7 * 2 ^ >^7*irtrpt5'irr ON THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND PARIS, INCLUDING THE SCHOOLS AND ASYLUMS FOR THE BLIND, DEAF AND DUMB, AND THE INSANE: BEING SUPPLEMENTARY TO THE NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OHIO INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE BLIND. By WIL1IAI CHAM, Superintendent, * % COLUMBUS: C. SCOTT AND CO., PRINTERS. 1846. REPORT. Columbus, Jan. 14, 1846. Speaker of the Senate: Sir :— In the Report of the Trustees of the Institu- tion, for 1845, heretofore submitted, it was said that the Principal of the Institution had, last autumn, visited a number of the benevolent institutions in Europe, par- ticularly those for the Blind, in Great Britain and in the city of Paris, France; and that a report might be expected, showing the results of the examinations there made. This Report I have the honor now to submit, most respectfully, to the General Assembly. In behalf of the Trustees, JAMES HOGE, Ch'n. Rev. Dr. J. Hoge, ^ N. H. Swayne, Esq., > Trustees. M. J. Gilbert, Esq., ) Gentlemen : — It was stated at the close of my annual re- port that I would present, at an early day, a supplementary report on the benevolent institutions of Great Britain and Paris — particularly that class which have received the fostering care of the people of this State, through their successive Leg- islatures, viz: the Institutions for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb, and the Insane. 4 In addition to letters from the Board of Trustees and dis- tinguished individuals in this State and elsewhere, I carried with me a general letter from His Excellency, Governor Bartley, and the Hon. Secretary of State, under the seal of the State, which, I am happy to say, was a favorable passport to every public in- stitution I visited, and gave me the most unbounded facilities to investigate every part of their condition. In the opportunities thus afforded of distributing reports of our three public Asylums, it was interesting to notice the sur- prise as well as gratification which was frequently expressed, that a State so young as Ohio, the location of which was scarcely known to some, should already have institutions equal in size and efficiency to their own, and in many respects greatly superior. On the eve of departure, I received letters from Dr. W. M. Awl, Superintendent of the Ohio Lunatic Asylum, and H. N. Hubbell, Esq., Principal of the Ohio Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, requesting my inquiries concerning similar Asylums in Europe,— and also a letter from James S. Brown, Esq., (a late teacher in the Ohio Asylum, and now the Principal of the In- stitution for the Deaf and Dumb in Indiana,) calling my atten- tion particularly to the subject of teaching articulation to deaf mutes. This subject was first prominently brought before the Amer- ican public by a remark of the Hon. Horace Mann, Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education, in his report on education in Europe, that the German deaf and dumb schools are superior to the American, inasmuch as the pupils are taught to speak. This elicited the particular notice of the New York and Hartford Asylums, and accordingly Lewis Weld, Esq., Principal of the latter, and Rev. George E. Day, on the part of the former, in conformity to the instructions of its intelli- gent Principal, H. Peet, Esq., made a thorough investigation of all the leading Asylums of Europe, with reference to this par- ticular subject. The results of those examinations are given in two large pamphlets, forming, perhaps, the most valuable contribution that 5 has ever been made to the science of deaf mute instruction, since the time of Sicard. These reports agree that it is inexpedient to introduce ar- ticulation as a branch of instruction in the American Deaf and Dumb Asylums ; the success not justifying the great ad- ditional labor. Mr. Weld, however, is willing that the experi- ment be tried on a few very favorable cases * My own inquiries upon this subject were confined, of course, to the Asylums in Great Britain and Paris, where articulation is but partially taught or attempted. In addition to the eviden- ces I witnessed of what is accomplished there, I have obtained the opinions of the respective principals of all those schools, and shall present them in the proper place. While my visit was directed more particularly to the Institu- tions for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb, and Insane, I thought it profitable to examine, also, various other public charitable foun- dations — such especially as provide for the education and moral training of children. Of this class are Orphan Asylums — naval and military schools, for the children of officers and sea- men and soldiers of the army, sustained by government — charitable schools, such as the London and Liverpool Blue coat schools, Heriot's and Watson's Hospitals, in Edinburgh, the Foundling Hospitals of London and Paris, &c, &c. These are, in many respects, governed by general rules, ap- plicable to all. The means of their support, whether by gov- ernment, in whole or part, or by legacies and annual subscrip- tions — the influence of these various means upon the prosperity of the Institutions — the discipline of the schools — the ages of the inmates — the age most suitable for their reception — the time of retaining them — how supported — their success in after life, so far as ascertained' these formed some of the most important subjects of inquiry, in establishments of long expe- rience and some of them of vast size. * "Though I cannot recommend the adoption of the German, or any other system, in- stead of our own, still I do respectfully recommend, as an additional means of usefulness, the giving of instruction in articulation and in labial reading, (reading on the lips,) to certain classes of the pupils of the American Asylums."—Extract from Mr. Weld's report. 6 In addition to these, plans of their buildings — means of heating — school apparatus and furniture — dormitories — food __exercise — gymnastic constructions, and all that belongs to the physical arrangements, were worthy of particular attention. In addition to the general range of the foreign charities, there remained some subjects connected with the Blind in particular, which it was desirable to investigate. And, first of all, the success of their manufacturing industry — the different kinds of work taught — what new machinery or apparatus, favorable for the use of the blind, had been introduced, and how far any of these branches or improvements might be made available in the economy of this Institution. The different schools and asylums will be noticed in the or- der they were visited, commencing with the LIVERPOOL " SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND." This was the first asylum of the kind established in Great Britain. It was founded in 1791, and now contains one hun- dred and one pupils—68 males and 33 females. The buildings are plain, two stories high, and situated nearly in the heart of the city. One of the front apartments is used as a general sales and show room, containing a large assortment of the work man- ufactured by the pupils. On the opposite side a large room contained twenty-two females at work, sewing, knitting, and making small fancy willow bas- kets, reticules, &c. No matron or seeing attendant was present. Their appearance was generally much older than that of pupils in this country, and few were under 18 years. On the wall was a sign with these words— " Strangers are notified that pupils are not permitted to receive money on pain of expulsion." And on two charity boxes, one here and the other in the hall, " Remember the poor blind,"— a pitiable appeal and of doubtful propriety.* * The contributions to these charity boxes, last year, amounted to £21 10s. 7 The workshops extend back, forming a quadrangle with the main building, with a yard in the centre, 150 feet by 60, which is used for recreation—the only grounds attached to the school. The first shop contained eight blind men and boys making shoes, under the care of a master. The work was tolerably well made, or, as it is sometimes said, "well made for the blind." But this is a branch now generally abandoned in America, as slow and unprofitable. The better rule being to adopt those trades only at which the blind can work with nearly the same facility as the seeing. In another shop a busy scene presented itself: Forty men and boys were employed at willow baskets; some of them at the finer French work of split willow. The master of the shop spoke very favorably of this description of work. He considers it more profitable than the coarser baskets, and it finds a ready sale. This branch of willow manufacture has not yet been introduced into the blind schools in the United States. In a third shop, under the same master, eight pupils were engaged making door mats of rope: in another, four on raa- nilla mats, and one was weaving " lobby cloth," a strong fabric of twine, used principally for church aisles and public halls. This article is growing into general use and will become, here- after, an important branch of industry for the blind. In another shop, over 200 feet long, seventeen pupils were employed, under a separate master, in manufacturing twine of different descriptions. There also was an ingenious, but very simple machine for twisting sash and bell cord, and curtain line. It is said to be the invention of a blind man. Any blind child can use it who might have no talent for learning a trade. The operation being entirely mechanical. Scarcely anything is done at mental instruction. A small number are taught to read, principally in Gall's print and Lu- cas' stenographic characters. Arithmetic, geography and other school studies are not taught at all. There are no separate school rooms — the reading being done in the dining room. The scholars who have good voices are taught church music ; and where there is a decided musical talent, they receive in- 8 struction on the organ and piano. A very few are so taught. There is no band or orchestra. The manufacturing department claims almost the whole attention. The pupils are required to work from 6 o'clock in the morn- ing until 6 in the evening — excepting only the meal recesses. No wages are paid to any of them. The friends or the parish pay to the institution two shillings (48 cents) a week, six months in advance, for each blind person. This goes towards defraying expenses of board, clothing, &c. Children are not received under twelve years of age. The time of staying is not absolutely limited. This is governed generally by circumstances. Some have been in the schoo] from 12 to 18 years. I was invited to remain and witness the pupils at dinner. It will not be necessary to note, in this report, many of the do- mestic details. But, as the custom here may be similar to that of many other schools in England, it will be interesting to state it on this single occasion. At 12 o'clock, at the ringing of the bell, the scholars assem- bled in the dining room, and remained seated until, at a signal, all arose, and for the blessing sung—" Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits," and then commenced eating. Each pupil was provided with a plate of meat and potatoes, a pint cup nearly filled with brewer's beer, and a spoon instead of a knife and fork. The spoon was a very convenient instrument for the potatoes, but when it came to the meat it was of but little use, and many of the children had to use both hands. On my inquiring whether they never use a knife and fork, the attendant replied—"Ono, they could never get along with them," and seemed surprised to learn that nearly all our pupils cut their own food. There was one female attendant for 29 girls; and the four masters of the workshops waited on 56 boys. The whole was superintended by the matron. Eight "monitors" were seated at a separate table. These have the immediate oversight of the smaller boys at night and during the recesses. 9 The usual diet is porridge (oat-meal mush) and milk, with bread and butter, for breakfast — meat, &c, with beer, for dinner, and bread and butter and beer for tea. The frequent use of brewed beer I afterwards found to be a custom with many of the charitable institutions, for young children of both sexes, including orphan asylums. This is partly in conformity with ancient custom, and also to the advice of the physicians, who suppose it contributes to their health. At the close of the dinner the pupils rose and sang, in a sol- emn and impressive manner, the words — " For these and all His mercies, God's holy name be praised, through Jesus Christ our Lord." It will be seen that this school is chiefly a manufacturing es- tablishment for the blind. The results of the shop labor for the past year are as follows ; Amount of sales......£ 1139 12 5 equal to about $5,526 00 Do expended for stock and master's salaries, 982 00 0 " " 4,713 00 Balance........ £157 12 5 $813 00 Of the above sales, the largest amount was from twine, viz: £340 ; and the next from willow work—£329. The Institution is sustained mainly by annual subscriptions, and the weekly pay from the parishes for pupils. The managers lament the increasing deficiency of funds from subscriptions and donations. « ST. MARY'S CHURCH FOR THE BLIND." This is a large and beautiful chapel, incorporated with the Liverpool school, having a regular chaplain or rector, and rented pews. There is a very superior blind organist here, from the Institution, and the choir is composed entirely of the pupils. The church is situated on the opposite side of the street, and the blind go to it through an underground passage, which is arched and paved. 2 10 At the door of the chapel persons attend with plates to re- ceive contributions of the numerous strangers who attend wor- ship there on the Sabbath. The annual report of the school gives also a financial account with the chapel, by which it ap- pears, the collections at the door amounted, last year, to £509 — pew rents $617—chaplain's salary £500 — leaving, after paying all charges, a considerable income for the use of the school. In former years the collections at the door have reached as high as £786, or nearly 3,800 dollars. LIVERPOOL " CATHOLIC SCHOOL for the BLIND." A small, but interesting institution, containing only seventeen pupils,— ten girls and seven boys. Basket making, coarse and fine, is the principal branch of work. Door mats and sash cord are also made. The girls manufacture many beautiful articles. A neat little portable loom, for making fringe, was in operation here,— a light and simple work for the younger females,— a model of which I procured. Some attention is given to music also, in which the pupils have made some proficiency. This school is laboring under embarrassment, for want of support: Its subscription list being somewhat precarious. "HENSHAW'S BLIND ASYLUM "— MANCHESTER. This is a recent Institution, founded in 1839, by funds left for the purpose, some years previous, by Thomas Henshaw, Esq. It contains 67 pupils ; 37 males, and 30 females. The edifice is a very beautiful Gothic structure, forming one wing of a more extended building, with a large central chapel — the corresponding wing being appropriated to the Deaf and Dumb. The two schools, however, are entirely distinct. The interior of the building is neat and convenient, and the school rooms large and airy. The system adopted here is sub- stantially that of Liverpool. The pupils are taught to read and to sing church music, with some attention to the organ and 11 piano. No other branches are taught. The rest of the time is devoted to work. Willow baskets, hampers, &c, are the principal manufactures. The fine split willow work is beauti- fully made, and gives additional proof of the adaptedness of that branch for the blind. Door mats, made from coir, or co- coa fibre, a new material of great strength and durability, are made here with good success, and a prospect of increasing de- mand. The females were equally successful in a large variety of knitting, net and fancy work, some styles of which have never yet been introduced into the Institutions of this country. The sales of work last year amounted to £349. The superintendent of this, as of many other public institu- tions in England, has the title of " Governor." Pupils, or their friends, are required to pay three shillings weekly towards their support. GLASGOW "ASYLUM FOR THE BLIND." This Institution is celebrated for the large amount of work manufactured by its pupils and the blind in its employ, and also for having printed a larger number of volumes than any other in Europe, of the embossed letters. The number of inmates is ninety. Of these only thirty are boarded in the house. The rest are chiefly adults and young men who live out, and labor in the asylum workshops, receiving a weekly compensation for the amount of work actually done. It is the largest manufacturing establishment for the blind in the world; the value of its productions last year being about three times as much as the larger asylum in London. The following table shows how the inmates are employed : 12 w "S • m 01 he bug C*3 6D B S ^3 PQ 10 0) Is d § b b tn O Men-------- --- 10 1 1 28 50 n . _ 9 3 10 9« Women--—----- 2 2 Girls---------— 29 29 Porters---------- 2 19 13 1 1 28 39 2 105 This table includes ninety blind and fifteen seeing persons— the whole number in the manufactory. The total sales of the past year were. .. £4,639 2s. 4d. 122,448 00 Equal to...................... A very large portion of these sales were sacks, an article much used by the manufacturers of Glasgow. The next im- portant item was twine — the sales of which were near 1000 pounds sterling. Amount of wages paid last year to the blind, £1,312 8s. 9d., or upwards of 6000 dollars. The Asylum derives no profits from the shops. The males work ten hours a day, and occasionally twelve. The females work seven hours in summer and six in winter. The younger females, while attending the school lessons, work three hours a day. The above unexampled amount of manufactures, sales and wages, is owing, in part, to the favorable location of the asylum in a populous manufacturing city; but chiefly to the zealous and persevering exertions of John Alston, Esq, the honorary Treasurer and actual manager. This gentleman, now retired from active business, daily devotes a large portion of his time, gratuitously, to the interests of the asylum —. especially in ma- king sales of its work,—the greatest difficulty which all asylums labor under. He is equally energetic in the printing department, which will be more particularly noticed in another place. 13 I take this occasion to express my sense of his kind attentions in facilitating the object of my inquiries, both in his own and other institutions. There is not much attention paid to intellectual instruction in the Glasgow school. And while honorable testimony is borne to the philanthropic and successful exertions of Mr. Alston in other particulars, we differ from him in the very subordinate value he places on the education of the blind, mentally. One teacher of the elementary branches is engaged, at a very moderate salary. A portion of the blind only are instructed, and these but a small part of their time. Those who have good voices receive lessons in music. The rules of the Asylum require that each pupil shall pay, annually, £6 6s. But all blind persons capable of working, and who reside in Glasgow, may find employment in the asylum, taking their meals at their own homes. Those who are admitted to learn trades only, are required to pay, at entrance, £2 5s., or " to work three months without wages. After which they receive 3s. 6d per week, to be in- creased in proportion to their earnings." The asylum is supported by donations, contributions, annual payments from pupils, and rents and interest on capital invested. Last year it received three additional bequests, amounting to 3,620 pounds. It has no aid from Government. "EDINBURGH ASYLUM FOR THE INDUSTRIOUS BLIND OF SCOTLAND." This Institution was founded in 1793, and was the second of the kind in Great Britain. The Liverpool school having been established two years before. The number of inmates is 81, (56 males and 25 females,) of whom 35 reside in the house, and 46 board in the city or live at their own homes. Eighteen or twenty of these are married and have families, supporting themselves by their own labor. 14 The male and female pupils occupy different houses. The males are under the geueral superintendence of a manager, an overseer of work, and three assistants. One teacher of school studies attends about two hours only, in the afternoon, to in- struct the younger children. Very little is done at instruction. The females, in the other buildings, are under the special care of a matron, who teaches them a variety of net work and knitting, such as found in the other schools. The males work from 6 A. M. to 6 P. M., in summer, and from 8 to 6 o'clock in winter. Basket makers are required to work from 5 to 7 years, and weavers 3 years. After three years basket makers are allowed the profits of their work, and wea- vers after two years. Boys are not usually received under 12 years old—not being considered strong enough to work at the trades before that age. This Institution, next to the Glasgow Asylum, produces an- nually the largest amount of work. The sales for 1844 were............£2,895 7s. 4d. Cost of raw material............... 1,340 7 11 Balance profit, to pay wages, &c, to blind persons...............£1,554 19 5 Twenty-five males were at work at willow baskets, including the finer split-willow work, and thirteen at weaving, mat and mattress making. The manufactures were generally very well executed. The cocoa fibre was also introduced here and pro- mised well. Though this asylum was pronounced, by Dr. Howe, when he visited it, some sixteen years ago, to be the best in Europe, it does not hold that rank now, and is laboring under some em- barrassment from a want of adequate means to extend its use- fulness to more of the younger blind. With the exception of its manufactures, it appeared to be in a declining state. It depends upon donations and subscriptions for support, which are not always certain. 15 EDINBURGH « DAY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND." This is a small school for young children, established through the efforts of Mr. Gall, and contains 19 scholars—some of them as young as five years. They occupy a rented dwelling house, in which every thing is on a plain scale. The Principal being absent, a blind female was in charge of the school. The children read with some facility in Gall's print. Books, printed by Mr. Alston and Dr. Howe, were also in use. Some little attention is paid to arithmetic and elocution. Several of the little pupils were exercised in speaking pieces, which they did very creditably. The blind lady in charge ap- peared to have a perfect command of the school. It is supported by small annual subscriptions, but is laboring under difficulty for want of means. The plan of the school is a good one, namely, of supplying the deficiency of the Edin- burgh Asylum, by providing young blind persons with a suitable education. Nothing is done at work. "VICTORIA ASYLUM FOR THE INDUSTRIOUS BLIND,"—Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Founded in the year 1838. This Institution contains 32 pupils, of whom 25 are boarded in the house. Seven receive wages. Scarcely any attention is given either to mental or musical instruction. Basket, mat and twine making, sofa and chair cushions, hair friction gloves and matresses, are princi- pally attended to by the males. Some very beautiful fine wil- low work is manufactured here. The females are also quite skillful in netting woollen shawls — a beautiful specimen of which had recently been prepared for the Queen. They also make list-shoes, carriage boots, and a variety of other work. The manufactures of last year amounted to, Of men's work..................£456 8s. 7d. Females work................ 214 19 1 Amount £670 7 8 16 An annual payment of ten guineas is required from the parish or friends of each pupil. And a part is remitted as far as the funds allow. " NORTHERN ASYLUM FOR THE BLIND AND DEAF AND DUMB,"—Newcastle. This Institution, located in the same town, contains but nine blind pupils. And this branch of it will probably be entirely discontinued at an early day, as no more blind are received. The plan of uniting the deaf and dumb in the same school with the blind, is found not to succeed well. From the totally dissimilar habits of the two classes, and the different methods of instructing them, it is not believed that a union of both, in one Institution, can ever be successful, or, in in any important particular, profitable. " YORKSHIRE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND," — York. This interesting Institution had its origin in a meeting, held in 1833, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best means of doing honor to the name of the great philanthropist, Mr. William Wilberforce, who had represented the county of York in six successive parliaments, for a period of 28 years. The committee of that meeting, at the head of which was Lord Chancellor Brougham, in view of the fact that the great abilities of Mr. Wilberforce, to the latest hour of his life, were devoted, in the genuine spirit of Christianity, to objects of the most enlarged benevolence, concluded that the establishment of an Institution for the Blind would be the most appropriate mon- ument to his memory. The meeting adopted the suggestion— liberal subscriptions were raised, and the present school was commenced. It contains sixty pupils, nearly all of whom reside in the house. 42 are boys and 18 are girls. Rev. Mr. Taylor, hon- orary superintendent. It differs from the asylums already noticed, in the greater attention paid to mental instruction. In this respect it more 17 nearly resembles the American Institutions than any other in Great Britain The pupils study five hours; and six hours are devoted to work by those who are learning trades. The manufactures are similar to those noticed in other Institutions. The inmates be- ing generally young persons, and most of them engaged in the schools, the workshops do not of course exhibit so large a result as most others. The entire sales last year amounted to. .. £178 12s. 5d. The officers and teachers actually engaged are a master, teacher of music, a matron, a teacher of knitting, &c, a teach- er of basket-making, and a teacher of weaving. This is the only blind school in Great Britain where the pu- pils have a band. There are ten performers on brass instru- ments. The pupils here, as elsewhere, are elected by vote of the subscribers, and are required to pay three shillings and sixpence a week for their support. "THE SCHOOL FOR THE INDIGENT BLIND,"—St. George's Fields, London. This is the largest Asylum for the Blind.in Great Britain. It was established in 1799, and now contains 139 inmates — 67 of whom are males and 72 females. Of the males, 42 are engaged at willow work, fine and coarse ; 10 at shoemaking, and 15 at mats of cocoa fibre and manilla grass. They work from eight to nine hours per day. A small portion of time only is spent in school studies. Geography is not taught at all, and but little arithmetic. The pupils learn to write first on a slate with grooves — afterwards with lead pencil, on a writing board of different construction from those used in this country. In- stead of depressed grooves, raised cords are drawn over the board, at proper distances, on or above which the pupil writes. The "pin-type" apparatus is also different—the types being arranged in a separate square as in a printer's case—so that the 2 18 pupil is not required to feel the letters formed upon the type. I am unable to pronounce upon the comparative merits of the two plans until we have tried the others. Two of the pupils write with pen and ink, which we have not yet attempted here. For reading, Frere's stenographic characters are used. But the teacher is not partial to it. There is but one school teacher for this large Institution. The female pupils are generally engaged in spinning on small wheels. The thread is afterwards twisted into sash and clock cords, on machines already noticed. Several, also, are quite skillful in knitting and net work, of every variety. Beautiful specimens were exhibited. No applicant is received under 10 nor over 25 years of age, nor with more sight than is sufficient to distinguish light and darkness. Pupils remain seven years. Some afterwards work for the asylum, and receive pay for what they actually do ; others return to their friends and are fitted out with tools. The amount of pay to the "out-door pupils," last year, for their work, was £516 2s. 7d. Pupils received also, as rewards, £198 3s. 9d. The sales from all the work amounted to £1,329 6s. 9d. The school has considerable funds from various legacies ; and they have recently expended large sums in the erection of a fine permanent building. During the previous 44 years, 328 blind persons have been returned to their families, able to earn from 6s. to £ 1 8s. per week. Those retained to work for the Institution, are consid- ered necessary to sustain the credit of the manufactures. Organ, piano and church choir music is taught by one teacher. LONDON " SOCIETY FOR TEACHING THE BLIND TO READ," —Queen's Square. This school is designed to supply the deficiency of the other Institution, by giving the younger children a good education. It is not, as its name imports, confined to reading, but embraces in its course all the usual school branches and general improve- ment. 19 It contains 59 pupils — 24 boys and 35 girls — of whom 31 board in the house ; the rest are day scholars. They generally have a bright, cheerful, and intelligent ap- pearance— a happy and natural result of their intellectual training, so rarely witnessed in the other foreign asylums. A class of five boys read the scriptures, verse about, better than I ever heard an equal number read before. Whether this is owing to the superiority of the readers themselves, or to any ad- vantages in the character of the print, is worthy of further consid- eration. The books used were in Lucas's stenographic charac- ters, in which the words also are contracted. This will be noticed particularly in another place. Not much attention is devoted to music, nor to manufacturing. The principal work is in the finer kinds of willow baskets, which does not injure the delicacy of touch for reading. The females learn the usual branches of fancy work. In this school are two of the four little Chinese girls brought to England some years since, by Mrs. Gutzlaff. They are amiable and apparently intelligent, and much resemble, in personal appearance, their sisters in the Ohio Institution, but exhibit less mental activity, and have made less improvement. "INDIGENT BLIND VISITING SOCIETY,"— London. The benevolent object of this society is to seek the indigent blind at their own homes — relieve their necessities — read the scriptures to them — provide leaders to take them to church on the Sabbath, and in all other ways within their means to contribute to their comfort. The society has no building or school, but keeps an office in Red-Lion square, where the sec- retary attends to the business. They have, at present, 160 blind persons " under visitation" — the larger part of them somewhat advanced in years. During the last year, £808 was expended for their relief. 20 " INSTITTTION ROYALE DES JEUNES AVEUGLES," Paris. There are two Institutions for the Blind in Paris. One is a hospital or asylum for the old and indigent blind ; the other? with the title above, is for the education of the young. It was founded in 1784, originally under the direction of the Abbe Haiiy, the inventor of printing in relief for the blind ; who may be considered as the author of the system — and this the first institution of the kind in the world. It was established under the Royal patronage in 1791. It contains, at present, 170 pupils, who are generally between the ages of eight and twenty years. They are not received under 9 nor over 13, and are allowed to remain eight years. It is in a flourishing condition, under the care of its excellent director, Mons. Dufau, and the liberal patronage of the Gov- ernment. This school occupies a large and splendid edifice, which was erected in 1843, at a cost, including the grounds, of near two millions of francs, or $400,000 — an expense which must be considered unnecessarily large for the object, and for the num- ber of pupils it contains. The Paris Institution was the model generally adopted in America — combining musical and mental instruction with me- chanical work. The literary instruction, besides the primary branches, embraces mathematics, history, and general knowl- edge. Nineteen cathedrals and churches, in Paris and the departments, have been supplied with blind organists from this Institution. Much more attention is paid to both music and mental instruction than in any Institution in Great Britain. The Government appropriates, annually, about 110,000 francs towards the support of the Institution. The city of Paris, and the provinces, also pay something for indigent pupils- In the workshops, fifteen are employed at brush making, (the first I had yet noticed at this branch,)—nine at cabinet making and six at turning. These last two branches are not taught to the blind in this country, nor at any school in Great Britain. 21 Some beautiful fancy articles were exhibited, turned by the blind, which were remarkable specimens of curiosity as such ; but it is not a branch at which they can be profitably employed. Cabinet work is also liable to a similar objection. Though here were evidences of extraordinary skill—yet the blind must ever labor on such work with many disadvantages, compared with seeing mechanics. The labor, as with shoemaking, must nec- essarily be slow, and therefore unprofitable. The great object is to teach them such trades as they can learn easily, execute rapidly, and compete, on favorable or equal terms, with seeing workmen. There were also some very beautiful brushes made here, but less of the work, on each article, is done by the pupil than with us. In this country he becomes a more complete master of the business. With all allowance, therefore, for the extraordinary skill of several of the pupils, and the beauty of the articles made by them, I should not regard the workshops as producing the highest good, or as producing results equal, in point of utility, to the asylums in Great Britain. The interior arrangements of the school rooms, dormitories infirmaries, shops, &c, were extremely neat and convenient. The infirmaries are always attended by the Sceurs de Charite (sisters of charity,) or nuns, who are found administering to the sick and afflicted in all the hospitals of Paris. More attention is paid to music than in the English schools. There are 22 Pianos in the house, though many of them are very poor instruments. The chapel, forming part of the building, is a beautiful edi- fice, and contains a fine organ. The names of its distinguished founders and directors, commencing with the Abbe Haiiy, 1784, arc conspicuously painted around the gallery front. The number of officers, instructors, attendants, &c, is forty- five. Four Commissioners meet with the Director monthly. The Director superintends the whole establishment, and is re- sponsible to the Minister of the Interior, whom he represents. There is one overseer for the boys, and a matron and assistant 22 for the girls. A secretary receives and registers the pupils, and keeps the accounts of the Institution. A clergyman, or priest, resides in the building. A physician visits daily. Three at- tendants are in the wing occupied by the boys, and two with the girls. There are ten teachers in the male school, and five in the female — and four masters in the workshops, besides servants in the domestic part of the house. There is a printing press and apparatus in this Institution, in the operations of which some of the blind assist. A benevolent society, in Paris, provides suitable places for the blind when they leave. The terms of " pay pupils," all charges included, are 800 francs per annum. Other pupils 600 francs. But these prices are varied to suit the circumstances of the applicants, to a half, a third, or a quarter of this sum. "HOSPITAL ROYALE DES QUINZE-VINGTS,"— Paris. This is a celebrated ancient hospital, for "fifteen score" or three hundred adult indigent blind persons — founded in the year 1260, by St. Louis. Its original object was to provide an asylum for blind soldiers — and seeing persons were also ad- mitted, to assist in taking care of the others. The buildings are very extensive, covering with their court yards, several acres of ground. The blind inmates are encouraged to marry. The greater part are married, and generally to seeing persons. In some in- stances both man and wife are blind. The children, 113 in number, reside with them, and are educated in a school provi- ded in the establishment. The boys receive three sous a day, and the girls five. They are permitted to remain until they are fourteen years old, and are then put out as apprentices. The whole number of inmates is 870. There are 245 dis_ tinct families, each having a separate domestic arrangement, occupying usually two rooms. 23 Each blind person draws for support, 21 sous a day if single, and 26 if married. If a wife is blind, her seeing husband may work out of the Hospital, and she draw six sous a day, and l-£ lbs. of bread. With this they provide for themselves, having the use of their rooms free. When a child is born, the parents receive 20 francs; about four dollars. When it receives the sacrament, at twelve years of age, twenty more. It is a fact worthy the notice of those making physiological inquiries on such subjects, that of all the children born in this hospital for the last 20 years, of parents one or both of whom were blind, not one has been born blind or become so since. This fact is contrary to the theory entertained by some on the hereditary tendencies of blindness; and would seem to prove, as far it goes, that this defect in children, would not be a prob- able result from the blindness of one or both of the parents. I am acquainted with but a single instance of blindness in both parent and child, (the latter a late pupil in the New York institution,) and they were both the result of separate accidents. But we have cases where blindness has descended in some col- lateral line, or passing over the child, has reached the grand- child. A remarkable eccentricity of the former kind, is that of a family in the State of Ohio, in which there are four children blind, the mother and father and grand parents having perfect sight. But the mother has four uncles and aunts who are blind. And her brother, whose vision is good, has two blind sons. Marriages between blind persons are so extremely rare, that scarcely any reliable data are furnished to form a safe conclu- sion upon the subject. In no place, perhaps, does so favor- able an opportunity offer for such an investigation as in this ancient Paris Hospital, where the blind have been accustomed to marrying for several centuries past. While on this suhject, it might be proper to add the addi- tional evidence our public institutions afford, that blindness, 24 insanity, and the privation of hearing, very frequently result to the offspring of the marriages of near relatives, as first cousins. As no instruction and trades are given to the inmates of the Quinze-Vingts, the officers and attendants are those only requi- red to have the oversight of a vast establishment, and conduct its business. The following is a list of the persons employed, with the moderate salaries received by them. These salaries are much smaller than in institutions for education. One director,------------------------4,000francs. " treasurer,-----------------------3,000 " " secretary,----------------------2,200 " " assistant secretary,-------------- 1,200 " " architect of repairs, (with 5 per cent.) 1,000 " " chaplain,---------------------- 1,800" and fuel & lights, " inspector,---------------------- 600 " " attendant,---------------------- 600" " porter,----------;-------------- 800" Three assistants, each,--------------- 300 " Two female do,------■-------------- 200 " Besides these, there are occasional male and female domestic laborers, who attend on certain days of the week to do the housework. There are shops and a market opened daily within the yards, for the convenience of the inmates, where they may purchase their necessary wants — the whole presenting the appearance, in some respects, of an old walled town. I procured here, for the use of our Institution, an ingenious printing or writing machine, for the use of the blind, invented by Mons. Charaud, one of the inmates. It possesses the ad- vantage of printing black letters, to be read by seeing persons, and of puncturing a larger size letter, as with the "pin type;" to be read by the blind. The writing is much smaller than usual, and the apparatus maybe used with rapidity by those who are unable to write in the usual manner. Several of. the blind in this hospital have formed themselves into an orchestra, and perform nightly at an exhibition in one of the public cafes of the Palais Royale, where they receive small salaries. 25 Besides the inmates, there are several hundred out-door pen- sioners, supported likewise under the direction of the govern- ment. There are several thousands of blind in Fiance for whom no regular provision is made, either by education or oth- erwise, and many applications to this hospital are constantly pending. But their accommodations are limited to the three hundred. I have thus been particular in describing this public charity, from its celebrity and perfectly unique character. While it is effecting so much good as a great asylum for the superannuated blind, it is not to be considered a model for any similar estab- lishment in the United States. Whatever asylums shall be founded hereafter for our older blind, they will be such as to call into activity all the industrial powers of the inmates. They will be truly workshops for the industrious blind; for all at least who possibly can work. "RICHMOND NATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF THE INDUSTRIOUS BLIND,"— Dublin. Following the order of my tour, the next and last blind in- stitutions I visited were the two in Dublin, Ireland. These are both small, and languishing for want of support. The above school contains only 18 pupils, all males. It was founded in 1810. The present number is less than it has ever been since the second year of its existence. No instruction of any kind is given, except in the trades. Children are not received under 14 years of age, nor adults after 30. They are retained three years or longer, according to their proficiency, and required to leave when they have acqui- red a trade. The manufactures are fine and coarse baskets and mats. The fine willow work is particularly well executed, and found to be a good marketable article. The pupils receive a portion of the actual profits of their work. It is unfortunate that an Institution so well established, pre- pared to do so much good, and in the large and beautiful cap- 4 26 ital of Ireland, should be merely dragging along a feeble exis- tence from year to year. "THE MOLYNEUX ASYLUM FOR BLIND FEMALES." Dublin. This Institution was first opened in 1815, for the reception of female blind persons, and depends for support entirely upon vol- untary subscriptions. Reading and music and the usual branches of female skill are taught to the inmates. A chapel is connected with the asylum, of which the blind form the choir. There are at present thirty inmates. But the most of these are permitted to remain for life. The usefulnesss of the asy- lum is very much limited. It does not possess the active and progressive character of most other institutions, whose leading object is to prepare the blind for society. This concludes the list of institutions for the blind, which I was enabled to visit, and embraces all of note in Great Britain, excepting two or three. The asylum at Bristol is favorably spoken of, and I regretted that a want of time prevented my visiting it. It was founded in 1793, upon the plan of the Liverpool School, and greatly improved in subsequent years. Mental and musical instruc- tion, as well as useful trades, are given to its pupils. It was at this school that Mr. Lucas' stenographic print was first intro- duced. There is an asylum at Belfast, Ireland, for " The Deaf and Dumb and the Blind " — now in its ninth year. It contains, of both classes, sixty-two scholars — but of these only 32 board in the house. The rest are day-scholars. Twenty-six only are blind, who all attend as day-scholars. They have recently erected a splendid gothic edifice, including a chapel, capable of accommodating one hundred pupils. In addition to the above, there are small schools at Exeter, Leamington and Bath. 27 GENERAL REMARKS ON THE INSTITUTIONS FOR THE BLIND. I proceed, with as much brevity as the subject will admit, to make some observations of a general nature. I. It will be perceived that the British Institutions are, with two or three exceptions, almost entirely manufacturing estab- lishments. In this respect they are generally successful. Some of them, the Glasgow and Edinburgh asylums in particular, are doing a large business — the sales of the former amounting to about $20,000 a year. A large portion of work is done by the adult blind, who re- ceive wages, the asylums affording shops, tools, &c, and dis- posing of the work to the best advantage, without loss to them- selves. In our own country, very little has yet been attempted by way of employing the blind after they have learned trades, or even of receiving the adult blind to acquire an occupation. The Massachusetts asylum has done more in this respect than any other, and designs to incorporate this feature in their plan as far as practicable. But the main object of the American Institutions, thus far, has been to teach rather than to employ the blind. Nor are we prepared to say this is not the best principle on which to conduct educational establishments. I think this is clearly so, without a change in their domestic ar- rangements. A system which professes to employ all the older blind who are able to work, in connection with the education of the younger children, would be liable to very serious objection. The habits of the different classes are so dissimilar that they could not lodge in the same house, and form the same general family, with profit to the children. There could be very little harmony in such an association, if much extended. These remarks, however, do not go to exclude entirely the employment of pupils in our schools, after they have acquired a business and passed through the usual term. On the contrary, with proper discretion and under judicious limits, the benefits 28 of the Institution should be extended to such persons, as far as possible. But when we contemplate the extension of the plan, in the mechanical departments, to the scale of those in Great Britain, as some think advisable, it imposes a different and very impor- tant view of the subject. The elements of such a broad and extended system being incongruous, it would be vain to look for entire success. One part of it — either the intellectual or the mechanical — would soon fall into entire subordination to the other, and, as in foreign Institutions, the probability is, the de- partment of mental instruction would sink into comparative insignificance. ASYLUMS FOR THE INDUSTRIOUS BLIND. II. If the above views be correct, they lead to a conclusion which I believe is entertained in all the Institutions in the United States, namely — the expediency, if not necessity, at a period not very distant, of separate asylums for the industrious blind, yet united under the direction of the same Board of Trustees. Such asylums would rescue from idleness, dependence, and want, a large number of meritorious blind persons, now rejected by existing Institutions on account of their age, and give pro- fitable employment to an increasing number of those who have acquired trades—affording them materials at the lowest whole- sale prices, and finding the best market for their work. A house of so congenial a nature for the older blind, of regular industrious habits, would confirm to them all the great advan- tages which the present Institutions afford, and realize every benevolent hope in their future happiness. It is certainly a favorable consideration, that a department confined to industry exclusively, could be conducted at a com- paratively small expense. With a fair demand for its manu- factures, it might indeed be made well nigh to support itself. In whatever view the British Asylums may be taken, they certainly give an encouraging example to our own, of what may be done by the blind, both in extent and variety of manufac- turing. There arc several new branches of work, for both sexes, 29 which we propose to introduce here as early as possible, which, it is hoped, will contribute to the economy and profit of the Institution, as well as the blind themselves. GENERAL INSTRUCTION. III. With the exception of the Paris, York, and one of the London schools, very little attention is given to mental improve- ment. In this respect they present to us a negative example. Their Superintendents are selected with reference to their business talents — as general overseers, or stewards — and without any particular regard to education — they having noth- ing to do with teaching. The effect of this general neglect of intellectual improvement is quite visible in the deportment of the pupils. They have not the bright and animated appearance of the blind in our own schools. While in Great Britain eight and even ten hours a day are devoted to labor, only three or four are so employed here. The rest of the time is given to mental improvement and music, particularly the former. It is thought there, that very little education is necessary for a blind person who must depend upon his labor for subsistence. It is believed here, that a good education, especially in useful knowledge, is a very important element of success in life, and particularly to the blind, who otherwise labor under such great disadvantages. It is true, also, as a general rule, that a well informed person will make a better and more successful mechanic. The British Institutions however, may, in this, only conform to their pecuniary circumstances, which do not admit of the additional expenses required for school instruction. They sel- dom have more than one teacher, of moderate abilities, and for a portion of the day only. But whatever particular views may be entertained on this subject, an enlightened public sentiment in this country re- quires, that the blind, as well as other children, shall receive a good practical education. 30 There are, moreover, many blind persons of a high order of talent, capable of becoming instructors. That system which overlooked such claims would be imperfect, if not unjust. SUPPORT. IV. Some of the Asylums are largely endowed by legacies and bequests. But they depend mainly upon annual subscrip- tions, and a small pay from each pupil. The donations and subscriptions are of course precarious and uncertain, and re- quire constant effort to meet the necessary expenditures. Several of them appear to be declining for want of means. Except in Paris, Government contributes nothing to their support. The opinion prevails in Great Britain, that charitable institutions should depend upon the contributions of the be- nevolent. It is supposed this creates a closer sympathy be- tween them and the public, and also leads to their better management. A different, and it is thought a better policy, governs the American Institutions. Here they are sustained directly by each State, in whole or in part. There is no exception to this __though the Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania Institutions do receive contributions, and they are not governed in their management by their State Legislatures. All the schools that have been established since these, are regarded exclusively as State foundations, and directly dependent upon legislative support from year to year. The Massachusetts Institution received a munificent dona- tion from T. K. Perkins, Esq., of a valuable building in the city of Boston, which was subsequently exchanged for their present splendid edifice in South Boston. They have received, also, other liberal donations. The New York Institution is authorized to receive, at the expense of the State, upwards of one hundred pupils. They also received large grants from the Legislature, from time to time, towards the erection of their beautiful building. These grants were made, upon condition of other large sums being raised by private subscriptions. ol The Pennsylvania Institution has been endowed by a large legacy from Wm. Y. Birch, valued, at the time, at $180,000. Its actual value, at this time, is estimated at $100,000, or less. The income of this being insufficient, they receive, annually, an appropriation of several thousand dollars from the State. The other Institutions in the country, in the order of their dates, are the Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Each of these, as remarked, is directly founded by the State. There is a prospect of another in Indiana, on the same plan. It appears to be a well settled opinion, that these and the kindred benevolent asylums, should be exclusively State works. It is believed they are as economically conducted, and much more efficient than they could be under the very uncertain re- sources of individual subscriptions. The blind, and deaf and dumb, and insane, being few in number compared with the whole population, there is no dan- ger of the generous humanity of the State ever leading to ex- cess and abuse. The single serious objection at first entertained by many, that Institutions under the direct control of successive Legisla- tures, would be liable to frequent political changes, to their great detriment, has in no instance, we believe, been realized. As a proof of this, few asylums of any description, in the United States, have exhibited the uniformity and permanence of those under the control of the State of Ohio. BUILDINGS. V. These, with two or three exceptions, are not equal to those in the United States. Some of them are houses that were formerly used as dwellings, and are not well adapted to their purposes—nor can they accommodate many boarders. The Manchester and one of the London schools, are excep- tions to this. The Belfast and Bristol schools, also, are said to occupy fine buildings. The Institutions for the blind and deaf and dumb, in Paris, are splendid and costly edifices — built at the expense of Government. 32 The buildings of the benevolent institutions generally, throughout Great Britain, are not so high as our's, and cover more ground. In respect to convenience, this is decidedly preferable to our lofty structures, though less imposing, perhaps, according to architectural taste. When we consider the amount of daily labor constantly re- peated in such large establishments, it is of great importance to the comfort and economy of the house, that this labor should be abridged in every possible way. Where there is sufficient building room, it is a perpetual evil to sacrifice the convenience of a building for its particular purposes, to external show. CONDITIONS OF THE RECEPTION OF BLIND PUPILS. VI. The printed terms of the European Institutions are more strict than in this country. Taking the London school for example, the candidates for admission are required to answer a long list of printed questions, among the rest, " Has the ap- plicant ever wandered about as a beggar, or played on a musi- cal instrument in the streets or ale houses ? " — and, " can the applicant wash him or herself? " &c. Pupils are elected twice a year, and with more formality than is prescribed to the Electoral College in voting for the President of the United States. There are no less than 22 by-laws regulating the manner of taking the votes for pupils! Each annual subscriber of one guinea is entitled to one vote. " A printed list containing the names and circumstances of the candidates, shall be sent, with a polling paper, at least one month before the election, to every subscriber," &c, &.c. And after this exceeding great caution, each pupil so elected must bring a written engagement from some respectable house- holder " resident within five miles of London — to receive back said pupil when discharged." One of the rules contemplates, that a candidate may be re- jected as many as four times, and still be eligible. Another rule declares, that " no person can possibly be ad- mitted who has a greater degree of sight than will enable him or her to distinguish light from darkness." 33 Applicants are not received usually under 10 or 12 years of age. These general rules, with some variation, are common to the other asylums for the blind. One of these restrictions is exceedingly unreasonable, viz : that which rejects, even from consideration, all cases where there is more sight than can distinguish light from darkness ; and can only be tolerated on the ground that there are more applicants than can be accommodated. If such a rule were rigidly applied in this country, it would exclude many really worthy and needy pupils, whose misfor- tune would be that they possess a better vision than other blind, though of no practical benefit to them. The more impartial and just course would seem to be that which is adopted at the Ohio Institution — to receive all who have not sufficient sight to enable them to obtain an education in the usual way. So far as any useful improvement goes, such persons must be considered as really blind. And this is the only practical line we can draw. STATISTICS OF BLINDNESS. VII. The following table exhibits some of the causes of blindness, as stated in the reports of two of the older Institu- tions. (5 g o a 3 Small pox. a .2 g S a us B Amaurosis. Cataracts. B 0) 'o o < SO cu 3 O o -fi o < G O 3 o 4) co a — .5 ° — 2 Liverpool------- Glasgow-------- 97 26 229 29 377 127 130 52 18 i 9 112 23 85 33 1157 139 By the above statement it appears, that one-fifth of the whole number of cases received in the Liverpool Asylum, were from small pox, and one-twelfth were born blind. 5 31 In the Glasgow Asylum nearly one-seventh were from small pox, and a little over one-seventh of the whole were born blind. It is to be regretted that the other schools have not given any returns on the subject. Blindness in the United States has rarely occurred from small pox, owing, probably, to the universal prevalence of vac- cination * Of the 118 pupils received in the Ohio Institution, only one became blind from small pox, and one from chicken pox. 24 were born blind ; 25 from inflammation; eight from amaurosis ; nine from cataract; 27 from accident, and 25 from all other causes. From investigations carefully made in the county of York, England, there were, in 1836, to a population in round num- bers of 1,500,000, one thousand three hundred and thirty-nine blind persons. Assuming the population of the whole kingdom at 25,000,- 000, there are, according to the same ratio, 22,315 blind per- sons of all ages. According to a ratio assumed by Mr. Teune, of Berlin, the number of blind in the latitude of Great Britain, say from the 50th to the 60th degrees, is 1 to each 1,400 inhabitants ; which would give 17,857 blind for that country. Taking the medium of the two statements, we may estimate the whole number of blind in Great Britain, in round numbers, at 20,000, which is one to every 1,250 persons. These numbers may be compared profitably with the returns so far as known in the United States. By the census of 1840, there were 5,024 white blind persons in a white population of 14,189,218, or 1 in 2,824. This is considerably less than half the number as given for Great Britain, according to the popu- lation. Making due allowance for the greater ravages of the * Dr. Crompton, of Manchester, England, in his report " On small pox as a cause of blindness," says : " I am acquainted with nearly forty persons blind from small pox. Not one of these have been vaccinated; yet nearly all of them were born after (he value of vaccination was known. * * * According to the Register General's report, more than 16,000 persons died of small pox, in England and Wales alone, in 1838. * * * In some nations on the continent of Europe, small pox has been nearly sup- pressed by it. With us, on the contrary, it is exceedingly frequent. We have from 4000 to 5000 persons blinded by it, and most of them have become blind since vaccination was within the reach of all. 35 small pox, and other causes peculiar to more crowded cities, and the privations of the poorer classes in that country, the above results confirm the belief previously expressed, that our census fell far short of giving the real number of blind in the United States. Besides many blind persons known not to have been reported, the great inequality of the returns in several of the States can be accounted for in no other way. For example, there were reported in Kentucky-------1 to 2,501 Illinois--------- 1 to 5,491 Ohio-----------1 to 4,038 Missouri-------1 to 3,949 Michigan-------1 to 8,462 Wisconsin------1 to 3,416 Indiana---------1 to 5,027 Iowa--------— 1 to 14,308 Of the Blind in Yorkshire, one-ninth of the whole were between the ages of 10 and 25, and capable of receiving in- struction. By this ratio there would be 2,172 in Great Britain, of the same age. Of this number there are, at this time, in all the asylums, as follows, ascertained chiefly from personal inspection: No. of pupils. No. of pupils. 1 2 3 4 5 0-7 H 9 Liverpool --------- Liverpool (cathohc) --Manchester-------- 101 17 67 90 81 40 60 139 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 London school----- Bristol------------ Norwich----------- Aberdeen--------- Dublin (Richmond) - -Dublin (Molyneaux)— Belfast------------ 59 70 20 50 40 18 30 22 Edinburgh--------- New Castle-------- York------------- London (indigent blind Total in all the asylums, in 1845-----------------904 In 1836 there were----------------------------806 Of the above 904, about 600 are between the ages of 10 and 25 — leaving about 1,570 blind persons between those ages, not now under instruction. A portion of this number, however, may yet be received. 36 There were under instruction, in five Institutions in the United States, in 1841.......................2J7 PuPils- 1845, seven Institutions........370 In Great Britain there is one blind person in the schools to every 22 of the whole number. In the United States, assuming the present number of blind at 6,500, there is one to every 17 in the Institutions. The proportions in both countries do not greatly vary, but the probability is, schools for the blind will hereafter multiply faster here than in Great Britain. PRINTING. VIII. No successful efforts were made to introduce printing in relief for the blind, before the experiments of Abbe Haiiy, in Paris, in 1784. Since which, a variety of characters, on the same principle, have been tried, and several different kinds have, at this present day, their particular advocates. The most generally adopted in Great Britain is Alston's print, of the Glasgow press, first suggested by Dr. Fry. This is the Roman capital, deprived of the extensions at the top and bottom of the letter. It was introduced in the year 1836. The entire Bible, and a short list of books have been printed in that type, a catalogue of which is here added. The print after this, that finds the most favor in England, is Lucas's stenographic or short hand characters. This is used at " The London School for teaching the Blind to read," at the Bristol, Exeter, and Leamington schools, and also by several auxiliary societies which instruct the blind in their neighborhood. Besides these, there is a stenographic character of Mr. Fre- re's, used at the " School for the Indigent Blind," London, (though not liked by the teacher,) and to some little extent in the Liverpool school. But I do not recollect meeting with it elsewhere. Mr. James Gall, of Edinburgh, who has interested himself greatly for the blind, invented an angular alphabet, in which 37 he has printed the Acts, St. Luke, St. John, and Phillippians. It is not much used, though possessing some decided merits. There have been several other kinds, as Hay's, Ponton's, and others, not necessary particularly to notice. In the United States, Dr. Howe, the enterprising Director of the Massachusetts Asylum, adopted the lower case Roman let- ter, modified into angular shapes, yet preserving the original form so far as to be easily read by all. The entire Bible, and various other books, are printed in this character. The Institution at Philadelphia adopted the Roman capital alphabet, very slightly changed from the Glasgow letter — the upright lines of most of the letters being slightly curved. With respect to the comparative merits of these different alphabets, I found opinions as various as the characters them- selves. Each has some advantage to recommend it. And the preponderance of favor will very probably prevail with that which secures the largest number of printed books. But there is one principle that seems to me should be deci- sive to determine the general character of the printing. It should be easily read by the seeing as well as blind. Many of the blind may then be taught to read at their own homes, or in other schools, when they are not eligible as pupils in the Institutions. This is the advantage of both the Glasgow and Boston prints. It may be added also, that nearly all the books for the blind yet printed, are in the characters adopted at those two Institu- tions, and in Philadelphia. As the Glasgow print is in general use in Great Britain, so is the Boston universally in use in the United States, and to a limited extent in Great Britain. But the books printed at the Philadelphia and Glasgow presses are also used in most of our schools — the pupils learning to read both with facility. The stenographic character of Lucas's, while it does not possess the advantage of being read by ordinary readers, has one high merit which in justice should be accorded to it — it may be acquired more easily than any other print in use. 38 From the testimony of its friends, a number of blind persons, unable to learn the Roman letters, have learned this print in a short time. Older persons, and those whose fingers are blunted by hard work, have succeeded in learning it in preference of all other. Indeed, the simplicity of the characters, and the variety of their surfaces, would leave little doubt of this. We intend, however, to submit it to fair actual experiment, with those pu- pils who have failed to learn either the Roman or Dr. Howe's print. The London society, which prints in Lucas's characters, are raising means to continue their publications until the whole Bible is completed. They have already printed the books of Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, the four Gospels, the Acts, several of the Epistles, and a selection of prayers and hymns. These are in seventeen separate volumes or parts. They have also several elementary class books, of small size, equal in all to about one volume. Another feature claimed as an advantage for this system of printing, is the contraction of the words and syllables, and the omission of all letters not necessary to the sound — according to the phonetic system. Frere's is also on this system. The following list of words explains what is meant: Orthography. Walker, Phonetic. Lucas. Fre: pay rules pa roolz pa ruls F rlz rays through raez throo ras thru rz* thr presence prez.ens prsnc prz:s The following is an example of the contractions in very familiar reading — from St. John's Gospel: t gospel b st. jon chap. 1. in t begini ws t wrd a t w ws w g, a t w ws g. t sam ws n t begini w g. 1 thins wr mad b him, a wo hm ws nt a thin mad tht ws mad. Where the reading is less simple, the contractions are not so great. Two objects are thought to be gained by the contrac- 39 tions,—1st, Reduction in the size of the books. 2d, Rapidity of reading — the finger being required to pass over less surface in each word. For a reason already given, the great body of printing for the blind should be in letters that every one can read at sight, and not in a stenographic character, or abreviated in any par- ticular. I am nevertheless of opinion, for reasons already stated, that the books printed on Lucas's system are calculated to do much good, and, (subordinate to the other print,) should be introduced into every asylum. Of the comparative merits of the two kinds of letter, des- tined to be the medium of the great body of the literature of the blind, viz : the Roman capitals and the Boston characters, a few words may be said. The latter present a much greater variety of size and shape than the former. This is an important consideration to the blind, who distinguish by the touch alone. The Roman B R and D, for example, are sufficiently unlike for sight, but are difficult to distinguish by the finger. Not so with the Boston letters, which are entirely unlike, as b r d, nearly. And so of many others. But, independent of reasons so obvious, experience has satis- fied us that beginners acquire a knowledge of the Boston char- acter sooner than the Roman. While, therefore we admit the greater beauty of the Roman capital letter than all others, and admire the able and perseve- ring zeal of Mr. Alston, of Glasgow, in accomplishing so mnch for the library of the blind, we cannot but hope that in this country at least, should any future presses be established, they will conform to the Boston letter. Nor would it be just to omit passing a tribute to the very beautiful embossed letters of the books executed at the press of the Pennsylvania Institution, under the direction of Mr. Snider. In mechanical execution they have never been excelled, if equalled. 40 As intimated in a previous report, it will not be considered advisable to establish a printing press at this Institution. The following catalogue embraces all the books that have been printed for the blind in English, as far as I am informed, in addition to the few already named : Glasgow. The Bible-------------15 vols Psalms and Paraphrases— 2 English Grammar------ 1 Introduc. to the Sciences- 1 Todd's Lectures------- 1 Description of London— 1 The Sacrament explained, 1 Musical Catechism------ 1 Esop's Fables---------- 1 Morning and Evening ser- viceof the Church of Eng- land---------------- 1 Church of Scotland, shor- ter Catechism-------- 1 vol. Church of England, do - 1 Selections of Sacred Poetry 1 History of the Bible----- 1 Scotch Songs----------- 1 Psalms in metre-------- 1 And several smaller publications. All the above, excepting the Bible, Psalms, and Grammar, are small books, ranging in price from 2 to 4 shillings, sterling. Boston. The Bible--------8 vols., large, Lardner's History-------3 vols. English Grammar------- 1 " English Reader--------- 2 " Pilgrim's Progress------ 1 " Harvey boys----------- 1 " Political Class Book----- 1 " Two Atlases----------- 2 " Astronomical terms------ 1 " Common Prayer-------- 1 " Psalms in metre--------1 vol. Description of the Earth - 1 Baxter's call----------- 1 Principles of Arithmetic - 1 Viri Romas------------ ] Definitions in Geometry-- 1 Natural Philosophy----- 1 Dairyman's Daughter--- 1 Also several class books of smal ler size, for beginners. Philadelphia Select Library----------5 vols Ruth and Esther------- 1 Student's Magazine-----6 Proverbs-------------- 1 Spelling book--------- 1 Church Music---------3 Psalms and Hymns----- 1 vol. Early days of Washington, and Dec. of Indep'ce.— 1 « German. Die Oster Eier---------- 1 « Auswahl--------------- l " It will be seen how meagre is the list of the whole library for the blind ; and yet over sixty years have elapsed since the system of printing in relief was devised by Haiiy. With the exception of the Bible, a good blind reader can go through the whole catalogue in five or six weeks. 41 No State has done any thing'for the printing. Congress has aided colleges and schools by donations of land, but it has done nothing for the blind. Though efforts are still being made, at the Boston Institution, to increase the number of books, yet from the great difficulty of obtaining adequate means by private subscriptions, and from the fact that the Glasgow and Philadelphia presses are almost idle for want of funds, there is very little prospect that the pre- sent generation of the blind will be much further benefited in this way, without some extraordinary efforts are made. From the limited demand for books of this kind, no induce- ment is offered for any bookseller to embark in their publication. Nor any for artists and mechanics to exert their skill and inge- nuity in inventing improvements in the printing. A liberal grant of land by Congress, and a small appropria- tion from each State, would, with other means, supply this long neglected want—the only serious deficiency in the whole system. CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE BLIND. IX. After a careful personal examination of all the leading foreign Institutions, together with their annual reports and pub- lications, the result would appear to be, that in the amount of manufacturing industry they are beyond our own, but in mental improvement generally the American Institutions are decidedly superior. We think too, that feature of our system which so happily combines instruction, music and labor, is the best. The blind as a class, in our schools, are more active and intelligent; their personal appearance is better; their confi- dence in their own powers more assured — and therefore their success and happiness will be more certain. 6 42 OTHER INSTITUTIONS. It remains to say something on the two other great classes of benevolent institutions, such as are sustained by this State, viz : Asylums for the Deaf and Dumb, and the Insane. On these I shall be necessarily more brief, confining myself rather to leading facts than opinions — giving, however, in many cases, the views of their Principals and Governors. LIVERPOOL "SCHOOL for the DEAF AND DUMB." This school was established in 1825. It now contains 50 pupils, and two private scholars, who are parlour boarders. About half the number are day scholars, and do not live in the Institution. They are all instructed in one room, and are seated at desks as in other schools. Each pupil is provided with a small slate. Large slates are not used as with us. Two or three black boards serve the purpose of general illustrations by the teachers. The private or pay pupils occupy a separate part of the room, and are secluded from the rest by a curtain. They eat also at a separate table. The whole is* in charge of Mr. Rhind, the Principal, and two assistant teachers. Articulation, or speaking with the voice, is professedly taught here, and the Principal appears to favor it. But not in any respect to supercede the sign language. He remarked, " it would be absurd to attempt to teach deaf mutes without the signs. We could not do it." The few examples that were given, at my request, were quite imperfect and unsatisfactory — extending only to the elementa- ry sounds of the vowels and a few monosyllables. One of the pupils said distinctly, "mama," "papa," which was the highest effort that was made. The Principal stated that several pupils had been discharged, who were able to hold a conversation on simple things, carry messages, &c, and read the answers on the lips. No labor of any kind is taught in this school. Children are not admitted under 1, nor over 14 years of age. 43 "THE MANCHESTER SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB." This school was founded in 1824, and contains 85 pupils. These are all taught in one room, as at Liverpool. The intel- ligent Master, W. Patterson, Esq., does not approve of the ar- rangement— would prefer a classification of the scholars in different rooms, as in America. The walls were hung with engravings and devices. These are used as means of instruc- tion for beginners, more than in this country. The Master has five assistants, some of them young. No trades are taught, but on Saturday afternoon some 20 or 30 pupils learn to draw. JS'o articulation is taught. The Principal considers it as generally impracticable and useless. "GLASGOW SOCIETY FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE DEAF AND DUMB. This school contains 69 pupils, all of whom board in the house. The excellent Principal, Mr. Anderson, has but one assistant, and a young boy who is an apprentice to the system, receiving at present a salary of £10 a year, to be yearly in_ creased for 7 years, his term of apprenticeship. Articulation is taught to a few very favorable cases. The specimens I witnessed were not successful, being confined to a small number of words, and those pronounced with diffi- culty, and violent contortions of the face. The Principal prefers a single school room, that he may su- perintend the government of the whole. It enables him also to manage with fewer teachers. "THE EDINBURGH DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM." This school is under the charge of a deaf and dumb Princi- pal, Mr. Drysdale, and is in a prosperous condition. It contains 63 pupils, of whom 49 board in the house. There are two assistant teachers, and two pupils assisting as apprentices. No 44 work is taught; but the annual report is printed by the pupils. The general plan of the school is similar to the others. "NORTHERN ASYLUM FOR THE BLIND AND THE DEAF AND DUMB." Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This is the only school I visited where the blind and the deaf are united in one establishment. As already stated, the expe- riment has not been favorable, and but few blind are retained. There are at present 28 deaf and dumb inmates. It is under the direction of Mr. R. Gould. Nothing of especial interest was elicited — the general plan being similar to the others visited. "THE ASYLUM FOR THE SUPPORT AND EDUCA- TION OF THE DEAF AND DUMB CHILDREN OF THE POOR." London. This is the largest asylum of the kind in the world, the first established in Great Britain, and contains 290 pupils—160 males, and 130 females. These are all in two school rooms, open to each other in the form of an L, giving the Principal the opportunity of superintending the whole school at one time. There are ten male and five female assistants, several of whom are deaf and dumb. The arrangement of pupils at their desks, with small slates and books, is the same as noticed in other asylums ; large slates being rarely used. Articulation has been professedly taught here as a regular branch since the foundation of the institution, in 1792. The Report for 1844 holds the following language : " The branches of education taught, are reading, writing, the proper method of expressing their thoughts in written or spoken language, arithmetic, and a knowledge of the Scriptures. They are also taught to understand oral language, through the medium of their own natural language of signs. The power of artic- ulation also affords, to many of them, a ready medium of com- munication with those who can hear; but this advantage must always depend upon the pupil having a clear enunciation" 45 The Principal, Mr. Watson, remarked to me, that they in- struct all the pupils to articulate. But their report shows that only a portion of them can expect any benefit from it. A number of examples were given during my visit. Several pupils pronounced their own names, and repeated words and sentences written and spoken first by the Principal. Familiar names and expressions I could easily distinguish : others were not plain. The labor of speaking was great, the sounds were harsh and unnatural, and the features much distorted. Two deaf and dumb teachers (if dumb they may now be called) gave more satisfactory illustrations. One of them first held a conversation with the Principal, — reading the questions on his lips, and answering him audibly and correctly. I then put several questions to him, pronouncing my words very dis- tinctly and emphatically. In all cases he read the words from my lips, and replied properly. I put several questions to the other deaf teacher, who also replied correctly, giving all the words their natural sound and force, though with more delibera- tion and emphasis than is usual. In a few instances only I was obliged to repeat my words. These, it should be noticed, are extremely favorable cases, and, though deaf from infancy, are far from being examples of the results produced with the pupils generally, for no pupil ex- hibited any near approach to their proficiency. Before leaving the Asylum, the Principal introduced a deaf mute, deaf from infancy, a man 60 years of age, who had been here fifty-two years. He was a remarkable case of articulation. I held a conversation with him for several minutes — he reading the words on my lips, and answering correctly. His voice was modulated naturally, according to the sense of the words. From his own language alone, I could not have suspected him to be a deaf man. To test his powers of enunciation, I pointed out a number of proper names on the wall tablets, difficult to express. He un- hesitatingly pronounced each name with perfect distinctness. This person was admitted by the Principal to be an extraor- dinary case. In connection with the deaf teachers, and some 46 other examples elsewhere which might be cited, it is a proof how much may be sometimes done by patient labor and perse- verance, in overcoming almost insuperable natural difficulties. Articulation is not taught, however, to the exclusion in any respect of the language of signs, but is entirely subordinate, even here, where the Principal places so high a value upon it. It is supposed the pupils learn to speak sufficiently well to make themselves understood in expressing their common wants, and in understanding their friends by the motion of their lips. No trades are taught. The Principal prefers they should learn of other mechanics, that they may be brought more into business intercourse with the world. Efforts are always made to procure situations for the boys, and an apprentiee fee of £10 is allowed to the master. Children are not received under 8 J nor over 11J years of age. Pay pupils are charged £20, and indigent or parish pupils, £10 per annum. The pupils are all elected by the contrib- utors. The Asylum owns large funds, yielding last year,----s63,918 Received from annual subscriptions,---------------- 2,321 Life subscriptions, legacies, &c,---------■--------- 2,280 £8,519 Equal to $42,000 Actual expenses .£7,380, or $36,000 Nearly 1900 children have received the benefits of this school since its commencement. THE "INSTITUTION for PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT AND RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION for the ADULT DEAF AND DUMB,"—London. The design of this society, though meeting with little favor by the other London Asylum, must be regarded as extremely important. Its object is to teach trades and provide employ- ment for the older deaf and dumb, who are not eligible to the other Institution, and also to give them religious instruction through the medium of the sign language. 47 It has been seen that deaf children of 12 years old and up- wards cannot be received in the London school. How many may therefore be shut out forever from instruction or trades, if no other provision is made to teach them ! It is moreover ascertained that many who are apprenticed by the London school do not stay their time out. These, and other cases, are designed to be reached by this society. It has been in operation but three or four years, and its means thus far have been limited. The trades pursued are shoemaking and tailoring. "INSTITUTION ROYALE DES SOURDS-MUETS," — Paris. This school for the deaf and dumb was established in 1777, by the celebrated Del Epee, the founder of the system. It became a Royal Institution in 1785. In 1790 it flourished un- der the direction of the Abbe Sicard, (the distinguished suc- cessor of Del Epee,) who greatly improved the system of in- struction. The present number of pupils is 160. The method of instruction, and the general arrangement of the school rooms, are similar to those in the United States, which adopted the French school as their model. This is the only Deaf and Dumb Institution abroad, except the London Adult Asylum, where mechanical trades are taught. Several are employed at tailoring, and some at shoemaking. About 20 pupils work at turning in ivory, hard wood, &c. In this department they appeared to excel. A large variety of beautiful ornamental articles, turned by the pupils, are kept for sale. There was here the most abundant evidence of the ca- pacity of the deaf and dumb for this branch of work — and which, I doubt not, well repays the cost of teaching it. Twenty pupils are taught the art of Lithography, or drawing on stone. The specimens are very neatly, and some of them beautifully executed. All the scholars of any talent in that way, are taught pencil and crayon drawing, under a regular 48 master, in a room for design set apart for the purpose. The deaf naturally take as much delight in drawing as the blind in music, and there would seem to be as strong a reason for culti- vating the talent in the former as in the latter. Articulation is taught here to about 30 pupils, but not very successfully. The teachers consider the labor of such instruc- tion very great, and the results, except in a very few cases, quite doubtful. Government appropriates about 100,000 francs annually to the support of this school. About 80 scholars are received gratuitously, who are required to be between the ages of 10 and 15 years, and remain usually six years. The charge to pay- pupils is about 175 dollars per annum. There are 12 teachers, besides several young persons assistants and apprentices to the system. "THE NATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR THE EDU- CATION OF DEAF AND DUMB CHILDREN OF THE POOR IN IRELAND,"—Dublin. This school was founded in 1816, and now contains 120 pupils. There are still 67 candidates waiting for admission, whom they have not the means of supporting. The general plan of the Institution is similar to that of other schools in Great Britain, and appeared to be under excellent management. It is under the direction of Mr. Jas. Cook and seven assistants, five of whom are females. Besides these, there are several other schools for the deaf and dumb, which I was unable to visit. But it is proper to mention that the Doncaster Institution, under the direction of Mr. C. Baker, has a high reputation. 49 Table of all the Institutions for the Deaf and Dumb in Great Britain. Institutions in the order of their dates, 1 London---- 2 Edinburgh- -- 3(Birmingham- 1 Dublin 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Glasgow---- Aberdeen---- Cork------- Manchester— Liverpool---- Exeter------ Doncaster--- Belfast------ New Castle--- 1792 1810 1814 1816 1819 1819 1823 1824 1825 1827 1829 1831 1839 Principals. 5 a All other school? Thomas J. Watson, Drysdale-------- A. Hopper------ James Cook------ D. Anderson----- W. Weir------- Dr. Keogh------ A. Patterson----- James Rhind----- W. Scott-------- Chas. Baker----- Chas. Rhind----- R.Gould-------- —estimated------ 290 81 63 9 49 120 69 26 11 85 52 49 80 36 28 50 Total under instruction------------1011 to \\\ to 14 to 13 to 12 to 14 to 12 to 14 to 12 to 13 hS The other schools, some of which are recently formed, and one of them private, are located at Rugby and Brighton, and contain but few pupils each. Table of Deaf and Dumb Institutions in the United States Institutions. Date. Principals. Instructors. Pupils. 1 Hartford, Ct.---- 1817 Lewis Weld------ 9 160 2| New York----- 1818 Harvey P. Peet--- 10 168 3j Philadelphia---- 1821 A. B. Hutton----- 7 115 41 Danville, Ky.-- 1822 J. A. Jacobs------ 35 5 Columbus, Ohio-- 1826 H.N. Hubbell---- 7 104 6 Staunton, Va.--- 1839 Jos. D.Tyler----- 2 30 7 Indianapolis---- 1843 Jas. S. Brown---- 2 20 8 Knoxville, Tenn.- 1811 T. Maclntire----- 1 10 9 Raleigh, N. C.--- 1845 W.D.Cooke----- 2 --- 10 Jacksonville---- Total------ - 642 7 50 The whole number of white deaf and dumb, according to the United States census for 1840, was 6,685. GENERAL REMARKS ON THE DEAF AND DUMB SCHOOLS OF GREAT BRITAIN. I. The general system of instruction is the same as in this country — the object being to give the pupils a knowledge of written language. The manual alphabet and the sign language are the means relied on. II. Articulation is taught to some extent, but except in the London school, it is very little relied on, and generally con- demned, as requiring more labor than the results will ever justify. III. All the schools, with the exception of the London, are smaller than the Institutions at Hartford and New York ; and, excepting the London and Dublin, smaller than the Ohio Asylum. IV. The pupils are generally taught in a single school room. In this respect differing from the French and United States schools, where each teacher and class have a separate room. V. More use is made of engraved pictures, maps and school apparatus, than in the United States. VI. There are fewer teachers — some who are noticed as such being young assistants on small pay. The constant pre- sence of the head master is supposed to render a higher grade of assistants unnecessary. VII. Assistant teachers are usually taken young, as apprenti- ces to the deaf and dumb system. Their Principals prefer this plan to that which prevails in the United States, of selecting young men for their literary education particularly. VIII. The pupils are not taught trades. These are learned of other mechanics, with whom they are placed as apprentices, after their time of instruction is expired. IX. The two handed manual alphabet is every where used in Great Britain. The single hand is used in Paris, which our schools have followed. And finally, X. The deaf and dumb schools in the United States are generally superior to those in Great Britain. 51 LUNATIC ASYLUMS. I shall confine my notices to four only of these institutions in England, and to the two celebrated establishments, the Bice- tre and the Salpetriere, in Paris. The improved principles on which they are now all conducted are so uniform, that it is necessary to refer only to those particulars which are peculiar to each. Some of the populous counties of England have public asylums for the insane much larger than our State institutions. In addition to these, there are many private establishments. Some have large endowments, besides the income from pay patients, and annual subscribers. LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE COUNTY OF LAN- CASTER. This county contains the large cities of Liverpool and Man- chester. The whole population is nearly as large as that of the State of Ohio. The County Asylum, in the town of Lancas- ter, was established in 1816, and now contains 550 patients. The applications, however, are so numerous, that it is in con- templation to erect another large asylum in the south part of the county. Notwithstanding the great improvements in the treatment of the insane, introduced by Pinel and Esquirol in France, and adopted by the civilized world, this Asylum, up to the year 1841, continued in the odious practice of cruel mechanical re- straints. At this period a revolution in its system was effected; new officers were appointed, who found " twenty-nine persons wearing either handcuffs, leg-locks, or strait waistcoats, exclu- sive of between 30 and 40 patients who were chained down on seats during the day." " During the night time, all the epileptic and violent patients were chained, or otherwise secured in bed. Idiotic and violent patients, and those of filthy habits, were chained in their seats from early in the morning until bed time." These restraints were at once essentially abolished, and a de- cided improvement followed. For five months at a time, succeeding the change, not a single patient had been restrained 52 as before. " In some cases, so decided a change had taken place in the general appearance of the patients, that they were with difficulty recognized." Patients of destructive habits are clothed in a strong fabric, the jacket and trowsers being in one, buttoned on the back, which they cannot unloose. Considerable attention is given to the occupation of the in- mates in doors as well as out. There are mechanic workshops, in which a number of the males are employed, and the females do a large amount of work. The following table, showing the numbers so employed in 1844, is interesting: Males employed. Working on the land,---- 56 Other out-door labor,----- 5 Assisting joiners,-------- 2 " tailors,-------- 9 " shoemakers,--- 6 " domestic work, - 11 Cleaning in the galleries,- 79 Plaiting straw for hats,--- 8 Picking flocks,--------- 13 Other in-door labor,------ 26 Pumping water,-------- 12 Males employed, 227 Females employed. Cleaning in the galleries,- - 40 Kitchen work,---------- 30 Washing and ironing,---- 40 Making jackets,-------- 30 Hats, boots and stocks,--- 5 Knitting and netting,---- 18 Sewing and quilting,----- 93 Working in gardens,----- 10 Picking flocks,---------- 7 Females employed,------273 Total employed,-------■-- 500 Whole nnmber of patients that year,- 600 During the same year, the female patients made up twelve thousand three hundred and fifty-two articles, chiefly of dress, for the use of the house and inmates. The Governor, Mr. S. Gaskell, and the medical attendant, speak favorably of putting all the patients to work who are able, both in-doors and out; but they prefer out-door labor when practicable, in fair weather. The Report of 1844, speaking of labor, says : " The ben- efits derivable from exercise and employment, being admitted on all hands to be of paramount importance in the treatment of the great majority of insane patients, the provision for the at- tainment of these advantages must always form a leading sub- ject of consideration, if not the most essential point of all, in 53 the economy of public hospitals for their reception. Whether regarded as an expedient for augmenting the means of re- covery, or as being merely conducive to the mitigation of a permanent and irremovable affliction, this provision is alike absolutely indispensable." Agreeably to this view, all the patients of this asylum who are not capable of working out of doors, except those who are sick or imbecile, are supplied with employment in the house.* Various kinds of amusements, including music and dancing, are allowed, and most festival days are kept by them. In fur- therance of this, instruction in singing has been given by a teacher, " attended with very pleasing results." A plan of instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, &c, has been introduced — some of the better educated patients taking the duties of teaching their fellow-wardsmen. " There are patients now in the Institution, who, a few months back, did not know a letter of the alphabet, who are thus enabled to read with tolerable fluency, to write legibly, and cast up simple sums." A library of several hundred volumes is added, for their fur- ther improvement and amusement. There are 40 acres of ground attached to the Asylum, af- fording frequent out-door employment and exercise for the patients. t YORKSHIRE LUNATIC ASYLUM,"—York. This county establishment contains 156 patients, of whom 80 are in some way employed. The Resident Physician is in favor of adding in-door labor to the employment of the inmates. He thinks it decidedly beneficial as a means of treatment par- ticularly. There are mechanic shops here, but not many are at present employed in them. * "The medical officers have been most assiduous in their attempts to obtain for every patient in the asylum, some kind of occupation, and they have reaped the fruits of their exertions, by witnessing the more orderly demeanor of the patients, and a greater degree of cheerfulness throughout.—Report for 1843. 54 " THE RETREAT FOR PERSONS AFFLICTED WITH DISORDERS OF THE MIND,"—York ; otherwise called "THE FRIENDS RETREAT." This Institution, established by the society of Friends, or Quakers, in 1796, is celebrated as the first in Great Britain that adopted the mild and humane treatment of insanity, and " dis- carded all implements of punishment, chains, and other severe means of coercion." In a statistical account of this asylum, it is stated as " a sin- gular and interesting coincidence, that it was in 1792, the very year in which the celebrated Pinel commenced the amelioration in the treatment of the insane in France, by the truly coura- geous act of unchaining nearly fifty supposed incurable and dangerous lunatics, at the Bicetre, that the establishment of the Retreat was proposed to a meeting of the society of Friends, at York. The proceedings of Pinel, however, were not known to them." The Retreat is not less celebrated for the steady and perse- vering success with which it has carried out the mild and moral system which it thus so nobly begun. There are 29 acres of ground attached to the Retreat, which are beautifully cultivated, with shady bowers and shrubbery, graveled walks and lawns. Each class of patients has a sep- arate yard or garden for air and exercise, with frequent access to a larger range. I visited no asylum for the insane abroad that impressed me so favorably as this. The quiet and social comfort that pre- vailed throughout the household, and the perfect neatness and cleanliness every where, had all the agreeable associations of a well ordered private family. . It is proper to remark, however, that the patients are of a better class than those found at the large county asylums, who are generally paupers. The charge for the lowest class is from 4s. to 8s. a week. For a better class, 10s. to 21s. If in good circumstances, from one to five guineas, according to the ac- commodations. 55 About three-fourths of the income is derived from these pay ments of the patients. Trfe balance from annual subscriptions and interest on invested funds. The able Resident Physician, Dr. John Thurnam, has pre- pared some valuable statistics of the York Retreat, and has also just published an octavo volume of about 350 pages, en- titled— " Observations and essays on the Statistics of In- sanity ; including an inquiry into the causes influencing the results of treatment in Establishments for the Insane," &c. Dr. Thurnam spoke favorably of employment as having a beneficial influence on the minds of the patients, and thinks it should be introduced wherever practicable ; especially in large establishments, where many of the inmates had been formerly accustomed to labor at mechanical or farm occupations. MIDDLESEX "COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUM AT HAN WELL," —near London. This large establishment was founded in 1776, and contains near one thousand inmates. Its buildings are modern, and cover an area of 2£ acres. There are 53 acres of ground used for farm and garden purposes, and pleasure grounds. Every part of the interior appears to be well arranged for such a vast establishment, and contains all the best modern improvements for washing, bathing, cooking, &c. The general construction of the wards and sleeping rooms is similar to that of other asylums of the kind. There are nu- merous out-buildings for mechanic workshops, kitchens, brewery, engine house, laundry, store rooms, &c, &c. — all most con- veniently arranged — and in all of which many of the patients are daily employed. The following table exhibits the employment of the patients, and the number engaged at each kind of work. 56 [Males. Garden and agriculture---110 Helping in the wards------ 48 Picking coir (cocoa fibre) for matresses and making pad- ding------------------ 24 Printing---------------- 3 Carpenter work---------- 6 Tin work, painting & glazing 2 Shoemaking------------- 10 Tailors----------------- 8 Engine house, store room, &c. 14 Employed--- Unemployed- Sick------- 225 165 18 Totalmales----------408 females--------565 Total- 973 Females. Laundry---------- Kitchen and dairy--- Helpers in the wards - Picking coir -- 55 -- 16 -- 36 - 20 Needlework*-----------178 Employed --- Unemployed- Sick------- Total- 305 228 42 565 There are 1000 beds in the asylum, and there are about 1500 lunatics in the county needing accommodation. The average daily number of patients has been 970. The subject of employment has occupied much of the atten- tion of Dr. Conolly, the able Resident Physician, and also of the Board of Visiting Justices. They regard it as very benefi- cial to the minds as well as health of the patients. In the year 1842, the Visiting Justices, conceiving " the valuable adjuncts to the humane system adopted at Hanwell, of employment, instruction, and amusement," might be extended, and "other em- ployments be suggested and other modes adopted, of increasing the amusements and instruction," passed a resolution, reques- ting Dr. Conolly to report his views upon the subject. This Report, I believe, has not been made public. In addition to manual labor, the subject of mental instruc- tion and drawing was introduced a year or two since, and a * The patients made last year thirteen thousand eight hundred and seventy-six arti- cles of clothing. " The whole of the repairs of the clothing is done by the patients. The washing of the establishment, consisting of about 1100 persons, is also performed by them, with the assistance of five Laundresses; and the whole of the cooking, baking, and dairy departments, with the superintendence of five kitchen servants."— 68th Report. 57 male and female teacher employed. The patients were taught to read the scriptures, writing, geography, arithmetic, singing, and drawing. No class is continued longer than one hour at a time. Dr. Conolly remarks, " among the readers may be seen some who were formerly looked upon as among the most troublesome patients in the asylum, and several who are liable to occasional attacks of manical excitement; but they attend the classes with gratification, and observe a remarkable order and decorum." Again : " writing has been taught to some who were previ- ously unable to hold a pen. Others who had formerly learned to write, were found to have forgotten the art, and required to begin again. They take particular pleasure in this acquirement, and exhibit their copybooks with much satisfaction." " Some variety has been imparted to the occupations of the class rooms, by occasional descriptions of different parts of the earth, aided by reference to maps and to a globe. Drawing and singing have agreeably occupied a few of them." Doctor C. further adds—" The Resident Physician is desirous not to exaggerate the advantages of this attempt to educate the insane poor. If the occupations associated with it are con- sidered as little more serviceable than amusements, they may be still deserving of attention. The plan has been applied to about 80 of the female and 120 of the male patients, and in no instance has attendance been compulsory." * It is proper to add, that the above remarks were made in the Report two years since, and it is possible some modification of these views may now be entertained by the Resident Physician. This particulur branch of inquiry escaped my attention during my visit. It needs scarcely to be added, that the same mild and soothing treatment, and abolition of severe physical restraint, which universally prevails in other Asylums for the Insane, are fully adopted here, with the happiest success. * G8th Annual Report, 8 58 The number of officers in the Hanwell Asylum is------ 19 Male attendants and servants----------- 37 Female do do ----------- 52 Total----------------------------------- 108 Amount of salaries and wages,-------- £4,180 or $20,000 Total expenditures for one year-----£20,057 or $100,000 Average weekly expenditure for each pupil. s. d. Provisions------------------------4 0| House expenses---------------------1 2| Clothing---------------------------0 9i Salaries and wages------------------1 6| Medicine, &c.----------------------0 4g Total-----------------------7 11$ or $2, nearly, PARIS. There are three large establishments for the insane in Paris and the neighborhood. One is a private asylum. The other two are under the patronage of government, and are celebrated for their long experience and immense size. It was in one of these, also, that the improved treatment under Pinel was verified. HOSPICE DE. LA VIEILLESSE — OR, " LA SALPE- TRIERE." This is the asylum for females only. The name is derived from the buildings, which were anciently used for the manufac- ture of saltpetre, and were granted for the reception of indigent lunatics in 1580. The main buildings cover 1,700 feet by 1,164. The front edifice is over 600 feet long. The circum- ference of the establishment is one and a quarter miles. The buildings are old, and remarkable for nothing but their vast extent. There are at present within its walls, including attendants, 5,500 persons. Of attendants alone, 450. There have been 59 as many as 7000 persons at one time in the establishment, a population nearly as large as that of the city of Columbus. The inmates, however, are not all lunatics, but the larger portion are infirm and aged persons. They are—1st, Aged and infirm servants of the hospital. 2d, Epileptics and lunatics. 3d, Persons from 70 to 80 years of age. 4th, Those afflicted with cancers and other incurable diseases. 5th, The indigent. About 1,350 of the whole num- ber are lunatics. The sleeping apartments differ from those of the asylums in Great Britain and the United States. These are generally larger dormitories, containing 30 or 40 beds each. Not more than a twelfth part of the whole have single sleeping rooms. The worst class of patients are kept in single small houses. entirely separate from each other. The general treatment, as far as I could learn, is similar to that of other establishments. Violent coercion is rarely re- sorted to. The cooking and laundry apparatus for this immense hospital, are in themselves a curiosity. The kitchen range, which, with its dozen furnaces, occupies the centre of a vast room, is about 12 by 25 feet long. The vessels in which the clothes are boiled by steam, are about 36 feet in circumference ; and the wash tubs are great reservoirs, about 20 feet square. The butcher's room and shambles might well represent the market of a good sized town. The diet consists generally of beef-tea for breakfast, the beef for dinner, and beans and wine for supper. No reports are made for public circulation. THE BICETRE —Paris. This is the celebrated hospital for male lunatics, and like the Salt pet riere, it is a large infirmary also for the aged and infirm. The main building is a quadrangle, measuring 900 feet on each side. It contains in all 3000 persons, of whom 850 are idiots, lunatic?, and epileptics, The grounds are very extensive, being 60 several miles in circumference. A large number of the patients work out on the land, and also on the bleaching grounds con- nected with the asylum. There are workshops here in which both the paupers and the insane are occupied. Some are engaged at plaiting straw, others at making shoes, &c. The yearly value of the work is estimated at 140,000 francs. The whole annual expense of the establishment is about 900,000 francs. Each class of patients has a separate yard for exercise. The buildings being low, readily admit of this convenience. There is here a daily school for idiotic and convalescent pa- tients, established in 1828. Reading, writing, drawing, and music are taught. Many specimens of drawing are hung on the walls of the school room — the patients taking great pride in their exhibition. Weekly concerts are given, the patients performing or uniting in the music. A building on a new plan has recently been erected in the grounds. It is a circular edifice, with a central room for the overseer, with sleeping rooms, yards, and workshops around it in such manner that each patient can be always seen. It is somewhat on the principle of the State Penitentiary at Phila- delphia It is regarded as a decided improvement — but a single building on this plan could not accommodate many per- sons. For a large establishment, the buildings would have to be multiplied accordingly. CONCLUSION. This Report has extended to a greater length than it was expected to require. But I have endeavored to condense the matter into as small a space as would be consistent with per- spicuity. With regard to asylums for the insane and deaf and dumb, I have, as proposed, confined myself to a record of facts as I saw them, or they were reported to me on the spot — supported by the reports and other publications of those institutions, to which I had access. I am aware it would not be decorous or 61 proper for me to propose opinions and arguments upon subjects with which I profess to be not professionally acquainted. If I have in any such case expressed any views, they are only where they fall under those general principles which treat of mind especially in an educational sense. As already remarked of the foreign blind and deaf and dumb schools, so far as I am able to judge, I do not think the Insane Asylums of Great Britain and Paris, taken generally, are supe- rior, if equal to the American asylums. There are, however, some subjects that would seem to deserve attention on this side the Atlantic. I regretted that my limited time would not permit an exami- nation of the different public Prisons and Penitentiaries. I have been able to bring with me numerous specimens of the manufactures of the blind — with various apparatus and plans for their use. Also, reports of all the asylums for the deaf and dumb and insane, for our own; and such other pub- lications as I thought might be useful. I take this occasion to express my thankful acknowledgments to the respectable individuals connected with the Institutions visited, for their kind attentions in facilitating the objects of my inquiries, and their general politeness and hospitality. All which is respectfully submitted, WILLIAM CHAPIN, Superintendent.