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Hereditary Genius
287
scheme, which he carried on for a while with his own funds, of finding
employment for the poor by flax-spinning, instead of giving them alms as
beggars: others afterwards developed the idea. He had a good fortune of his
own, and finally applied almost the whole of it to charity in Wales, judging
there was more occasion for help there than elsewhere. He contrived, with the
further aid of subscriptions, to educate yearly from 800 to 1, 000 poor Welsh
children, and to procure and print a translation of the Bible into Welsh. Also,
he took great pains with Christ's Hospital in London. He was humble and
meek, and free from affected gravity and moroseness. His conversation was
affable and pleasant; he had wonderful serenity of mind and evenness of
temper, visible in his countenance; he was hardly ever merry, but never
melancholy nor sad. He seemed always the same; ever obliging, and ever
tolerant of difference of opinion. F. William Gouge.* See below.
[p.] Mrs. Meliora Prestley, of Wild Hall, Hertford, whose name shows the
continuance of a devout disposition in the family. She erected a monument to
the Gouges in Black friars Church after the Fire.
There has been another eminent minister of the name of Gouge among the
Dissenters, who died 1700, and on whom Dr. Watts wrote a poem. I do not
know whether he was a relation.
Gouge, William, D.D. (1575—1653, aet. 78); was very religious from boyhood, and
a laborious student at Eton and at Cambridge, sitting up late and rising early.
He was singularly methodical in his habits; became minister of Blackfriars,
London. He was continual in preaching and praying; very conscionable in
laying out his time; temperate; of a meek and sweet disposition, and a great
peacemaker. Devout people of all ranks sought his acquaintance. According to
his portrait, his head was massive and square, his expression firm and
benevolent. Married; had seven sons and six daughters; six sons lived to man's
estate.
S. Thomas Gouge.* See above.
[F.] Thomas, a pious gentleman living in London.
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