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pain in his side , and his friends were alarmed by his becoming subject to a sort of cough , which , tlpough slight , is often connected with a fatal
malady . His health from this time was varying , and sometimes in an alarming state ; but his love of study remained undirninished , and he yielded unwillingly to the persuasion of his friends to relax in his attention to it
Before the close of this session , however , his disorder had increased to so great a degree , that two eminent medical men at Hackney decidedly opposed his wish to resume his place in , the Academy , after the vacation should have elapsed ; on his return
home , his medical friends confirmed the advice of these gentlemen , and , painful as the sacrifice was , he acquiesced in their decision . But in relingnishing the character of a theological student , he did not give up his exertions in the cause of truth .
He took the most lively interest in the erection of a chapel for Unitarian worship , at Old ham , in Lancashire : he visited several towns for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions
towards the expenses of this building , by which means he obtained a considerable sum ; and , as his fluctuating health would permit , undertook to conduct the religions services of the place . *
Still , hopes were occasionally entertained of his recovery , and he considered himself well enough in the summer of 1816 , to accept am invitation to preach for some months to the congregation at Newport , in the Isle of Wight . After being there a short time he had a relapse , which
prevented him from performing the duties he had undertaken ; a gentleman in the neighbourhood kindly supplied his place in the pulpit , and Mr . Goodier remained only to receive the benevolent attentions which , in his weak state , were bestowed on him by his friends .
As a last resource , it was judged expedient that Mr . Goodier should take up his abode for a time in a warmer climate . He at first thought of accompanying a young man , who had been one of his fellow-students at Hacjcney , who was going to
Ja-* " See an interesting account , from Mr . Goodier * pen , of the opening of tbe Oldhiwa CUfcpel , in . Vol . XI . pj > . 1 * 1—133 .
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maica as ^ an Unitarian missionary ; but thi ^ project vf as abandoned , and at the jend of the year 1817 , or the beginning of 1818 , he set sail for the Soirth of France .
In this part of the narrative it would be most gratifying to make known all the munificent and sympa ^ thizing friendship of which this happy youth was the subject : it is a glorious
proof of the enthusiasm awakened by the sight of extraordinary worth and superior talent , and of the kindly and disinterested regard with which the benevolent Creator leads man to view
his suffering brotherl But delicacy to those individuals forbids the naming of his benefactors , or a too particular detail of their acts of liberality ; suffice it then to say , that to one gentleman and his family chiefly he was indebted
ior the means of taking his departure to a more genial clime ; and that in the house of that gentleman he had previously spent a considerable time , watched over , during a most trying illness , with all the tender cares that would have been lavished on a
favourite son . His letters from France , to this generous friend and his amiable lady shew that he appreciated their kindness . On tfce 7 th of February 1818 , he wrote : " My dear Sir ,
" I am happy in so soon having an opportunity of writing to you again . Captain A . returns to Liverpool , and kindly offers to convey to you as many letters as I wish . Youv past unparalleled kindness leaves me no room to doubt that you will be glad
to hear of me ; and for my own part , exiled as I am from my home and my country , each of my friends seems doubly dear to me . You will not , I am sure , be surprised that , even in the midst of novelty and variety , I should feel at times that something is
wanting to my accustomed happiness , when you consider how completely all my wants were anticipated under your hospitable roof Happy indeed was it for me to find such a refuge ia a time of ueed ; and happy perhaps is
it for me , that circumstances have arisen which have removed me from it as soon as my health was decidedly improved . Too much repose would have blunted my faculties ; too much happiness would have corrupted me . You must , I fear , at times have ? thought me ungrateful in having never ex- *
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¦ ¦ ' s / Memoir of the Rev . Benjamin Goodier . 7 J *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1819, page 71, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1769/page/3/
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