He was a barrister by profession; a ladies' man by temperament; and a good Samaritan by choice.

Female benevolence and female destitution could do nothing without him.
Maternal societies for confining poor women; Magdalen societies for rescuing poor women; strong-minded societies for putting poor women into poor men's places, and leaving the men to shift for themselves;--he was vice-president, manager, referee to them all.

Wherever there was a table with a committee of ladies sitting round it in council there was Mr.
Godfrey at the bottom of the board, keeping the temper of the committee, and leading the dear creatures along the thorny ways of business, hat in hand.

I do suppose this was the most accomplished philanthropist (on a small independence) that England ever produced.

As a speaker at charitable meetings the like of him for drawing your tears and your money was not easy to find.