was entitled as heir at law, and which he subsequently obtained. It was now necessary that Dr. Knighton should settle; and, at the end of 1797, he purchased a small house at Devonport, where he commenced his professional career, which, notwithstanding his age and inexperience for he was then only twenty-one -was, by persevering industry, attended with remarkable success. He was soon received by some of the most respectable families in the town and country, by whom, and the occasional naval, military, and other visitants to the place, his time was completely occupied. In the year 1800, he married the youngest daughter of the late captain Hawker, of the Royal Navy.

About three years after this event, Dr. Knighton removed to London, with a fixed resolution of surmounting all difficulties that might lie in the way of establishing himself as a physician in the metropolis. Here he met at first with an unexpected embarrassment, from being unqualified by his Aberdeen diploma to obtain the college license. But nothing daunted, he resolved forthwith to go to Edinburgh, and there to remain, and take his doctor's degree according to the statutes. A house which had been purchased and furnished in Argyle-street was disposed of, and Dr. and

Mrs. K. repaired to Edinburgh, where his studies were pursued with the most unremitting zeal; volumes of notes and remarks were compiled by him from the various lectures of the professors; and thus was the theoretical knowledge of that science completed, which had already been practically learned by the bedside of the sick. "Few people, I believe," he observes, in a letter written at this time, "who are determined to carry any particular point, fail in its accomplishment; and mine I shall never give up but with my life." In 1806, after completing the requisite period of residence in Edinburgh, and passing his examination at the College of Physicians in London, he took a house, previously occupied by Dr. Halifax, in Hanover-square, and furnished it with that attention to economy, which the uncertainty of professional success, and the apprehension in an honest mind of incurring debts without the means of liquidating them, naturally excited. But the fears of his relatives and connexions in the country, by whom he was strongly urged to return to Devonshire, proved groundless, his own most sanguine expectations were realized; and, through the kind patronage and influence of a limited number of persons of rank, to whom he had become known in his former sphere of exertion, he speedily got into practice. In a short time, he was obliged to add a carriage to his establishment, and had no longer any appre

hension of inability to meet the increased expenditure.

In the year 1809, Dr. Knighton had the honour of being chosen as medical attendant by the marquis Wellesley, to accompany him on his embassy to Spain. His absence on this occasion proved shorter than he had anticipated, and did not materially interfere with his medical practice. On his return, he was introduced and recommended by his noble patron to the prince of Wales, was eventually appointed one of his royal highness's physicians, and, in 1812, made a baronet. At this period, he had obtained extensive employment, and was in the receipt of a considerable income. In 1818, the prince regent appointed him to the auditorship of the duchy of Cornwall, after which his secession from medical avocations was gradual, till about the year 1822, when he altogether relinquished the hope he had entertained of rapidly obtaining an independence for his family by professional labour, and, yielding to the gratification so natural to the human heart, arising from the unbounded favour, kindness, and liberality of his sovereign, he became the devoted servant of George the Fourth. From the following short note written by his majesty in 1820, it is evident how much comfort, even at that period, he derived from having recourse to his judgment when under any difficulty and embarrassment.

"My dear Knighton,-Let me entreat of