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          DISCOURSE

              IX commemoration of

      THE LIFE, CHARACTER AND SERVICES,

                   OF  T H E

REV. THOMAS H.  GALLAUDET, LL. D.,

               delivered before

     THE CITIZENS  OF HARTFORD, JAN. 7th, 1852.

            WITH  AN APPENDIX,

Containing History of Deaf-Mute Instruction and Institutions, and other Documents.
BY HENRY  BARNARD.
           HARTFORD:
PUBLISHED BY BROCKETT & HUTCHINSON.
              1 8 f) 2 . 
MV
~£>25c\^


  c.  I
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, hy

         MRS. SOPHIA FOWLER GALLAUDET,

 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Connecticut.
RATIONAL LIBRARY OF MCWCINF
      WASHINGTON, 0. C.
     PRESS OF

CASE, TIFFANY & CO.

   HARTFORD, CONN. 
                                         Hartford, Jan. 9th, 1852.
  Dear Sir :
    The undersigned  having listened with  much  gratification to your truly
interesting and eloquent eulogy, of the 7th inst., on, the life and services of
our esteemed fellow-citizen, the late Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet, of this
city, solicit a copy of the same for publication, a general desire having been
manifested to see it in print.  Understanding that you omitted, in the  de-
livery, a portion of the address prepared for that occasion, it is the desire
of the committee, should you consent to comply with their request, that you
will furnish them with the entire production, for the press, together with such
other matter in connection therewith, as you may wish to publish with it.
  With sentiments of great respect,
                     Very truly, yours, &c,
                                            THO. H. SEYMOUR.
                                            B. HUDSON.
                                            JAMES H. WELLS.
                                            PHILLIP RIPLEY.
                                            JOHN S. BUTLER.
  Hon. HENRY BARNARD,
       Superintendent of Common Schools. 
 
CONTENTS,
 EULOGY.
 APPENDIX.
   I. Alice Cogswell.
 II. History of Deaf-Mute Instruction and Institutions, in Europe and the
        United States.
 til. Autobiography of Laurent Clerc.
 IV. Journal of Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet, during his visit to Europe in
        1815-16.
   V. History of the American  Asylum.  Officers and Instructors of the
        American Asylum from 1816 to 1851.  Subscriptions and Contri-
        butions to the American Asylum.
 VI. A Sermon delivered at the  opening of the Connecticut Asylum for
        the Education of Deaf and Dumb  Persons, April  20th, 1817, by
        Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet.
 VTI.  A Discourse delivered at the Dedication of the American Asylum,
        May 22d, 1821, by Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet.
VIII.  A Sermon on  the  Duty and Advantages of affording Instruction to
        the Deaf and Dumb, by Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet.
 IX.  Testimonial of the Deaf Mutes of New England to Messrs. Gallaudet
        and Clerc.
   X. Discourse delivered at the Dedication of the Chapel of the Connecticut
        Retreat for the Insane, January 28th, 1846, by Rev.  Thomas H.
        Gallaudet, Chaplain.
 XI.  Remarks on Seminaries for Teachers, by Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet.
 XTI.  List of Pupils who have been connected with the American  Asylum,
        from April 15th, 1817,  to May 1st, 1851.
XTTI. Causes of Deafness and other Statistics. 
 
EULOGY.
  In the autumn of 1807, in the family of Dr. Mason Fitch
Cogswell, the beloved physician of our city at the date refer-
red to, there was an interesting child, over whose innocent
beauty, and joyous temper,  and opening faculties, two sum-
mers  had shed  their fragrance,  their brightness and their
music.  The heart of little Alice Cogswell,—for her name
has become historic,—seemed the gushing fountain of glad
and gladdening emotions, which fell from her lips in the un-
written melody of childhood's first imperfect  words.   Her
curious ear was quick to catch the lowest tones of a mother's
or a sister's voice, and assimilate into her spirit's growth the
many sounds with which exulting nature makes every nook
of her wide domain vocal.   There was about her whole ap-
pearance and movements that indescribable purity and joy
which suggested to  the poet the thought " that Heaven lies
about us in our infancy," or that more consoling declaration
of Him who took little children in his arms and blessed them,
" that of such is the kingdom of Heaven."
   Interesting as this child was, she became in the providence
of  God, in consequence of  an  attack of spotted fever, when
two years and three  months  old, an object of still wider
and deeper interest to her family, to this community, and to
the world.
   The child recovered from its severe illness, but it was soon
painfully evident that the sense of hearing was  obliterated,
and that to her ear this universe  of sound, from the mighty
compass of the many-stringed  harp of nature, to the varied
tones of the human voice, was as silent as a desert; and as is
not usual in such cases, the  loss of articulation soon followed
the loss of hearing.
                2 
6
Thomas Hopkins  Gallaudet.
  There is no need of words to realize  to  you, even if you
have not been brought into the experience, or the presence of
such calamity,—the mother's anguish or the father's anxiety,
when the gladsomeness of this child's heart no longer found
expression in prattling converse, and its blank look proclaimed
that the voice  of maternal affection fell unheeded on its ear.
The yearnings  of its  young spirit for love,  or for its little
wants, could only find expression  in  inarticulate breathings,
or uncouth explosions of sound.
  As Alice  grew in years, it was painfully evident, that as
compared  with children of the same  age,  having  perfect
senses, she did  not grow in knowledge.  The shades of  a
prison-house seemed  to  close  round her  mind,  although
placed in the midst  of cultivated society, teachers, schools,
books, and
                 The boundless store
            Of charms which nature to her votary yields;
            The warbling woodland ; the resounding shore ;
            The pomp of groves and garniture of fields;
            All that the genial ray of morning gilds,
            And all that echoes to the song of even;
            All that the mountains' sheltering bosom shields,
            And all the dread magnificence of Heaven.
  Her spirit,  gifted with the warmest  affections,  and  the
power of an endless life, and of indefinite progression, seemed
destined to  sit in the  loneliness of perpetual solitude.   Cut
off from  all intercourse, through teachers and books, with the
great and good on earth, from the majestic contemplation of
its  own  immortal  existence, the sublime  conception of an
Infinite and Supreme  Intelligence, and from  all  communion
with the spirits  of the just made perfect.
  By agencies  and in ways, to which I shall briefly advert,
modes of reaching, and educating that mind were discovered
and applied,—that imprisoned spirit was  wooed  forth into
the light of a gladsome existence,—the warmth of that loving
heart was cherished so as to add not only to the cheerfulness
of her parental home, and when she passed from girlhood into
young womanhood, she was not only clothed with the attrac-
tions of personal beauty and  accomplished manners  but 
                 Thomas Hopkins  Gallaudet.               1

displayed the higher attractions of a cultivated mind and a
purified spirit—star-illumed, like the  depths of the midnight
Heavens above us, with bright thoughts and holy aspirations.
  Among the teachers who were instrumental in commencing
and working this change, the name of Lydia Huntley must
not be forgotten,  to  whom also many of the most accom-
plished women  of our  city  owe  the  early culture of  their
minds  and  moral  tastes, and  who  under this and another
name, by weaving her own happy inspirations into the bridal
wreath and  the mourning chaplet  of  her friends, has associa-
ted herself inseparably with the household  memories of our
city and our land.
  How touching and beautiful are  the lines in  which  this
gifted lady has  imagined her  favorite pupil, from  a higher
and purer region, addressing the cherished objects of kindred
affection on earth.
                 Joy!  I am mute no more,
                   My sad and silent years
                 With all their loveliness are o'er,
                   Sweet sisters dry your tears ;
             Listen at hush of eve,—listen at  dawn of day,
             List at the hour of prayer,—can ye not hear my lay ?
                 Untaught, unchecked, it came,
                   As light from chaos beamed,
                 Praising his everlasting name,
                   Whose blood from Calvary streamed,
       And still it swells that highest strain, the song of the redeemed.
                 Sisters ! there's music here;
                   From countless harps it flows,
                 Throughout this bright celestial  sphere,
                   Nor pause nor discord knows.
                 The seal is melted from mine ear,
                        By love divine,
                 And what through life I pined to hear,
                        Is mine, is mine,—
                 The warbling of an ever tuneful choir,
             And the full, deep response of David's sacred lyre.
                 Did kind earth hide from  me,
                       Her broken harmony,
             That thus the melodies of Heaven might roll
     And whelm in deeper tides of bliss my wrapt, my wondering soul!

  But the individual  whose blessed  privilege it was to plant
the standard of intelligence in the almost  inaccessible fast- 
s
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
 nesses  of Alice Cogswell's mind,—to establish for her lines
 and  avenues  of communication  between  the inner and
 the outer world,—to give her the  means and methods  of
 self-culture,—and if not  literally to unloose  the tongue, or
 unseal  the  ear, to  unfold to  her spirit the harmonies, and
 clothe  it with  the  singing robes of Heaven,—was Thomas
 Hopkins Gallaudet.
   But his labors in the cause  of deaf-mute instruction were
 not confined to this individual case.  Through the agency
 and cooperation of many others, it was his higher distinction
 to  have founded an institution, and by its success, to have
 led the  way to  the establishment of already thirteen other in-
 stitutions, by which thousands of this unfortunate class have
 already been rescued from the doom of ignorance and  isola-
 tion from their  kind; and  tens of thousands more, instead of
 remaining ignorant, lonely, and helpless, will yet be introduced
 to the boundless stores of human and divine knowledge,  to
 the delights of social  intercourse, to a participation in the
 privileges of American citizenship,  to such practical skill  in
 useful mechanical and commercial  business, and even the
 higher walks of literature, science and the fine arts, as will ena-
 ble them to gain an honorable livelihood, by their own personal
 exertions, and in fine, to all the duties and privileges of edu-
 cated Christian men and women, capable not only of indi-
 vidual usefulness and well-being, but of adding, each, some-
 thing to the stock of human happiness, and of subtracting
 something from the sum  of human misery.
  But he was not only the successful teacher in a new and
most  difficult department  of human culture, he was a wise
educator in  the largest acceptation  of that word,  the  early
and constant friend of the teacher in every grade of school,
the guide and counselor of the young, the untiring laborer  in
every work of phUanthropy—the  Christian gentleman, and
the preeminently good man.  And this truly great and good
man  was our  own townsman, and neighbor  and friend.
 Here  was the field of his useful and benevolent labors,—here
 stands,  and will stand the  institution which he founded, and
with which his name will be associated forever.   Here in our 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
9
daily walks, are the men and women whom his labors have
blessed,—here  are  the children  and  youth,  the  sons and
daughters of silence, and but for him, of sorrow, who have
come here to this " house of  mercy," which he founded,—to
this pool of Bethesda, whose waters will possess the virtue
of healing so long as its guardians labor in his spirit,—here
the beauty  of his daily life fell like a blessing on the  dusty
turmoil of our busy and selfish pursuits.
   From this field of his benevolent labor,—from these public
charities, in whose service he spent so large  a part of his
life,—from his family, where he had gathered  up his heart's
best affections of an earthly sort,—from his  daily round of
neighborly and benevolent offices, it has pleased God to re-
move  him by death.  And  although  the  funeral  obsequies
have long since  been performed, and the winds  of winter,
which ever reminded him of the claims of  the  poor, are now
sighing their  requiem over  his last  resting-place, to which
we  followed  him  in the first month of autumn—we, his
fellow-citizens, neighbors  and friends, have come together,
to devote  a  brief space  to the contemplation of his  life,
character  and  services.   Our commemoration of such  a
man cannot come too late, or be  renewed too often, if we
go back  to our various pursuits, with our  faith in  go<gl-
ness made strong, and our aims and efforts for the welfare of
our  fellow-men purified and  strengthened.   But whatever we
may do, or omit to do, for  his broadly beneficent life  and
sublime Christian virtues, the world will add one other name
to its  small roll of truly  good men who have founded institu-
tions of beneficence, and lifted from a bowed race the burden
 of a terrible calamity;—
          One other name with power endowed,
            To cheer and guide men onward as they pass,—
          One other image on the heart bestowed,
            To dwell there beautiful in holiness.
   Thomas  Hopkins Gallaudet was born  in the city of
 Philadelphia, on the  10th of  December,  1787.  His  father,
 Peter W.  Gallaudet, was descended from that branch of a
 Huguenot family, which fled from France on  the revocation 
10
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
of the Edict of Nantz, and settled afterward near New Rochelle
in New York, on the borders of Connecticut.  His mother, Jane
Hopkins, was the daughter of Captain Thomas Hopkins,—a
descendant of  one of the first settlers  of  Hartford, whose
name is recorded on  the  historical monument in the old
burial ground in the rear of the Center Church.   The family
removed to Hartford in 1800, where the son continued ever
after to reside.
  Mr. Gallaudet completed his preparation at the Hartford
Grammar School for the sophomore class  of Yale College,
which he entered in the autumn of 1802, in the fifteenth year
of his age,—an  age, as he often remarked, too young, to ena-
ble a student to reap the full advantage of a collegiate course
of study and discipline.  Although quite young,—the young-
est  member of his class, and  by temperament and  habit
incline*! to be cheerful and even mirthful, he was ever  studi-
ous, with a reputation for sound scholarship, second  to  no
other  in his class,—distinguished for the talent and attain-
ments of its members,—strictly  observant of the laws of the
institution, and  graduated before he was eighteen years old.
During  his connection with college, he was remarkable for
the accuracy of his recitations in every department of study,
and was particularly eminent in mathematics, and for  profi-
ciency in English composition.   To his early attention to
mathematics we may attribute much  of that discipline'which
enabled him  to summon  his mental vigor and resources at
will, and to his  early and constant practice  of English com-
position, that facility  and felicity of  expression which  char-
acterized his conversation and more elaborate discourses.
  Soon after leaving  college he entered upon  the  study of
law, in the office of Hon. Chauncey Goodrich—reciting his
Blackstone, during Mr. Goodrich's absence  in attendance at
court, to the Hon. Thomas S. Williams, late chief justice of
the  State.  Here, as in every  thing  he undertook, he was
punctual, and methodical, and his recitations were  remarka-
ble for their accuracy.   He gave every assurance of his be-
coming in time  a thorough and successful lawyer.   The state
of his health, which was never robust, compelled him at the 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.             11
close of the first year, to suspend his legal studies, which he
never resumed.  The interval, before he entered on his duties
as tutor in Yale College, in 1808, was devoted to an exten-
sive course of reading in English literature, and the practice
of English composition.  His experience as tutor enabled him
to review and extend his collegiate studies, and introduced
him to the subject of education as a science, and to its prac-
tical duties as an art.  No one could appreciate more highly
than he did the value of even a brief experience in teaching,
as a school of mental and moral discipline, and as the  most
 direct way to test the accuracy of attainments already made.
   About this time, his health requiring a more active life, he
 undertook a business commission for a large house in New
 York, the prosecution of which took him over the Alleghanies,
 into the States of Ohio and Kentucky,—and on his return,
 with the intention of pursuing a mercantile  life, he entered
 as clerk a counting-room in the city of New York.   But
 neither  law  or commerce seemed to open the field, in which
 he could labor with his whole heart and mind, although he
 often referred to his early acquaintance with their elementary
 principles and forms of business and practice, as a valuable
 part of his own education.   Neither did he regard his colle-
 giate education as  at all an  inappropriate preparation for a
 life of active mercantile business.  He never entertained for
 himself or his children, the  absurd and mischievous notion,
 which is too prevalent in society, that a man having a colle-
  giate or liberal education, must necessarily preach,—or prac-
  tice law,—or hold a political office, or trade, or speculate on a
 large scale,—to be  respectable.   He regarded the thorough
 training of the mind, and large  acquaintance with books and
  men, as a fit preparation for any business or pursuit.
    Mr. Gallaudet made a public profession of his religious
  faith, and became  a member of the First Congregational
   Church of Hartford, under the ministry of  Rev. Dr. Strong.
   In the fall of 1811, he commenced the  study  of theology at
   Andover, which he prosecuted with his usual diligence and
   success, amid all the interruptions and drawbacks  of delicate
   health.  He was licensed to preach in 1814, and received im- 
12              Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.

mediately an invitation to assume the pastoral relations with
a church  in  Portsmouth,  New Hampshire, and from several
parishes in Connecticut,—but although admirably  adapted
for  such  a life, his Master had work for him in other, and
no less important fields of Christian duty.
  Mr.  Gallaudet was now twenty-seven years old.  His
life thus far was a course of diligent and thorough preparation
for  a life  of eminent usefulness in any department of literary
or professional labor.  His mind was disciplined and enriched
by an assiduous improvement of all the  advantages of one
of the best colleges in our country.  He had assured himself
of his own knowledge, by his success as a practical teacher.
He had devoted much time to the attentive study of English
literature, and to the  practice  of English composition.  He
had a knowledge of the elementary principles of law, and of
legal forms, by an attendance on legal proceedings  in court,
and in the office of a  successful  practitioner.   He  had gone
through  a thorough  course of theological study,  and had
already officiated with great acceptance as a preacher in a
temporary supply of  the pulpit  in several places.  He had
seen much of the world, and the transactions of business, in
travel, and in the practical duties of the store and the count-
ing-room.  He was universally respected for his correct life,
as well as thorough scholarship, and beloved for his benevo-
lent feelings, social qualities,  and courteous manners.   He
was ready for his mission.  That mission was the long neg-
lected field of deaf-mute instruction,  to  which his  attention
had already been turned from his interest in little Alice Cogs-
well, whose father's residence  was in the immediate neigh-
borhood  of his own home, and who was  also the companion
of his  own younger brothers and sisters.  It was during an
interview in his father's garden, where Alice was playing with
other children, that  Mr. Gallaudet, then a student at Ando-
ver, succeeded  in arresting her attention by his  use of signs,
the natural  language of the deaf and dumb, and in giving
her a first lesson in written language, by teaching her that
the word hat represented the thing;, hat, which he held in his
hand.  Following up this first step, in such  methods as his 
Thomas Hopkins  Gallaudet.            13
own ingenuity could suggest, and what such lights as he
could gather  from a publication of the Abbe Sicard, which  .
Dr. Cogswell had procured from Paris, Mr. Gallaudet from
time to time  succeeded in imparting to her a knowledge of
many  simple words and  sentences which  were much  en-
larged by members of her own family, and  especially by her
first teacher,  Miss Lydia Huntley.  This success encouraged
her father in the  hope, that  instead  of sending his child,
made  more dear to him by her privations, away from home,
to Edinburgh, or London, for instruction in the schools of
Rev. R. Kinniburgh, or  Dr. Watson, that a school might be
opened in Hartford.
   Dr.  Cogswell had already ascertained, by a circular ad-
dressed to the  Congregational clergymen  of Connecticut,
that there were at least eighty  deaf mutes in the State, many
of whom were  young enough to  attend a school,  and his
Christian benevolence prompted  the  aspiration and belief
that it was not  the  'will  of our  Father who is in  Heaven
that one of these little ones should perish.'  With these data
and aims before him, and with such information as he could
gather as to the progress and results of deaf-mute instruction
in Europe, he addressed himself to the Christian benevolence
and kind feelings of his neighbors and friends, for their co-
operation.  A meeting was  accordingly held at his house on
the 13th of April, 1815, composed (as appears from a journal
kept  by Mr. Gallaudet) of Mason  F. Cogswell, M. D.,
Ward Woodbridge, Esq., Daniel  Wadsworth, Esq., Henry
Hudson,  Esq.,  Hon. Nathaniel Terry, John Caldwell,  Esq.,
Daniel Buck, Esq., Joseph Battel, Esq., (of Norfolk,)  the Rev.
Nathan Strong, D. D.,  and  Rev. Thomas Gallaudet.  The
meeting was opened with the invocation of the Divine bless-
ing on their undertaking, by Rev. Dr. Strong, and after a full
discussion of the practicability of sending some suitable per-
son to Europe, to acquire the  art of instructing the deaf and
dumb, Dr. Cogswell and  Mr.  Woodbridge were appointed a
committee to obtain subscriptions for the purpose, and ascer*
tain the name of a suitable person who would consent to go.
 Mr. Woodbridge was then  in the prime of life, and in the
              3 
14
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
front rank of the mercantile interest of Hartford.  By his per-
sonal solicitation, and the example of his own liberal  sub-
scription, he succeeded in the course of one day in obtaining
the pledge of a sufficient sum to meet the expense of the en-
terprise, and it is safe to say that no other business transac-
tion of his life is now associated with such a train of pleasant
recollections.  He and Daniel Buck, Esq., are now the only
survivors of that first voluntary association, in whose prayers,
pecuniary contributions  and personal exertions, the American
Asylum had its origin.  Foremost on the list  of subscribers
in amount, stands the name of Daniel Wadsworth, who gave
to this community,  through a long life, a beautiful  example
of the true uses of wealth, by its judicious expenditure under
his own personal inspection, for the promotion of Christian,
benevolent, patriotic,  and literary purposes.
   To Mr. Gallaudet, the eyes of all interested in the object
were instinctively turned, as the one person, qualified beyond
all others, by his manners,  talents,  attainments, and Chris-
tian spirit, to engage  in  this mission.  After much  prayerful
consideration of the subject, and not till he had failed to en-
list the agency of others in this pioneer work of benevolence,
on the 20th  of April, 1815, he  informed Dr. Cogswell and
Mr.  Woodbridge " that  he would visit Europe for the sake of
qualifying himself to become a teacher of the deaf and dumb
in this country."   On the 20th  of May following, he sailed
for New York, in  the prosecution of his benevolent object.
   Before leaving America,  Mr.  Gallaudet  penned  the fol-
lowing address to the benevolent of our own country, in be-
half of the object of his  mission.
   " Amid all the calamities which have of late darkened the
world, it is matter of no small consolation to the benevolent
mind, to witness the various efforts which  are  making for
meliorating the condition of man.  Nor will the hope that
rests on divine revelation be deceived, that these efforts, under
the blessing of God,  will  eventually terminate in the univer-
sal diffusion of peace and happiness through the earth.  Be-
nevolence directed to its proper object will not be lost,   The
seed may be long hid in the earth, but a future  harvest will 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
15
crown honest labor  with success.  This is sufficient to en-
courage those efforts for doing good, which in their present
prosecution may be attended with considerable embarrass-
ment,  and for the  successful result of which, the charity
which  engages in them must be  liberal enough to embrace
in its view generations yet unborn.
   " Still it is more grateful to witness the effect of our benefi-
cence,  to see the smile which we ourselves have lighted upon
the cheek of sorrow, and to  hear the sound of cheerfulness
which  our own charity has raised from the tongue of suffering.
And where the object of relief is not only present, but owes
its misfortune to some natural calamity or inevitable dispen-
sation  of  Providence; where the impediments and difficulties
under  which it labors can be removed,  and refined intellect-
ual and moral excellence can be shed upon its character, as it
were by the touch of our beneficence, then it becomes a de-
lightful duty to imitate the example of him who went about
doing  good.   To such a duty it is the object of this paper to
direct  the attention of the benevolent.
   " We have among us a class of our fellow beings, the deaf
 and dumb, who are deprived by a wise Providence of many
 resources of improvement and happiness with which the rest
 of mankind  are favored.  Their numbers, their condition, and
 the practicability of affording them relief, address loud claims
 to every feeling heart.  A simple statement of facts will, it is
 hoped, be sufficient to excite the attention of  the benevolent
 to this interesting subject.
   " At a  session of the General Association of the Congrega-
 tional clergymen of Connecticut, held in Sharon, June, 1812,
 it was reported by a committee appointed some time before
 for  the purpose, that within the limits of the several associa-
 tions  of the State, there were eighty-four deaf and dumb per-
 sons.   A copy of this report is in  the possession of  Doctor
 Mason F. Cogswell, of Hartford.  Now no  reason  can  be
 given why the whole population of New England should not
 contain  a proportionate number  of the deaf  and  dumb.
 Taking the Connecticut as the standard,  New England con-
 tains  more than/ow hundred persons in this unhappy situa- 
16             Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
tion, and the  United States  upwards  of two  thousand.   If
this be any thing like the true number of those who in New
England are shut out at present from almost all the sources
of intellectual and moral improvement, what a subject of in-
terest does it present to the benevolent  heart.
  " At present there is not a single institution of the deaf and
dumb in New England.  The benefits of such institutions will
readily present themselves to  the reflecting  mind.  To say
nothing of the inexpressible  consolation  which would be
afforded to parents and friends by establishing schools for the
deaf and dumb ; nor of the increase of enjoyment and  use-
fulness in this life, which would thus be given to our fellow-
men, the one single consideration of their having immortal
souls, which may, by learning the glad news of salvation,
become interested in that  Saviour who died for all men, is
sufficient to invest this subject with an importance, which it
is thought, nothing but the want of information has hitherto
denied it.  Indeed it is a matter of some wonder that New
England, so attentive to the interests of her rising generation,
so conspicuously preeminent among the nations of the earth,
for what her civil institutions have done with regard to the
education of youth, should so long have neglected her deaf
and dumb children.   In this  respect she is  far behind most
of the countries in Europe.   In  London, Edinburgh, Paris,
and other towns on  the continent, there have been for many
years, schools for the education of the deaf and dumb.  And
the art of instructing them has been carried to such a degree
of perfection,  that they are taught almost all that is useful
and ornamental in life.
  " However much it may surprise those who are unacquainted
with the subject, it is a fact capable of the most satisfactory
proof, that the deaf and dumb in  Europe have  been taught,
not only to read and write,  and understand written language
with exact accuracy and precision, but in some cases to un-
derstand spoken language,  and to speak themselves audibly
and intelligibly.   Now if the  deaf  and dumb in  our country
can, by a proper course of instruction, be fitted for useful and
respectable employment in life,—if they can have their minds 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
17
open to such intellectual and moral improvement as will ren-
der them comfortable and happy on this side of the grave,—
above all, if they can be made acquainted with the revelation
of God's mercy through Jesus  Christ, who can hesitate to
promote  an object which is pregnant with so much good, and
which  addresses itself to  the most enlarged views of Chris-
tian benevolence?
  "In  pursuance of this object,should it meet with sufficient
encouragement, it will become necessary for the intended in-
structor to visit Europe for the  sake of acquiring this art of
instructing the deaf and  dumb,  which has there been carried
to a great degree of perfection.   For this pursuit, like  most
others, depends upon  the wisdom of experience for its suc-
cessful prosecution.  This paper solicits the aid of those who
are inclined  to assist the promotion of the proposed object.
The honor of our country, the  cause of humanity, the inter-
ests of religion, plead in its behalf.  It is hoped claims so
powerful will not be resisted."
   These claims were  not unheeded,—the number of subscri-
bers and the  amount of subscriptions were enlarged,—an act
of incorporation under the style of the  " Connecticut Asylum
for the education of deaf and  dumb persons," was  obtained
in May, 1816, which was changed to that of the " American
 Asylum" in 1819, on the occasion of a  grant of a township of
 public land,  by the Congress of the United States, in that
 year, mainly through the active exertions of Hon. Nathaniel
 Terry, and Hon. Thomas S. Williams, representatives of this
 State, seconded indeed by other members from our  own and
 other  States, and especially by the then Speaker of the House,
 Hon.  Henry Clay, of Kentucky.
    In the mean time, Mr. Gallaudet was pursuing the objects
 of his mission in Europe.  Encountering unexpected delays
 in obtaining admission as a pupil into the London Asylum,
 then under the care of Joseph Watson, LL. D., he had made
 arrangements to spend a year in the institution at Edinburgh,
 which was   also likely to be thwarted,—when  he  oppor-
 tunely gained an introduction  to  the  Abbe Sicard,  who was
 at that  time on a visit to London, for the purpose  of giving 
18
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
a course  of lectures explanatory of his method of teaching
the deaf and dumb, accompanied by Massieu and Clerc,—his
favorite pupils and assistants.  By this benevolent  man, one
of the greatest benefactors of the deaf mute, Mr. Gallaudet
was cordially received, and invited to visit Paris, where every
facility would be extended to him without fee, or hindrance
of any kind.   As illustrating the spirit in which  Mr. Gal-
laudet pursued his work, the following extract from an entry
made in  his journal, at the  time of his greatest discourage-
ments in London, and the day before he heard of  the Abb6
Sicard's presence in London, is given.
  " Our projects are often thwarted by Providence on account
of our sins.  Alas! if mine have contributed to the produc-
tion of these  difficulties, which have thus far attended the
undertaking in which I have engaged, most  deeply would I
lament the injury which I have thus done the poor deaf  and
dumb.   Can I make them  any recompense ?  With  God's
blessing,  it  shall  be in devoting myself more  faithfully to
their relief.  I long to be surrounded with them in my native
land, to  be  their instructor, their guide,  their  friend, their
father.   How much is yet to be done before this can be ac-
complished!   To  Almighty God,  as the  giver  of all good
through Jesus Christ, I commend myself and my undertaking.
He is able to do all things for me, and if success finally crown
my efforts, to Him be all the glory."
   The period of Mr. Gallaudet's stay in Paris was abridged
by an event which is thus recorded in his journal.
   " Monday, May 20th.   In  a conversation which I had with
Clerc this day, he proposed going to America with me as an
assistant, if the Abbe Sicard would give his  consent."
   This  suggestion was  acted upon without delay.   The
Abbe's cordial consent was  obtained, although he felt it to
be a great sacrifice;—and in July, Mr. Gallaudet had the
happiness of embarking for America, with Mr. Laurent Clerc,
a  highly educated deaf  mute, one of the ablest  pupils of
Sicard, and best teachers of the Paris Institution,—an event
of scarcely less importance to  the  immediate success of the
American Asylum, than Mr.  Gallaudet's  own consent to 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.             19
visit Europe in its behalf.  How many there are present to-
night who can testify to the gratitude to  God and his friend,
with which Mr. Gallaudet ever recurred to that conversa-
tion in Paris, and to Mr. Clerc's consent to leave  his home
and his country to devote himself among  strangers to the
instruction of those who were afflicted like himself.
  How touchingly did he refer to that event in his address at
the ever memorable gathering of the deaf and  dumb in this
city, thirty-four years afterward—" What should I have ac-
complished, if the same kind Providence had not enabled me
to bring  back from  France, his native land, one whom we
still rejoice to see among us, himself a deaf mute, intelligent
and accomplished, trained under the distinguished Sicard, at
that time teaching the highest  class in the Paris Institution—
to be my coadjutor here at home; to excite  a still deeper in-
terest in  the object to which he  came to devote his talents
and efforts; to assist in collecting those funds which were
absolutely essential for the very commencement of the opera-
tions of  the Asylum; to be my first, and for a time, only fel-
low-laborer in the course of instruction, and then  to render
necessary and most efficient aid in preparing for their work
the additional teachers who were needed."
   Although  he came to a  land of strangers, he now finds
himself,  as the years pass lightly over him,  near his children
and grand children, amid a circle of appreciating friends, and
a generation of grateful pupils, who will ever  shower  bless-
ings on him for his many sacrifices and labors in their behalf.
Gently may the hand of time  continue to fall  on  his genial
temperament and kind affections, and  long may it be be-
fore one of  his surviving  associates shall be called  on to
pay a passing tribute like that in which we are now engaged,
to his services  and his worth.
   The eight months immediately  following their  arrival
(August 9,1816) in this country, were mainly spent in soli-
citing pecuniary aid for the Asylum, and in making known
 its objects to the benevolent, and to all who were directly in-
terested  from  having sons  or daughters  afflicted with the
privation of the senses of hearing and speaking.   With this 
20
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
 end in view, the cities of New Haven, Salem, New York,
 Albany, Philadelphia, and Burlington, were visited, and lib-
 eral subscriptions obtained.   The following heading of one
 of the subscription papers, drawn up by Mr. Gallaudet, sets
 forth the views of the institution.
   " A new and interesting charity presents  its claims to the
 benevolent.  Its object  is  to open the sources of intellectual
 and religious improvement to a very unfortunate class of our
 countrymen, the deaf and dumb.   Its views have nothing of
 a local kind.  Its  constitution  invites to the  direction of its
 concerns, individuals of any of the States.  It has chosen for
 the place of its establishment a central spot in a healthy and
 economical part of our country, and nothing now is wanting
 but public  patronage to raise it to that degree of permanent
 and extensive usefulness which the importance of the object
 to which it is devoted  demands.
  " Very considerable funds will be necessary  for the support
 and education of the children  of the indigent. It is  pecu-
 liarly over  these unfortunates who are without resources of
 their own, and who cannot be maintained and instructed by
 their immediate relations and friends, that the  proposed asy-
 lum wishes to cast the mantle of its protection.
  " It seeks to restore them to society with habits of practical
 usefulness, with capacities of intellectual enjoyment, and
 above all, in the possession of the hope of immortality through
Jesus  Christ.   It expects soon to  commence under  very
 favorable auspices.  Its principal instructor has visited insti-
 tutions of a similar kind in London, Edinburgh and Paris.
 His assistant, who is himself deaf and dumb, is one of the
 most distinguished pupils of the celebrated Abbe Sicard, and
 has been for eight  years an instructor in the Royal Institution
 for this unfortunate class of persons in Paris.
  " In Europe, experience has taught  the necessity  of giving
 to such establishments considerable magnitude and resources,
 It is in such alone that this  singular department  of educa-
 tion can be carried to its greatest  degree of excellence, that
 the pupils can be supported and instructed at the  least ex-
pense, that they can  feel that excitement which is  found  to 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.             21
be the result  of  assembling them  together in considerable
numbers, and that instructors can be trained for other institu-
tions when they are  found necessary.   Such establishments
now flourish in almost every European state.
  " Princes are their patrons,  and public munificence  has
raised them to eminent and extensive usefulness.   The first
and infant institution of this kind in America, now pleads in
the name  of  those  whom it seeks to relieve.  Its object it
fondly trusts will unite the wishes and secure the aid of all
who feel for  the honor of  their country, for the cause of
humanity, and for the diffusion among all minds of that reli-
gion whose founder exhibited  not  only the most endearing
trait of his character, but one of the most striking proofs of his
Messiahship, in opening the  ears of the deaf and  in causing
the tongue of the dumb to sing for joy."
   After  two  years  of  preparation, spent in organizing an
association based on the principle of permanency,  raising
funds, training and procuring teachers, and making its objects
known through the press, personal  interviews, and public ad-
dresses,  the  Asylum  was opened, with  a  class of seven
pupils, on Wednesday, the 15th of April, 1817, in the south
part of the building now occupied by the City  Hotel.   On
the Sunday evening following—April 20th—just two years
 after he had signified his assent to devote himself to this en-
terprise, Mr. Gallaudet delivered a discourse, in the Center
 Congregational  Church before a crowded audience, and in
 the presence  of his interesting group of seven pupils, from the
 words of Isaiah—" Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
 and the ears of the deaf unstopped.  Then shall the lame man
 leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb  sing; for in the
 wilderness waters  shall  break out,   and  streams  in  the
 desert"—in which he sets forth the advantages likely to  arise
 from the establishment of the Asylum, and the motives which
 should inspire those who are  interested  in  its welfare  with
 renewed zeal and the hopes of ultimate success.   On rising
 from a fresh perusal of this admirable discourse, written in
 such pure, polished, and idiomatic English, and breathing so
 much of the spirit of Him, by whose miraculous  agency the
                 4 
22             Thomas Hopkins  Gallaudet.

ears  of the  deaf were  opened, and the tongue of the dumb
loosened; and contrasting that group of seven pupils, ignorant,
isolated and unhappy, and the moral  desert in which the deaf
mute then dwelt, with the thousands of the same class who
have since been instructed, and the  thousand homes which
have since been cheered and blessed, and all the good, direct
and  indirect, to  the cause of  Christian philanthropy which
has flowed out of these small beginnings—we seem almost to
stand at the well-spring of that river  of life, seen in the vision
of the  prophet, which, flowing out from beneath the sanctu-
ary,  and on the  right hand of the  altar, into the  wilder-
ness, a little rill  that could be stepped over, widened and
deepened in its progress, till it became a mighty stream,—
a stream which could not be passed, imparting life wherever
it came, and  nourishing all along  its banks, trees, whose
fruit was for meat, and whose leaves for medicine.
   From time to time, in the course of  every year, before the
legislatures  of the several New England States, in the halls
of Congress, in  all of the large  cities of the  Northern and
Middle States, Mr. Gallaudet,  accompanied and  assisted
by Mr. Clerc, and not unfrequently, by a class of pupils,—
continued to  present, and advocate the  claims  of  the deaf
mute on the  benevolent regards of individuals and public
bodies.  The way was thus prepared for that liberality which
has since marked the legislation of the country, by which the
education of the deaf and dumb has become part of the pub-
lic policy of all the older, and most of  the new States.
   As  illustrating the spirit of the man,—and  especially the
spirit of trust in God,—the looking to  his grace  for help in
all his undertakings, the following extracts are taken from a
journal in which, during his  early connection with  the Asy-
lum, he was  accustomed to  enter from time to time  his
progress and private aspirations.
   " Sunday, January 25, 1818.  I am  now surrounded with
thirty-one pupils.   Mr. Clerc  has been ten  days absent on a
visit to Washington.   During the  time  which has elapsed
since the opening of the Asylum, I have had to encounter
great  trials.   Now I am  quite   exhausted in  health  and 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.             23
strength.  Oh!  that  God would  appear for me, and make
haste to help me.  If I know my  own heart, I long but for
one kind of happiness, that of zealous and cheerful activity in
doing good.   I have of late began to ponder a good deal on
the difficulty of my continuing to be the  principal of such an
establishment as this, with which I am  now connected, will
probably be. Most gladly would I hail  as my superior here
and as the head of this Asylum, some one of acknowledged
piety and talents, and of more force of character than myself.
Alas!  how is my energy gone!  How I shrink from difficul-
ties!—Oh!  Almighty God! in thy wise providence thou hast
placed me in my present situation.  Thou seest my heart.
Thou knowest  my desire is to be  devoted to thy service, and
to be made the instrument of training up the deaf and dumb
for heaven.   Oh!  turn not  a deaf _ ear  to my regrets.  Oh!
raise me from this bodily and intellectual and religious leth-
argy, which has now so long prostrated all the energies and
deadened the affections  of my soul;—Oh ! show me clearly
the path of  duty, and teach me more submission to  thy holy
will, more self denial and humility—more penitence and per-
severance ;—Oh!  grant me some indication of thy favor and
thy love.  Oh! touch the heart of my dear friend Clerc with
godly  soitow for sin, and  with  an unfeigned reliance on
Jesus  Christ.   Oh! lead my dear pupils to the same Saviour-
 Oh! God forsake me not.   Cast  me  not  away from thy
presence.  Take not thy holy spirit from me."
   Again, a  few years later, the following entry was  made.
   " As connected with the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb,
I do hope to feel anxious to discharge my duties in  the fear
of  God.  I invoke his grace to qualify me, and I renewedly
consecrate  myself, soul, spirit and body, to the service  of
Jesus Christ.  I beseech God to guard me against all concern,
 (1st.) About my own temporal concerns.  Oh ! may I be led to
take no thought in this respect for the  morrow, but to leave
 God to furnish me with what temporal comforts he  may see
best for me, and not ever form my plans for pecuniary emol-
 ument;  (2ndly.) Against all  undue anxiety respecting the
 management of the Asylum by its directors.   Oh ! may I have 
24
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
a meek, quiet, uncomplaining spirit with regard to all that they
may do, however unwise it may seem to be according to my
poor, weak, fallible judgment.   May I strive each day to do
all the good I can to the souls of my dear pupils, and calmly
resign  every thing  which  lies out of  my own  immediate
sphere of duty  into the hand of him  who will overrule all
things, however  adverse they may seem, for his own glory:
(3dly.) Against  all uncharitable feelings against any who are
associated with  me in the internal management of the Asy-
lum.   May I rather be careful to examine my own heart and
conduct, and consider how far shall I fail of  doing my duty
conscientiously and zealously.  (4thly.)  Against any regard to
public opinion, while I have the approbation  of my own con-
science.  (5thly.) Against the corruption of my own heart, and
my daily besetting sins.  , Oh!  for grace to  gain an entire
victory over them, and to be conformed in  all things to the
blessed example of Jesus Christ.  Oh God! I implore the aid
of thy divine spirit to assist me in all these respects, and to
thy name shall be all the glory, through Jesus Christ.  Amen
and Amen."
   It will not  be necessary to follow  any further in detail
Mr. Gallaudet's labors in  connection with the American
Asylum  and for the benefit of the deaf and dumb.  These
labors were eminently judicious and successful; and although
in an undertaking of such magnitude there are many agencies
and many laborers,  and all those who work at the foundation,
or  even  beyond that, who gather  slowly the  material  and
the laborers,—and those who work on the top stone, or the
ornaments,—perform a  necessary  and an  honorable  part,
and all deserve to be remembered with gratitude, still, it  is
instinctively and universally felt that the directing mind in
this great enterprise,—in its  inception,  its gradual maturing,
and ultimate organization,—is that of  Thomas  Hopkins
Gallaudet.   Of this we are sure, that he worked incessantly
and wisely, and out to the full circumference of his duty and
ability.  His labors  and  anxieties, necessarily attendant on
such an undertaking,—the striking out of  new  plans  and
methods, the  reconcilement  of differing  views in  different 
Thomas Hopkins  Gallaudet.
25
departments of authority and instruction, until the best work-
ing plan was in successful operation, were  too  much for a
temperament naturally so excitable as his, and for a constitu-
tion never robust.  He accordingly felt it necessary to resign
his place as  Principal of the  American  Asylum in  1830,
although he never ceased to take an active interest as director
in its affairs, and was always consulted up to his last illness
with  filial confidence and affection, by the instructors and
directors of the institution.
   Before passing into other  fields of his useful life, it would
be doing injustice to the deaf and  dumb, and especially, to
those who have  enjoyed the privileges  of the American Asy-
lum, not to add,  that they have ever shown a filial respect and
affection towards Mr. Gallaudet, while living,  and are now
engaged in raising the necessary funds to erect in the grounds
of the institution, some  permanent memorial of their grati-
tude.   The world  has seldom witnessed  a more novel and
 affecting spectacle, than was exhibited in  the  Center Con-
 gregational Church in  Hartford, on the 26th of September,
 1850, where a large number of the graduates of the institu-
 tion assembled to testify, by the presentation of silver plate,
 their  affectionate respect to their first  teachers,  Messrs. Gal-
 laudet and Clerc, as  the  chief immediate  instruments  of
 their own elevation in the scale of intelligence, usefulness, and
 happiness, and the primary agents in procuring all the prac-
 tical  blessings  which education has  given, and is still  be-
 stowing on  the whole class of deaf mutes in  this country.
 Including the present pupils of the Asylum, there were over
 four hundred of this unfortunate class present, as large, and
 probably the largest assemblage of the kind ever seen in the
 world,—with intelligent joy beaming from all their faces, and
 gratitude displayed  in  their animated and  expressive lan-
 guage of signs.  What a striking  contrast  to the little group
 of seven pupils, ignorant, lonely, and disconsolate, who gath-
  ered  in  the same place a  little more than thirty-four years
  before! Surely, peace and benevolence have their victories no
  less than war.  Of a truth, ' the wilderness and solitary place
  have  been made glad  by  the breaking out of  living waters, 
26             Thomas Hopkins  Gallaudet.
 and the desert rejoiceth and blossoms as the rose,—the  ran-
 somed of the Lord have returned with songs and everlasting
 joy upon their head.'
   The repose from constant occupation in the instruction
 and oversight of the affairs of the Asylum, which his resigna-
 tion  afforded him, was devoted by Mr. Gallaudet  to the
 prosecution of literary pursuits, as congenial to his tastes and
 early habits, and as  a means  of supporting his family.  He
 was distinguished while in college for his facility and felicity
 in  English  composition, and  the  volume of  Discourses)
 preached by him in the  chapel of the Oratoire, while studying
 in Paris, and published  in 1817, in which the purity at once
 of his literary taste and Christian character are displayed would
 alone entitle him to  a prominent place among the worthies of
 the American pulpit.  In 1831, he published the Child's Book
 on the Soul, which exhibits  his  remarkable tact in bringing
 the most abstract  subject within  the  grasp of the  feeblest
 and youngest mind.  This little volume has gone through a
 large number of editions in this country and in England, and
 has been  translated into the  French, Spanish, German and
 Italian languages.   This publication was followed by several
 others of the same character, and  which were  widely read.
 His  Mother's Primer has  lightened the  task  of  infantile
 instruction in many homes and many schools, and his Defin-
 ing Dictionary, and  Practical Spelling-Book, composed  in
 connection with Rev. Horace Hooker, rigidly and persever-
 ingly followed, are invaluable guides to teacher and  pupil
to a practical  knowledge of  the meaning and use of our
language in composition and conversation.  At the urgent
request of  the  American Tract Society, he commenced  in
 1833, the publication of a series of volumes under the general
title  of Scripture Biography, which  was incomplete at the
time of his death,—but which as far as  published are to be
found in most of the Sunday School and Juvenile Libraries
of our  country.  In  1835 he published the first part of a
work, with the title of the Every-Day Christian,  in which he
endeavors to delineate certain traits of  Christian character
and to lead his readers to the consideration of certain every- 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
27
day duties, which are in danger of being overlooked amid the
occupations and pursuits of this world.  In this volume he
unfolds at  some length his own  ideal of a Christian life as
exhibited in the family state, and in the faithful and consci-
entious performance  of  a class  of duties, which, although
unseen, are essential parts of the vast moral machinery which
the Almighty Hand is wielding for the  accomplishment of
the designs of Infinite Wisdom and Goodness.   The plan of
the work was probably suggested by a movement on the
part of many of our public-spirited and benevolent citizens in
the winter of 1834-35, to promote the cause of moral reform
among the youth of our city.  The prosecution of the object,
to Mr. Gallaudet's mind, was accompanied with too much
denunciation of amusements, innocent  in  themselves, and
objectionable only  when pursued too far and under circum-
stances calculated to lead to excessive indulgence, and to
vicious associations and  associates.  His  mode of keeping
young people out of places of idle  and corrupting resort, as
set forth in a public address at  that time, and  more elabo-
rately in this little volume, is  to make  home  pleasant and
attractive,—to cultivate the taste and the habits of reading,
of fireside  amusements and social intercourse,—and to make
home attractive not only to the children of the family, but to
clerks and apprentices, who may be in  the employment or
under the  guardianship of the head of the family.
   Valuable as these  publications are, both in the matter and
manner of their execution, and popular as many of  them
have been and still are, they are only the indications of what
he might have accomplished in  this department of author-
ship, if he had enjoyed firmer health and more leisure for
meditation and study.
   I presume it is safe to say, that Mr. Gallaudet never rose in
the morning without  having in his mind or on his hands some
extra duty of philanthrophy to perform,—something beyond
what  attached to  him from his official or regular engage-
ments.  His assistance was asked whenever  an appeal was
to be made to the public, in behalf of a benevolent or religious
object, which required the exercise of a cultivated intellect, 
28
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
the impulses of a benevolent heart, and the personal influence
of a character confessedly above all political and sectarian
principles.
  Not a stranger visited our  city, any way  interested in
public charities, or educational institutions or movements,
who did not bring letters of introduction  or seek an inter-
view  with  him,—and no man among us was so ready to
discharge the rights of hospitality and courteous  attentions
to strangers.
  There is scarcely an institution or movement among us,
devoted to  the promotion of education, or the relief of suffer-
ing humanity, which  did not enjoy the benefit of his wise
counsel, or receive his active cooperation.  In these and other
ways his time and thoughts were so completely occupied, or
distracted, that he enjoyed but little leisure for profound med-
itation, or the original investigation of any subject, and much
less for that elaboration,  which even the happiest efforts of
genius require to ensure a lasting reputation.
  Although through  his whole life a practical  educator and
teacher, it was during this period that  he distinguished  him-
self as the friend, and efficient promoter by pen  and voice,
of educational improvement.   On all movements in behalf
of general education in institutions and methods,  he  formed
his own opinions  with  his usual caution,  and maintained
them with courtesy and  firmness.   While  he acknowledged
the fact of mutual instruction in the family and in  life, which
lies at the  foundation of Bell's and  Lancaster's systems of
monitorial instruction, as an educational principle  of  univer-
sal  application in  schools, and always advocated  and prac-
ticed the employment of older children in the family, and of
the older and more advanced pupils in the school, in the work
of instructing and governing the younger and least advanced
he never countenanced for a moment  the idea which swept
over our country from 1820  to 1830, that monitors, young
and  inexperienced in instruction and  life, could ever supply
the place, in schools, of professionally trained teachers of ma-
ture age, thorough mental discipline, and  high moral char-
acter. 
                Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.              29

   Although he  always advocated, and applied in his own
family and family school, the principles of infant education,
commencing with the child while in the arms of the mother
and the lap of the father, he kept aloof from the efforts which
were so generally put forth in our larger cities, from 1826 to
1832, for the establishment of infant schools, as then under-
stood and conducted.   He sympathized deeply in the move-
ment for the establishment of manual labor schools  from
1832  to 1838,  and  was  the constant advocate  of more
thorough physical education in institutions of every grade,
from  the family to the professional school.   Although not
strictly the first  to present to the people of Connecticut and
of New England, the necessity of providing special institu-
tions for the professional training  of young men and young
women for the  office of teaching, his Letters of a Father,
published in the  Connecticut Observer in 1825, and after-
ward circulated in a pamphlet, were among the earliest and
most effective publications on the subject.
   He was among the most earnest to call attention, in conver-
sation, through the press, and in educational meetings, to the
whole subject of female education, and especially to the more
extensive employment of females  as teachers.  His  hopes
for the regeneration of society, and especially for the infusion
of a more refined culture in manners and morals into the fam-
ily, and especially into  common schools, rested on the influ-
ence of pious and educated women as mothers and teachers.
He was early interested in the establishment of the Hartford
Female  Seminary, and delivered an  address in 1827  in its
behalf, which was published.  He was connected  with the
general supervision of the Seminary, and with  its instruction
as lecturer on composition and moral philosophy, in 1833.
   Although, in the absence of such common schools as could
meet his views of the wants of his own children, especially in
all that regards moral and religious culture, and personal hab-
its and  manners,  he for  years established a small family
school for the education of  his own children, and the chil-
dren of his  immediate  friends, he was ever  the advocate of
the most liberal appropriation, and of the most complete or-
                  5 
30
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
ganization, instruction and  discipline of public or common
schools,—and  he did much, by pen and voice, to advocate
their improvement.   As has already been stated, so early as
1825, he  fixed for the first time the attention of educators,
and to some extent of the public, on the source of all radical
and  extensive improvement of them and  all schools, in the
professional training of teachers.  In 1827 he was an active
member  of the Society for the Improvement of Common
Schools,  of which Hon. Roger  Minot Sherman was Presi-
dent, and the Rev.  Horace Hooker and the Rev.  Thomas
Robbins, D. D., the real laborers,—one of the first, if not the
first  society of the kind in this country.  He was a member
of the  committee  of arrangements  in the teachers' con-
vention held in Hartford, in October, 1830, of which Noah
Webster, LL. D., was President.   The discussions in that
convention, of such topics as the influence of the school fund
as the main reliance  of the people for the support of common
schools, in which Dr. Humphrey, then President of  Amherst
College, a native of  this State, and a teacher for many years
in our district schools, took an active part;—the proper con-
struction of school-houses, on which subject Dr. William  A.
Alcott read a paper, which was  afterward  published as a
prize essay by  the  American Institute of  Instruction, and
circulated  all  over the country ;—the qualifications  of teach-
ers,  which was ably presented in a lecture by Rev. Gustavus
Davis,—had a powerful influence on the cause of educational
improvement throughout New England.   In 1833 he wrote
a little tract, entitled Public Schools Public Blessings, which
was published  by the  New York Public School Society  for
 general circulation in the city of New York, at a time when
 an effort was made, which  proved successful, to enlarge the
 operations of that society.
   In  1838, he was  the person, and the only person, had in
 view, to fill the office of Secretary of the Board of Commis-
 sioners  of Common Schools  in Connecticut, when the  bill
 was drafted for a public act " to provide for the better super-
 vision of common schools" in  Connecticut.  The post was
 urged on his  acceptance, with the offer and  guaranty by indi- 
Thomas Hopkins  Gallaudet.
31
viduals of an addition of one-third to the salary paid by the
State.   He declined, mainly from his unwillingness to absent
himself as much from his family as the  plan of operations
contemplated,—and also  "because of the apathy as to the
importance  of this  cause, which  he had many reasons to
know weighed not only on the public mind generally, but on
the minds and hearts of good men, and even Christians, who
take an active  and liberal part in other moral and religious
movements.    To break  up this  apathy, requires more of
youthful strength and enthusiasm  than can  be  found in an
invalid and a man of fifty years of age."   In a conversation
held with the individual  who afterward entered on this field
of labor, through his  earnest  solicitations, Mr. Gallaudet
anticipated the difficulties which  that enterprise afterward
encountered, and which he feared would  " probably not en-
tirely defeat, but must inevitably postpone its success.   But
never  mind, the cause is worth laboring and suffering for,
and enter on your work with a manly trust  that the people
will yet see its transcendent  importance to them and their
children to the latest posterity, and that God will  bless an
enterprise  fraught with so much  of good to every  plan of
local benevolence."    The measures of that Board, and of
their Secretary, were determined  on after consultation with
him,—and in all  the preliminary operations, those measures
had his personal cooperation.  In company with the Secre-
tary, he visited every county in the State in 1838, and ad-
dressed conventions of teachers, school officers  and parents.
He took part in the course of instruction of the first normal
class,  or teachers' institute, held  in this country, in  1839,
and again in a similar institute in 1840.  He appeared be-
fore the Joint  Committee of Education  in the General As-
sembly, on several occasions when appropriations for a nor-
mal school were asked for.  He was one  of the lecturers in
the  teachers' convention held in Hartford  in  1846,—and
had the gratification of welcoming  to  the State   Normal
 School at New Britain, in 1850, the first class of pupil teach-
ers,  and of taking part in their instruction.  He was  to have
delivered a public address before one of the literary societies in 
32
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
that institution, called, in gratitude for his early and constant
advocacy of normal schools, after his name, at the first  an-
niversary of the State Normal School in  September, 1851.
  Mr. Gallaudet was a contributor at different times to  the
Annals of Education, while under the charge of William C.
Woodbridge, and to the Connecticut Common School Jour-
nal from 1838 to 1842.  In 1839 he edited an American edi-
tion of " Principles of Teaching, by Henry Dunn, Secretary
of the  British and Foreign School  Society, London," under
the title of Schoolmaster's Manual—a truly valuable work,
which has gone through many editions in England.
  He took an active interest  in the lyceum movement, from
1826 to 1840,—and particularly in the Goodrich Association,
in 1831, under whose  auspices the first course of popular  lec-
tures was delivered in this city,—and in the proceedings of
the American Lyceum, at its annual meeting in Hartford, in
1838, out of which originated the Hartford Young Men's In-
stitute  in the same year.   In fine, he sympathized with, and
participated,  so  far as his  health  and  other engagements
would  allow, in every movement which aimed to elevate, pu-
rify and bless society through a wide-spread system of popu-
lar education.   Universal intelligence,  he  has  somewhere
said, under the influence of sound moral and religious prin-
ciple, and diffused, in connection with other modes of doing
it, through  the extensive medium  of common schools, so as
to embrace the whole rising generation, is to constitute, with
the blessing of God, the security, the ornament, and the hap-
piness  of the  social  state, and to render it  (what we ought
ever to regard as its principal value) the propitious auxiliary
to our preparation for a higher and nobler condition of being
beyond the grave.
   In  1837,  the  county of Hartford, through the  exertions
mainly of  Alfred  Smith Esq., erected a prison, on  a plan
which  admitted of a classification  of the prisoners, of their
entire separation at night,  of their  employment in labor un-
der constant supervision by day, and of their receiving ap-
propriate moral and  religious instruction.   Mr. Gallaudet
sympathized warmly with  this movement, and in the  ab- 
               Thomas  Hopkins  Gallaudet.             33

sence of any means at the  disposal of the county commis-
sioners  to  employ  the  services  of a chaplain and religious
teacher, volunteered to discharge these  duties without pay.
He continued to perform  religious service  every  Sabbath
morning for eight years, and to visit the prison from time to
time during each week, whenever he had reason to suppose
his presence and prayers were particularly desired.   In such
labors of  love to the criminal and neglected, unseen of men,
and not known, I presume, to twenty individuals in Hartford,
the genuine philanthropy and  Christian spirit of this good
man found its pleasantest field of exercise.
   On the  6th of June, 1838, Mr.  Gallaudet  became con-
nected  with the Connecticut Retreat for the Insane, as Chap-
lain, the duties of  which office he continued to discharge
with  exemplary  fidelity and  happy results, up to the day of
his last illness.  Although  the directors of this institution
were the first to make an appointment of this character, not
only  for  the purpose  of daily family  worship, and relig-
ious worship on the Sabbath for its officers and inmates, but
as part of the system  of moral treatment of insanity,—still
the  earliest  movement  in this direction was  made by the
 trustees and superintendent of the State Lunatic Hospital
 at Worcester, Mass., in 1835.   In their report for that year,
both the  trustees  and superintendent invite  the attention of
 the  legislature to  the establishment of a chapel, and the in-
 troduction of religious exercises, especially on the Sabbath.
 In 1836, Dr. Woodward again  refers  to  the subject.   " A
 few of our inmates at present go to the churches in the vil-
 lage, and  are always gratified by such an indulgence; others
 spend the  day in reading at home ;  but with a large propor-
 tion of them the  day passes  heavily  along, and is spent in
 idle listlessness or irritation.   With the insane I would as
 far  as  possible  inculcate  all the habits of rational life.  I
 wish them to attend religious  worship  on the Sabbath, for
 the same  reason that other men do, for instruction in religion
 and  virtue.  In matters of religion  and  morality, I would
 deal with  the insane  as with the rational mind, approve of
 no  deception, encourage no delusions, foster no self-compla- 
34              Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.

cent impressions of character, dignity, and power: I would
improve  every opportunity, when the mind is calm and the
feelings kind, to impress on  them that they are men, to ex-
cite in their minds  rational  contemplations, encourage cor-
rect  habits, awaken  self-respect, and  prompt to active duty.
In aid of this I wish them  to  attend religious worship, to
listen to instruction from the volume of  truth, and to  receive
encouragement to calm and quiet tempers, from its promises
of reward to virtuous and upright conduct.  Few individuals
are so completely insane as to be beyond the reach of moral
instruction, and perhaps I may add, of moral responsibilities."
With these views a  chapel  was opened, and religious wor-
ship  was commenced by regular  meetings on  the Sabbath,
on which all the officers and household of the Hospital were
requested to attend.
  To carry out his plans to perfection in this  important de-
partment of the moral treatment of insanity, and especially
in its early stages, Dr. Woodward felt the necessity  of hav-
ing the cooperation of a clergyman of cheerful  and  yet fer-
vent piety, of large  acquaintance with men,  and of great
versatility in  modes  of reaching the human mind and heart,
and  above  all, of that Christlike spirit, 'which, touched with
a sense of human  infirmity,'  should not expend itself in
passive pity, but in wholesome and practical action  for its
relief.  These qualities and qualifications he knew belonged
in a  preeminent degree to  Mr. Gallaudet, and to him the
chaplaincy in the institution at  Worcester was  tendered.
He so far encouraged the application as to visit Worcester,
and  conduct  the religious  exercises of the  institution  for
several Sabbaths.   He returned to Hartford with a strong
conviction  that in ministering to the spiritual  wants of the
insane, and  in aiding in their restoration to mental sound-
ness, there was a new field of benevolent activity opened,
into which he would enter if such should be the indications
of Providence.  It was difficult for me, who had been made
acquainted with this movement, to see  why a man so much
and deservedly  respected  and beloved in this community,
who was doing so much good, not only by his  direct labors 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
35
in every good cause, but by the daily beauty of his life, need
go  to  Worcester  to  labor  for the insane, when we had an
institution for this  unfortunate  class  among ourselves, of
which we at least ought to be proud, as in reality the pioneer
institution of this country in the improved methods of treat-
ing insanity, which had already furnished the  superintend-
ents of three other institutions, and from which Dr. Wood-
ward had adopted those methods of treating insanity,  which
have made the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester known
throughout the world.
   Believing  with Dr.  Woodward, that he  was eminent-
ly qualified  for the place,  and that such an office could be
most  advantageously created in our own institution, and
that  its  directors when the  subject was  fairly presented,
would introduce the  same,  I addressed myself to  several of
our public-spirited and benevolent individuals,  and in less
than twenty-four  hours received  sufficient encouragement to
say to Mr. Gallaudet, and to some of the directors, that in
case he  should be appointed chaplain,  at least one-half of
 such salary as should be agreed  on, would  be paid by indi-
 viduals in Hartford.
   Mr. Gallaudet was appointed ;  and he entered on his new
 and  interesting  field of labor with his usual caution and
 thoroughness.  No man could study his duties with a more
 prayerful  and earnest spirit,—no  one could improve more
 faithfully every opportunity to become intimately acquainted
 with the peculiarities of the mental and moral  condition of
 each  of the numerous inmates  of the Retreat,—no  one
 could aim to act  in more perfect accordance with the coun-
 sels and directions of the superintending physician,—no one
 could select with more cautious deliberation the truths of
 religion which could be advantageously adapted to those who
 are laboring under mental  or moral delusions, or more wisely
 present the  motives which  could aid in leading back such to
 a self-controlling  and healthful condition of mind, or  admin-
 ister the consolation that would reach their real  or supposed
 trials. The experience of  each  successive year furnished ac-
 cumulating evidence of the usefulness of his labors, and the 
36
Tlwmas Hopkins  Gallaudet.
efficacy of kind moral  treatment and a wise religious influ-
ence in the melioration and care of the insane.   How beauti-
fully did both his manner and success illustrate the wisdom
of that law of kindness, which  Dr.  Todd impressed  on the
organization of this Retreat as the all-pervading and  plastic
power of its moral discipline !
   O! how vividly did  his  mode of conversing with the in-
sane, bring back  the  image and language  of that gifted
man,—the first physician and founder of the Retreat;—how
beautifully did the labors  of both realize  the language in
which Whittier describes the true mode of  dealing with the
insane,
             Gentle as angels' ministry,
             The guiding hand of love should be,
               Which seeks again those chords to bind
             Which human w^oe hath rent apart,—
               To heal again the wounded mind,
             And bind anew the broken heart.
             The hand which tunes to harmony
             The cunning harp whose strings are riven,
             Must move  as light and quietly
             As that meek breath of summer heaven
             Which woke of old its melody ;—
             And kindness to the dim of soul,
             Whilst aught of rude and stern control
              The clouded heart can deeply feel,
             Is welcome as the odors fanned
             From some unseen and flowering land,
             Around the weary seaman's keel!

   The  details of  the  duties and  labors of  chaplain, as per-
formed by Mr.  Gallaudet, are  thus  set  forth  in  one of
his annual reports to the directors.   " Most of these duties
are of a very regular and uniform kind.  I attend prayers on
week days in the chapel, and conduct the religious exercises
there on the Sabbath.   I keep up a constant daily intercourse
with the patients in their respective halls, endeavoring to be-
come familiar with their individual characters  and peculiari-
ties, and to do them good in the way of religious counsel,
pleasant conversation, and other  kind  offices.  I visit them
in their rooms, especially when  they are sick, and when cir- 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
37
cumstances render it desirable, pray with them, as I do, also,
with the  attendants and nurses when laboring under indis-
position.
  " I  attend  the weekly reading  and sewing parties of the
female patients, the customary celebration of the anniversary
of American  Independence, and other occasions of entertain-
ment  and interest which bring many of the inmates of the
institution together, performing at such  times, such  services
as are in my power.  Occasionally, I go with a party of the
patients to visit the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb.
   " In the course of the year, I render not a few attentions to
the friends of the  patients from  abroad, who are spending
some time in the city; receive visits from the  patients and
the friends of the patients, at my own  house; convey mes-
sages from those  of them who live  in  Hartford to the Re-
treat, and from the Retreat to them; and frequently call upon
them at their own residences  with information to  be com-
municated to them from the physician.
   " Some correspondence devolves upon me, growing out of
the relation  which I sustain to  the  Retreat, and my friend-
ship or acquaintance -with  those who have relatives or friends
under its care.  I am in the constant habit of learning what
it is needful for me to  know, in the  discharge of my official
duties, with regard to the condition of each patient, both
when admitted and afterwards, from the physician; while I
endeavor, in all that I do, to act in accordance with his views
and wishes, I will only add that, as one means of greater
usefulness, part of my reading is devoted to such works  on
insanity and reports of other institutions, as I think will be of
practical benefit to me.
   " From year to year,  the impression deepens upon  my
mind, that there is much yet to learn with regard to the
physical, intellectual and moral condition of the insane, and
much yet to do in ascertaining and applying all the available
 means  of alleviation, of comfort, and of cure.  Here is yet a
 wide, and, to a great extent, unexplored field, in which expe-
 rience, ingenuity and Christian benevolence may find ample
 scope for exercise.   I am sure, I can say so, from what I ob-
                    6 
38              Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.

serve in my own appropriate department, with regard to the
mental and religious condition of the insane, presenting, as it
does, phenomena of the most singular, various, and compli-
cated kinds.  Striking and multifarious peculiarities, in these
respects, exist among the sane.   It would be strange indeed
if they were not found to be as many, and as  great, among
the insane.
  " Each  case, therefore,  needs to  be deliberately and pa-
tiently studied  by itself, and time must be taken for doing
this, that the moral and religious means employed for  relief
and restoration may be wisely chosen  and applied.   Hence,
in order that the chaplain may be a judicious and successful
auxiliary of the physician at the head of an institution for the
insane, it  is  indispensable that he should have frequent and
familiar intercourse with its inmates.  He thus becomes the
better qualified, not only to conduct the customary religious
exercises,  and  to prepare  the discourses which  he  delivers,
in  a way suited to the  condition, and adapted to the ben-
efit of the patients, but also to  appreciate the counsels and
directions of the physician in his daily interviews with  them,
and to make these interviews pleasant and profitable.
   " It is by such intercourse, too, that  the chaplain gains the
confidence and  friendly regard of the  patients.   This  opens
their minds and hearts to his inspection, and procures for him
a moral  influence  over  them  which would be  very limited
and imperfect  without this intercourse.   It need not, and I
think I can say from my own experience, it does not detract
from that deference and respect which are due to his sacred
office.   On  the contrary,  if this intercourse is  wisely con-
ducted, it leads them to esteem the chaplain as  their pastor
and friend, one who knows them personally, and sympathizes
with them individually, and thus to take a deeper interest in
 his public ministrations, and to be the  more profited by them.
   " I have  dwelt a little on this topic  from the desire  that I
 have to impress its importance upon those who are interested
 in the insane, or who are interested with the management of
 institutions for their benefit.  For if my labors in the Retreat
 have been,  in  any degree, acceptable and useful to its in- 
Thomas Hopkins  Gallaudet.
39
mates, or entitled to any approbation from its directors, this
has arisen preeminently from the opportunities which I have
enjoyed of daily and familiar intercourse with the pupils."
  No one familiar with the internal management and con.
cerns of an institution of this  character, and with the phe-
nomena  of this disease, can hesitate for a moment to recog-
nize the great benefit of these labors and of religious influence,
wisely exerted, to the insane.   Many of the patients (we use
substantially the language of his reports,) are in  a state of
convalescence, and are fast recovering their original sound-
ness of mind;  and among these and the  other patients are
a few who well know, by long experience, how to use  and
prize such privileges.  Others  are laboring under kinds  and
degrees of insanity which  leave the mind rational with regard
to  a  variety of subjects, religion often being one of them.
Some are only periodically affected, and entirely sane during
the intervals.   Some have  perverted moral feelings, obliqui-
ties of disposition and temper, while the intellect is capable,
in  a greater  or  less degree,  of appreciating truth.  Of the
rest, there are those, indeed, whose minds are so enfeebled or
beclouded by their malady, that they may not have any dis-
tinct conceptions of religious  truth conveyed to them.   Yet
even these retain some childlike susceptibilities of religious
 feeling, not  wholly inaccessible to the  salutary impressions
which the outward forms alone of divine worship are adapted
 to produce.   Former associations and habits are  not yet ob-
literated.  They often give distinct and pleasant indications
 that the things of  religion  are among the few objects which
 still afford them some gratification;  and small as may be the
degree of enjoyment and benefit which they thus experience,
 Christian sympathy delights to provide this solace for them,
 careful,  in the spirit of the Saviour, not to break  the bruised
 reed, nor quench the smoking fax.
    In estimating the value of  these religious exercises  there
 are many things to be taken into account, in addition to their
 spiritual benefit to the patients, as means of grace that they
 ought to  enjoy in  common  with  their fellow-men  around
 them,—and which things in their aggregate influence, have a 
40             Thomas Hopkins  Gallaudet.

much greater efficiency than many, not familiar with them,
would suppose.   Such are the following: the necessary prep-
arations to be made for attending the  religious exercises in
a becoming manner,  and which fill up a  portion of time
agreeably and profitably; the regular  return of  the  stated
hour for doing this, and the pleasant anticipations connected
with it; the change of scene from the  apartments and halls
to a commodious, cheerful and tasteful chapel, there to unite
in the worship of God;  the social feelings induced and grat-
ified ; the waking up of formerly cherished associations  and
habits ; the soothing, consoling, and elevating influence of
sacred music; the listening intelligently  to the  interesting
truths of the  word of God,  and uniting with  the heart in
rendering him that homage which is his first due, as is, be-
yond  doubt, the case with not a few of the patients; the suc-
cessful exercise of self-control, so strikingly and  continually
exhibited by those who need to exercise it;  the having their
own place of worship, and their own  minister whom they
regard as the  peculiar pastor of the little flock to  which they
belong; the habits of punctuality,  order and decorum they
acquire, and relish, in going to and  returning from the accus-
tomed place of their  devotions,—the two sexes having their
separate avenues for  entering and withdrawing, connected
with the male and female sides  of  the  institution, and their
appropriate, distinct  seats while assembled together;  the
feeling that, in all this, they are  treated like other folks, and
act as other folks do, and the subsequent satisfaction, a  part
of our common nature, which many of them experience in
the reflection that they have performed an important duty.
  The Sabbath, it may be added, would be, to many of the
inmates of the Retreat a monotonous  and tedious day,  if it
were  not enlivened and cheered  by their coming together for
religious  worship.  This has  often been  noticed, and  also
that they manifest a strong and even restless desire to  have
the usual religious exercises return, when, as will sometimes
happen from  peculiar circumstances, they have been tempo.
rarily suspended.
  Of a truth,  he has well said, " such labors have their encour 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
41
agement and reward.  They have made  me familiar  with
hundreds  of  individuals,  whose  afflicted condition,  while
shutting them out from the usual  occupation, privileges and
enjoyments of the intelligent and busy world around  them,
has not in most instances, rendered their minds impervious to
the influence of  moral and religious truth, nor their hearts
inapproachable by  the kind offices  of  Christian sympathy
and love.
   " How many torpid sensibilities have I seen awakened to
respond to the impressions of the fair, the beautiful, and the
good ; how many consciences aroused to a sense of the right
and the wrong, so as to produce the power of self-control and
of proper conduct;  how many  slumbering domestic  and
social affections  kindled  up into their former activity; how
many religious  despondencies, sometimes  deepening  into
despair, changed into the serenity of Christian hope; how
many suicidal designs forever abandoned, because life had
become a pleasure instead of a burden too heavy to be borne;
how  many prayers revived on the altars of private and public
devotion; how many kindly charities of the soul breathing
forth, once more, in deeds of self-denying beneficence."
   In this necessarily hurried and imperfect review of Mr.
 Gallaudet's life and services, I have dwelt at some  length
 on his  labors at the Retreat and in behalf of the insane, not
 only because such  labors have been more out of the way of  •
public  observation, and because they can never appear in a
form to be recognized by public gratitude,—but because the
physical, intellectual  and moral condition of the insane, and
the whole subject of insanity,—its nature, causes, and availa-
ble means of prevention, alleviation and cure, are even now
imperfectly understood.   Not the least valuable service ren-
 dered to  the cause of humanity  by  the  Retreat in its man-
 agement of the insane, and by Mr.  Gallaudet, as its chap-
 lain, and by his conversations with the patients and their rel-
 atives and friends, will be found in  the light which has thus
 been shed, on this  interesting field, through the community.
 Thirty years ago, when  this institution  was established, in-
 sanity was regarded  in some mysterious and special  sense, 
42              Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.

as a direct visitation of Heaven, which it was almost an act
of impiety to trace to  physical causes, and as affixing a re-
proachful  stigma upon the character of the unfortunate suf-
ferer.  But the investigations which have been made, here and
elsewhere, into the causes of that perversion or impairment
of the mental faculties, or moral affections, either entire or
partial,  which constitutes insanity, have shown beyond all
doubt, that  it is a physical disease, as much as a fever, or
the gout,—that it springs from natural causes, induced by a
violation,  near or remote, knowingly or  ignorantly, of some
of the organic laws on which mental functions  depend,—
that these causes, if not always within the control of the in-
dividual, may be, in a large majority of  instances, hastened
or retarded in their effects, and what is of far more practical
importance, can be known and counteracted entirely.
   A recent inquiry into the causes of more than twenty-two
thousand  cases of insanity, in American  institutions, demon-
strates that while there are more than one hundred and sev-
enty avenues through  which this formidable  disease  makes
its attacks on the domains of the soul, a large proportion of
these  avenues can  be closed  entirely,  by early  preventive
measures; and that unless this is done, and done soon, with
an energy and on a scale commensurate  with  the magnitude
of the calamity, the ravages of the disease will go on increas-
ing in a fearful ratio in this country.   Most of the causes of
insanity which operate in other countries, are  found working
here with increased energy, with the developments and, re-
sults  of our  peculiar  civilization.   The very freedom of
thought, religion, business, and locomotion, which constitute
the glory  of our social and political condition, are attended
with  excessive mental action, with uncertain  employment,
hazardous speculations,  frequent  failures  and disappoint-
ments, abounding means and provocations for sensual indul-
gences, multiplied dangers of accidents and injury, a restless-
ness in social life, and painful struggles  for showy and fash-
ionable styles  of living and the  distinction and emoluments
of office.   Unless this  increase of mental activity, and conse-
quent increase of cerebral  action, is accompanied by a cor- 
Thomas Hopkins  Gallaudet.
13
responding knowledge of its inevitable consequences, and a
corresponding increase of discretion to guide, and of prudence
to restrain,—then will insanity go on increasing among us,
shaking down the pillars of reason, and not only multiplying
retreats and  hospitals, but filling our homes with desolation
and woe, and consuming all the treasures of joy and hope.
   In this connection, it may be well to remark that Mr. Gal-
laudet's  experience and observations  among  the  insane,
were not lost upon him as an educator, but furnished him
with facts and illustrations, by which in his practical lectures
to teachers, or conversation with parents and others interest-
ed in the cause of education, he shed light upon questions  of
deep and general interest connected with the philosophy  of
mind, and the reciprocal influence which the mind and body
have upon each other,—the elements of moral science,—the
education and training  of children and  youth, both in fami-
lies and schools,—the preservation of health and reason, and
the precautionary measures to be pursued to guard against
the ills of the flesh and the spirit, and  thus enabling every
 individual to prevent more than the most successful institu-
 tion can ever mitigate or remove.  To him the  Retreat was
 not only the field of Christian benevolence, but a school  of
 practical wisdom  as an educator.   In a letter  addressed  to
 me in 1844,  he quoted a paragraph of one of Dr. Woodward's
 reports, as expressing clearly and forcibly his own conviction,
 that a defective and faulty education through the period of
 infancy and youth is the most prolific cause of insanity, and
 that we  must look  to a well  directed system  of education,
 having for its object physical improvement, no less than moral
 and mental culture, as  the best security against the attacks
 of this most formidable disease.  With this conviction, in all
 his later educational addresses he dwelt on the importance of
 paying attention to the physical condition and improvement
 of schools, to ventilation, to all the arrangements of the yard,
 to exercise, to frequent intervals of relaxation from study
 spent in the fresh air, and in athletic sports, to the  propor-
 tionate development of all the faculties,  and in all cases, to
 the avoidance of undue stimulants to study, especially with
 young children and  with females. 
44
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
  After living a life of practical usefulness, such as it is the
privilege of but few good men to live, and yet such as every
wise man at the time of his death, if he could live his life
over again, would aspire to live,  Mr.  Gallaudet  died as
every good man would desire to die.  Overtaken by sickness
in the discharge of his duties at the Retreat, he retired to his
own home and his chamber  on  the night of the 20th of July,
to go no more out, until borne  by others to his last resting-
place.   His disease proved to be an aggravated form of dys-
entery, and so prolonged and so severe was the attack, that
his  constitution, never robust, and  his  strength, which was
never vigorous,  and  which  for the last twenty  years had
been husbanded only with extreme care, sank beneath it; and
after  forty-six wearisome days and  nights, during most of
which his mind was remarkably clear and active, and his
faith  undimmed, he  died on the  10th of September, 1851,
leaving to his  widow and eight children, and  this sorrowing
community, the  inestimable legacy  of his life and character,
and the consoling lesson of his death.   In the bosom  of his
family,—watched over by the gentle eye of affection,—minis-
tered to by children who would keep him yet a little  longer
from  the sky,—the last offices of the  sick-room sought by
neighbors and friends, who would thus  requite his kindness
to them, and mark their appreciation of his worth,—without
one gathering mist or shade on his hope of a blessed here-
after, secured  (to use his own language) not by merits of his
own, but by the  redeeming grace of God,—he passed through
his  last tedious sickness, feeling the arm of his Saviour be-
neath him; and when his hour came, his spirit passed away
so gently, that the precise moment  was unmarked,—
               They thought him dying when he slept,—
                 And sleeping when he died.
              His soul to Him who gave it rose,
              God led him to his long repose,
                  His glorious rest,
               And though that Christian's sun has set,
               Its light shall linger round us yet,
                  Bright, radiant, blest. 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
45
  In forming any just  estimate or analysis of Mr. Gallau-
det's character, we must assign the first and prominent place
to his religious  views and  habits.  In his love to God and
love to man, are we to find the hiding  of his power, as a
practical philanthropist.   In the language of  one who knew
him intimately for the last twenty years  of his life :  " Reli-
gion  was  so  interwoven into  the whole character of Mr.
Gallaudet, that we can rightly estimate it only in connec-
tion with the  entire web.  Some men, and good men too, as
we must regard them,  appear not the same in their  religious
aspect as in business, or in social scenes,—but  it may be
truly and  emphatically  said of him, that  his  religious life
was his whole life.   In the expressive title of one of his own
volumes, he was an every-day Christian.  There was nothing
fitful in his piety : it was  of the same evenness and symmetry
which marked the other  parts of his character.  It was not a
succession  of oases around springs  in  a  desert, linked to-
gether by long tracts of sandy waste,—but fed by principle, it
found its resemblance in the verdure which borders on an
ever-running brook.
   " His religion was beneficence where good was to be done
or  kindness shown.  It  was honesty, exact and  scrupulous,
where business was to be transacted between him and his fel-
low-men.  It was conscientiousness, where the rights of others
were involved in  his  plans or his acts.   It was self-denial,
where the  wants of the  poor and the unfortunate required
not only an outlay of time, but solicitations sometimes pain-
ful to make,  in gaining the cooperation of others.  It was
courtesy, where it was often difficult to reconcile the claims
of an extensive acquaintance with the discharge of pressing,
indispensable engagements. It was  humility, towards  God,
shewing  itself  in  a deep  sense  of  unworthiness.   It was
penitence, when human weakness yielded to temptation,—
penitence  sincere,  abiding, and fruitful, in meet works.  It
 was cordial trust in the  atonement of a  Divine Redeemer,—
 not leading to carelessness, but exciting prayerful  efforts to
 transfer the grace  of  that  Redeemer's character to his own,
 It  was hope,—not now of noonday  glare, and now of mid.
                    7 
46             Thomas Hopkins  Gallaudet.

night gloom,  but hope ever  uniform and  stedfast, though
sometimes bedimmed with a passing cloud.   It was joy, not
buoyant, like that of  the  new-born soul, or triumphant like
that of the martyr.  No  one acquainted with  his mental
characteristics, his habitual moderation,—his almost excessive
caution,—his keen insight into character,—his close scrutiny
of his feelings, would look in  his bosom for joys like  these.
But to joy such as flows from  beneficent acts,—such as the
peace of God imparts to the contrite  spirit,—such as a hope
of casting off human  weakness, and mingling through grace
among the sanctified in Christ Jesus in a higher life, inspires,
to such joy he was no stranger.
   " He had a deep reverence for the sacred scriptures and ex-
alted views of their influence in controlling and purifying the
human mind.   As an instrument of government in the fam-
ily, and  in society, no one held them in higher estimation.
His religious sentiments were  those commonly denominated
Evangelical.  He loved to  regard the truths of the gospel in
their simplicity, and though as capable as most  amongst us
of metaphysical speculations,  in which he would sometimes
indulge  in conversation with his  intimate  friends,—he fell
back on  the Bible in its obvious meaning for the support of
his hope and his  quickening in the religious life.   Though a
firm believer in the necessity of supernatural aid to train man
for heaven, he ever urged the serious, regular, prayerful ob-
servance of divine institutions and  means of moral improve-
ment.  On the moulding power of these he relied for forming
the Christian character rather than  on any measures of mere
human devising.
   " Both from principle and native temperament, he was char-
itable in his estimate of  the  opinions of others,—but when
the occasion demanded, he was ready courteously and firmly
to defend his own.  The respect with which he was regarded
by the religious of every name, shews that this striking trait
of his character was duly appreciated.
   " To  an unusual  extent,  he associated this world, its
 scenes, its occupations,  its influences, with a  future  exist-
 ence,—regarding  the habits, both intellectual  and  moral, 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
47
which we form on earth, as entering with us into that state.
' Non omnis moriar^ all of me will not die, was an unfailing
quickener of his zeal in preparing to perform in another life
an  agency  of  benevolence,  pure,  ceaseless,  self-satisfying,
eternal.   And  who  can doubt  that in some part of  God's
wide empire, his happy spirit is now ministering to ' them
who  shall be  heirs  of  salvation,' or  planning schemes of
beneficence, which earth's  intellect cannot conceive, or earth's
resources execute."
   Such is the religious character of Mr. Gallaudet, as drawn
by one, (Rev. Horace Hooker,) who knew him intimately for
a period of twenty years, in his mature manhood, and as testi-
fied to by others who knew him as intimately at the same
and other periods of his life.   Out of whatever theological
dogmas as roots, this character may have grown, all will wit-
ness that it bore the peaceable fruits of righteousness.   Amid
the jarring and  sometimes  belligerent forces of creeds  and
denominations, it was refreshing to find one character in our
midst, who had  a charity large  enough to  act in any good
work with others of differing views, and  that too  without
sacrificing the convictions of his own conscience, and at the
same time securing the respect of all classes and  conditions
 of men.   In the language of Jonathan Edwards, as applied
by a distinguished divine of our own city, who differed from
him in some points of church doctrine and organization, (Rev.
Dr. Turnbull,) " The soul of such a Christian in the midst
of otiier  Christians,  appeared like such a little white flower
as we see in the spring of the year, low and humble in the
ground,  opening its bosom to receive the pleasant beams of
the sun's glory ;  rejoicing  as ever  in a calm rapture, diffusing
around a sweet fragrancy, standing peacefully and  lovingly
in' the midst of other flowers round about; all in like manner
opening their bosoms to drink in the light of the sun."
   What  a beautiful and truthful commentary and illustration
was  his  own  daily life, of his religious views  as set forth in
his pulpit  discourses, and  more elaborately in his Every-
Day Christian!  All of us, who  have  had occasion to con-
sult  or converse with him in the street, in the office, in the 
48
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
committee-room, in his own house, must have had occasion
to notice the equable condition of his  mind and heart,—the
faithfulness  of his  memory,—the clearness  of his concep-
tions,—the ability to call into exercise his mental vigor and
resources, together with the calm and self-possessed state of
his affections, going forth  in easy and happy expressions of
good will to others.  How naturally, how habitually did he
improve every occasion of social intercourse, or even a casual
meeting, by rational, instructive, and, at proper moments,
serious  conversation, without casting one shade of  gloom
over such seasons; and, in his  own  home,  how gracefully
were the courtesies of society and the attachments of friend-
ship made subservient to  the highest purposes of this life,
and of that which is to come.   His life was a living sermon,
that was read and appreciated by all men.
   As a teacher, his success was  uniform and preeminent in
a widely diversified field of experience.  In his college classes,
among the deaf mutes, in the Hartford Female Seminary, at
the head of his  own family school,  and as  a  teacher of
teachers, he was  distinguished by the same characteristics,
and by the same success, viz: the moral influence of his own
personal character and actions,—the thorough preparation he
brought to every recitation  and every duty,—his own clear
conception of every principle and every fact which he wished
to convey to the minds of others,—his power  of arresting and
retaining the  attention of his  pupils, even among the very
young, and particularly among  the  dull  and those whose
minds were undisciplined,—the  simplicity and vividness of
his illustrations, and the  clearness and  logical sequence of
his statements,—his power and  range of expression, both in
pantomime  and in spoken language,—and  the  rigid accu-
racy which he ever exacted from his pupils in every exercise.
In his own peculiar department,  in that with which his
reputation as a teacher is inseparably connected, he was dis-
tinguished for his  mastery of pantomime, the natural  lan-
guage of the deaf and dumb, which he has also the merit of
having simplified and extended,—for the facility  and felicity
with which  he explained to them the difficulties and use of 
                Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.             49

written language, and for his powers in unfolding the sub-
lime as well as the simple doctrines of morality and religion,—
the ideas of justice, goodness, responsibility, spiritual exist-
ence, immortality and God.  To Mr. Gallaudet  is univer-
sally conceded the no ordinary merit, of being the  first to es-
tablish for his pupils in the American Asylum the daily and
Sabbath devotional exercises by signs, thus securing to them
the privilege of social worship, and adding  to the restraints
on bad conduct and to the motives of a correct life.  In all that
relates to  religious culture, our  American  institutions are
confessedly in advance of European institutions, and  this is
mainly to be attributed to  the methods and example intro-
duced by Mr. Gallaudet into the American Asylum.
   The greatest service rendered by him as an educator and
teacher,—his highest claim to the gratitude of all  who are
laboring to advance the cause of education in any  grade or
class of schools, is to be found in his practical acknowledg-
ment and able advocacy of the great fundamental  truth, of
the necessity of special training, even for minds of the high-
 est order, as a prerequisite of success in the art of teaching.
 In view of this truth, he traversed the ocean  to make himself
 practically acquainted with the principles and art of instruct-
 ing the deaf and dumb ;—to this end, he became a normal
 pupil under the great normal teacher Sicard, in the great
 normal school of  deaf-mute  instruction in  Paris.   And still
 distrusting his own attainments, he thought himself pecul-
 iarly fortunate in  bringing back with him  to this country a
 teacher of still larger experience  than  himself, and  of an al-
 ready acquired reputation, and  thus making the American
 Asylum the first normal school of deaf-mute instruction on
 this continent.  And beyond this, he was  ever the earnest
 advocate for training, under able master workmen in the busi-
 ness of education, all who aspired to teach the young in any
 ^rade  of schools.   How confirmatory of  the wisdom of his
 views is the success the  American Asylum.  If he, and such
 as he, can do so much to improve and confirm the health, to
 develop the different faculties of the mind, to communicate
 knowledge, to subdue and control the passions and propen- 
50
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
sities, and to awaken and train the higher sentiments and
holier affections of our common nature, in children laboring
under such extraordinary natural deprivations and obstacles
as the deaf and dumb, by means of skill, experience, appara-
tus and perseverance,—surely much, very much more, can be
accomplished by  the same skill, experience,  apparatus and
perseverance, with children having all their senses, and under
more favorable and  favoring circumstances and influences.
But do we find such teachers in one out of a thousand, or one
of ten thousand, in our  common schools, where the mass of
our children  are educated?   Does not society, which sees
the necessity of tact, skill, experience, and singleness of aim
and life, in teachers of the deaf mute and blind, and employs
persons  having these qualities and qualifications at a com-
pensatory price, tolerate a degree  of unfitness, both in char-
acter and preparation, in the teachers of the people, which
would not be tolerated in any department of labor that min-
isters to its material interests and enjoyments?
   As an author,—and  especially  of text-books, and books
for children and youth,—while  he has done enough to give
him a distinct and permanent  place in the annals of Ameri-
can literature, he has exhibited such  large and wide  views
of education, such an accurate knowledge of the order and
degree and methods of  development,  to which each faculty
should be subjected, such accuracy  in defining words and
stating principles, and such facility in unfolding the most ab-
struse and complex problems and propositions, that it is  a
matter of deep regret, that he did not devote himself to the
preparation  of a  series  of text-books for instruction  in the
English language.  I know of no  living teacher or educator
who can do the  work  so well.    His volume of  Sermons,
published in 1817,  his Every-Day  Christian, his Child's
Book on the Soul, and his incomplete  serial work,  Scripture
Biography," are beautiful specimens of correct and polished
composition, as well as of accurate thought and  Christian
feeling.
   As a public speaker,  in the pulpit  or the  lecturer's desk
soon after he entered the ministry and during his early con- 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.             51
nection with the Asylum, he was eminently popular.  As a
sermonizer he had but few equals.  His subject was distinctly
set forth, the topics logically arranged, his language polished,
his imagination chaste,  his manner earnest, and his voice
persuasive.   The hearer was borne along by a  constantly
swelling tide, rather than swept away by a sudden billow.
In later life, at least on ordinary occasions, his power as a
preacher  was  weakened by  his  habit of  simplifying his
thoughts, and  extending his  illustrations  for the deaf and
dumb and for  children.   But these last qualities made his
preaching at the Retreat and  the prison particularly profita-
ble and acceptable, delivered as it was with a clearness and
sincerity of manner and tone, which won at once  the hearts
of the sorrowing and the outcast.
   To appreciate the character  and value of his  services as
chaplain, both  in the county jail and the Retreat, he should
have been seen and heard ;  and especially  at the Retreat, not
only in his regular religious teaching on the  Sabbath and in
evening worship, but in his daily visitation  among the dim
and erratic in soul, and his intercourse with their friends and
relatives, who were sorrowing over the wreck of domestic joys
and  hopes.  How simple and wise were his instructions,—
how surely did his kindness open the  closed doors of their
affections,—how like the dew distilled his  words of consola-
tion,—how like the notes of David's  harp  on the unquiet
spirit of Saul, fell the tones of his voice  over those whose
thoughts, it seemed but a moment before, could not rest or
be comforted!
   His conversational powers were remarkable, and he never
failed to interest all who came into his society.   To a com-
mand of language, at once simple and felicitous, he added a
stock of personal reminiscences drawn from a large acquaint-
ance with the best society in this country and in Europe,—a
quick sense of the beautiful in nature, art, literature and mor-
als,—a liveliness of manner,—a ready use  of all that he had
read or seen, and a real desire to make others happy, which
made his conversation always entertaining  and instructive.
He  was, beside, a  good listener,—always  deferential to old 
52              Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.

and young, and could have patience even with the dull and
rude.  With children he was eminently successful, winning
their confidence by  his kind and benevolent manner, and
gaining their attention by the  simplicity and pertinency of
his remarks.  He seemed in society as in the world, to make
it  a matter of principle " to remember the forgotten," and
thus to draw the old and retiring into the circle of the regards
and attention of others.
   Although below the ordinary height, and singularly modest
and unassuming, yet with his  erect carriage, and dignified
although not formal  manners,  always  respectful  and even
courteous to others, without challenging  any special attention
to himself or his office, he succeeded in inspiring a reverence
softened by love, which mere personal presence, age or office
could not command.
   He never spoke ill of any man, and could not listen with-
out exhibiting his impatience, to such speaking in others, and
never without suggesting a  charitable  construction of mo-
tives, or the extenuating circumstances  of ignorance, or the
force of temptation.   His sympathy and charity for  the err-
ing, whether in  conduct or opinion, were  peculiar.   Those
who had never felt the power of temptation, or never culti-
vated the grace of charity, " which beareth all things, believ-
eth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things," might
deem this a weakness, but to me it seemed akin to the kind-
ness of  Him, who was touched with a feeling of human in-
firmity,  and whose mission  it was to call sinners  to repent-
ance.
  He was  methodical in the transaction of  business  to an
extent  rarely found  in men of literary habits.    This was
partly the result of  his  home training,  and partly of his ex-
perience in the  counting-room  and  commercial affairs.   It
was a favorite theory of his, that every boy before entering
college  or  a profession, should have at least one winter's
experience  in a store, and one summer's training on a farm.
   He was punctual in all his engagements.   He thought it
was neither just or  Christian  to  make appointments, and
then break them on any plea of convenience, or forgetfulness. 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
53
  He was economical,—not for the sake of hoarding, but from
necessity and a sense of justice.  " Owe no man anything,"
was a precept of perpetual obligation with him.
  He was cautious to  an extent, which in the  opinion of
some of his best friends, abridged his usefulness.   This may
be so,—and I have  thought so at times, when I felt the need
of his  active cooperation in enterprises in which I was par-
ticularly  interested.  But I have  had many occasions to
admire his wise, forecasting prudence, in keeping aloof from
schemes,  which although  plausible, he could foresee  must
fail.  This caution may have  abridged his activity, but it
prolonged the  day of  his usefulness.   His path is strewn
with  as  few fragments of enterprises  wrecked,  as  that of
any other person, whose mind was always projecting plans
of  social improvement.
   His benevolence was of that practical, universal and pre-
ventive sort,—that it can be followed  by every body, every
day, in something; and if followed by every body, and begun
early, and persevered in, would change the whole aspect of
society in a single generation.   It began with  the  individ-
ual, each  man  and woman and child, by making the in-
dividual  better.   It worked outward through  the family
state, by precept and example, and above all by the formation
of habits, in  every child, before  that child had  become
hardened  into the guilty man and woman.  It operated on
every evil by remedies  specifically adapted to  meet its pecu-
liarities.  It promoted each good by agencies trained for that
special work.   It  looked to God for his  blessing, but its
faith in God's blessing was made sure by its own  diligent
works.
   Mr. Gallaudet was emphatically the friend of the poor
and the distressed.  He did not muse  in solitude  on human
misery, but sought out its  victims and did  something for
their relief.  There was a womanly tenderness in  his nature,
which was touched by  the voice of sorrow, whether  it came
 from the  hovel of the poor, or the mansion of the rich.   His
 benevolence was displayed not simply in bestowing alms,
 although his  own contributions were  neither few  or small
                    8 
54
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
 according to his means,—not simply as the judicious almoner
 of the bounty of others, although no man among us  was
 more ready to solicit pecuniary subscriptions  and contribu-
 tions, (not always the  most agreeable or acceptable business
 in the range of benevolent action,) or give the necessary time
 to the judicious application of the means  thus raised,—not
 simply by prayers earnest and appropriate, in the  home of
 mourning,—but by the mode and the spirit in which he dis-
 charged these several  duties.  He did not aim always or
 mainly to secure the pecuniary contributions of the rich, but
 what is of far higher value both to the rich and poor, to enlist
 their personal attention  to  the  condition of the  suffering
 members  of  society.   His wish  always was to localize and
 individualize benevolence so that every man should feel that •
 he has a direct personal interest in some spot and individual
 of the great field of suffering humanity.  He knew from his
 own heart, that we love that which we strive to  benefit, and
 he was therefore anxious that every man should be found doing
 good to something, or somebody, who stood in need of  such
 personal help.  His own life  was a practical illustration both
 of the wisdom and beauty of his doctrine.  He took a real
 pleasure in seeking out and relieving human suffering, and
 no one could more literally act out his religion,—if to do so
 was to visit the widow and fatherless in their  affliction.
  Although no man could place a higher  value on religion,
 as the personal concern of every son and daughter of Adam,
 and  as  the source  of  inward comfort and  strength, particu-
larly to the poor and distressed,—he knew full well that reli-
 gion did not  stand alone in the  human mind, and was not
 the only concern of human nature here below.  He felt and
 acknowledged its connection with the entire life,—with intel-
lectual cultivation, with manners and personal  habits,  with
household  arrangements  and  management,  and with the
substance and form of parental duty.   Hence his labors in
behalf of  the  poor covered  a much  larger ground than the
immediate relief  of physical wants, or the utterance  of a
 prayer, or words of spiritual consolation.  He  labored to im-
press on the rich and the poor, as householders and tenants 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
55
the Christian duty, the necessity of making the homes of the
poor more healthy, comfortable and attractive.   He saw the
difficulty, if not the impossibility of cultivating the  Christian
virtues  and graces, amid the filth  and discomfort  of cellars
and garrets, and even of such dwellings as the destitute gen-
erally occupy.  He saw also  the necessity of time and mental
vigor, if the poor  and  the laborer are to profit by sermons,
and tracts, and lectures.  After ten, twelve, or fifteen hours,
confinement to hard labor there is neither elasticity of mind
or  body to entertain  serious thought  or severe reading.
Both body and mind need  rest, or at least recreation, and
unless a taste for innocent  amusements has been created,
and easy access to such amusements can be had, the laborer
must go to his pillow,—or to the excitements of the  shop or
of congenial company.   Hence, Mr. Gallaudet's aims were
to secure for all laborers, old and young,—in the factory and
in the field,—in the shop, and in the kitchen,  time,—time to
attend to their spiritual and their intellectual improvement;—
in the second place, a taste for something pure and intellec-
tual,—and in the third place, the  means of gratifying these
tastes.
   In all his plans of benevolent  and Christian action,  for
society or for individuals, he  never lost sight of the paramount
claims  of home  and the family  state as the  preparatory
school, in which the good citizen  is to be trained up for  the
service of the state, and the  devoted Christian for the service
of his  Master.  The making of a little more  money, or the
participation of social enjoyments, were with him  no excuse
for neglecting an  engagement with his own children ;—nay,
when the  calls of the public, or the voice of  religion itself,
would seem to urge to the performance of higher  and more
important duties, his doctrine  was that conscience should
weigh these claims, looking  to the word of God for  instruc-
tion, and to the throne  of his grace, for guidance, against the
sacred trust of discharging his duty faithfully  in the domestic
circle.   In the peculiar position of his own  family, he  felt
these ties and claims the more strongly.
   On this, mainly, he rested his final declinature of the urgent
invitation  of the trustees of the New England Institution for 
56
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
the Blind, to place  himself  at  the  head of that benevolent
movement in  1831,—and in 1838. the as urgent solicitation
of the Board of Commissioners of Common Schools that he
would accept  the post of secretary, and the only executive
agent in its operations in behalf of education  in the State.
   There is one responsibility connected with  the situation of
the head of a family,—that of the guardianship of clerks and
apprentices,—the nature and duties of which he took every
fit occasion, in  conversation,  and  in  his public addresses,
to explain  and  enforce.   Many  a  young man, leaving  his
parental roof for the first time, breaking away from a mother's
tearful advice  and exhortations, and a father's last petition
to a kind Providence, to seek his fortune in this city as a
clerk  or apprentice, amid new companions, new trials, and
new temptations,—owes  his safety to the kind word fitly
spoken, or little  attention timely shown of Mr. Gallaudet.
And beyond this personal service, how often  and how earn-
estly has he explained and enforced the claims of such young
persons, on the  constant watchfulness and care of employ-
ers,—as the only individuals  that can  exercise a parental
guardianship over them, and who can  by making their own
homes attractive to them and their own children, preserve
them from the allurements of  vice and from  habits of dissi-
pation.
   I shall  not, I trust,  intrude  on the sacredness  of family
privacy, or private sorrow, in the few additional words which
I shall say of his domestic life.  Mr. Gallaudet was married
on the 10th of June, 1821, to Miss Sophia Fowler, of Guil-
ford, a deaf mute, with whom his acquaintance commenced
while she was a member of  the first class of pupils instructed
by him at the  Asylum.    Seldom  has domestic life been
blessed with so sweet an accord  of temper, taste, and views
of family instruction and discipline, and by such a bright
dower of clustering charities,—a triumphant testimony to the
deaf  mutes, of their inherent capability, properly instructed,
to take their appropriate position of influence in the family
state.  In no one position did  the distinguishing features of
his mind and heart  shine  out  more clearly than  in his own 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
57
home,  and in the practical discharge  of his  domestic and
social  duties.  Here his views,  as  a wise educator, were
illustrated by beginning the work of parental instruction and
example in the very arms of the mother, and in the lap of
the father, while natural affection tempers authority with
love, and filial  fear with filial attachment and  gratitude.
Here he aimed to form habits, as well as principles of truth,
temperance, honesty, justice, virtue, kindness  and industry.
Here by example and influence, by well-timed instruction and
judicious counsels, by a discipline uniform in its  demands
of strict obedience, yet tempered with parental fondness and
familiarity, did he  aim to fulfil the obligations which God
had imposed on him as the head of a family; and in this pre-
paratory sphere of instruction he had the personal and assid-
uous attention of Mrs. Gallaudet.   He was much with his
family,—joining  in their innocent recreations,—contributing
to their instruction and  improvement,—shedding  over them
the benign influence of  his example,—ruling almost with an
 unseen authority,—his look mild, yet unwavering,—his voice
 gentle, yet decided,—his manners  familiar, yet command-
 ing,—and looking  to  God  continually in prayer, and to his
 written word for guidance and  counsel.   In his own home,
 he sought and found repose and refreshment  after  his occu-
 pation in his own  study or his abounding labors abroad; and
 when  sickness visited  him, or  any member  of his family,
 which it did often and severely, they were all so trained as to
 minister to each other's  bodily wants, and as  well as to each
 other's spiritual necessities.

   In bringing this discourse, already too protracted, to a close,
 I will dwell for a moment  on some of the practical lessons,
 which we should gather from the contemplation of the life
 of Thomas  Hopkins  Gallaudet,  and bring home to our
 business and bosoms.
   The least we  can do  to  prove ourselves worthy of posses-
 sing his name and example among the moral  treasures of our
 city and State, is  to  cherish the family,—the objects of his
 tenderest solicitude and care, which he has left behind him; 
58
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
 and by some  fit  memorial to hold in fresh and everlasting
 remembrance, his deeds of beneficence  to us  and our pos-
 terity forever.   The ashes of such a man, in whose character
 the sublimest Christian virtues ceased to be abstractions, if
 his memory is properly cherished, will, like the  bones of the
 prophet, impart life to  all  who come in contact therewith.
 The ingenious youth  of our city,  should  be led, by some
 memorial of our gratitude for his services, to study his life,
 till its beauty and spirit shall pass into their own souls, and
 flow out afresh in their own acts of self-denying beneficence.
   Whatever we may do for the future, we may at least act
 in the living present, in the spirit, and to some  extent in the
 methods which have wrought such valuable results in his
 life. It may not be the lot of any of those who hear me, to
 pursue the same walk of professional labor,—it may not  be
 the privilege of any of us to open up new avenues of knowl-
 edge to those who, in, the providence of God, are deprived of
 all or either of the senses, through which the soul holds in-
 tercourse with the outer world ;  but if we look around in
 the streets, or neighborhood where we dwell,—if we will open
 our ears and our hearts in our daily walks, we shall not  fail
to find, as he always found, neglected or misguided children,
who are as truly shut out from innocent pleasures, from all
the delights and rewards of virtue, as are the deaf from  the
voice of men, or the blind from the light of day.  We need
not go out of the limits of our own city, to find children, who
have been accustomed  from infancy to sights and sounds of
open and abandoned profligacy, and trained,  by example, to
idle, vicious and  pilfering  habits, and who,  if  not rescued
soon, will be found hanging round places of public  resort,
polluting the atmosphere by their profane and vulgar speech,
alluring to their own bad practices children of the same and
other conditions of life, and originating  or participating  in
every street brawl or low-bred riot,  until, in their downward
career, there is on earth no lower point to reach.  Such chil-
dren can not be safely gathered, or profitably instructed  in
our public schools.  For them, one or more of that class of
educational institutions, known as refuge schools, or schools 
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
59
of industry, should be established.   But even  this will  not
reach the source or the extent of the evil.   The districts of
our city where this class of children are found, are the appro-
priate fields of  systematized  plans of local benevolence, em-
bracing friendly intercourse with the parents, an affectionate
interest in the children, the gathering of the latter into week-
day infant and primary schools, and schools where the use
of the needle, and  other forms of labor appropriate to the age
and sex of the pupils can be given,—the gathering of both
old and young into Sabbath  Schools and worshiping assem-
blies,—the circulation of books of other  than a strictly reli-
gious character,—the encouragement of cheap, innocent and
humanizing  games, sports and festivities,—the obtaining of
employment for adults who may need it, and procuring situ-
ations as apprentices, clerks,  &c, for such young persons as
may be  qualified  by age, capacity and character.  By indi-
vidual efforts and  the combined  efforts of many, working in
these and other ways, from year to year, these  moral jungles
can be broken up,—these infected regions can be purified,—
these waste  places of society can be reclaimed, and many
abodes of penury, ignorance and vice can be converted by
education, economy  and  industry, into  homes  of comfort,
peace and joy.
   It may not be our privilege,—and if it were, we may not
have the admirable tact to succeed as he did,—to retune the
harp of a thousand strings which misfortune, or the violations
of natural laws, on the observance  of which mental health
depends, or the transmitted  consequences of such violations
on the part of  parents, may  have shattered,—to bind up the
broken  heart,—to pour consolation into  the torn  bosom of
the friends and relations of the insane ;  but we may, if we
will follow  his example, help to rear up  a  generation of
youth having sound minds in sound bodies, which will thus
be better prepared to withstand the  shock  of sickness and
misfortune, and even counteract the inherited tendencies to
nervous and mental disease.
   We may not be called to go into the prison, to preach spir-
itual deliverance to the captive,—to reclaim the wandering 
60
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
Iambs  of  society back  to  the  fold of the family and the
church, and to temper the severity of penal justice with the
accents of heavenly mercy,—but we may, by our fidelity as
teachers, educators and friends of education, set  the feet of
the young in the way they should go, so that when they are
old they shall not depart therefrom, nor be doomed to wear
out a weary and guilty  life in the felon's cell, or atone for
manifold and heinous crimes against society on the ignomin-
ious scaffold. In some allotment of the wide domain of edu-
cation,—in its large and comprehensive sense, embracing the
culture of the whole being, and of every human being for two
worlds, we can  find objects and room enough for any sacri-
fice of time, money and  labor, we may have to bestow in its
behalf.   Ever  since the Great Teacher condescended  to
dwell among men, the progress of  this cause has been up-
ward and onward,  and its final  triumph has been longed for
and prayed for, and  believed in by every lover of his  race.
And although there is much that is dark and despairing in
the past and present condition of society, yet when we study
the nature of education,  and the necessity and capabilities of
improvement all around us, with the sure word of prophecy
in our hands, and with the evidence of what has already been
accomplished, the future rises bright and  glorious before us,
and on its forehead is the morning star, the herald of a better
day than has yet dawned upon our world.   In this sublime
possibility,—nay, in the sure word of God, let us in our hours
of doubt and despondency, reassure  our hope, strengthen our
faith,  and confirm the  unconquerable will.   The cause of
education can not fail, unless all the laws which have hereto-
fore governed the  progress of society shall cease to operate,
and Christianity shall prove to be a fable, and liberty a dream.
May we all hasten on its final triumph, by following the ex-
ample of the departed Gallaudet, in doing good according
to our means and opportunity,—and may each strive at the
end of life  to deserve his epitaph of " in whose death man-
kind lost a friend, and no man got rid of an enemy." 
                  TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY

                                 OF

ftn>. Stomas  Hopkins   ®allaubet,  ££ JB.,

                BY THE  CITIZENS OF HARTFORD.
   Rev. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, LL. D., died on the 10th of Sep-
 tember, 1851, and was buried on the 12th of the same month, after impressive
 religious services  in the South Congregational Church, which was crowded
 with  mourning friends, the officers and  members of the public institutions
 with  which the  deceased was  connected in life, and with citizens gener-
 ally.   The loss  which society and the cause of religion had thus sustained was
 duly  commemorated and  improved in  several  churches of the citv on the
 Sabbaths immediately following.  But it was  still a very general  wish that
 exercises of a more public character should be had, in which the citizens of
 Hartford generally might participate.
   In pursuance of a call signed by thirty  of the principal citizens of Hartford,
 a preliminary meeting was held in the Lecture Room of the Center Church,
 on the evening of the 20th of October, 18.51, in reference to the adoption of
 measures for some public tribute of respect to his memory.
   The meeting was called to order by Governor  Seymour, and organized by
 the appointment of  Hon.  Thomas  Day,  Chairman, and Luzerne  Rae, Sec-
 retary.
   A  series of resolutions  was presented by  the Rev. William W. Turner,
 which, after brief remarks by the mover,  the Hon. Seth Terry, the Rev. Dr.
 Bushnell, and other gentlemen, were unanimously adopted.

   ll'ltereas, It having pleased Almighty  God  to  remove  by death  the Rev.
 Thomas H. Gallaudet, LL. D., a resident of  Hartford for half a century,
universally known and  not less universally beloved and honored, both as  a
private citizen and public benefactor ;
  Resolved, That, in the view of this meeting, the  occasion is one which de.
                9 
62                 Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
 mands a more public and particular recognition, than properly belongs to the
 demise of an ordinary citizen.
   Resolved,  That the whole character of the eminent and excellent man whose
 death  we mourn, commanding, as it did, our reverence and admiration while
 he lived among us, will be long remembered now that he is dead, as a happy
 union  of various and often disunited qualities; of Christian faith and philan-
 thropic works;  of liberality  without laxity; of firmness without bigotry ; of
 sympathy with the vicious and the criminal in their sufferings, without undue
 tenderness toward vice and crime ; and as furnishing in its whole development,
 a beautiful  proof of the possibility of meeting the  most rigorous demands of
 conscience and of God, and of securing, at the same time, the love and respect
 of all glasses and conditions of men.
   Resolved,  That, by the death of Dr. Gallaudet, society has  lost  one  of its
 brightest ornaments ; the cause of education a most able and faithful advocate  ;
 religion, a shining example of daily devotion to  its principles; the young, a
 kind and judicious counselor; and the unfortunate of every class, a self-denying
 and never wearying  friend.
   Resolved,  That ihe noblest monuments of the deceased are  already erected;
 and that his name will never be forgotten, so long as the two benevolent institu-
 tions, one of which received its existence from the labor of his early  manhood,
 while the other enjoyed the devoted services of his later years, remain to crown
 the beautiful hills in  the neighborhood of our city.
   Resolved,  That a committee of five be  appointed by this meeting,  to  devise
 such measures as may seem expedient, in further tribute to the memory of Dr.
 Gallaudet; and to make all the arrangements necessary  to carry these meas-
 ures into effect.

   It was voted that the resolutions adopted by the meeting should be printed
in the  public papers, and that a copy of the same  should be presented by
 the Secretary to the family of Mr. Gallaudet.
   In accordance with the  last of these resolutions, a committee of arrange-
ments  was appointed, consisting  of the following  gentlemen:—B. Hudson,
Esq., His Excellency, Thomas  H. Seymour, James H. Wells, Esq., Phillip
Ripley, Esq., Dr. John S. Butler.
   In pursuance of the action of this committee, the following Public Services
were held in the South Congregational  Church  on Wednesday  evening,
January  7th, 1852.

                                CHANT.
  Blessed are the dead,   who die in the Lord from  henceforth.  Yea,  saith
the Spirit, that  they may rest from  their labors, and their works do follow
them.
  Our  days  are  as a shadow, and there is none abiding; we are but of yes-
terday, there is but a stejJ between us and death.
  Man's days are as grass;  as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
  He appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
  Watch, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
  Be ye also ready, for in  such an hour as ye think not the  Son of man cometh.
  It is  the Lord :  let  him do what seemeth him good.
  The  Lord  gave, and the Lord hath taken away, and blessed be the name of
the Lord.

                 SELECTIONS FROM SCRIPTURE.
BY REV. WALTER CLARKE. 
Thomas Hopkins  Gallaudet.
63
               HYMN.
   BY  MRS. LYDIA HUNTLEY SIOOURNEY.
We mourn his loss,—who meekly walked
  In the Redeemer's way,
And toiled the unfolding mind to shield
  From Error's darkening sway;

Who strove through Nature's prisoning shades
  The hermit-heart to reach,
And with philosophy divine
  To give the silent, speech ;

Who 'mid the cells  of dire  disease
  In prayerful patience wrought,
And stricken and bewildered souls
  To a Great Healer brought.

 Around his grave let pilgrims throng,
   And tears bedew his urn :
 'Tis meet that for the friend  of all,
   The hearts of all should mourn.

 Yet meet it is our God to praise
   For his example here,
 And for his glorious rest,—above
   The trial and the tear.

               PRAYER.
          BY REV. WALTER  CLARKE.

                 HYMN.
              BY  LUZERNE  RAE.
  He dies : the earth becomes more dark
   When such as he ascend to heaven,
  For where Death strikes a ' shining mark,'
    Through bleeding hearts his shaft is driven,
  Alike the sounds of mourning come
    From humble hut and lofty hall,
  Wherever misery finds a  home;
    And all  lament the friend of all.

  He dies: and still around his grave,
    The silent sons  of sorrow bend,
  With tears for him they could not save,
    Their guide—their fatherland their friend \
  And minds in ruin ask for him,
    With wondering woe that he is gone;
  And cheeks are pale and eyes are dim,
     Among the outcast and forlorn, 
64
Thomas  Hopkins  Gallaudet.
 Me lives :  for virtue cannot die ;
   The man departs, his deeds remain;
 They wipe the tear, they check the sigh,
   They hush the sob of mortal pain.
 Love lasts forever : age on age
   The holy flame renews its glow,
 While man's brief years of pilgrimage.
   End in the dust of death below.

 He lives :  his memory is  the light
   To which our eyes with reverence turn :
 To love the true—to choose the right—
   Are lessons from his life we learn.
 Give us, O God! thy guiding hand,
   And teach us by thy word, that we
 Like him may labor in the land,
   And follow him to heaven  and Thee.

               EULOGY.

           BY HENRY BARNARD.

               DIRGE.
Paraphrase of COLLINS' " How sleep the brave!"

   BY REV. THOMAS H. GALLAUDET, LL. D.

   How sleep the good! who  sink to rest,
   With their Redeemer's favor blest:
   When dawns the day, by seers of old,
   In sacred prophecy foretold,
   They then shall burst their humble sod,
   And rise to meet their Saviour—God.

   To seats of bliss by angel-tongue,
   With rapture is their welcome sung,
   And at their tomb when evening gray
   Hallows the hour of closing day,
   Shall Faith and Hope awhile repair,
   To dwell with weeping Friendship there. 
APPENDIX.
   I.  Alice Cogswell.
  II.  Deaf-Mute Instruction and Institutions.
 HI.  History of the American Asylum  for the Education of Deaf and
          Dumb Persons.
 IV.  Journal of Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet during his visit  to Europe,
          in 1815-16.
  V.  Discourse  delivered at  the Opening of the American  Asylum,
          April 20,',1817.
 VI.  Discourse  at the Dedication of the  American Asylum,  May 22,
          1821.
 VH.  Proceedings on the Presentation of Silver Plate to Messrs. Gallau-
          det and Clerc.
Vm.  Discourse at the Dedication of the Chapel of the Connecticut Re-
          treat for the Insane, January 6, 1846.
 IX.  History  of Normal Schools,  or Seminaries  for  the Education  of
          Teachers.
  X.  Remarks on Seminaries  for Teachers.
 XI.   List of Publications by Rev.  Thomas H. Gallaudet. 
 
ALICE  COGSWELL.
  Alice Cogswell, the third daughter of Dr. MasSon F. and Mrs. Mary A.
Cogswell, of Hartford, Conn., was born on the 31st of August, 1805, and be-
came deaf (and afterward dumb) in the autumn of 1807, in consequence of
an attack of spotted fever, when two years and three months old.  A beauti-
ful sketch of her character and her early school life, is given by Mrs. Lydia
Huntley Sigourney,  in  that valuable contribution  which  she  has recently
made to the library of every teacher, as well as of every young lady, entitled
Letters to my Pupils.  The following touching account (with a few verbal al-
terations)  of her last illness and death, which occurred in 1830, almost imme-
diately after the death of her father, to whom she was passionately attached,
is from  the pen  of Miss Catharine E.  Beecher, and was published in the
Christian Keepsake in 1848,  as part of an article entitled " Reminiscences."

  The smiling and happy Alice was the darling of the family, and  no one,
in gazing on her intelligent face, her animated movements, and her cheerful
industry, would imagine that silence had for  ever sealed her lips, and that
the music of speech had  never charmed  her ear.
  But affection had lavished every effort to  remedy this early misfortune,
and so devoted was every one around her in ministering to her improvement
and enjoyment, that she  was never known to lament that hers was a peculiar
lot.  With a mind naturally quick and imaginative, with a high  relish for
natural  scenery, with a degree  of cultivation that enabled  her to gain  infor-
mation  and  amusement  from books, and surrounded by  fond friends able
to communicate by her own silent and expressive language, she never seemed
to want for varied and constant enjoyment.  And her  pious and intelligent
teacher  had so imbued her mind  with religious truth, that the hopes of reli-
gion had illumined her mind.
  It was an interesting sighf to behold her in the social circle, as her parents,
or sisters, or brother, would watch her inquiring glances, and communicate
by graceful signs such of the passing conversation as she seemed anxious  to
learn, as she gathered its note  and interest from the countenances of those
around.
  No one could long be intimate with this family, without feeling that they
were  united by no  ordinary degree of family attachment;  and not unfre-
quently a sad sort of feeling would steal over the mind, at remembering that 
68
ALICE  COGSWELL.
a day must come when such tender ties must be severed by death.   Such
thoughts as these stole over the mind  one evening, as the mother was speak-
ing of a friend who  had lost two children  at  a stroke.  Her eye wandered
over the group around her, and tears began to gather  as she said, " I dare
not think of what may be before me ; I should feel it aU to lose only one,—
for you know," said she,  " the heart can not feel more than all— and that 1
should feel wherever the blow first falls."    How speedily were these fore-
bodings fulfilled!
   An extract from a letter written amid the scenes of sorrow that so soon
followed, will more faithfully delineate than any efforts at reminiscence.
   No,  never, my dear E----, did I pass through a scene of such varied,
such interesting, such mournful excitement.  Yes, he is gone !—our friend—
our adviser,—our help and comforter both in sickness and health; and with
him is laid our darling Alice too!  Oh, if you had known all his kindness
and care, and how like a father he has been to us, you would  not wonder that
we feel as orphans.  Nor are we alone in grief,—it would seem as if the whole
place were in tears at his death:  there  is scarcely a family that does not feel
that they have lost a friend.
   But it is of Alice chiefly that I would write.   Would that I could convey
to your imagination the sublime, the touching scene when this bright and
happy being first looked on sorrow and  death.
   It was in the stillness of midnight,—the neighbors and  friends were gone
home to rest.  On the bed of death lay  her idolized father, supported on each
side  by two young physicians, his favorite  pupils.   Around him were gath-
ered his family, to catch his last lingering  accents of love, as he passed from
them down the dark valley.   She saw  the parting strife  of the dying; she
watched the agonized countenances and flowing tears of those who survived.
But she heard not the language of yearning tenderness, of triumphant hope,
of pious resignation, as the dearest ties of life were being sundered, while
Heaven, as it opened to the dying father, seemed to shed its light and peace
into the bosoms of the beloved ones he was leaving  behind.  She heard not
the voices of the tender and beautiful daughters, as they poured into the ear
of the  dying, the sublime and glowing language of inspired consolation, and
seemed to be raising their parent in their arms to sister spirits above.
   So absorbed were all in this overwhelming scene, that it was not till all was
over, that the mother first felt alarm for  the effects on the pale, mute and
tearless child, who had gazed on a scene so strange and new, with none to
interpret or explain.  But she seemed  so quiet, to submissive, so full of con-
fiding  trust in the Almighty Friend she had learned to love, that alarm was
soon removed.  The  next day I spent in the  room where the father had
breathed  his last.  The  family were assembled there, and spent the day  to-
gether, while neighbors and friends arranged for the funeral and prepared
habiliments of mourning.
   All the rest relieved  their troubled hearts  by tears, but Alice  never
 wept.  Her contenance, however, gleamed like  an angel, as she went from 
ALICE  COGSWELL.
69
one to another as a ministering spirit, speaking peace, resignation and love.
Never did I witness any thing more interesting than her attitudes, her face,
and her language, as she  would glide from one to another of her weeping
friends, and in the expressive gestures  of  her silent language, present the
soothing and consoling expressions of piety  and love.
  The next day was the Sabbath, and early in the morning I received a
summons to the house of mourning, with the appalling information that Alice
had become distracted.  As I passed  to the house, I saw the  neighbors  in
groups, conversing in low tones, with  looks of sorrow and alarm.  I met the
pastor of the family.   He seemed agitated  and  distressed, and, as I parted,
in tones of peculiar solemnity and feeling gave the benediction, " The Lord
bless and direct you."
   When I entered the house I learned the  events of the past night.   At the
same hour of the night at which the father  had died, the son-in-law was awa-
kened with dreadful shrieks  below.   He  hastened down,  and found one
daughter fainting on the floor, apparently dead; another daughter was strug-
gling with the shrieking and frantic Alice, while the mother, almost faint-
ing, was vainly attempting to aid.  It was inded a night of terror  and dis-
tress.  When I arrived, Alice had become tranquil, and seemed restored to
reason.   Solitude and quiet were enjoined,  with the hope that she might gain
some sleep; and I was requested  to stay by her bedside through the day.
   It was the day of the funeral, and the great fear was, that when she found
that her father was to be buried, and that she could not go with the rest to  his
grave, that she would again lose her reason.   As they opened her darkened
room, her brother-in-law grasped my  hand,—" Oh," said he, "you can not be
too cautious,—may God give you wisdom."
   For a moment it seemed as if I never could command courage to assume
so difficult and responsible  a  post,—yet I  could not refuse.   The door was
closed, and I approached the bed.  A faint light fell upon her pale face from
the shaded windows.   As I bent  over her, an expression of distress passed
over her features,—she threw her arms around my neck,—kissed  me repeat-
edly, and then began to tell me " she  was sick, and that her father could not
take  care of her any more,"—while her aspect of fear and distress seemed to
IllCrG3*SC-
   I began  immediately to tell her that her father, when he was dying, gave
his dear Alice to Jesus Christ, and  that now she must  think of Him as her
father who was always with her, who loved her more than even her earthly
parent, that he pitied her and knew all her wants, and would do for her all
 tli3.t slit* tiggcigcI.*
   She gave her fixed attention, while I endeavored to bring before her mind
 those endearing  exhibitions of pity,  tenderness, love,  and sympathy, to  be
 found in the Saviour, which so tender and sorrowing a spirit could feel and
 understand—his tenderness to little children — his pity for the sick and suf-
 fering—his sympathy for the sorrowful—his tenderness toward his mother,
 his compassion for his sorrowing disciples  when leaving them.   She seemed
                          10 
70
ALICE  COGSWELL.
to realize it all, and soon began to add to the picture with memories and con-
ceptions of her own, at once poetical and touching.  And the impression
which seemed to fasten on her mind, that this blessed Saviour, though unseen,
was present with  her, loved  her, pitied her, watched over  her,—had  taken
her father to be happy in heaven, and would soon  take her there to meet
him,—came like a balm to her wounded spirit.  Never before did I so realize
the wisdom and condescension of Deity when he came as '  God manifest in
the flesh,' as in this case, when this simple, sorrowing, almost distracted  mind,
could turn from the incomprehensible ideas of an all-pervading Essence, to
rest on the bosom of one who is just such a being as the humblest mind can
understand and love.
  In an hour or two my immediate fears were gone, and just as the dreadful
time arrived, when she  knew by the  movements and jar in the house that
they were to bear her father's body away, she looked calmly in my face, and
with a sweet smile she said, " I  am too sick to go to my father's grave,—I must
try to go to sleep," and before  another hour  had passed she was  in a quiet
slumber.
  Overcome with anxiety and  excitement, I leaned  my head on her pillow,
so that I could feel her slightest motion, and fell asleep.   I was  awoke by the
heavy toll of the bell  in the immediate vicinity, that announced that the pro-
cession was moving to the grave.  The jar probably awoke her, and again I
saw a distressed expression pass over her countenance.   A  small opening in
the shutter was opposite her bed, and the large flakes of snow were descend-
ing past it: she raised her hand and with a shudder spelt " cold, icy grave"  I
pointed to the white flakes, and told her it was a pure and beautiful covering
for his grave, to make us think  of the white robes he had put on in Heaven.
It touched her poetic fancy;  she smiled ;  and again I endeavored to lead her
mind to Him who alone can heal the wounded spirit, and bind up the broken
in heart.
  After a while I raised her  in bed, and  put into her hands that most  touch-
ing passage of our Saviour's life, where to his mourning disciples he begins,
" Let not your heart be troubled."   As she bent over the sacred pages, and
in her usual way pointed with her finger as she  read, I  saw the relieving
tears start from her eyes and trickle down her cheeks,—the first I  had seen
her shed  since her father's  death.   After this  she lay down and seemed
peaceful and composed.
  Soon after, as 1 bent  down to kiss her,  she looked up with an inquiring ex-
pression,  and putting up her hand, asked me, " Why I loved her so  much
more than I used to do ?"
  I told her we always loved our friends  the best when they were in trouble,
because they then most needed our affection,—that I had loved her very
much a great while, but now  I loved  her  still more.
  She seemed to understand  it, and then began in  her  metaphorical way to
describe my love for her, how it was once like a little shrub, but now it  had
grown up large  and wide to keep off the  sun and wind, and it made her feel 
ALICE  COGSAVELL.
71
comfortable and pleasant, and soon after this graceful expression of gratitude
and affection, she again fell asleep.
   The two succeeding days and nights I spent with  her, till  fears of danger
were to a great degree removed.  The evening I left her, she looked anx-
iously in my face and asked me not to go away from her.   I told her I would
soon come again :  but shall I ever forget her last look as I turned to go V  It
was the last time I saw her living countenance !  The next morning I heard
that she  was  raving.   I was  told that she  could  recognize  no one,—that
her state  was such that it would be no comfort to her and might injure me to
visit her ; and  so I never saw that sweet face again, till in the habiliments of
death she was borne away.   She passed ten days of shrieks and moans and
incoherent cries, and  then  was released, and  laid  beside her father in the
quiet grave.   Those who were with her, and understood her mute language,
spoke of the  pathos  and  beauty of some of her  ravings.    Sometimes she
fancied that she was  in Heaven.  " Is  it David's harp I hear ?" she would
ask, as if the seal  were taken from her ear, and she heard the harmonies of
 heaven.  She  told them " her  heart had grown so  close to her father's that
 they could  not be separated ;  and oh," said she, " when I arrive at Heaven's
 gate, how my father will hold out his arms to take  me to his bosom."  She
 seemed to have some short intervals of reason. The last time was a few hours
 before  her  death.  All the family had tried  in vain to catch  the attention  of
 her wandering eye.   At last her beloved instructor, who had taught her the
 language of sfgns, succeeded in  obtaining a  look  of intelligent recognition.
 He made the sign of the wounded hand, by which in that language the Sav-
 iour is designated.   She made the sign for prayer,  and immediately, with the
 solemn signs of worship he commended this helpless, dying lamb to the care
 of that Good  Shepherd in whom her spirit sought repose.   She followed him
 through with looks of intelligence and interest, and very soon after she closed
 her eyes forever, and sunk away so peacefully that they scarcely knew when
 her spirit had fled.   Soon after this event her early friend and teacher—the
 sweetest poetess of our land—presented the following lines to the family.

                Sisters! there's music here!
                  From countless harps it flows,
                Throughout this bright celestial sphere,
                  Nor pause nor discord knows.
                  The seal is melted from my  ear
                      By love  divine,
                  And what through life I pined to hear,
                      Is mine  '. Is mine !
                  The warbling of an ever-tuneful choir,
                And  the full deep response of David's sacred lyre,
                  Did kind earth hide from me
                      Her broken harmony,
                That thus the melodies of heaven might roll,
          And  whelm in deeper tides of bliss my rapt, my wondering soul > 
ALICE  COHSWELL.
      Joy! I am mute no more!
        My sad and silent years
      With all their loneliness are o'er.
        Sweet sisters, dry your tears!
  Listen at hush of eve,—listen at dawn of day,—
  List at the hour of prayer,—can ye not hear my lay ?
      Untaught, unchecked it came,
        As light from chaos beamed,
      Praising His everlasting name,
        Whose blood from Calvary streamed,
And still it swells that highest strain,—the song of the redeemed.
      Brother ! my only one !
        Beloved from childhood's hours,
      With whom, beneath the vernal sun,
        I wandered  when our task was done,
      And gathered  early flowers,
          I cannot come to thee.
      Though 'twas so sweet to rest
Upon thy gently guiding arm, thy sympathizing breast,
          'Tis better here to be-
      No disappointments shroud
        The angel-bowers of joy,
      Our knowledge hath no cloud,
        Our pleasures no alloy.
      The fearful word to part
        Is never breathed above,
      Heaven hath no broken heart,—
        Call me not hence, my love.
      O mother ! He is here
        To "whom my heart so grew,
      That when death's fatal spear
      Stretched him upon his bier,
        I fain must  follow too !
      His smile my  infant griefs restrained,
        His image in my childish dream,
      And o'er my young affections, reigned
        With gratitude unuttered and supreme ;
But yet till these refulgent skies burst forth in radiant show,
I knew not half the unmeasured debt a daughter's heart doth owe.
Ask ye, if still his heart retains his ardent glow ?
        Ask ye if filial love
        Unbodied spirits prove ?
'Tis but a little space,  and thou shalt rise to know.
       I bend to sooth thy woes,—
         How near thou canst not see—
      I watch thy lone repose,—
        Alice does comfort thee :
  To welcome thee I wait; blest mother! come to me. 
HISTORY  OF
     DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION  AND INSTITUTIONS.


  It is difficult for persons, who see every day men and  women who were
born deaf and dumb, or who became so from any cause when very young,—
well educated, highly intelligent, and engaged usefully and cheerfully in the
practical affairs of life,—or who are familiar with the processes and  results
of deaf-mute instruction in any of our institutions founded by public  or pri-
vate benevolence for this particular class of our fellow-men, to conceive the
deplorable state in which the deaf and dumb were only a half century since,
in the most highly civilized countries, or to appreciate the labors of those men
who were pioneers in this work of benevolence, as discoverers or improvers
of these methods, or as founders of this class of institutions.  To throw light
on these points, and to enable us to understand and appreciate the value of
the labors of such men as Heinicke, De I'Epe'e, Sicard, Gallaudet and others,
is the object of this sketch, drawn mainly from a series of  bibliographical ar-
ticles by Prof. Samuel Porter, in the American Annals of the Deaf and
Dumb, edited by Luzerne Rae, of Hartford, and from the authorities referred
to or quoted in those and other articles in the  Annals.
   The main facts relating  to the instruction of the deaf and dumb are neither
numerous nor difficult of discovery, since they all  belong to comparatively
modern times.  Ancient writers who  have alluded to  this class of persons,
speak of their education as hopeless; agreeing with the sentiment expressed
by the well known couplet of Lucretius,—
             " To instruct  the deaf, no art could ever reach,—
             No care improve them, and no wisdom teach."
   The earliest notice of any attempt to instruct the deaf and dumb in England,
is found in  Bede's History of the English Church, in which he records as a
miracle, an  instance of the successful instruction of a deaf mute in articula-
tion, by John, Bishop of Hagulstad, about the year  690, by causing a person
who was never able to speak so much as one word, to repeat letters, syllables,
and even words and sentences, after him.  The fact being cited as a miracle,
the historian goes no further  into details, than  to say, that the Bishop took
the person by the chin and made the sign of the cross on his tongue.   What
else was done, by the Bishop or the mute,  does not appear.
   John Bulwer, in the Chirolgia, or the Natural Language of the Hand, pub-
 lished in 1644, and in his Philocophos, or the Deaf and Dumbe Man's Friend,
 published in 1648, was the first English  writer who proposed the use  of pan-
 tomimic signs as a means of teaching  language.  The first practical  teacher
 of the deaf and dumb, in England, of which we have  any notice, was Dr. 
 '-*       DEAK-.Ml'TE  INSTRUCTION  AND INSTITUTIONS.

John Wallis, Professor of Mathematics in the University of Oxford.  In the
preface to the fifth edition of his Grammatica Linguae Anglicanae, (first pub-
lished in 1653,) he says he has not only corrected stammering or otherwise
defective articulation, but  instructed two deaf mutes to articulate distinctly;
adding  that he had also taught them  (an entirely different matter, he ob-
serves)  to understand the meaning of language, and thus to use it in speak-
ing, reading and writing.  In a letter to Hon. Robert Boyle, dated 1662, and
published in 1670 in the Philosophical  Transactions, he anticipates the fun-
damental idea of the school of De I'Epe'e and Sicard,  that we may learn to
form conceptions in written, as well as  in spoken  language, and that in the
work of deaf-mute instruction, he proceeded from certain  actions and ges-
tures which have a natural signification, to convey ideas  not  already under-
stood.   One of his  pupils, a son of the mayor of Northampton, was in May,
1662, examined by the Royal Society, and exhibited  his attainments before
the king and nobility.  In his letter to Thomas Beverly, published in 1698,
he gives a concise explanation and outline of a method for  instructing deaf
mutes to the use of language, without resort to exercises in articulation.
  In  1680, George Dalgarno, born and educated in Scotland, but master of
a private grammar school at  Oxford at the time, published a work entitled
Didascolocophus,  or the Deaf and Dumb Man's Tutor, in  which, while he
admits that articulation and reading on the lips can be acquired to a degree,
but not  so as to be useful, he would substitute written language and a manual
alphabet, in the instruction of the deaf and dumb.  This last means of in-
struction, he was the first English writer to suggest, and he  describes one, as
modified by himself, which is very similar to the present two-handed alphabet
commonly used in Great Britain.
  For nearly a century, the seed sown by Wallis and  Dalgarno seemed al-
most to  have perished, save in isolated cases of instruction in private families,
until 1760, when Thomas Braidwood, of Scotland, " undertook, at the earnest
solicitation  of a rich merchant  of Leith, to carry into effect  the  plans of in-
struction given in the Philosophical Transactions," by establishing a school
or academy in Edinburgh.  The school opened with one  pupil, the son of
the merchant referred  to; but as his success became known, the number of
pupils increased, and his academy and methods were regarded by such men
as Dr. Johnson and Lord Monboddo, in 1772, as among the objects of philo-
sophical interest.   Dr. Johnson thus refers to a visit paid to the school in
1772, in his Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland.
  " There is one subject of philosophical  interest to be found in Edinburgh,
which no other city has to show: a college of the  deaf and dumb, who are
taught to speak, to read, to write, and to practice arithmetic, by a gentleman
whose name is Braidwood.  The number which attends him is, I think, about
twelve, which he  brings together in a little school, and instructs according to
their several degrees of proficiency. * * *  This school I visited, and found
some of the scholars waiting for their master, whom they are said to receive
at his entrance with smiling countenances and sparkling eyes, delighted  with 
          DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION  AND INSTITUTIONS.      75

the hope of new ideas. * * * The  improvement of Mr. Braidwood's pupils
is wonderful.   They not only speak, write, and understand  what is written,
but, if he that speaks looks toward  them, and modifies his organs by distinct
and full utterance, they know so well what is spoken, that it  is an expression
scarcely figurative to say they hear with the eye. * * * It  was pleasing to
see one of the most desperate of human calamities capable of so much help.
Whatever enlarges hope  will exalt courage.   After seeing  the deaf taught
arithmetic, who would be afraid to  cultivate the Hebrides ?"
   This school was the parent and  model of all the early  institutions for the
deaf and dumb in Great Britain.   The founder has not added to his perma-
nent reputation with posterity, by  his undisguised efforts to  make a mystery
of his art, and to  monopolize in his family this beautiful gift of charity.  Mr.
Thomas Braidwood trained all the  members of his own  family to a practical
knowledge of his method of instruction, as a profitable employment, but never
published any thing on the subject.  He associated his brother John  with
himself in 1770, and in 1783 removed his school  to Hackney, near  London,
where he continued it till his death in  1806.  His widow, assisted by her grand-
children, sustained  the school till  1816.  A grandson, named Thomas, who
assisted at Hackney till 1814, took charge of an institution at Edgbaston,
near Birmingham, in that year.   Another grandson, named John, had charge
for one year  of the institution at Edinburgh, founded in  1810, and afterward
removed to Virginia, to take charge of the education of a few deaf and dumb
children belonging to a family of wealth in that State.  He was in this coun-
try in  1816,  for when Mr. Gallaudet, in that year,  applied to Mr. Thomas
Braidwood to release Mr. Kinniburgh of the Edinburgh institution from an
obligation which he (Mr. K.) had come under  to the Braidwood family, not
to communicate the art, and not to  teach any one  but charity scholars  for
seven  years, Mr. Braidwood, after  consulting with his  mother  and other
friends, gave a decided negative, remarking that his brother  was in America,
" and that liberal encouragement on the part of your countrymen will be fol-
lowed by the most strenuous exertions of my brother to deserve it."  Dr. Jo-
seph Watson, the first teacher in the London  Asylum, was  a relative of the
Braid woods,  and acquired the art  from them,  as an assistant in their school
at Hackney.
   The following notice of the history of the London Asylum is gathered from
a memoir of  its founder, as abridged by  Prof. Porter.
   The London Asylum for the Support and Education of Indigent Deaf and
Dumb Children, was founded in  1792, mainly through the benevolent efforts
of Rev. John Townsend, a minister of the Congregational order in  London,
who, in the loveliness and gentleness of his character, as well as in the activity
and largeness of his benevolence,  resembled our own  Gallaudet.  He was
active in the  formation and management of the British and Foreign Bible So-
ciety, the Religious Tract  Society,  the London Missionary Society,  and sim-
ilar institutions.
   In  his ministerial relation, Mr. Townsend became acquainted with a lady, 
76
DEAF-MUTE INSTRUCTION  AND  INSTITUTIONS.
 whose son was deaf and dumb, and who had been a pupil of Mr. Braidwood's
 almost ten years.  The youth evinced an intellectual capacity which caused
 delight and surprise to the good pastor, who was astonished at the facility and
 accuracy with which  ideas were received and communicated.  Mrs. C, the
 lady referred to, sympathizing with those mothers whose circumstances pre-
 cluded their incurring  the expense of £1,500, (which was the sum  paid by
 herself,) pleaded the cause of those afflicted and destitute outcasts of society,
 until Mr. T. entered into her feelings of commiseration, and decided with her
 on the necessity and practicability of having a charitable institution for the
 deaf and dumb children of the poor.
   The subscriptions were commenced on  Sunday, June 1st, 1792.   The
 next morning, Mr. Townsend waited on Mr. Henry Thornton, a gentleman
 of distinguished philanthropy:—" as he had never seen a deaf and dumb
 child, he thought the number would be too small to form the projected insti-
 tution ;" but was induced by the  representations of Mr. T., to lend his co-
 operation.   A prospectus  was issued in the Times, and Morning Chronicle ;
 and this brought a visit  from Dr. Watson, whose services were secured as in-
 structor.  Handbills, or circulars, were  issued, and freely distributed.  Mr.
 T. soon presented the object to his friend, the Rev. Henry Cox Mason, rec-
 tor of Bermondsey, " who at first seemed indifferent to the object, and smiled
 at the undertaking as romantic;" but soon after engaged with Mr. T. in per-
 sonal solicitations for pecuniary aid, and in other labors in behalf of the in-
 fant institution.  In August, the Society, composed of subscribers, was organ-
 ized, with Mr. Thornton as treasurer,  and Mr. Mason, secretary.   On  the
 14th of November, the school was opened with four pupils.   It was afterward
 generously supported  by the public, and the number of  admissions rapidly
 increased.  In 1807, the building in Kent Road was erected, which has since
 been enlarged repeatedly.  In the. years 1808, 1809, and 1810, Mr.  Towns-
 end performed several  preaching tours,  in behalf of the Asylum;  and in
 those three years "was the instrument of adding no less a sum than £6,000
 to the funds of  the Society,"  which now amount  to £100,000.  The insti-
 tution continued, while he  lived, the object of his liveliest interest, and of his
 care and aid in various ways.  At  his death, in 1826, the number under in-
 struction was two hundred and twenty, and the amount  of admissions  had
 been nearly nine hundred.  Soon after his death, a statue to his memory was
 placed in the hall of the  institution.
  The General Institution for  the Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Children
 near Birmingham, originated  with  Dr. De Lys, who in 1812  excited a de-
 gree of interest in Birmingham, sufficient to raise the necessary funds for the
 establishment of  a school, by giving lectures on the subject of deaf-mute in-
 struction, and  exhibiting a little girl eight years old, a deaf mute, whom he
and a friend had succeeded in teaching to some  extent.  The school  was
 opened in January, 1814, under Mr. Thomas Braidwood.  On his death, the
committee of management invited Mr. William C. Woodbridge, for six years
connected with the Asylum in  Hartford, to take the superintendence of the 
          DEAF-MUTE INSTRUCTION AND  INSTITUTIONS.      77

institution, on the ground that a change in the system of instruction hitherto
pursued in this, and similar institutions in England, was highly expedient,  as
shown by comparing the progress made by their pupils, with the superior
progress  made  by pupils educated in the  schools  of Paris, Hartford, New
York and Philadelphia.  This superior progress is attributed by the commit-
tee to the practice, in the institutions last named, of improving and  system-
atizing the language of gesture and expression, as the spontaneous and uni-
versal medium of communication of deaf mutes with each other, and the most
direct mode  of developing their minds and  imparting knowledge.   Mr.
Woodbridge  did not accept, but the new system was fairly introduced in the
following year,  and has worked to the satisfaction of the managers.  It  may
be remarked  here, that a visit of  the Abbe' Sicard, with his pupils, Massieu
and Clerc, to London, in 1815, attracted attention  to the  French system of
deaf-mute instruction, and has been followed by a gradual modification of the
method which before prevailed in all the English schools.  The merits of the
two systems,  the English and French, and particularly the question of teach-
ing articulation and discarding it, and that of  educating the deaf and dumb
in separate institutions or in the schools for speaking children, soon after that
visit, were freely discussed in the  Christian  Observer and London Quarterly
Review.   To the former, Mr. Gallaudet contributed several articles in 1819,
explaining the advantage of signs over articulation, for imparting to the deaf
and dumb a knowledge of language.
   The second  institution which  came  into operation in Great Britain was
that of Edinburgh, which  was established in  1810,  under the  care of Mr-
John Braidwood, who removed to America in 1812, and was succeeded by
Rev. R.  Kinniburgh, who has continued at the head of the institution for
more than forty years.  He acquired the art from the  Braidwood family at
Hackney, and chiefly from  the widow of Mr. Thomas Braidwood, senior, and
from the son, who was afterward at the head of the Birmingham  school.  He
came under restrictions, not to teach the art to any one to practice again, in
consequence  of which Mr.  Gallaudet was excluded in 1816, and also not  to
teach any but charity scholars.  After three years he obtained liberty to take
private pupils, on condition of paying one-half the sum received to the Braid-
wood family.  From that time he continued to take " parlor boarders," the
children  of the rich, and, as is done in  nearly all of the institutions of this
class in Great Britain, appropriating the receipts to his  own salary.
  A visit of  Mr. Kinniburgh to Glasgow, with some of his pupils, in 1814,
was the means of first calling the attention of the public in that  city to the
education of  the  deaf and  dumb.  It resulted  in the formation of a society
auxiliary to that of Edinburgh, and, in 1819, in the establishment of a sepa-
rate institution.   Up  to  1831, the methods of instruction were  similar  to
those pursued in the  London and Edinburgh  schools,  from which its head
teachers  were taken.  Although articulation continues to be taught to those
pupils who are fit subjects for such training, the methods since 1831 have been
                           11 
78       DEAF-MUTE INSTRUCTION  AND  INSTITUTIONS.

more like those pursued in the Paris institution.   This school has received
some handsome legacies for its support, within the last twelve years.
  The National Institute for the Deaf and Dumb of Ireland, originated with
Dr.  C. E. H.  Orpen, a benevolent physician of Dublin,  who, in 1806,
became interested in the history of the Birmingham Institution, and adopted a
similar course  to interest the benevolent among his  own  neighbors  and
friends.  A fund sufficient to start a school was raised  by subscription, and
application was made to the London Asylum for a qualified instructor, or for
the  privilege of sending a suitable person there to be qualified; but without
success.  Application was made to Dr. Braidwood of the Birmingham Institu-
tion, but  he " would not teach any one without being well paid, and without
an engagement not to teach any one else (as teacher) for some years."  On
applying to Mr. Kinniburgh,  of the Edinburgh school, it was found that he
was under bonds to the Braidwood family not to communicate the art for two
years longer.  The school was accordingly opened with two young men with-
out experience, but who succeeded better than  could be expected.  At the
end of two years, the principal  of the school spent  three months with Mr.
Kinniburgh, for which he paid the sum of $750, in consideration of the expense
incurred  by Mr. K. to obtain  his experience, and with an injunction against
giving  instruction to any who might design to set up a rival establishment in
Scotland, which might injure the Edinburgh institution by diminishing  that
portion of its  income derived from  private  pupils, the  children of wealthy
parents.   This restriction was afterwards removed.
  This institution has not laid such stress on articulation, as the London Asy-
lum, and its annual reports  show that  the  managers  and instructors have
been diligent in making  themselves  acquainted with all  the improvements
which have been from time to time made, or  proposed  by reliable educators
in deaf-mute instruction.  The fifth report  contains a  letter from Mr.  Gal-
laudet, in which he  mentions the mode pursued in the American Asylum,
of praying with the pupils by  signs, and which  is now regarded as an indis-
pensable  means of moral and religious culture  in all our American institu-
tions.  Other  reports contain communications from the conductors  of the
New York Institution, and from  the Paris, Bordeaux  and  Vienna schools.
The visits of Mr. Humphrey, principal of the National  Institution, to  Liver-
pool and Manchester, for the  purpose of soliciting contributions, led  to the
establishment of similar schools at both those  places.  Much of the prosperity
and  efficiency  of the Dublin Institution is due  to the enthusiastic and inde-
fatigable  labors of Dr. Orpen, its original founder.  It is supported entirely
by voluntary contributions, (applied  to the  charity scholars,) and payments
from private pupils.
  There are now seventeen institutions for the deaf and dumb in Great
Britain, including a school recently established in Canada.

  To Pedro Ponce de Leon, belongs the honor of first successfully undertak-
ing  the  regular instruction of the deaf and dumb in  Spain.  He was  of a
noble family, and was born in the city of Valladolid, (near the borders of old 
          DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION  AND INSTITUTIONS.      79

Castile and  Leon,) in the year  1520.   All  that is known of his  personal
character and history is that he entered the order of the Benedictines in the
convent of Sahaguu, in Leon, but spent the greater part  of his life in the
convent  of  the  same order at  Ona, where he died in August, 1584, and
where his memory was long held in veneration,  as  a man  of exemplary
virtue, as well as of genius and industry.  The fullest account of his labors
in behalf of the deaf and dumb, is that given by himself in an  act of founda-
tion for a chapel, executed in 1578, and long afterwards discovered among
the archives of the convent of Ona.  In this document, relating how he ac-
quired the wealth  which he devoted to this foundation, namely, by saving
from  his personal expenses, from  gifts  of great men of whom he had been
testamentary executor, and from pupils whom he had  instructed, " with the
industry  which God has been  pleased to give me in this holy house, through
the merits of Saint John the Baptist, and of our father,  Saint Didace," he
adds,  " I have  had pupils who were  deaf and dumb from birth, children  of
great  nobles and  of distinction, whom  I  have taught to  speak, to read,  to
write  and to keep accounts, to repeat prayers, to serve the mass, to know the
doctrines of the  Christian religion, and to  confess themselves viva voce.  To
some  I have taught the Latin, to  others the Latin and Greek, and to under-
stand  Italian.  There was one of them who received the orders of priesthood
and possessed a benefice, and performed the duties of his office in reciting the
breviary.   This  person  and some  others studied natural philosophy and
astrology.  Another also  who was an heir to a majorate and marquisate, and
was to follow the career of arms, in addition to his  other studies, as already
expressed, was also instructed in  all martial exercises, and was a very skillful
equestrian.  Moreover, these deaf mutes  distinguished themselves by their
acquaintance with the history of  Spain and  of foreign nations.  They were
even  skilled in  political  science, and  in other  branches of knowledge  of
which Aristotle believed this class of  persons incapable."
   The first  published  treatise on the art of deaf-mute instruction, appeared
in Spain in 1620, by Juan Paulo Bonet, a monk of the order of Saint Bene-
dict, under the title of The  Reduction of Letters and art of Teaching the
dumb to speak.   Dr. Peet, of the New York Institution, in a paper read before
the first convention of American instructors of the deaf and  dumb, gives a
full analysis  of this work, and adds, " his views are for the  most part correct,
and the course of instruction which he marks out, though little adapted to a
numerous school, might in the hands of  an able private teacher produce, if
perseveringly pursued, and with  subjects of good capacity, results not infe-
rior to those ascribed to the labors of Ponce," a half century before.  This
work  proved one hundred and fifty years  afterwards an excellent  guide  to
the Abbe' De l'Epe e in the early part of his experience in France, and fur-
nished him  with the manual alphabet  which he used in his institution  in
Paris, and which is now used in most of the deaf and dumb schools on the
continent of Europe and in America.  His success as  a  teacher was made
known to England in 1645, by Sir Kenelm Digby, who  had witnessed  in 
80
DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION AND  INSTITUTIONS.
  1623, in Spain, the proficiency of one of his deaf-mute pupils, who could read
  on the lips, and speak as distinctly as any person.  Digby was a correspond-
  ent of Dr. Wallis, who was  the first, or among the first successful teachers
  and writers on the subject of deaf-mute instruction in England, and who, it is
  reasonable to suppose, may have acquired  his views from this source.   After
  the lapse of nearly a century, the  first school in Spain was instituted by
  Alea, a disciple of De I'Epe'e, at Madrid, in 1 798, and is the only one now in
  operation in the country where the art had its origin.

    In Italy, Jerome Cardan, an eminent philosopher, born  in 1501, and
  died 1576,  sketched in one of his works the principles on which deaf mutes
 might be instructed in written language.   " The deaf mute can conceive that
 the word bread, for example, as it stands written, represents the object which
 we point out to him.  Just as after having seen an object we preserve its form
 in the memory and can draw a resemblance of it, so the deaf mute can pre-
 serve in  his mind the form of written  characters, and can associate them
 directly with ideas; for spoken words represent ideas only by convention,
 and written words can be made to represent ideas by convention."   He did
 not apply his own principle  to practice.   In  1670, Father Lana-Terzi,  a
 Jesuit of Brescia, employed himself in teaching language to the deaf and
 dumb.   The  first school was established in  Rome in 1784, by the Abbe-'
 Sylvestri, a disciple of  De I'Epe'e, and the  second at Genoa in  1801, by
 Assarrotti, who formed a  system of instruction, based on  the writings of
 Sicard, but involving important alterations and  improvements.   There are
 now ten institutions in Italy.

   In Germany, Kerger made himself  acquainted with  the publications of
 Bonet, Wallis and  Amman, and made some  experiments]! in the art of in-
 structing deaf mutes as early as 1704.  He   was followed  by others, who
 worked  in different parts of the same field, but without any knowledge  of
 each other's method or secret.  Among  the earliest German  teachers was
 George Raphel, who published in 1718, an account of the method by which he
 had successively instructed his three deaf and dumb children.
   But the most distinguished writer, and most successful teacher of Germany,
 was Samuel Heinicke, who was born April 10,  1729, in the village of Nantz-
 schutz, near Weissenfel.  He pursued his father's occupation of farming till
 he was twenty-one, when he removed to Dresden and entered the service of
 the Elector of Saxony, as a soldier of his body-guard.  Here he employed all
his leisure in  scientific  studies.  He left the  service, in 1757, and enrolled
himself as a student in the  University of Jena, when he was twenty-eight
years old.   After one year's residence at Jena, he was engaged as a teacher
 in Hamburgh  and Eppendorf, from 1769 to 1778.   Here, according to his
 biographer, he consecrated himself to God  and humanity " by  enlightening
 the ignorant, comforting the forsaken, drying the tears of those who wept, and
 ministering aid to all who were in distress."  He  was admired, esteemed and
 respected  for  his  genius, his character and his works, by the most eminent 
DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION AND INSTITUTIONS.      81
 men of his day.  So early as 1754, he had applied himself to the education
 of a deaf and dumb boy in Dresden.   While a teacher in Eppendorf, he un-
 dertook to instruct another deaf mute, a son of a miller, with whom he was
 particularly successful.  In the  year 1772 he had four pupils of this class, to
 whom several others were afterwards added, and thus was laid the foundation
 of the first school for the deaf and dumb in Germany.  On the 18th of April,
 1772, he removed to Leipsic with nine deaf and dumb pupils, on the  invita-
 tion of Frederic Augustus, the Elector of Saxony, and in the following month,
 an institution was  opened, the  first ever established or supported by civil
 government, which continues to this day in  full prosperity.  Here he con-
 tinued  to labor  until his death, on  the  13th of  April, 1790.  But though
 dead, the principles and methods of instruction which he adopted from others
 and improved, still live in all the institutions scattered throughout Germany,
 except in Austria, and two in Bavaria. The philosophy and methods of his
 system are  based on  the  views of Amman, whose work fell  into his hands
 when he first became interested  in  deaf-mute instruction.   They  aim to
 restore  to the deaf mute the privileges not only of written, but of spoken  lan-
 guage,—regarding speech as the great  distinctive gift of God to man, and as
 not  only the  sign, but the only mode of conceiving ideas.  To teach  the
 power of articulation,  to enable the deaf and dumb to speak, so as to be per-
 fectly understood by others, and to enable themselves to understand readily
 what is said by persons speaking to them, was the principal aim of Heinicke
 and has been of his followers.

   In France, so  early as  1743, the practicability of instructing deaf mutes
 was shown by the success of Father Vanin and others in Paris, and Rousset
 in Nismes;  but the most  effective experiments were made  by Pereire,  a
 Spaniard, who in 1749 exhibited the results, but not his method of teaching,
 before the Academy of Sciences in Paris, much to the surprise and gratifica-
 tion of  that  learned body.   The details of his methods were never published
 by himself, although it  is stated by those who were familiar with him, that he
 had  profited by the labors of Wallis, Bonet and  Amman.   In 1754,  the
 Abbe' De I'Epe'e (Charles-Michael, born at Versailles, Nov. 5, 1712) hap-
pened one day to enter a house,  where he found two young females engaged
in needlework which seemed to occupy their whole attention.  He addressed
them, but received no answer.  Somewhat surprised at  this, he repeated  his
question ; but still, there was no reply; they did not even lift their eyes from
the work before them.  In the midst of the Abbe"s wonder at this apparent
rudeness, their mother entered the room and  the mystery was at  once ex-
plained.  With tears she informed him that her daughters were deaf and
dumb ; that they had received, by means of pictures, a little instruction from
Father  Farnin, a  member of the society of Christian Brothers, an order of
professional  teachers for  the poor, but  that this good friend was now dead,
and her poor children were left without any one to aid their intellectual pro-
gress,  «' Believing," said the Abbe', " that these two unfortunates would live 
 82       DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION AND  INSTITUTIONS.

 and die in ignorance of religion, if I made no effort to instruct them, my heart
 was filled with compassion, and I promised that if they were  committed to
 my charge, I would do all for them that I was able."
   The foundation  stone, if we may so speak, of the  system of instruction
 which he was about to build, had been laid in his mind several  years before,
 and nothing remained for him to do,  but  to go on and raise the  superstruc-
 ture as rapidly as possible.  At the age of sixteen he had received from his
 tutor this principle, which he now recalled  and made the  basis of his pro-
 cedure ; namely, that there is  no more natural and  necessary connection be-
 tween abstract ideas and the articulate sounds which strike the ear, than there
 is between the same ideas and the written characters that address themselves
 to the eye.  Familiar as this truth seems to us at the present day, it was al-
 most universally regarded  at  that period,  as a philosophical  heresy; the
 strange doctrine being held by the learned, that speech was  absolutely indis-
 pensable to thought.  Confident however of the soundness of his principle,
 and fully believing that written language might be made the instrument of
 thought  to the deaf and dumb, the Abbe' now turned  to the practical ques-
 tions—How shall they be taught this language ?  How  shall they be made to
 understand the significance of written and printed words ? What shall be the
 interpreter of these words to the mind of the ignorant deaf mute ?  De I'Epe'e
 was not  long  in reaching the  conclusion that their own natural language of
 signs was the only fit instrument for such a service to the deaf and dumb,
 and he immediately applied himself to the task of becoming familiar with the
 signs already in use among them, and of correcting,  enlarging and methodiz-
 ing this language, till it should become as perfect an organ of communication
 as the nature of the case would allow.   Great success attended  his efforts in
 this direction.  The interest of the public was excited  by the novelty of his
 method, and he soon found himself, in 1.760, at the head of a little company
 of deaf mutes; leading them, with  a  skillful  and tender hand, out  of  their
 natural darkness into the great light of intellectual and  moral truth.   To De
I'Epe'e unquestionably belongs the merit of originality in  all  this procedure.
 He was wholly unaware that substantially the same method with  his own, had
already been suggested by Cardan the Italian, Wallis  the Englishman, and
Dalgarno the Scotchman.
  The school of De I'Epe'e was conducted entirely at his  own expense, and,
as his fortune was not large, he was compelled to practice the  most careful
economy.  Still, he was unwilUng to  receive pecuniary aid, or to admit to
his instructions the deaf and dumb children of wealthy  parents.  " It is not
to the rich," he said, " that I have devoted myself;  it is to the poor only.
Had it not been for these, I should never have attempted the education of the
deaf and dumb."  The fear of being charged with mercenary motives doubt-
less led him to refuse the aid of the wealthy, for  the bare suspicion of being
actuated  by such motives, was exceedingly painful to  his  sensitive mind.  One
or two anecdotes will serve to show how little liable he was to be dazzled by
opportunities of personal aggrandizement 
          DEAF-MUTE INSTRUCTION AND  INSTITUTIONS.        83

  In 1780, the ambassador of the Empress of Russia paid him a visit, to con-
gratulate him upon the success which had followed his exertions, and to offer
him valuable presents in  the name of that sovereign.   " Mr. Ambassador,"
said the Abbe', " I never receive money; but have the goodness to say to her
majesty that if my labors have seemed to her worthy of any consideration, I
ask as an especial  favor, that she will send to me from her dominions,  some
ignorant deaf and  dumb child, that I may instruct him."
  When Joseph, Emperor of Austria, was in Paris, he sought out De I'Epe'e,
and expressing his astonishment that a man so useful as he, should be strait-
ened  in his operations by  the lack of pecuniary means, he offered to bestow
upon him the revenues of one of his estates in Austria.  To this generous
offer  the Abbe' replied, " I am now an old man.  If your majesty desires to
confer any gift upon the deaf and dumb, it is not my head, already bent to-
ward the grave, that should receive it, but the good work itself.  It is worthy
of a great prince to preserve whatever is useful to mankind."  The Emperor
easily divined his wishes, and on  his return to Austria, dispatched one of his
ecclesiastics, the Abbe' Storch, to Paris, who, after a course of lectures from
De I'Epe'e, established at Vienna the first national  institution for the deaf
and dumb.
   During the severe winter of 1788, the Abbe', already beginning to feel the
infirmities of age,  denied  himself the comfort of a fire in his apartment, and
refused to purchase fuel for this purpose, that he might not exceed the  mod-
erate sum which he had fixed upon as the extreme  limit of the annual ex-
penditure of his establishment.   All the remonstrances of his friends, who
were anxious lest this deprivation might injuriously affect his health,  were
unavailing.  His  pupils cast themselves at his feet, and with weeping eyes
and beseeching hands, earnestly urged him to grant himself this indulgence,
if not for his  own sake, at least for theirs.  He finally yielded to their tears
and importunities, but not without great reluctance, and for a long time af-
terward, he did not cease to reproach himself for his compliance with  their
wishes.  As he looked around upon his little family, he would often mourn-
fully  repeat, " My poor children, I have wronged you of a hundred crowns."
Such facts as these, demonstrate his self-denying devotion to the cause which
he had espoused.
   The humble establishment of De I'Epe'e  was situated on the heights of
Montmartre, in the outskirts of  Paris.   There, in  the midst of his children,
as he affectionately named them, and with  his whole soul absorbed in plans
for their improvement and happiness, he seemed to dwell in an atmosphere
of joy which his own benevolence had created.   The relation which he sus-
tained to his pupils had more of the father in it, than of master  or teacher,
and the love  which he never ceased  to manifest for them in all his actions,
drew out in return from their young hearts the warmest expressions of ven-
eration and affection for himself.  These feelings were occasionally manifest-
ed in the most striking manner.   In the midst of one of his familiar discourses
with  his children,  the Abbe' happened to let fall one day some remark which 
 84       DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION  AND INSTITUTIONS.

 implied that his own death might be near at hand.  The possibility of such a
 misfortune had never before occurred to their minds, and a sudden cry of an-
 guish testified to the  shock which the bare thought had given to their affec-
 tionate hearts.  They at once pressed around him, as if to guard his person
 from the blow of death, and with sobs and cries laid hold of his garments, as
 if they might thus detain  him from his last, long journey.  Deeply affected
 by these tokens of their love for him, and with his own tears mingling with
 theirs, the Abbe' succeeded at last in calming the violence of their grief; and
 taking advantage of an opportunity so  favorable to serious remark, he pro-
 ceeded to speak to them of death and the retributions of the world to come.
 He reminded them of the duty of resignation to the will of God.  He taught
them that the separation which death makes between friends, is not of neces-
sity eternal;  that he should go before  them to a better life, there to await
their coining, and that  this reunion in the world above, would never be bro-
ken.  Softened and subdued by such reflections, their stormy grief sunk into
a quiet sadness, and some  of them formed the resolution at that moment, of
living better lives, that  they  might thus  become worthy of meeting him here-
after in the home of the blessed.
   France in its gratitude for so large a benefit, has erected a monument to
the memory of De I'Epe'e in Versailles, his native city.  Upon  a  pedestal,
the principal face of which bears the name of the immortal instructor, and that
of his birthplace, together with the date of his birth and death, stands  the
statue in ecclesiastical costume.  In his  left hand he holds a tablet, inscribed
with the  name of God, in  dactylogic, and also in ordinary alphabetic charac-
ters.  The right hand represents  the  letter  D (Dieu, God) of the manual
alphabet.  The eyes are lifted toward heaven  the source of light; toward the
giver of  every perfect  gift, as if to express his gratitude for the skill and
intelligence which, during his life  upon earth, he  obtained  through divine
grace.
   On the death of De I'Epe'e in 1789, the Abbe' Sicard, born September 20,
1742, was promoted to his place, from Bordeaux, where he had resided at the
head of  an institution  for the deaf and dumb, established by Archbishop
Cice', in  1786.  He  had studied the art in  Paris, under De I'Epe'e, and
brought to the work a vivid and fertile  imagination, a  remarkable ability in
clothing  abstract notions in  sensible  forms, and a  particular talent in that
pantomime, or language of signs, which is the natural language  of the deaf
and dumb.  Both  Sicard  and the institution over which he presided were
exposed  to great vicissitudes of fortune during  the dark and troubled night
of the Revolution; but through nearly the whole of this period, and through
all the subsequent changes of government, he continued till his death in 1822
to devote himself with  enthusiasm to the institutions over which he presided,
and to the improvement and extension of the art, as he had received it from
his predecessor.  He may be said to have given solidity and  permanence to
the system of De I'Epe'e.   His own philosophical views, and methods are
 embodied in a work  entitled Cours destruction d'un  Sourd-Muet, in which 
          DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION  AND INSTITUTIONS.       85

is developed  the plan on which he conducted the education of his celebrated
pupil, Massieu.  It has all the freshness and interest of a romance.
  The Abbe' Sicard was peculiarly fortunate in having among his early pupils
at Bordeaux and at Paris, several of remarkable natural capacity, who were
taught by himself when in the first enthusiasm of a new profession, and while
he could give nearly his whole time and soul to the work.   It was of immense
advantage to these pupils, to be thus taught, and to be afterwards employed
to assist  him in the work of instruction at Paris.  Among these pupils was
Jean Massieu, at Bordeaux, and Laurent Clerc, at Paris.
  Massieu was born in 1772, at  Semens, a few leagues south of Bordeaux,
and was  one of six deaf and dumb children.  He was admitted to the school
of Sicard, at Bordeaux, just before he was fourteen years old.   A touching
account of his previous "state of darkness," was communicated by himself to
Madame  Clo, and published by Sicard in his Course of Instruction, which
work also embodies the process of his education, " his resurrection into light
and fife," as Massieu described his own education by this distinguished teacher.
He accompanied that teacher  to Paris, in 1791, and in 1794 was appointed
one  of the tutors in  the  institution. As soon as he was informed of his ap-
pointment, he was  transported with joy, but not for his own promotion.   His
heart was occupied with  the wants of his poor mother.  " I am at length as-
sured of  the means of procuring bread for my aged mother."  To give to his
parents was to repay them.   The first impulse of his heart, and  the first ex-
pression  in gesture, on receiving  his salary, or a  gift, was—" this is for my
poor mother."  The wonderful readiness, originality and  accuracy of his an-
swers, at public exhibitions, to questions involving frequently the most abstruse
and difficult problems and  principles of mental and moral science, helped to
give celebrity to the Abbe' Sicard's method of teaching   But  much of this
was due  to  the sagacity and brilliancy of his own imagination.  He was a
metaphysician of no common cast, as will be seen from the following answers
to questions proposed to him by various persons, at different times and places.
He was asked ' What is gratitude ?'  ' Gratitude is the memory of the heart.'
What is  a sense ?  ' A sense is an  idea-carrier.'  What is the difference be-
tween things physical and  moral?  'Things  physical are the objects which
fall under our senses; things moral are manners and actions of mankind, the
operations and qualities of the soul: things physical are material, things moral
are immaterial.'  What is ambition ?  ' Ambition is the immoderate desire of
governing, gaining riches, or possessing any thing which we have not.  Am-
bition is  also  an  excessive ardor for  honor, glory,  places  of distinction,
exaltation. It is the movement of a soul which hovers round an object which
it is coveting or ardently pursuing.'  What is hope ?   ' Hope is the flower of
happiness.'  What is eternity ?  ' A day without a yesterday or to-morrow,
a line that has no end.'  Does God reason ?  'Man reasons because he doubts,
he deliberates, he decides:  God is omniscient; he never doubts;  therefore he
never reasons.'
  On the death of the Abbe' Sicard, in 1822., Massieu left Paris, and return-
                12 
86       DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION  AND INSTITUTIONS.
ed to Bordeaux, and was soon after engaged as an assistant in a school for the
deaf and dumb at Rhodez, in  the south of France.  After his  marriage to a
young lady, who was  not a deaf mute, he removed to Lille, in the north of
France, where he was principal of an institution for the deaf and dumb, in
which his wife was matron.  He  died in August, 1846.   He was Laurent
Clerc's first teacher, and the two were afterwards associated together as in-
structors in the Paris institution.   They  Avere ever constant and  faithful
friends.  Mr. Clerc published some very interesting reminiscences of Massieu
in the American Annals for 1849.

   Before closing this rapid review of the history of deaf-mute instruction and
institutions in Europe, down  to 1816, it remains to  supply an  omission in
regard to Holland.   So early as 1635, Peter Montans published some hints
on the instruction of the deaf and dumb, and  in  1667, Van Helmont pub-
lished a small tract, in which  he shows how the deaf may be made to under-
stand others when speaking.  In 1692, John Conrad Amman, a Swiss physi-
cian of Haarlem, succeeded in teaching a girl, deaf and dumb from birth, to
articulate, and published his method in an essay, entitled (Surdus Loquens,)
the Deaf Mute Speaking.   He made no mystery of his success, but invites
those who find any thing hard or indistinct in his explanations, to apply to
him, " who, according to the light  granted to him, will refuse nothing to any
man."  This work was of much service to Heinicke and others,  but its prin-
ciples and methods were not perpetuated by the establishment of an institu-
tion in Holland.  This was reserved to Guyot, a pupil of De I'Epe'e, who
succeeded in opening a school in Gronigen,in 1790,—which has proved to be
one of the most successful  in Europe.   There are now four institutions for
the deaf and dumb in  Holland.

   Through the speculations of philologists and  the experiments  of ingenious
and benevolent teachers, carried on for  two centuries, in different countries,
with little or no direct comparison, and frequently without any knowledge of
the views and experience  of  each other, the art of deaf-mute instruction, in
1815, the period of  Mr. Gallaudet's visit to Europe,  had reached the follow-
ing development.
   1. It had demonstrated the great fact that the deaf and dumb are naturally
equal to other persons in their intellectual faculties, and that by appropriate
methods early applied, and wisely and  perseveringly pursued, they can  be
educated.
   2.  It had, by aid of governmental appropriations, and the contributions of
the benevolent, been extended, so as to embrace partially the indigent as well
as the rich and the noble by birth.          '
   3.  It had ceased, or nearly so, to be a mystery, a craft, a speculation, pur-
 sued for private ends, but was now followed by ingenious men, with a desire
 to promote the moral and intellectual advancement of the  deaf and dumb.
   4. It had become, through the publications of experienced and  successful
 teachers, and the establishment of institutions in which  there was a succession 
          DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION  AND INSTITUTIONS.       87

of teachers, a permanent system, where principles could  be studied, and its
methods acquired, without the necessity of reinvention, and with all the ad-
vantages of the accumulated experience of the past.
  5. Its great aim was to impart language, and through its instrumentality, to
establish social intercourse among themselves and the rest of the world, and to
develop and instruct the minds of pupils by means of speech, or artificial ar-
ticulation and  reading on the  lips, natural and methodical signs, dactylology
or the manual alphabet, writing, pictures and the  art of drawing.    The
principal aim of all the early teachers of the deaf and dumb, was to perfect
a system of artificial  articulation, and the leading object of all the English
and German schools,  except  that of Vienna, at the date of Mr. Gallaudet's
visit, was to teach the deaf and dumb to speak and understand others when
speaking, as the principal means of mental development. In this a high
degree of success was attained in individual cases, and  the success varied with
the nature of each  case.   Where deafness was not congenital, but came on
after the power and habit of articulation was once acquired, where the organs
of speech were perfect and phable, and where the circumstances of the family
or the  institution allowed of much individual instruction from a  teacher thor
oughly trained in all the methods and mechanical contrivances of this art—
the success was truly surprising.
   Reading on the lips is another and distinct mode  of communicating  with
the deaf and dumb, although usually associated with and  taught to the great-
est perfection, in connection with articulation.
   Both articulation and  reading on the lips are learned and recollected by
the deaf mute, as a set of movements and sensations in the organs of speech)
discernible by the eye and hand.   Articulation is taught by pointing out to
the pupil the  powers of the vowels  and consonants, and the position of the
lips, teeth  and tongue, and by making him feel with his hand, or a silver in-
 strument, all the perceptible movements and vibrations of the throat and in-
terior organs, which are requisite for their pronunciation.  He is then required
to imitate this position and force a quantity of air from the lungs sufficient to
produce the sound.   In some  cases, the position of the lips and part  of the
tongue are shown by drawings.   He is taught to read the articulation of oth-
ers by observing, in the same way, the position of the organs, and the coun-
tenance.   In some  instances  the touch becomes so sensitive, that the pupil
can understand what is articulated  in the dark, by placing the hands on the
throat and lips of the person speaking.
   The language of action, including natural  signs, or those expressions of
countenance, and movements, attitudes and gestures of parts or the whole of
the  body, which the  uninstructed deaf mutes employ to make  known  their
 wants and varying states of mind, and those arbitrary signs, which are em-
 ployed by  teachers  to designate certain ideas for which no expressive natural
 sign can be made, and in connection with natural signs, to express the gram-
 matical modifications  and relations of words,—was  among the primary means
 of educating the deaf and dumb in 1816.   Although  natural signs are indis-
 pensable in the early stages of deaf-mute instruction on any method, they 
88       DEAF-MUTE INSTRUCTION  AND  INSTITUTIONS.

were early dispensed with, and their use discouraged by teachers of articula-
tion in the English and German schools, as  interfering with the acquisition
of that more difficult attainment.  On the other hand, in the French schools,
and in those continental schools which adopted their methods from Paris, the
language of signs, both natural and arbitrary, and that combination of both
called methodical, was the main reliance for teaching written language to the
deaf and dumb, and the principal means of communication for that class with
each other and the world.   At the date of Mr. Gallaudet's visit, the labors of
De Y Epe'e and Sicard had matured a system, capable of expressing all the
ideas we convey by articulate sounds, with clearness, force and beauty, though
not always with equal brevity, and of being  made the vehicle of the highest
intellectual and religious culture to the deaf and dumb.
   Writing was early and generally used.  As an imitative art, in which the
eye and hand are mainly employed, it is easily acquired by deaf mutes.  It is
first used  to give the forms  of letters and words, which the  teacher has ex-
plained by signs, and afterward gives permanency to their observations and
thoughts in composition, which form an important exercise in all institutions.
It is also the medium of communication between the deaf and dumb, and
their friends and others who do not understand signs, or the manual alpha-
bet.   The constant habit of writing on the slate, makes the deaf and dumb
much more accurate in spelling words, than a majority of scholars,  who have
all their senses, and have been taught  spelling  in the oral  methods usually
pursued in elementary schools.
   Pictures and the art of drawing, as well as models and specimens of real
objects in nature and art, are as valuable helps in the instruction of the deaf
and dumb, as in ordinary schools.  By a few strokes of the  pencil  or crayon,
a teacher can elucidate a lesson, in which the idea of form enters, far more
readily and  vividly than in any other way, and the sight and handling of real
objects will  interpret language to  the deaf and dumb as can be done in no
other method.
   Dactylology or the manual alphabet, is the art of communicating ideas by
spelling words with the fingers,—the fingers  being made to assume positions
which correspond to the  letters, or alphabetic characters  of the language.
The letters may be formed by the two hands, or with only one hand.   A two-
handed alphabet was used in the English institutions; and  in the schools on
the continent of Europe, the one-handed alphabet was employed.  The man-
ual alphabet is easily acquired, is of much service in  the early stages of in-
struction, and in brief explanations at all times in the school room, and  is
available in circumstances where writing is not convenient.
   6.  The art of deaf-mute instruction,  with all its improvements and exten-
 sion as it existed in Europe in 1815, was unknown in America,—for all prac-
 tical purposes was totally unknown.  A few individuals  had been taught to
 articulate—a few books had been imported—a  few isolated experiments had
 been made—but darkness, profound and palpable, brooded  not only over the
  deaf and dumb mind, but over the whole subject on this continent.   To Mr. 
          DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION  AND INSTITUTIONS.       89

Gallaudet belongs the credit of consecrating himself from the outset to the
broadly beneficent mission,  of qualifying  himself to become a teacher, not
for purposes of curious speculation or private  emolument, of the  deaf and
dumb in this  country.  And most richly has God's blessing  crowned his
labors!   He visited Europe, made himself practically acquainted with the
principles, methods and results of the different systems which then prevailed
in the institutions of this class, and discarding much that was extraneous and
cumbersome, and much that was individual and local, and selecting that which
has proved of permanent value and universal application, and improving all
which he received, he  established an institution, and a system which has im-
parted its blessings to  the rich and poor, which has become the parent of
many other institutions conducted on similar principles, and which has already
reacted favourably on the same class of institutions in Europe.
   After studying  the subject of methods, in view of his observations in the
schools of Birmingham, Edinburgh, London and Paris, and with such prac-
tical knowledge as he had attained under the Abbe' Sicard and his assistants,
Mr. Gallaudet decided to introduce into the American Asylum the system of
instruction pursued in the Paris school, with such modifications as experience
might suggest, especially, in adapting it to the peculiar structure and idioms
of our own language.  This system, which, while it did not entirely reject ar-
ticulation, was in no way dependent on it for its success, in all its philosophi-
cal principles originated with the Abbe'  De I'Epe'e, and was  matured and
consolidated by the genius of the Abbe' Sicard.  At the date of Mr. Gallau-
det's visit, the system had reached  its fullest development, and had challenged
and won the admiration of Europe by its practical results, as exhibited in
the attainments and intellectual training of such pupils as Massieu and others.
His preference for this system was secured by the facilities for introducing
the same under the auspices of Mr. Clerc, one of the Abbe' Sicard's favorite
pupils and assistants.   But this preference was not originally given on that
ground, for previous to this, he had an opportunity of securing an expert in
articulation as an assistant  from the London institution.  But while at Edin-
burgh, after investigating there the results of the method pursued by the elder
Braidwood, who was one of the most accomplished and successful teachers of
articulation in the world,  he came to the conclusion expressed by Dugald
Stewart, that the  methods  of De I'Epe'e, as matured by the Abbe' Sicard,
were of a higher nature, and capable of more extensive usefulness, inasmuch
as they could not only benefit the largest number of the deaf and dumb, but
actually provided  for  the gradual and  thorough evolution and discipline of
all the intellectual powers.  He accordingly made it the leading object of the
course of instruction introduced  into the Asylum,  to convey to his pupils a
knowledge of written  language, by the methods adopted in the Paris institu-
 tions, with such modifications and  additions as the genius of the English lan-
 guage might demand.
   The following remarks of Mr. W. C. Woodbridge, who was an accomplished
 teacher of deaf mutes  and  who acquired as Editor of the American Annals 
90      DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION  AND INSTITUTIONS.
of Education, a European  reputation as a wise educator, in an  article in the
Encyclopedia  Americana, published in 1830,  set forth the improvements
effected by Mr. Gallaudet.
  " Mr. Gallaudet has combined the fundamental principle of Heinicke—' first,
ideas, then, words,*—with  that  of De  I'Epe'e—that  ' the natural language
of signs must be elevated to as high a degree of  excellence as possible, in or-
der to serve as the medium for giving the ideas clearly, and explaining them
accurately.'   He has added another of no  small importance—that as words
describe rather the impression, or states of mind produced by external objects,
than those essential qualities which are beyond our reach, the process of learn-
ing them would  be facilitated by leading the pupils  to  reflect on their own
sensations and ideas; and he states, as the result of his experience, that among
deaf mutes of equal capacities, those who can be led to mark  or describe with
the greatest precision, the  operations of their own mind, uniformly make the
most rapid progress in the acquisition of written language, and of religious
truth.  A leading object, therefore, in connection with the  first lessons, in
which sensible ideas are presented and named, is to establish a free commu-
nication with the pupil, in the sign language, in reference to  his feelings and
thoughts as excited by the objects which he  sees, or the events of his own life.
He easily comprehends those of others, and is thus led to learn the names of
the simple emotions and acts  of the mind.   Hence he is brought to think of
an invisible agent, which we term the  soul, as the feeling and percipient be-
in"; and by a natural transition, is led, by the use of signs alone to the Great
Spirit, as the first cause; to his character as  our Creator, and Benefactor; and
to a knowledge of his laws and our future destiny.  In this manner, the deaf
mutes  in the American Asylum (and we presume in others derived from it)
are  made acquainted with the simple truths of religion and morality in one
year; a period in which, in most European institutions, they are scarcely ad-
vanced beyond  the knowledge of sounds, and the  names of sensible objects,
qualities and actions, on the most common  phrases.  By communicating this
instruction in the natural  sign language, pupils, whose inferior capacity or ad-
vanced age would both allow them to acquire enough of written language to
receive religious truth through this medium, have  been early prepared to
 enjoy its blessings and hopes, and feel its sanctions as a restraint upon their
 conduct, which  renders their government more easy, while it aids them in
 the formation of correct habits.  Another  plan, which is not known  to have
 been ever employed before its introduction by Mr. Gallaudet, in 1817, was to
 conduct the  daily and weekly devotional exercises by signs; and the deaf
 mutes have been thus taught to address the Father of their spirits  in their
 own natural language, and have been admitted to the new privilege of  social
 worship.   In applying the first principles to the course of instruction in lan-
 guage, an important improvement has been made, by combining words into
 phrases as early as possible, and thus  teaching the pupil how to use  them.
 The idea of each phrase  is first explained by the sign language, and then
 translated into words, and then retranslated by the pupil into his own Ian- 
          DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION AND INSTITUTIONS.       91

guage.  The process is carried on for more difficult words, and the phrases
are lengthened until they become narrations.  The acquisition and use of the
connections are aided by the methodical signs of De I'Epe'e and Sicard.  The
pupil is called upon, at intervals, to express his own ideas in writing, and to
explain by signs what is written by others.  An important additional improve-
ment is, ' to  employ the pupil,  as early as possible, in the study of books writ-
ten in an easy style, explained  by signs when necessary,' so as to lead him, by
his own, and often by his unaided  efforts, to become acquainted with the ar-
rangement of  words, and the  idioms of written language.  He is led gradu-
ally to infer the rules of grammar from a series of examples, instead of com-
mitting them to memory ;  and  the theory of language is reserved for the later
years of instruction, when the  pupil is familiar with its practical use."

   But much as has already been done to attract public notice and sympathy
to the calamity of deafness, and of the consequent loss of speech, and to the
establishment of institutions and methods for its alleviation, the extent to which
it prevails now, even in countries where the most has been done, is not gener-
ally understood.   In the countries referred to, not  one-half of the whole num-
ber of deaf mutes are under instruction, and in  nearly  every country, but
little is done, even in the most intelligent families, to  commence or continue
the work of deaf mute instruction and improvement at home.   In many cases
the calamity commenced so early, and the individuals were so completely cut
off from all the educating influences by which the faculties of the mind and
affections of the soul are drawn forth and cultivated, that they sink into the
conditions of idiocy, although  even this last  degree of human infirmity can
now be reached and improved.  The mistaken partiality of  parents  toward
their offspring laboring under physical  infirmities, in some cases, their igno-
rance of institutions and methods in others, and their poverty in more, and
the absence of all or of sufficient governmental aid, and interference to give
publicity to  the subject, combine to keep a large number of  deaf and dumb
children in a state of blank ignorance,—in  the shadow of the valley of intel-
lectual and moral death.
   From investigations made in every quarter  of the globe, among savage and
civilized nations,  under every  variety of climate and  physical condition, in
every state of intellectual and moral  improvement, it is now ascertained that
this calamity is universal.  From tables constructed after the most extensive
and accurate inquiries, and corrected after such inquiries were again and
again repeated, it  appears that the proportion of deaf mutes to the whole popu-
lation of Europe, is 1 in  1,537 ; in Great Britain  1 in 1,622; in the United
States 1 in 2,000; and in the whole world 1 in 1,556.   The whole number of
deaf and dumb persons in the world  is, by estimation and census combined,
about 550,000.  Of this number at least 100,000 are of an age to be in school,
or receiving instruction.   In the 200  schools  and  institutions now  in opera-
tion,  the whole number of pupils  enrolled in 1850, did not  exceed 10,000.
These institutions are of modern origin,—only ten of them dating back before 
92      DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION AND  INSTITUTIONS.
the commencement of the present century, and more than four-fifths of the
whole number have been founded within the last thirty years.  The follow-
ing table will indicate the location and number of these institutions.
England,   -
Scotland,
Ireland,    -
Canada,  -     -     -
France,    -
Italy,    -
Switzerland,
Austria,  -     -     -
Prussia,    -
Bavaria,
Wirtemberg and Baden,
Saxony,  -     -     -
2! p	
9	1792
3	1810
3	1816
1	1850
44	1760
9	1789
10	1810
9	1779
25	1778
10	1778
7	1807
4	1772
Other German States,
German Free Cities,
Belgium,
Portugal,
Spain,
Holland, -    -     -
Denmark,  -
Norway, -    -     -
Sweden,
Russia,   -
Poland,
United States,
20  1778
 4  1827
 4  1820
 1
 1
 4
 2
 1
 1
 1
 1
      1790
      1790
      1799
      1824
      1800
      1800
      1817
- 14  1817
  The fourteen institutions in the United States are located as follows:—the
American Asylum at Hartford, patronized by all the New England States;
the New York Institution  in  New York city ; the Pennsylvania Institution
at Philadelphia; the Virginia Institution  at Staunton;  the North Carolina
Institution at Raleigh; the South Carolina Institution at Cedar Spring;  the
Georgia Asylum at  Cave Spring; the Tennessee  Institution at Knoxville;
the Kentucky Institution at Danville;  the Ohio Asylum  at Columbus;  the
Indiana Institution at Indianapolis; the Illinois Institution at Jacksonville,
and the Missouri Institution near the town of Fulton.   Measures are in prog-
ress to open an institution  in Michigan.
  Much has been done within the last ten years, and is now doing, by means
of periodicals, and conventions of instructors, devoted to  deaf-mute instruc-
tion, to disseminate  a knowledge of improvements derived or practiced by
one teacher, or any  one of the two hundred institutions, devoted to this un-
fortunate class of the human family.  The Circulars  published by the Royal
Institution of Paris, at the expense of the government, and transmitted gratui-
tously to all known establishments of the  deaf and dumb,  and the  quarterly
journals commenced in Paris*  by Prof. Morel, and in Hartford,f by Prof.
Rae, and the annual conventions which  are held in Germany, and the United
States, will do much to harmonize the  views of instructors, and throw light
on the extent, causes and amelioration of  deafness, and  the best ways of im-
proving the condition of the deaf and dumb in every respect.

   *  Annates de 1'education des Sourds-muets et des Aveugles, Paris.

   +  American Annals of the Deaf and Dumb—commenced  in 1847,  by the in-
structors of the American Asylum, and adopted in 1850 by the First Convention
of the American Instructors of the Deaf and Dumb, and conducted by a com-
mittee appointed annually  for this purpose, 
          DEAF-MUTE INSTRUCTION  AND INSTITUTIONS.       93

  The following notices of our American institutions for the deaf and dumb,
will show the rapid progress which the cause has made in this country since
1815.
  The  American Asylum for  the  Education of the Deaf and
Dumb,  at Hartford, was opened on  the  15th of April,  1817, with  seven
pupils.  The principal, Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet, had entered on his mis-
sion two years before, and the expense of sending him to Europe, and of
bringing back  with him, Mr. Laurent Clerc, a pupil  and assistant of the
Abbe' Sicard, was borne  by subscriptions, which,  with  one exception, were
made in Hartford.  It was first incorporated in 1816, with the name of the
Connecticut Asylum, which was changed to the present style in 1818, on the
grant, by Congress, of a township of public lands, from the sale of which the
sum of $278,100 has been realized.  Of this sum, $56,300 is invested in land,
buildings, furniture, &c, appropriated to the immediate  use of the American
Asylum, and $221,800 in stocks, bonds and mortgages, the interest of which
is applied to the benefit of the deaf and dumb who may resort to the Asylum
from any part of the country.  All of the New England states support their
indigent deaf mutes at the Asylum,—allowing  to each pupil a residence of
five years, which in the case of pupils from Massachusetts, who will be profited
by a longer course,  is extended to one year more.
   While  every effort  is made from time to time to secure  the  services of
only thoroughly educated men as teachers and to organize  the course of in-
struction on a scale sufficiently liberal to  meet the wants  of children from
the rich  and  educated  families,  there  is  no distinction in board, dress
or  other privileges, between such children, and  those who  are  poor  and
indigent.
   The first recognition of the claims of the indigent deaf mute by any of our
state legislatures, was in Connecticut in 1816, in the appropriation of $5,000
for the special benefit of this doubly unfortunate class at the Asylum.  This
act of beneficence has been followed  up by subsequent  appropriations, suffi-
cient not only to support entirely the indigent, but to aid  such as  could not
meet the entire expense of a five years' residence at the Asylum.   Early in
1819, the government of Massachusetts followed the example of Connecticut
by providing for the education in the Asylum of twenty indigent pupils from
that state.   This was the first instance in which  the patronage of a state was
extended to an institution of benevolence located beyond its territory.  The
appropriation  was afterwards enlarged so  as to meet the wants of this entire
class.   New Hampshire made a similar provision in  1821, and Vermont and
Maine in 1825.   The  legislatures of these three states  were doubtless influ-
enced by Mr.  Gallaudet, who visited and  addressed  them  severally while in
 session with a class of his pupils. Rhode Island came into the same arrangement
 in 1848, after a visit from Mr. Weld and Mr. Gallaudet, and an exhibition of
 the pupils.  In 1834, South Carolina  and Georgia, were induced by a visit
from Mr. Weld and a few of his pupils, to  make arrangements to send their
 indigent  deaf mutes to the Asylum until the public mind was ripe for the
                         13 
94        DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION  AND INSTITUTIONS.

establishment of such an institution in each of these states.  This period has
now arrived.
  The Thirty-Fifth Annual Report (for 1S51) shows  an attendance of two
hundred and four pupils, while the whole number who have left  the  institu-
tion exceeds one thousand.   The current expenses for the year, were $28,500 ;
of which $14,000 were paid to the steward, $13,600 for salaries, and the bal-
ance for immediate expenses.   These sums were in addition to expenses for
repairs, and additional buildings and fixtures.  These expenses were paid as
follows, $16,660  by states in New  England on account of beneficiaries,
$1,961 by relatives" and  friends of pupils, and the balance from the income of
the fund.   The  number of instructors at the close of the year (1851) were
twelve, including the principal.   There are four deaf mutes among the teach-
ers, one of whom is a female graduate of the institution.
  Before  the  school at Hartford was yet in operation efforts  had already
been  made to establish a similar institution in the city of New York, in  con-
sequence  of  a letter received from Mr. Gard, a distinguished pupil of the
school for  deaf  mutes  at  Bordeaux, offering to come  to this country as  a
teacher.   In the latter part of the year 1816, a few enlightened and benevo-
lent men met at the house of the Rev. John Stanford, whose  sympathies had
been awakened, by finding in the alms-house, of which he  Avas chaplain, a
class  of unfortunate deaf mutes wholly beyond  the  ordinary means of reli-
gious teaching.   Among those who attended this meeting and took the warm-
est interest in its proceedings, were the well known philosopher, scholar and
philanthropist, Samuel  L. Mitchell, and Dr. Samuel  Akerley, who,  after
laboring for several years in behalf of the deaf and  dumb, devoted the last
 years of his life to the  cause of the blind, and may be considered the founder
 of the New York Institution for that unfortunate class.   At a public meeting
 held in the beginning of 1817, before which, as  the  result  of a  special in-
 quiry, it was stated that the city of New York alone  contained sixty-six deaf
 mutes in a population  of about  one  hundred thousand souls,  a society was
 formed which was incorporated on the 15th of April, 1817, under  the style of
 the " New York Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb."  The
 school was not opened until May, 1818, with a class  of seven pupils, and the
 Rev. A. O. Stansbury as teacher.  Mr. Stansbury, in  the instruction of his
 pupils, pursued the course recommended  by Dr. .Joseph Watson in his work
 On  the Instruction of the  Deaf and Dumb.   Articulation was taught  in
 cases where the scholar appeared to possess the necessary aptitude and flexi-
 bility of the organs of speech, or when desired by his friends.  The experi-
 ment was in some degree successful, but, on the whole, " the utterance was
 harsh and indistinct, and led to a universal sentiment in favor of discontinuing
  the  effort."  Mr. Stansbury resigned in 1819,  and was succeeded by Mr.
  Horace Loofborrow, who, without any thorough knowledge of his methods,
  endeavored  to walk  in  the footsteps of Sicard.  In  1827, the legislature,
  which had provided  since 1822, for  the  support of thirty-two pupils, in
  consequence  of the loss  of public  confidence  in the  methods pursued, au- 
          DEAF-MUTE INSTRUCTION  AND  INSTITUTIONS.       95

thorized the superintendent of common schools of the state  (Mr. Flagg,) to
visit this and other similar institutions, and from comparison  with  the  sys-
tems of instruction pursued with success elsewhere, to suggest to the directors
of the New York Institution such improvements as he should think expedi-
ent.   Mr. Flagg, accordingly  in October, 1827, visited  the schools at New
York,  Hartford and Philadelphia, and  made a  detailed report, in which he
gives a decided preference to the systems pursued in  the  two  latter institu-
tions, and recommends the directors to engage a teacher, who could intro-
duce into the New York school the improved methods irf""use at Hartford and
Philadelphia.   In consequence of that recommendation,  the directors finally
succeeded in engaging the permanent services of  Mr. Harvey P. Peet, then
one of the most experienced and efficient instructors in  the American Asy-
lum, who entered on his duties in February, 1831.  He has  continued to
direct  the institution  with  distinguished  ability and success to the present
time.   About the same period, Mr. Leon Vaysse,  from the Royal Institution
at Paris,  was employed as teacher, and  brought  with him all  the important
improvements made in that institution since the  death of Sicard.  Under the
impulse of this  change, and from the uniform  practice  of employing  only
men of Uberal education  as teachers,  the New York Institution has taken
its place among the most successful schools of deaf-mute instruction in the
world.
  In addition to a course of intellectual, moral and religious  instruction, as
extended and thorough as is pursued in institutions of this class in  any  part
of the world, a choice is offered to the pupils of acquiring a  practical knowl-
edge of the occupation of cabinet-making, tailoring, shoe-making, book-bind-
ing and gardening, as a means of subsistence after leaving the  school.  In
some one of these occupations the males are  engaged four hours daily, under
the superintendence of skillful workmen.  The female pupils in the mean  time
are employed under the direction of a seamstress in sewing, knitting, &c, or
light household work under the direction of the matron.
  The legislature, in 1822, made provision for the support of thirty-two indi-
gent pupils, which number has been from time to time increased, till in 1850
it amounted to one hundred and sixty-five,—all the deaf-mute children in the
state, whose kindred could  not provide for their education.  In  addition to
the annual  appropriation, which was  increased  from $4,000 in  1822, to
$25,000 in 1850, the state appropriated in 1827, the sum of $10,000 in aid
of the building, besides the avails of certain lottery grants.
  The city of New York, besides providing annually for the support  of  a
number of indigent pupils, leased for twenty-one years at a nominal rent, all
the block of ground extending from the Fourth to the Fifth Avenues, and from
Forty-ninth to Fiftieth streets, which had not been before given by the  city
in fee to the Institution.  The Institution, in 1850, purchased the fee of the
remainder, on the expiration of the lease.
   The whole number  of pupils on  the 31st of December, 1850,  was  two
hundred and twenty-seven, of which one hundred and sixty were beneficia- 
96      DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION AND  INSTITUTIONS.

ries of the state of New York; sixteen of the city;  thirteen of the  state of
New Jersey.  Twenty-four were supported by their friends, one by the com-
missioner of emigration, and thirteen were boarded and  instructed gratui-
tously by the institution.
   The expenses  of the  institution in  1850,  were  $46,482.98, of which
$26,337 were paid by the state, $2,080 by  the city of New York, $1,748 by
the state of New Jersey.
   Besides the institution at New York, there was from 1824 to 1836 another
school, called the  Central Asylum, located  at Canajoharie, in Montgomery
county.  This institution educated about one hundred and fifty deaf mutes,—
most of whom were supported by the state.
   The Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb is loca-
ted at  Philadelphia, and originated  as a private  enterprise with Mr. David
Seixas, a Jew of Portuguese descent.  Stimulated by an exhibition of the pu-
pils of the American Asylum, he acquired such knowledge as could be obtained
from books, and gathered together a few poor deaf mutes in the city of Phila-
delphia (several of whom he fed and clothed) into a school, near the beginning
of 1820.   This school was adopted, in April of the same year, by a society,
composed of several benevolent persons, among whom Bishop White, Robert
Vaux, John Vaughn, Clement C. Biddle, Dr. Chapman, Paul Beck,  and
Horace Binney, may be noticed.   An  act  of incorporation was  obtained in
February, 1821, by which also the legislature allowed one hundred and sixty
dollars apiece, per annum, for three years, for the education and support of
indigent pupils of the State.  The number was at first limited to sixty,—but
it has been since increased to ninety-three, and the term of residence ex-
tended to six  years.   After obtaining an act  of incorporation, and for the
purpose of profiting by the experience of others,  the directors applied to the
institution at Hartford for an instructor,  and Mr.  Clerc was sent for a period
of six months to Philadelphia, to organize the school and  prepare the teach-
ers.   On his return, Mr. Lewis Weld, who had been four years and a half a
teacher in the American Asylum, accepted the office of principal, and  pre-
sided over the institution at Philadelphia until 1830, when he was recalled to
Hartford, to succeed Mr. Gallaudet.  Mr. Weld was succeeded by Mr. Abra-
ham B. Hutten, who is still at the head of the school.
   A building was erected  in 1825 on the corner  of Broad and Pine streets,
which has since  been enlarged so as  to contain ten school-rooms, suitably
furnished to accommodate each twenty pupils;  a cabinet of apparatus, models,
specimens, maps, &c.; dormitories for two  hundred pupils; infirmaries, work
shops, &c.   The entire expense up to 1850 was $95,000.
   In consequence  of an address by Mr. Weld, and of an exhibition of the
proficiency of the  pupils  before the legislature of Maryland, at Annapolis,
 on the 22d of February,  1828, an  appropriation of $3,500 a year for the
 support of indigent pupils  of the state was passed.   An appropriation for the
 same class was made by the legislatures of New Jersey and Delaware.
   In 1850, there were seven instructors besides the principal,  two of whom 
         DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION AND  INSTITUTIONS.       97

were  deaf mutes; and one hundred and thirty-four pupils, of whom ninety-
two were supported by Pennsylvania, eight by New  Jersey, eighteen by
Maryland, three by Delaware, and thirteen by their friends and the institu-
tion.  The expenses of the institution for that year, were $28,422, of which
$6,698.22 were  for salaries, and $5,178.23  for family expenses.  Of the
receipts, $8,267 were from Pennsylvania; $2,332.50 from Maryland; $1,138.53
from  New  Jersey; $8,911 from Delaware; and $2,892.34 from private
pupils.
  The  Kentucky Asylum for the Education of  the Deaf  and
Dumb, is located at Danville, Mercer County.  It was incorporated in the
winter of 1823, and was opened for the reception of pupils in the spring fol-
lowing.   Its principal, Mr. John A.Jacobs, was qualified for his employment
by a residence of one year at the American Asylum.  The methods pursued
are substantially the same as those used at Hartford, with such modifications
as every  thoughtful teacher must make to adapt them to the pecuUarities of
his  own  mind.   By an act of Congress passed in  1826, the institution was
endowed with a township of land in  Florida.  How much has been realized
from  the sale of these lands does not appear from  the few reports to which
we have  had access.  From the Twenty-seventh Annual Report, (for 1850,)
we gather that there were sixty pupils  in 1850, of which number forty-three
were  supported by the State of Kentucky, seven by the State of Louisiana,
and ten  by relatives.   Two hundred and fifty, including the present pupils,
have been educated in the institution since its establishment.  The first pupil
was received in April, 1823.  The entire expense  for 1850, was  $5,006.52,
of which sum, $2,690 was received from the State, and  $2,164 from the
agent of the Asylum in Florida.   The cost of board, tuition, &c, is $105 per
annum.  The State provides not only for the indigent, but aids  those who
need  assistance.
  The  Ohio Deaf and Dumb Asylum, is located at Columbus.  It was
incorporated during the session of the  legislature in 1826-27, but did not
commence operation as a school until November 16, 1829.  It  opened with
three pupils, all that could be collected after several months' advertising in
various papers in the State.  The principal, Mr. H. N. Hubbell, was trained
at the institution at Hartford, and the course of instruction is substantially the
same as in the American Asylum.  From the Twenty-fourth Annual Report,
(1851,) it appears that the whole number educated in the institution  from
1829  to  the close of 1850, and  including the pupils then  in attendance, is
four hundred and sixty-two.  The current expenses for 1850 were $14,439,
which was  about equally  divided between the salaries of officers and the
household department.  The  State pays about $12,000 towards the whole
expense.   There  are  seven teachers  and one hundred and  twenty-eight
pupils.  Mr. Josiah A. Cary has been recently appointed principal.
  The Virginia  Institution for the Education of the Deaf  and
Dumb, is located at Staunton.  It includes a department for the bhnd, which
is under  a distinct  board of instructors.  It was opened for the  reception of 
98      DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION AND  INSTITUTIONS.

pupils in 1838, under the instruction of Joseph D. Tyler, who was trained as
an assistant in the American Asylum.  In the act creating the institution, the
visitors were authorized  to erect a suitable building at an expense not ex-
ceeding $20,000, and expend annually the  sum  of $10,000 towards its sup-
port.  By the annual report of the board of visitors for 1850, it appears that
one hundred and eighteen pupils had been connected with the  institution
from November, 1839,  to October, 1850, of which number, sixty-one re-
mained at the last date.  The expenses of the whole institution, including the
department for the blind, in 1850, were $22,806, of which $21,000 were paid
by the State.
  The  Indiana Asylum for  the  Education  of  the Deaf and
Dumb, is located at Indianapolis.  It originated in the interest awakened in
the breast of Mr. William C. Bates,  sheriff of Vermilion county, by his visit-
ing the Ohio institution,  in 1841, where he had placed a deaf-mute son, and
the partial success of a private school started by James McLean, a  deaf mute,
in Parke county, in 1842.  On the  13th of February, 1843, the  legislature
was induced, by Mr. Bates and Mr.  Coffin, a representative of Parke county,
by  an almost unanimous vote, to lay a tax of two mills on each one hundred
dollars of taxable property in the State, for the support of an asylum for the
deaf and dumb.   A few months after the passage of the  act, Mr. WiUiam
Willard, a deaf mute, visited Indianapolis, with a view of establishing a school.
He was cordially welcomed and encouraged by many benevolent and pubUc-
spirited citizens, and after visiting many families in different parts of the State,
in which there were deaf-mute children, he opened a school for this class on
the 18th of October.  In 1844,  the legislature appointed a board of trus-
tees to superintend the proposed Asylum, and till that should be located, com-
pensation was allowed to Mr. Willard, in aid of indigent pupils.  On the first
of  October, the  trustees appointed  Mr. James  S. Brown, an educated man
and experienced teacher of deaf mutes, principal of the Asylum.  In 1846,
the Asylum was located permanently  at  Indianapolis; and in  the darkest
period of the financial embarrassment of the State, when her best  friends felt
she must be just to her creditors, and postpone the claims of mercy to a more
convenient season,—to  the everlasting renown  of the State, her  legislature,
without a dissenting voice, provided by a tax on property, for all her unfor-
tunate children,  the indigent deaf mute, the blind, and the insane.  And in
1848, "the doors of all her Asylums, built at the public expense, for mutes,
for the bhnd, and for lunatics, were thrown open for all;  that their blessings,
like the rains and the dews of Heaven,  might  freely descend on these chil-
dren of misfortune throughout the State, without money and without price."
This is the most broadly  beneficent legislation which has been adopted in any
 state or country, and it has been followed by this most gratifying result, that a
larger number of her deaf mutes are under instruction, than, in the same
 population, in any part of the world.  This result has been  hastened, by the
 labors of the indefatigable principal, who, to satisfy the people of the advan-
 tages of the Asylum, and to make known to the parents of deaf-mute children, 
          deaf-mute  instruction  and  institutions.       99

the wise provision of the legislature in their behalf, is in the habit of holding
every year, exhibitions in different parts of the State, of the proficiency of his
pupils.  In the  course of the year  1S50, twenty-one such exhibitions were
held by himself or one of his assistants.  It is to be hoped that his example will
be followed in other States, until every family in which there is a single son
or daughter afflicted with the privation of speech or hearing, shall see and feel
the inestimable advantages of these institutions.  According to the Eighth
Annual Report, (for 1851,) there were one hundred and seventy-two pupils
connected with the institution in 1851.   The current expense for  the year
was $8,437.19.   The building has cost $75,000, and is one of the most com-
plete in all of its arrangements for the comfort and instruction of the pupils,
in this country.
   The  Tennessee Institution for the Education of the  Deaf
and Dumb is located at Knoxville.   It was opened on the 26th of January,
1846.  During the first year there were fourteen pupils.  In 1848, a build-
ing Avas commenced, which has  been subsequently completed at an expense
of $20,000.  At the date of the report of the directors for 1849, there were
thirty-one pupils and two instructors.  The State appropriates $4,000  a year
toward the support of indigent pupils. The principal was Rev. Thomas Mac-
Intire, who was educated at the  Ohio institution.  He has been succeeded by
Mr.  Oran W. Morris, from the New York Institution.
   The  Illinois Institution fob the Education of the Deaf and
Dumb is located at Jacksonville.  It commenced operation in 1845.  The
State erected a suitable  building in 1848-9, at an  expense of $20,000.   At
the date of the third biennial report, (1849-50,) there were ninety-two pu-
pils, with six instructors. The current annual expenses of the institution
were $12,000.   The States of Missouri  (to this date) and Iowa support their
indigent deaf mutes at the Illinois Institution.  The principal is Rev. Thomas
Officer, who acquired his knowledge of deaf-mute instruction at the Ohio
school.
   The North Carolina  Institution for the Instruction of  the
Deaf and Dumb is located at  Raleigh.  It  originated with Mr. WiUiam D.
Cooke,  the present principal, who in the summer of  1843, with the approba-
tion of  Hon. J. M. Morehead, then governor, visited different sections of the
State with a deaf mute, and gave exhibitions of the manner of teaching this
class.  He thus excited a very general  interest in the cause.   It was urged
upon the legislature by  Gov. Morehead, not only in his annual message, but
in a special communication.  A bill was passed  in January, 1845,  establish-
ing the  school, appropriating $4,000 toward  its current expenses, and requir-
ing each county to raise by tax $75 for every pupil they might send.  The
 school opened with seven pupils, on the first of May foUowing.   At the close
of the second session there were twenty-six pupils, and at the end of the year
 1850 there were forty-five in attendance.  In 1848, the legislature made an
 appropriation for the erection of suitable buildings, which were completed in
 1849.  The  corner-stone was laid on the 14th of April, 1848, with appropri- 
100     DEAF-MUTE  INSTRUCTION  AND INSTITUTIONS.

ate exercises, among which  was an address by Dr. Peet,  principal  of the
New York Institution.
  The Georgia Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb is located at Cave
Spring, in Floyd county.  It was opened as an independent institution, on
the 1st of July, 1849, and at  the close of the year there were twenty-one pu-
pils, and  of these, fifteen were supported by the State.   In  1834, Mr. Weld,
principal of the American Asylum, visited Georgia with a class of deaf-mute
pupils, for the purpose of awakening an interest in the public mind in favor
of the deaf and dumb.  He gave an exhibition of their proficiency before the
legislature, and  secured thereby an annual  appropriation of $3,000  for the
education of indigent deaf mutes at the American Asylum, until a similar in-
stitution  should be established within the limits of the State.  In 1846, the
beneficiaries of  the  State were  removed  from Hartford  to the " Hearn
School," near the village of Cave Spring, under the instruction of Mr. O. P.
Fannin, assisted  by J. B. Edwards, a deaf mute who had been educated at
the Hartford school.  In 1848, a building was  erected at the expense of the
State, for the use of the Asylum, and is now occupied by the pupils and their
instructors.  During the  year ending July  1, 1851,  there were  twenty-five
pupils.  The expenditures for the year were  $9,020, of which sum, $4,530
were applied to the building.
  The earliest legislative provision for the support of indigent deaf mutes in
South Carolina,  was made in 1834, at which time Mr. Weld, with a class of
pupils from  the  American Asylum, visited  Charleston and  Columbia, and
gave several exhibitions of the methods and results of deaf-mute instruction.
The result of the visit was an appropriation of $2,500 a year, to be expend-
ed for the support of such persons as should be sent  from South Carolina to
the institution at Hartford.   In 1848, a school was started  at Cedar Spring,
by Mr. N. P. Walker, to which a portion of the State beneficiaries were sent
in 1849.  In 1850, a law was passed, providing for the support of all the in-
digent deaf mutes of the State at this school, leaving such as were in Hartford
to complete their studies at that institution.
  The Missouri Asylum  for the Deaf and Dumb is located at Ful-
ton, county of Callaway.   It was incorporated in 1847, but no efficient steps
were taken for its establishment till 1851, when the legislature appointed com-
missioners to manage a property consisting of a house and forty acres of land,
donated to the State for  this purpose, and appropriated $80 a year  for the
support of each indigent deaf mute at the Asylum.
  The Michigan Institution was provided for by the legislature in 1849,
but was not  permanently located till  1851, when the town of Flint offered
to provide a suitable lot and buildings  for the use of the institution, in con-
sideration of its  location  in  that place.   The school will be opened in the
course of the year 1852. 
deaf-mute  instruction  and institutions.      101
   The foUowing tables will throw some light  on the progress and present
condition of institutions for the deaf and dumb in this country since the com-
mencement of Mr. Gallaudet's labors in their behalf.

Number of institutions or schools in 1817,                                1
                                 1820,  ....         2
   "           "          "      1830,     ....      3
                                 1840,  ....         6
                                 1851,     ....     13
Number of pupils under instruction in 1817,       ...        12
                                   1851,   ---      -  1,100
   "         "   who have been educated from 1817 to 1852,   -      3,000
Number of states which had made provision for indigent deaf mutes in 1817,   1
   "        "     "   "    "       "          "       "      in 1820,   2
                  "   "    "       "          "        "      in 1830,   9
                  «   "    "       «          "       <<      in 1840,  14
                      "    "       "          "       "      in 1852,  23
   "        "   which had  not made any provision,      -       -         G
Amount expended in buildings and apparatus in 1820,       -    $10,000.00
           "         "            "   up to 1852,   -      -  500,000.00
Annual expense of educating deaf mutes in 1851,   -       -      150,000.00
Amount paid by the state, or funds set apart for that purpose,  -   120,000.00
Whole number of deaf mutes in the United States in 1850, (estimated,)* 10,000
Number who ought to be at school,     ...       <<       3,000
Number not in  school,      .....««       2,000

   The First Convention of American  Instructors of the Deaf and Dumb
adopted a memorial to the Home  Department, as to the manner in which the
information contained in the Census of the United  States  taken  in 1850,
respecting the deaf and dumb, should be classified and published.  The Su-
perintendent of the Census Bureau, to  whom the Memorial was referred, has
signified his readiness to comply with the suggestions of the Convention, and
we may therefore  look for the most important document which  has yet ap-
peared respecting this class of our population, in any country.  The docu-
ment will contain the names of all the  deaf mutes contained in the original
schedules—with all the particulars of  residence, age, sex, color, occupation,
place of birth, whether  able to read and  write, and where  the  fact exists,
whether the  same  person is blind, insane, or idiotic.  It wiU also give the
name, place of birth, occupation and other particulars of the head of the family
to which each deaf mute belongs.
   Such a Ust will enable the instructors of our deaf and dumb institutions to
solve or at least throw Ught on many questions of deep practical importance,
and enable those officers who are  charged  in the several states with the duty
of selecting the state beneficiaries or of making known the legislative provis-
ion for the education of the  deaf and dumb, to reach the persons interested
directly.
  *We have delayed the publication of this article in the hopes of obtaining
from flie Census Department, the number at least of deaf mutes in the several
states, but although the superintendent has promptly furnished the returns as
far as complete, these only include six out of the thirty-one states.
                 14 
AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB.
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			o | #56,000	Q		204	3 5s 117	87	3 157		3	3	£	3 o	5	3 55
1	American Asylum,	Hartford,		18171850						Lewis Weld,	12	4	1	$28,000	$100	850
2	New York Institution,	New York,	100,000	1818!l850		227	128	99	190	Harvey P. Peet,	12	4	2	42,000	130	829
3	Pennsylvania Institution,	Philadelphia,	100,000	1821 1850		134	72	62	121	A. B. Hutton,	7	2	0	19,000	130	700
4	Kentucky Asylum,	Danville,	25,000	18241850		60	41	19	20	J. A. Jacobs,	3	1	0	5,000	105	250
5 Ohio Asylum,		Columbus,	25,000l 1829 1850			128	75	53	118	Josiah A. Cary,	6	2	0	14,000	100	362
5 Virginia Institution,		Staunton,	:.i0,000;1839 1850			61	31	30	50	Joseph D. Tyler,*	4	2	0	11,000	130	100
7 Indiana Asylum,		Indianapolis,	70,000 1843 1850			172	101	71	172	James S. Brown,	7	3	0	8,100		150
8 Illinois Institution,		Jacksonville,	25,000 1S451850			95	49	46	80	Thomas Officer,	5	2	0	12,000	100	100
9, Tennessee Institution,		Knoxville,	25,00011845 1849			31	22	9	24	Oran W. Morris,	2	1	0	6,200	100	25
lOlGeorgia Asylum,		Cave Spring,	20,000	1849 1850		25	15	10	24	O. P. Fannin,	3	1	0	4,500	130	10
11 (North Carolina Institution,		Raleigh,	20,000	1845						William D. Cooke,	3	1	0			
12 South Carolina,		Cedar Spring,		1848 1850		11				N. P. Walker,	2	1	0			
13 Missouri,		Fulton,		1852J												
14Michigan,		Flint.		1												1
*Died January, 1852, and succeeded by Dr. J. C. M. Merillat. 
        deaf-mute instruction and  institutions.       103

  We close this brief and imperfect sketch of the progress and present condi-
tion of deaf-mute institutions and instruction, with a few remarks.
  The practicability of introducing artificial articulation,  in reference to all
pupils, into our American schools for the deaf and dumb, has been much dis-
cussed within the last six years, in literary journals, and among teachers of
deaf mutes, in consequence of a decided preference having been expressed
by Hon. Horace Mann, in his report on the state of education in Europe, in
1844, of the superiority of German schools for this class over the American,
inasmuch as the former teach their pupils to utter articulate  sounds, and to
speak as other  people speak, and to read  on  the  lips of those speaking to
them.   In consequence of this agitation of the subject, the American Asylum
deputed its principal, Mr. Weld, and the New York Institution, the Rev. Geo.
Day, formerly a teacher in that school, to visit  Europe, and  to report fully
on the state of the  European schools, and especially on the extent and  the
results with which articulation was taught.   The reports of these gentlemen,
published by their  respective institutions, are among  the most valuable con-
tributions yet made to deaf-mute instruction in this country.
  Although these reports have confirmed the opinion  which heretofore pre-
vailed in this country, of the superiority of the methods pursued in our Amer-
ican schools as compared with the best in  Europe, for  the great majority of
deaf and dumb pupils, they have led to a  desire on the part of many of  the
best friends of this  class, to see articulation recognized as a necessary part of
the system of deaf-mute instruction in a few, at least, of our largest and best
endowed institutions.  The experiments which have thus far been made in
two or three of our schools, although not conducted by teachers trained in  the
methods of articulation, and not pursued with that earnestness and enthusi-
asm, which are essential to the highest success, show conclusively that a portion
at least  of the entire deaf-mute population—that portion who become deaf
after the age of four years, and in some cases at even an earlier age—can be
taught to give articulate utterance to their thoughts and feelings, which will
prove of immense'service, not only in seasons of darkness and alarm, of sick-
ness and of the prostration or paralysis of  the fingers, and other parts of  the
body, used in the sign  language, but  in the ordinary intercourse of society.
If articulation is to  be taught at all, it should  be intrusted to teachers who
have been trained to this  department of instruction, who believe in its  prac-
ticability, and who  can give their entire time to small classes of pupils who
possess in their organization the conditions of success.
  The method requires not only knowledge, ingenuity, kindness and perse-
verance on the part of the teacher, bestowed  as far  as practicable on each
individual of the class, but to  be followed with even  average success,  the
pupil must  have  perfect  and flexible  organs of speech, quick and vigorous
mental  faculties, and the power  of attention  and labor. Love, hope and
patience must dwell in the heart of teacher and pupil.
   Not only should  articulation  and labial  reading be  taught  systematically
and thoroughly, to  a class of pupils, but the time has arrived when the course 
deaf-mute  instruction  and institutions.
 of deaf-mute instruction generally should be greatly extended,—at  least in
 our oldest and best supported institutions.  Provision should be made by
 legislative appropriation or by private endowment, for receiving all pupils at
 an earlier age, and for continuing the connection of such  pupils, as shall be
 fitted for further instruction in mental and moral philosophy, and the studies
 usually pursued in our  public high schools and first class academies, at least
 two years longer than is now allowed in any of our institutions.
   Instruction, in both sign and written language, should be commenqed at an
 earlier period of life with every deaf and dumb child.   If it should be found,
 for any reason, undesirable to receive very young children into our institu-
 tions, with the appropriations now made for their support, facilities for home
 instruction should be improved and multiplied.   Indeed, this should be done,
 even though the present terms of admission as to age (10 or 12 years) or
 continuance  (for 4 or 5 years)  should  be  changed.  Should the returns of
 the census of 1850, as far as the deaf and  dumb are concerned, be published
 in the manner proposed by the superintendent of that  department, it will be
 easy for benevolent individuals, or for state authorities, to place such facilities
 within reach of every family having a deaf and dumb child.
   But not only should the manual  alphabet, cards,  books and pamphlets
 adapted to home instruction and reading,be numerously dispersed, but family*
 and primary  schools in connection with, or in the neighborhood of our public
 institutions for  the deaf and dumb should be established.  Man}- educated
 deaf mutes could in this way be usefully and profitably  employed.
   The appropriations now  made for the instruction of the deaf and dumb,
can be more economically,  and as far as the youngest class of pupils are con-
cerned more wisely applied, by the employment of well educated and properly
trained female  teachers.  The  uniform experience of our public primary
schools shows conclusively that in the  early stages of education, physical,  in-
tellectual, moral and esthetical, they have more of that tact, and patience,
which are essential to the highest  success  in teaching young children.  The
labors  of the best matron  in  the household arrangements of our Asylums
can supply but imperfectly the place  of the female teacher in the school-
room in certain stages of education.
  * Since the above remarks were written we  have received a circular from
Prof. Bartlett, of the New York Institution, announcing the. fact that  he has
made provision for the instruction and training of a select number of young deaf
mutes in his family.   His residence is four doors west of the New York Insti-
tution, in Fiftieth street.  Parents and guardians who may be wishing for their
deaf-mute children of an early and tender age, the best of care and training, in
a family, the head of which has been for more than twenty years  engaged in
the instruction of this class of pupils, should apply directly by letter or in person
to Prof.  Bartlett.
  We hope the plan of a high school, or an advanced class, which  Professor
Turner, of the American Asylum, has long had under consideration, will soon
be carried into operation, at the Asylum or elsewhere. 
         deaf-mute  instruction  and  institutions.      105

  The claims of deaf-mute children for instruction, at least to the extent rec-
ognized in  our system of public schools, should no longer be advocated as a
charity, public or private,—but as a right, in every state, where common or
public schools are supported by law for  all.   Pupils should not be admitted
into a school for the deaf and dumb, as beneficiaries, but because, in the prov-
idence of God, they belong to that class of children who  cannot avail them-
selves of the ordinary elementary schools.
  While it seems desirable at one or more places in the country, to bring to-
gether all possible special facilities for the improvement and enjoyment of the
deaf and dumb,—intellectual, moral, social, esthetical and  religious,—it is still
more desirable to enable the deaf and dumb  in  every possible way to enter
into the enjoyments and improvements of those who are blessed with all the
senses.
   The  experience and observations of the many zealous and  intelligent  in-
dividuals now engaged in the instruction of the deaf and dumb in this country
and in Europe, should be brought into a common fund of improvement, by
not only national, but international conventions, and by the liberal patron-
age, at least among themselves, of the leading periodicals devoted to  deaf-
mute instruction, published at Hartford and  Paris.
  [As a part of the history of deaf-mute instruction, both in this country and
in Europe, and  as a connecting link between  American and European
institutions, as  the  oldest living teacher of the deaf and dumb in this coun-
try and  one of the oldest  in  the  world, we append  an autobiographical
sketch of M. Laurent Clerc] 
LAURENT   CLERC.
  I was born in La Balme, Canton of Cremieu, Department of Isere, on the
26th of December, 1785.  The village of La Balme lies twenty-six miles east
of Lyons, on the east side of the Rhone, and is noted for  its  grotto, called,
" Lagrottee de Notre Dame de la Balme."   My father, Joseph Francis Clerc,
a notary public by profession, was the mayor of the place from 1780 to 1814,
My mother, Elizabeth Candy, was the daughter of Mr. Candy, of Cremieu,
also  a  notary public.   My father died  in  April, 1816, and my  mother in
May, 1818.
  When I was about a year old, I was left alone for a few moments  on a
chair by the fireside, and it  happened,  I know not how, that I fell into the
fire, and so  badly burned my right cheek,  that the  scar of it is still visible;
and my parents were under the impression  that this accident deprived me of
my senses of hearing and smelling.
  When I was seven years, my mother  hearing that  a certain physician in
Lyons  could cure deafness, took me thither.  The doctor, after examining my
ears, said he thought  he could make me hear,  provided I would  call at his
office twice a  day for a fortnight.   My mother  agreed to take  me, so we
called  regularly every day and the  doctor injected  into my ears I do not
know what liquids, but I did not derive  any benefit whatever from the oper-
ation.   And at  the expiration  of the  fortnight I returned home with my
mother still  as deaf as I was before.
   I passed  my childhood at home, in doing nothing but running about and
playing with other children.   I sometimes drove my mother's  turkeys to the
field or her cows to pasture, and occasionally my father's horse to the water-
ing place.   I was never taught to write or to form the letters of the alpha-
bet ; nor did I ever go to school; for there were no such school-houses or
academies in our villages as we see every where in New England.
   At the age of about twelve, that is, in 1797, my father being unable to ab-
sent himself from  home on  account of the duties of his office, at his earnest
request, my uncle, Laurent Clerc, took me to Paris, and the next day I was
placed in the Institution for  the  Deaf and  Dumb.   I did not see the Abbe,
 Sicard, but I learned afterward  that he was in prison for a political offense.
Mr. Massieu, deaf and dumb like myself, was my first teacher, and when the
 Abbe' Sicard was set at liberty and had resumed the superintendence of the
 Institution, he took me into his class, and I was with him ever after.
   Out of school hours, the Abbe' Margaron, one of the  assistant teachers, 
Laurent  clerc.
107
taught me to articulate together with a few other pupils.  We learned to ar-
ticulate pretty well all the letters of the alphabet, and many words of one and
two or three syllables; but I had much difficulty to pronounce da and ta,' de
and le, do and to, &c, and although Mr. Margaron made me repeat these
words again and again, I succeeded no better.  One day, he became  so  im-
patient, and gave me so violent a blow under my chin, that I bit my tongue,
and I felt so chagrined, that I would try to learn to speak no longer.
  I applied myself to other things.  I learned to draw and to compose in the
printing office of the Institution  till 1805, when I  was  employed as a tutor
on trial, and in 1806 appointed a teacher with a salary  of about two hundred
dollars.   In process of time, Mr. Sicard thought me capable of teaching the
highest class,  and I occupied that place when Mr. Gallaudet came to Paris-
But before speaking of him  more at length, let me say how I happened to
make Mr. G's acquaintance.
  Mr. Sicard, who was  a royalist and  an adherent to the dynasty of the
Bourbons, sometimes imprudently entertained secret  correspondence  with
the garrisons of the Comte de Provence (since  Louis XVIII.)  then in Eng-
land.   Napoleon, as every body  knows, being generally well informed of all
that transpired both in Paris and throughout France, knew that such corres-
pondences took place; but not considering Mr.  Sicard a very dangerous en-
emy of his, and thinking him, on the contrary, very useful to the  unfortunate
deaf and dumb, he suffered him  to remain undisturbed, but determined to
reprove him for meddling with politics  instead of attending to his own busi-
ness,  by never conferring upon him any title of honor he might merit.   Mr.
S., who had the simplicity to  believe that Napoleon was ignorant of his in-
trigues, wondered why he did not receive the  cross of the  legion of honor,
an honor not unfrequently conferred upon persons much less entitled to  it
than  himself.  He did not, however, despair of obtaining it at  some future
time, and for this purpose, he besought some of his friends whom he knew to
have  free access and great influence over Napoleon to  prevail  on him to visit
the Deaf and Dumb Institution, but all attempts and  persuasions failed, for
Napoleon constantly refused, not that he did not feel interested in the deaf
and dumb, but on account of Mr. Sicard, whom he wished to punish by not
seeing him.   Things went on without any other extraordinary  occurrences
till the Allied Powers entered Paris in 1814.   Soon after Louis  XVIH was
seated on the throne of his ancestors, Mr. Sicard was among the first  who
went to congratulate his majesty on his happy return, and it was not long
before the cross of the legion of honor for which he had aspired so much, was
conferred on him by the king himself, and by and by  the order of St. Wal-
dimir of Russia, by the Emperor Alexander, and another order by the king
of  Sweden.   Mr. Sicard was now satisfied that justice had been done him,
and desired nothing more.  But when Napoleon returned from the island of
Elba in March, 1815, Mr. Sicard was so afraid that Napoleon would deprive
him of his honors, that he accepted an invitation to visit England in order not
to be in Paris while Napoleon was there.   He  took Mr. Massieu and myself 
108
LAURENT  CLERC.
along with him.  We arrived at London during the last days of May.  A\ e
had our first exhibition on the 2d of June *   We gave two a week, and they
were generally attended by princes, members of both houses of parliament,
and other distinguished individuals of both sexes, among whom were the Duke
of Kent, the  Duke  of Orleans,  (since Louis Philippe,) and her grace, the
Duchess of Wellington.  Little did I anticipate, at that time, the total defeat
which Napoleon was to experience by the combined armies of Europe, under
the command of her illustrious husband, the Duke of Wellington. ^ I had the
mortification of being  present at the house of  lords when the prince regent
came  in person, to announce to both houses the battle of Waterloo and the
flight of Napoleon.  I also witnessed the illumination of the city in the eve-
ning,  and the joy that this event caused to the English !
  It was at the close of one of our public lectures that Mr. Gallaudet was in-
troduced to me for the first time by Mr. Sicard, to whom he had  previously
been  introduced by a member of parliament.   We cordially shook hands
with him, and on being told who he was, where he came from, and for what
purpose, and on  being further informed of the ill success of his  mission in
England, we earnestly  invited him to come to Paris, assuring him that every
facility would be afforded him  to  see our Institution and attend our daily
lessons.  He accepted the invitation, and said he would come in the ensuing
spring.   We did not  see him any more, as  we left London soon afterward.
In the spring of  1816, according to his promise, he came to  Paris, and glad
were  we to see him again.  He visited our Institution almost every day.  He
began by attending the lowest class, and from class to class, he came to mine
which, as mentioned above, was the highest.  I had, therefore, a good oppor-
tunity of seeing  and conversing with him often, and the more I saw him, the
more I  liked him; his countenance and manners pleased me greatly.  He
frequented my school-room, and one day requested me to give him private
lessons of an hour every day.  I could receive him but three times a week, in
my room up stairs in the afternoon, and he  came with punctuality, so  great
was his desire of acquiring the  knowledge of the language of signs in the
shortest time possible.   I told him, nevertheless, that however diligent he might
be, it would require at least six months to get a tolerably good knowledge  of
signs, and a year for the method of instruction  so as to be well qualified  to
teach thoroughly.   He said he feared it would not be in his power to stay so
long, and that he would reflect, and give me his final decision  by and by.  In
the mean time, he continued coming to receive his lesson, and we spoke no
more of " how  long  he would stay" till the middle of May, when taking a
favorable occasion, he intimated to me that  he wished very much he  could
obtain  a well educated deaf and dumb young  man to accompany him  to
America.  I named two young deaf and dumb men who had left our Institu-
tion a few years since, that I knew would suit him, as  they  both diad some
  * The questions and answers of Massieu and myself at these  public exhibi-
tions were published. 
LAURENT CLERC.
109
knowledge of the English language, whereas I had none at all; but he an-
swered that he  had already made his choice, and that I was the person he
preferred.   Greatly astonished was I, for I had not the least expectation that
I should be thought of.  After a short pause, I said I would not hesitate to go
if I could do it properly.   I suggested to him the idea of speaking or writing
to the Abbe' Sicard  on the  subject, as I considered myself engaged to  the
Abbe.  He  said he would write, and  accordingly wrote ;  but although his
letter was  never answered, we both  inferred that Mr. Sicard's silence  was
rather favorable than otherwise.   But in order to ascertain his views, I  was
requested to sound  him.  Accordingly I  called and  inquired in the most
respectful  manner whether he had received Mr. G's letter, and if so, what
answer he  had returned.   I received but an evasive answer to my question;
for he abruptly asked me why I wished  to part with him.   My reply  was
simply this, that I could  without  much  inconvenience leave  him for a  few
years without loving him the less for it, and that I had a great desire to see the
world, and especially to make my unfortunate fellow-beings on the other side
of the Atlantic, participate in the same benefits of education that I had myself
received from him.   He  seemed to appreciate my feelings; for after some
further discussions on both sides, he finished by saying that he would give his
consent, provided I also obtained the consent of my mother, my father being
dead.   I said I would ask her, if he would permit  me to go home.   He said
I might. Accordingly I made my preparations and started for Lyons on  the
1st of June, after having promised Mr. Gallaudet to return a few days before
the appointed time for our voyage.  I thought I was going to agreeably sur-
prise  my dear mother, for she never imagined, poor woman, that  I could
come to see her, except  during  my vacation, which usually  took place in
September; but I was myself much more surprised when, on my arrival,  she
told me she knew what I had come for, and on my inquiring what it was, she
handed me a letter she had received from Mr. Sicard the preceding day.*
On reading it, I found that the good Abbe' Sicard had altered his mind, and
written to dissuade my mother from giving her consent; saying he " could not
spare me 1"   Accordingly  my mother  urged me hard to stay in France,  but
to no purpose, for I told her that  my  resolution was taken, and that  nothing
could make me change it.   She gave her consent with much reluctance, and
said she would pray God every day for my safety, through the intercession of
La Sainte Vierge. I bade herself, my brother and sisters and friends, adieu,
and was back in Paris on the 12th of June, and the next day, after having
taken an affectionate leave of the good Abbe' Sicard, who had been like a
father to me, I went also to  bid my pupils good-by, and there  took place a
painful scene I can never forget.   A favorite pupil of mine, the young Polish
Count Alexander de Machwitz, a natural son of the Emperor Alexander,
  * One of my sons, Francis  or Charles, when in France, took a copy of Mr.
Sicard's letter to my mother, which was still  in  the possession of one of my
sisters.
                15 
110
LAURENT  CLERC.
whom I knew to be much attached to me, came over to me and with  tears
in his eyes, took hold of me, saying he would not let me depart, scolding me,
at the same time, for having so long kept a secret my intention to go away-
I apologized as well as I could, assuring him  that I had done  so, because 1
thought it best.  However, he still held me so fast in his arms, so that 1 had
to struggle, to  disentangle myself from  him, and having floored him without
hurting him, I made my exit, and the day following, the 14th of June, 1 was
en route for Havre, with Mr. Gallaudet and our much  honored friend, S. V.
S Wilder, Esq-, who, I am happy to say, is still alive, and now resides some
where in  Greenwich, in this state.  On the 18th of June, in the afternoon,
we  embarked on board the ship Mary Augusta, Captain Hall,  and arrived at
New York on the  9th of August, 1816, in the morning.
  Owing to adverse winds and frequent calms which usually occur at sea in
the summer season, our passage lasted fifty-two days.  It was rather long;  but
on  the whole,  the voyage was pleasant.   A part of our time on board was use-
fully employed. I taught Mr. Gallaudet the method of the  signs for abstract
ideas, and he taught me the  English language.  I wrote my  journal,  and as I
thought in French rather than in English, I made several laughable mistakes
in the construction of my sentences, which he corrected; so that being thus
daily occupied, I did not find the  time to fall very heavily upon me.   We
formed plans for the success of the institution we  were going to establish;
we  made arrangements for the journeys we expected to undertake for the
 collection of funds;  we reformed  certain signs which we thought would not
 well suit  American manners and customs.
   The weather was  fair when we landed.  Our  first  steps were directed to
 the store of Messrs. Wilder & Co., in Pearl street, thence to the custom-
 house, and thence we proceeded  to the house of Mr. Gallaudet's father, in
 John street.   I anticipated much pleasure in witnessing his joy at again seeing
 his parents, brothers and sisters, after so long an  absence;  but I  must ac-
 knowledge that I was rather disappointed; for I  did not see any greater
 demonstration of  welcome  on both sides  than the  mere shaking of hands;
 little was I aware, at that time, of the difference between the French and
 American mode of saluting, especially with respect to the  ladies.  We  staid
 about ten days in New York.  We met, or rather we called on several gen-
 tlemen of Mr. Gallaudet's acquaintance,  who gave me a cordial welcome to
 America.
    My first impression  of the city was admiration of Broadway which appear-
 ed to me to be the finest street in the world, and my astonishment was great
 at seeing so much bustle in the streets, people in so great a hurry and walk-
 ing so fast.
    My second impression was the wearisomeness which  the  uniformity pro-
 duced.  Men, streets, squares, buildings, every thing was  alike; all  looked
 well, nothing appeared magnihcent.   I  noticed neatness without elegance,
 riches without taste, beauty without gracefulness.  I found that the happiness
 pf the  Americans  was at their firesides  with their wives, children and friends. 
LAURENT  CLERC.
Ill
They had few amusements, few spectacles and very few sublime objects capa-
ble of arresting the attention of an European;  and such a  one could not
easily appreciate the extent of the private happiness of a people who were
secure and not poor.
   At length, we left New York for New Haven, where we made a short tarry,
which I wished had been much longer; for I found it a delightful place.  We
called on President Dwight and some of the professors, who welcomed us.
We visited the college, the library and chapel.  The next day, it being very
pleasant, we took the  stage for Hartford, where  we arrived in the afternoon
of the 22d of August, 1816.  We alighted at  Dr.  Cogswell's  in Prospect
street.  We found Mrs. Cogswell alone at home with her daughters, except-
ing Alice, who  was then at  school under Miss  Lydia  Huntley,  (now Mrs.
Sigourney, our lovely poetess.)   She was immediately sent for, and  when
she made her appearance, I  beheld a very interesting little girl.  She had
one of the  most intelligent countenances I ever saw.  I was much pleased
with her.   We conversed by signs, and we understood each other very well;
so true is it, as I have often mentioned before, that  the language of signs is
universal and as simple as nature.  I had left many persons  and objects in
France  endeared to me by association, and America, at first, seemed uninter-
esting and monotonous, and I sometimes  regretted leaving  my native  land;
but on seeing Alice, I had only to recur to the object which had induced me
to seek these shores, to contemplate the good we were going to do, and sad-
ness was subdued by an approving conscience.
   On the 23d of August in the evening,  that is, the next day after our ar-
rival at Hartford, we  attended a meeting of the  directors of the Asylum at
the State House, and  I was  introduced to them individually.  By and by, I
made the acquaintance of the principal citizens of Hartford and their families,
who all received and treated me so kindly, that I felt quite at home.
   On the 3d of September,  Dr. Cogswell, Mr.  Gallaudet and myself set out
for Boston, with many letters of introduction, among  which was one from
Gov. John C. Smith to Gov. Phillips.  The object of our coming hither was
soon generally known.  I was at the Atheneum upon  two days of the week
and  answered a great variety of questions proposed to me by a large com-
pany of gentlemen.   On the second  day, that is, on the 9th of  September,
an address was delivered to the gentlemen, which I had  written in  the
mornin".   It is proper to remark that I had only studied the English lan-
guage about three months; no apology, therefore, is necessary for the idiomatic
expressions discoverable in my style.  Here is my address, the first I ever
made in this country:
   " Gentlemen—You know  the motive which has led me to the United  States
of America.  The public papers have taught  you  it; but you do not yet
know, I believe, the reason why I have come to Boston with Mr. Gallaudet
and Dr. Cogswell, and why  we have invited you to honor this meeting with
your presence.
   " It is to speak to you more conveniently of the deaf and dumb, of those 
112
LAURENT  CLERC.
unfortunate beings who, deprived of the sense of hearing and consequently
of that of speech, would be  condemned all their life, to the most sad vegeta-
tion if nobody came to their succor, but who intrusted to our regenerative
hands, will pass from the class of brutes to the class of men.
  " It is to affect your hearts with regard to their unhappy state, to excite the
sensibility and solicit the charity of your generous souls in their favor; re-
spectfully to entreat you to occupy yourselves in promoting their future hap-
piness.
  " The celebrated and immortal Abbe' de I'Epe'e invented the art of restoring
them to society and  religion.  It is according to his method that the  institu-
tions in Europe have been  formed ; it is consequently to him  that all the
deaf and dumb who know  how to write and read, owe  their temporal and
spiritual happiness.
  " The  Abbe' Sicard, my respectable and  beloved master,  was the most
distinguished among the disciples of the Abbe' de I'Epe'e, whom he succeeded.
The latter had left some things to be designed, the Abbe' Sicard has supplied
them; but if there had not been the Abbe' de I'Epe'e, there would not have
been the Abbe' Sicard; thus glory, honor and eternal gratitude are due to
those two friends of humanity.
  " I was about twelve years old when I arrived at the Abbe' Sicard's school.
I was endowed with considerable intelligence, but nevertheless I had no idea
of intellectual things.   I had it is true, a mind, but it did not think ;  I had a
heart, but it did not feel.
  " My mother, affected at my misfortune, had endeavored to show me the
heavens, and to make me know God, imagining that I understood her, but her
attempts were vain ;  I could comprehend nothing.   I believed that God was
a tall, big and strong man, and that Jesus  Christ having  come to kill us, had
been killed by us, and placed on a cross as one of our triumphs.
   " I believed many other  droll and  ridiculous things;  but as one cannot
recollect what passed in his infancy, I  cannot describe them.  I am sure that
the deaf and dumb who are in your country, think as I once did.  You must
be so kind as to aid us to undeceive them.   We shall  cultivate their minds
and form their hearts; but as the  mind  and heart cannot live without the
body, you will have the goodness to charge yourselves, with your other coun-
trymen, with the support of their bodies.  In Europe, each nation, however
small, has an institution for the deaf and dumb, and most  of these institutions
are at the expense of the government.   Will America remain the only nation
which is insensible to the cry of humanity ?  I hope not,  gentlemen; I hope
that you will busy yourselves with the  same zeal as your neighbors, the good
inhabitants of Connecticut.  If the deaf and dumb become happy, it will be
your joy to see that it is the effect of your generosity, and they  will preserve
the remembrance of it as long as they live, and your  reward will be in
heaven."
   The next day (the 10th of September) we had another exhibition at one 
LAURENT CLERC.
113
of the  new court-house rooms for greater convenience.   Here I delivered a
complimentary address to the ladies, which was as follows :
  " Ladies—Y"esterday we invited the most respectable inhabitants of Boston
to meet us at the Atheneum, in order to speak to them of the poor deaf and
dumb who abound in your own country.  A great many gentlemen attended.
I had hoped also to see some of you there; but I saw none.  I expressed my
wonder, and at the same time, my regret.  I am now fully indemnified.   I
see you; I look into your eyes, and by your eyes I can judge the bottom of
your hearts.  I feel it is good, tender and sensible.   A  tender and sensible
heart is never inaccessible to the misfortune of others.
   " There are more  than two  thousand unfortunate deaf and dumb  in
the United  States  without instruction   and  consequently  without any
knowledge whatever  of the charms of society, of the benefits of  God  to-
ward  us all, and  of  a  better happiness  in  the  other  world !   While it
lies in your power to contribute to render them happy here below, will you
leave  them to die in this sad state ?  I hope you will be too good to permit it.
Behold, ladies, what I should desire to obtain from you.  Mr. Gallaudet and I
are in the design of raising those  unfortunates from their nothingness. We
propose to establish an institution  in their favor, and to collect them there.
This institution must be in the middle of your country, that the deaf and dumb
may arrive there from all the states.  The town of Hartford has seemed to us
to be  the most convenient place, and has consequently been chosen.
   " The deaf and  dumb whose parents or  friends are rich, will pay their own
board;  those whose parents are indigent,  will be at the expense of your lib-
erality ; and as they are the most numerous, the charity  of all the citizens of
America is indispensable.   It is then to solicit that charity that we  have come
to Boston; and thence we intend  to go  to the other principal cities for  the
same purpose, and we have no doubt of  its success.   If you remark among
your husbands, relations or friends, some who may be insensible to this action
of benevolence, I beg you to change  them into better dispositions.  You
have  naturally great sensibility ;  you are  endowed with the talent of causing
the insensible to feel,  and of subduing the inexorable.  Thus my friends rely
on you, kind ladies, and I place in the  number of the obligations I shall owe
to you, those which my companions in  the same situation as myself, will owe
to you; and when they are educated, they will doubtless themselves express
their gratitude to you."
   At the close of  my address, many ladies came to me, and shook hands with
me, and I answered a number of questions,  to the satisfaction of the compa-
ny.  A number of generous donations  were made to the institution, and  the
example was followed by all classes in the community to  the amount of many
thousand dollars.
   Dr. Cogswell had left us  a few days  previous and returned  home; and on
the 27th of September, Mr. Gallaudet  and myself went to Salem, where we
obtained several subscriptions.
   The address which I delivered at the court-house was published in  the
newspapers. 
114
LAURENT  CLERC.
  Early in October we returned to Hartford, and in a few days we started
for New Haven, where the legislature was in session.   We had an exhibition
before the governor and both houses ; at which time I delivered an address
and answered numerous questions.
  From New Haven we proceeded to New York, but we were not as suc-
cessful there as  we had been elsewhere.  It was not that  the  New Yorkers
were  less  benevolent  than their fellow-citizens of New  England, but  the
reason was that at the several  meetings held at the City  Hall, a majority of
those  who attended, wished to have an institution established in the city.
  In November, the legislature of New York being in session at Albany, we
went  there, and a few days afterward we had  an exhibition at the capital,
where I delivered a long address, of which I regret I have not preserved any
copy.   We obtained something handsome from private gentlemen, but nothing
from  the  legislature.  We came back to New York city and made another
attempt, but did not succeed any better.  We  then went to Philadelphia,
where we gave  an  exhibition at Washington Hall,  in Third street.   The
meeting was much crowded, especially with pretty Quaker ladies ; but as the
Asylum was not to be located there, we did not receive  as much as we had
anticipated.  I called several times on my countryman, Stephen Girard, Esq.
I found him very eccentric : once he said he  would give  something, and the
next day he would give nothing, on account of the school  not being in Phila-
delphia, and said the people of New  England were  rich enough to support
the institution.  He was very local in his charity.
  We returned north by way of Burlington, N. J., and received some very
liberal donations.
  On the 15th  of April, 1817, our school was  opened with seven pupils, in
the south part of the building  now the  City Hotel, and on the  20th, Mr.
Gallaudet delivered an appropriate sermon  on the occasion in the Rev.  Dr.
Strong's church.
  In'January, 1818, I visited Washington city with the late Mr. Henry Hud-
son, to ascertain whether we could hope to obtain something from Congress
for our Asylum.   I attended the House  of Representatives,  and  the  Hon.
Henry Clay, who  was the speaker, politely  offered  me  a seat beside him.
There was a recess of half an hour, and I conversed with  several members of
Congress,  both  in English and  French.  Afterward I  visited the Senate
chamber.  The next day I had the honor  of being introduced to President
Monroe at the White House, by Mr. Hyde de Neuville, the French ambassa-
dor, for whom I had a letter of recommendation from  the Duke Mathieu de
Montmorency.
  The President received me with much  affability and bade me " welcome to
America," and said among  other things, that he hoped I would receive great
honor and much gratitude by doing good to the  deaf and  dumb.   I carefully
preserved the paper containing our conversation,  but  have mislaid it.  I at-
tended one of the levees with the ambassador and Mr. Hudson, and holding 
LAURENT CLERC.
115
a paper and pencil in my hands, I had the pleasure of conversing with gentle-
men and ladies.
  In the  session of 1819-20, thanks to the exertions of both our Connecticut
senators and  representatives, Congress granted us a township located in the
state of Alabama, and President Monroe, with the benevolence which char-
acterized him, readily sanctioned the act with his signature.
  In May, 1818,1 prepared an address, and on the 28th, it was delivered, at
my request, by Mr. Gallaudet, in the Center Congregational Church, before
Gov. Wolcott and both houses of the legislature.
   On the 3d of May, 1819, at the  house of her uncle, Benjamin  Prescott,
Esq., at  Cohoes Falls, near Waterford, N. Y., I was married to Miss Eliza
Crocker Boardman, a very beautiful and intelligent young lady, and one of
our earliest pupils, by the Rev. Mr. Butler,  then rector of the Episcopal
church at Troy, and the father of the  Rev. Dr. Butler, the present chaplain
of the  Senate of the United States at Washington.  The grooms were Lewis
Weld, Esq., and Hermann Bleecker, Esq., and the bride-maids Miss Prescott
and Miss Butler, and the witnesses  were Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Sedgwick,
the Rev. Mr. Eaton and two or three other gentlemen of Albany.
   Toward the close of April, 1820, that is, about a month after the birth of
my oldest daughter, Elizabeth Victoria, (now Mrs. George W. Beers,) I sail-
ed for  France on a visit to my friends,  and returned to Hartford  in a year.
We have now four living children, viz : two sons  and two  daughters, having
lost two, viz: a girl and a boy, each at about two years old.  My daughter
Mrs. Beers has a son, and  my  younger daughter, Mrs. Henry C. Deming,
has also  one.  My oldest son, Rev. Francis Joseph Clerc, rector of  St. John's
church,  in St. Louis, Mo., is  also married  and has two children, a daughter
and a  son, so that I have now four grand-children, all blessed with the sense
of hearing, as well as their parents.   My younger son, Charles Michael Clerc,
is not  yet married ; he is at New York city, in a wholesale store.

   [We are obliged to abridge the remainder of Mr. Clerc's communication,
in which he makes mention of his labors to advance the cause of deaf-mute
instruction in this country, by giving lessons out of his classes in the Asylum,
to Rev.  Abraham Stansbury, while superintendent or family guardian of the
Asylum, and who afterward  commenced a private school in the city of New
York, which  was  subsequently merged in the Institution; by assisting in 1821,
in reorganizing the institution at Philadelphia, and in giving lessons to Mr.
Charles  Dillingham, and to Rev.  A.  B.  Hutton, the  latter of whom after-
ward  became the Principal of the  Institution,  and the former continued for
several years an assistant; by a course of private lessons to Mr. H. N. Hub-
 bell, in 1828, who had been  appointed Principal of the Ohio Institution at
 Columbus; to Roland MacDonaldof Canada East, in 1830, who on  his return
 opened a school in Quebec; to Rev. J. D.  Tyler, Principal of the Virginia
 Institution; to J. A. Jacobs, Principal  of the Kentucky Institution; to  Prof.
 Bartlett of the New York Institution  ; to J. S. Brown, Principal of the In-
 diana Institution ; and to others.] 
116
LAURENT  CLERC.
  These  instructions were given, not for a price, but in obedience to the
precept of our Lord Jesus Christ, who  said: " Freely you have  received,
freely give."  In  1830,  Mr. Gallaudet resigned his situation  as Principal,
notwithstanding my supplications that he would  not.  We had been so inti-
mate, so harmonious, so much attached to each other;  we had labored to-
gether so many years ; that I parted with him with unspeakable grief.
  In April, 1835, I again visited my friends in  France,  with  my older son
Francis, whom I  left there about three years, to perfect himself in his knowl-
edge of the French language.  This was my second absence.  The third and
last took place in May,  1846, and I took with me my younger son  Charles,
who also  remained  there three years for the purpose of learning to speak
French and to acquire some knowledge of the manufacture of  silk.
                                                        L.  CLERC. 
JOURNAL OF
    MR.  GALLAUDET'S VISIT  TO EUROPE IN 1815-16.

Extracts from  " A Journal of some occurrences in my Life which have a
            relation to the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb"


   Hartford, Connecticut,  Thursday evening,  April 20th,  1815.   I
informed Dr. Mason F. Cogswell and Mr. Ward Woodbridge, of my willing-
ness to undertake the employment of instructing the  deaf and dumb in  my
own country.
   May 1st, Monday evening.  A meeting, which was opened with prayer by
the Rev. Nathan  Strong, of seven gentlemen, subscribers to the deaf  and
dumb fund, was holden at Dr. Cogswell's to devise the best method of prose-
cuting this object.  Dr. C. and Mr. Ward Woodbridge were  appointed a
committee to solicit subscriptions.
   May 10th, Thursday morning.  I  left Hartford for New York, where I
arrived on the Saturday morning following, 12th inst.
   May 25th, Thursday noon.  I sailed from New York in the ship Mexico,
S. Weeks, commander, bound to Liverpool.
   June 25th, Sunday.  At  three o'clock, P. M., I went on shore at Liver-
pool, where  I  continued to July  1st, when  I directed my course towards
London, where I arrived on Wednesday afternoon, the 5th of July.
   Friday, July 7th.   I called on the Rev. John Townsend,  the  original
founder of the " Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb," and presented  my letters
of introduction to him from the Rev. Dr. Romeyn, of New York, and  the
Rev. Thomas Raffles, of Liverpool, and made him acquainted with  the object
of my visit to this country.  He expressed an entire willingness to do every
thing in his power to promote my free access to the Asylum;  but spoke of
certain difficulties which might  arise  on the part of the instructor.   These
appeared to be founded on the possibility of my wishing to acquire the  art
for purposes of private emolument in this country.  And also on the appre-
hension of my not doing credit to the  institution, either from want of talent to
improve under Dr. Watson's instruction, or of sufficient time to devote myself
to the school.  Mr. Townsend desired me to call at the City of London Tav-
ern, on Monday, when he would give me further information on the subject.
   Saturday,  8th.  I visited  the secretary of the Abbe' Sicard, Mr. Sievrac,
and introduced myself to him.   He was in a room with the Abbe' and two of
his pupils, Massieu and Clerc.  I  made the secretary acquainted with  my
                     16 
  11<S           MR.  GALLAUDET'S VISIT  TO  EUROPE.

  object in visiting Europe, and also showed him some of my credentials.  He
'  immediately said that every facility would be granted me at Paris, and that I
  could regularly attend the school of the deaf and dumb, and also receive the
  private instructions of the Abbe', who devotes a portion of his time to those
  who wish to acquire his art, for the sake  of using  it in their  own  country.
  He afterwards  introduced me to the Abbe', who confirmed all that his sec-
  retary had told me.  It is the Abbe"s secretary who is his interpreter.   From
  him I received a ticket which gives me gratuitous access to all the remaining
  lectures of the Abbe' during his residence in London.
    Monday, 10th.   The following  note I addressed to  Rev. Mr. Townsend,
  and sent it by the waiter at the City of  London Tavern, to the  committee-
  room, where the committee of the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb were in
  session.   Mr. T. is one of this committee.

  Rev.  Sir :—
    I take the liberty of submitting to your  inspection the inclosed papers, and
  of referring  you  for further  information  to  Samuel  Williams, Esq., Peter
  Barlow, Esq., and  Messrs. Davy &; Roberts.  I have  also letters to William
  Wilberforce, Esq., Dr. John C. Lettsome, William Vaughan, Esq., and others,
  which I hope to have the pleasure of delivering in a few days.  To these I
  may add the name of Mr. William Freme.  Permit me to urge my request by
  observing,  that nothing but the most entire confidence in the liberal  and gen-
  erous spirit of British public  institutions  of charity, would have induced me
  to leave my native home under  the circumstances which have  brought me to
  your country.                                I am,  &:c.
    P.  S.  Be so kind as to return the inclosed papers.

    The  papers inclosed were,—the paper* which I drew up while in Hart-
  ford, setting forth the importance of a school for the deaf and dumb in New
  England;  and Gov. Smith's, Gov. Goodrich's, Dr. Strong's and Dr. Green's,
  (president of Princeton College,) testimonials with regard to my character.
  In a short time after sending my note to Mr. Townsend, the committee went
  into the ball-room, where a meeting of the subscribers to the fund of the Asy-
  lum was held for the purpose of hearing the report of the committee on the
  general concerns of the Asylum, and also of voting for the admission of new
  applicants  into it.  Seventy-three  applied  for admission, which  could  be
  granted only to sixteen, and  for  these each subscriber had a right to vote.
  The stairs which led to the ball-room were lined with the parents and friends
  of the deaf and dumb.  They presented their  children to  each one  passing,
  and also a  ticket giving an account of their circumstances and the peculiar
  claims which they had on the charity.  These little  groups  of unfortunate
  beings pleading  with a silent eloquence for relief was a touching sight.
     Before  I left the room, Mr. T. informed me that he had laid my application
  before the committee, and that a sub-committee had been chosen, who would
* See Eulogy, page 14, &c. 
MR.  OALLAUDET'S  VISIT  TO EUROPE.          H9
immediately confer with Dr. Watson on the subject of my admission to his
school.   He had no doubt that the result would be a favorable one.
  At two o'clock I went to the Abbe' Sicard's  lecture  in  the Argyle rooms.
His  lecture which was in French, lasted more  than  an hour.  Afterward
there was some  exhibition of the talents and  acquirements  of his pupils
Massieu  and Clerc.  Many questions  were put to them  by the company,
which  they answered with great dispatch and  propriety.  The Bishop of
London  was present and  several of the  nobility, among whom  was the
Duchess  of Wellington.    ********
  Friday, Uth.   I called on Mr. Michael  Gibbs, one  of the sub-committee.
Nothing had been done respecting my application, but Mr. G. thought a few
days would bring the affair of my connection with  the Asylum to a con-
clusion.
  Friday, 21st.   After waiting a week in  hopes  that I should  hear either
from Mr. Townsend or some other of the  committee, I called again on Mr.
Gibbs.   He was not within. I left a note for  him, in which I expressed a
wish to know whether any thing decisive had  transpired  respecting my ap-
plication. In  an  hour or  two, I called again and found the following note,
which Mr. G. had left for me.
Sir:—
  Mr. Townsend two days ago  sent me  your papers, which having read over,
I have  forwarded to  Dr. Watson.   I also  saw Mr. Townsend yesterday and
recommended him to introduce you  to Dr.  Watson, which he purposes to do
either on Monday or Tuesday in  next week.  I would therefore suggest the
propriety of your calling on Mr. T. on Monday morning.
                                  Your obedient servant,
  Jamaica Row, Bermondsey,                                M. GIBBS.

  Instead of waiting till  Monday, I immediately got  on the top of a stage
coach and rode to Mr. Townsend's.  He was not at home.  I left a note for
him  and  shall hope to see him in a day or two.
  (I ought before this to have  made mention of a school  for the deaf and
dumb, a  little  distance from Birmingham, which I visited  when  I passed
through that place. It has been established but a few years, and contains
about twenty scholars.  It is a public and charitable institution, under the man-
agement  of trustees.   The instructor is Mr. Thomas Braidwood, whose grand-
father, if I mistake not, was the original founder  of the school for  the deaf
and dumb at Edinburgh.)
  On Thursday, 20th, which circumstance I also forgot to mention in  its
proper place, I attended another lecture of the Abbe' Sicard's.  *  *  *
  Monday, 24th.   I received the following note from Rev. J.  Townsend.

                             Jamaica Row, Bermondsey,  July 22d, 1815.
My Dear Sir:—
  I have  this moment returned home and am sorry you  should have had the
trouble of calling and not find  me at home.  And I am sorry to  say that I 
120          MR.  GALLAUDET'S  VISIT  TO EUROPE.
leave home again on Monday morning, at 7 o'clock.  I shall  return again on
Tuesday, so that  I shall be able to accompany you on Wednesday morning.
Suppose you breakfast with me at eight, we  can then  go immediately to  Dr.
Watson.  Wishing you every blessing in providence and grace,
               I remain, dear sir, yours most sincerely,
                                                JOHN TOWNSEND.

   Wednesday, 26th.   In the forenoon I went with the Rev. Mr. Townsend
to the manufacturing establishment of the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb,
where I saw several of  these unfortunates in different apartments, engaged
in shoe-making, tailoring and printing.  We afterward proceeded to the Asy-
lum, where I was  introduced to Dr. Watson, and spent a little while in his
school.  His pupils, both male and female, were all  in one large room,  and
appeared to be industriously employed under the care of his several  assist-
ants.  Mr. Townsend, Dr. Watson and myself afterward retired to the com-
mittee room, where some conversation took place between  Dr. W. and  my-
self, with regard to my admission into the Asylum, in  the course of which, he
stated, though in very general terms, some difficulties  which stood in the way
of my having access to his school.   These, so far  as I  could understand them,
appeared to arise  from the apprehension that I might not be willing to devote
the necessary time and  patience to the acquisition of the art, and that some
of his pupils, or rather his assistants, might take offense at seeing a stranger
receive  the benefits of the  establishment in so much shorter a period of time
than had been required  of them.   He mentioned that four or five years was
the customary length of time which his pupils devoted to his school, and that
those who became qualified for instructors received their knowledge and skill,
not so much from any private instructions or lectures of his own, as from tak-
ing charge of an uninstructed pupil and conducting him  regularly through
the several stages of his improvement.   And I rather inferred from what he
said,  that he thought it  would be required of me to pursue this course.  He
distinctly disclaimed  any intention of receiving a pecuniary remuneration
for any assistance  which his school might afford me.
   On my part, I observed that I trusted my motive  in visiting this country,
and soliciting the benefits of his school, was one  of real benevolence, and not
of individual gain or emolument;  that it was my true interest, if I consulted
my own reputation as an instructor, or the usefulness of the school in  Amer-
ica, which I hoped to superintend  on my return, to devote all the time to the
acquisition of his art which could be considered necessary ;  that I stood ready
to do this, and as a proof of this, that I was willing to place myself under his
complete control  and direction, for six weeks or two months, in which  time
he would be enabled to form a satisfactory judgment with  regard to the tal-
 ents I might possess for the acquisition of his art, and also with regard to the
 time which it might be  necessary for me to spend at  his school.  I remarked,
 also, that I was  ready to comply  with  any fair and reasonable requisitions
 which he might see fit  to make, that I would answer with  frankness any in-
 quiries which he  chose to  put respecting  my object and  views, but that I 
MR.  GALLAUDET'S  VISIT  TO  EUROPE.          121
wished for a conclusive answer to my request as soon as convenient, as my
expenses were considerable, and their increase was diminishing the fund in
America which would afford relief, in case I should succeed in establishing an
Asylum there, to the unfortunate deaf and dumb, of which we had great
numbers in our country.  I concluded with saying that should I be refused
admittance into his school,  it  was desirable for me soon to  know it,  that I
might direct my course elsewhere.
  Dr. Watson said he wished for a little time to consider the subject, and that
after conferring with Mr. Gibbs, he would acquaint me with the result.
  On my return into  the  city,  (the Asylum is on  the Surrey side of the
Thames,) I immediately called at Mr. Gibbs'.  He was from home.  I was
told that he would not  be within during the day; that he expected to leave
town early the next morning, and would not probably return till Tuesday of
next week.
  Friday, 28th.   This  morning I visited the Asylum, and by Dr. Watson's
invitation spent an hour among  his pupils.  I was much gratified with the
proficiency which many of them appeared to have made.  *****
  Before I left the Asylum, I had a few minutes' conversation with Dr. W. on
the subject of my admission into his school.   He had not seen Mr. Gibbs, and
could not give me any decisive answer.   He suggested the expediency of my
carrying with me one of  his assistants to America, to be of service in the
school which  might be  formed there.  I replied that I could not at present
place myself under obligations to do any such thing.   Dr.  W. again spoke of
the difficulty which might  arise from the shortness of time which I should
probably spend in his school, and of the appearance of injustice which my
short continuance with him might wear toward his assistants. I again repeated
my willingness to commence  with  him a probation for  six weeks or  two
months,—but observed that I could not at present obligate myself to continue
with him for any period of considerable length.   Dr. AV. alluded to  Mr.
Braidwood's (grandson  of the original teacher of the deaf and dumb at Edin-
burgh) being  in America, and suggested  the expediency of his being some
way or other employed in the Asylum in Connecticut.   To this  suggestion,
of course, I gave no assent.  On my leaving Dr. W., he very kindly invited
me to visit his school again  when I found it convenient.
  Saturday, 29th.   I called at Mr. Townsend's, and had some little conver-
sation with him on my business.  He very kindly said that he would do every
thing in his power to serve me.  He said that he would endeavor to see Mr.
Gibbs immediately on his return, and urge the importance of a speedy meet-
ing of the sub-committee.   He thought it might be best for me to engage to
continue with Dr. Watson for one year. I replied that I could not at present
assent to this; for if it was  possible for me to qualify myself for the instruc-
tion of the deaf and dumb in a shorter period than one year, it would be an
unnecessary waste of time and  expense to continue here for a longer period;
and whether I could thus qualify myself, must be determined by experiment.
  Monday, 31st.   This afternoon I again visited  the Asylum, and had some 
122         .  MR. GALLAUDET'S VISIT TO  EUROPE.

conversation with Dr. Watson.   He alluded again to the difficulty which he
had before spoken  of, and seemed  also to consider, as I  inferred from  his
conversation, that it Avould have been more correct for me to have originally
made my application to himself rather than to the committee, inasmuch as his
engagement with them  was simply to instruct the  pupils belonging to the
Asylum, and himself of course under no obligation to communicate his art to
other persons.  I observed  that my application to the committee was the re-
sult of my introduction to the Rev. Mr. Townsend, to whom my letters were
addressed.   And here I  can not  help remarking, that on mature reflection I
am led to think that the  course which I took was the correct one.  For would
it not have been indecorous in me to have gained an introduction to a public
and charitable institution, without first apjilying to those who have the man-
agement of it ?
  In the course  of conversation  with Dr. Watson, I again expressed entire
unwillingness to lay myself under  the least obligation to carry with me an
assistant to America, observing that it would be altogether inconsistent with
my present plan of procedure ; that I knew not the present state of the fund
at home for the future  support  of the projected Asylum, nor the length of
time that would transpire before it could assume the character of  an exten-
sive and flourishing establishment; that of course I could not pledge myself
for the support  of an assistant, and besides, as I had myself embarked in this
undertaking, it would be more consistent with my views and feelings to carry
it myself into effect.  I also again  expressed  my unwillingness  to obligate
myself to continue in the  school for any definite period.   I suggested, also,
an expedient, which, I observed, might remove some of the difficulties which
Dr. Watson had suggested : and this was, that I should have intercourse only
with his private pupils, of whom he has twelve  or fifteen, superintending the
instruction of some of them, and receiving his advice and direction.  He ap-
peared to think favorably of such a plan of proceeding, and observed, that
after conferring with the sub-committee, which  he hoped  to do within a few
days, he would  again  see me and bring our business to a conclusion.  Dr.
Watson, at this interview, seemed to insist rather less than he had done be-
fore, on the absolute necessity of my continuing with him for a stated period
of time.  After leaving the Asylum, I went to  Mr. Townsend's, but  did not
find him at home.
   Tuesday, August 1st.  This morning I visited Mr. Townsend,  and ac-
quainted him with  the nature of my last conversation with Dr. Watson.  I
also observed that I still could not  consent to pledge myself to continue in
the school for a stated period, and that my present views of such a requisition
led me to consider  it  as interfering a  little with the  right which, it would
seem, a person under my circumstances ought to have, of judging for himself
when he might become qualified to teach the deaf and dumb in his own country.
At the same time, I remarked, that as, on  the one  hand, my own duty and
interest would lead  me to perfect myself in the  art which I wished to acquire
before  I returned to America, so on the other,  I had no hesitation in saying 
              MR. GALLAUDET'S  VISIT TO EUROPE.           123

that I trusted both the committee and Dr. Watson would be satisfied with the
degree of my qualifications before I left the school.  I also observed, that I
thought, if the affair of my application were left entirely to Dr. Watson's de-
cision, it  would be most likely to meet with a favorable  result.   (In this, it
afterward appeared, I was mistaken.)
  In the  afternoon I saw Mr. Gibbs, who had just returned from the country.
He promised to see Dr. Watson in the evening, or on the morning of the ensu-
ing day and observed that he would endeavor to have a meeting of the sub-
committee held on Thursday.  I urged the importance of this, as Mr. Towns-
end expected  to leave town on Monday  next with the expectation of being
absent for several weeks.
   Wednesday, 2d.  I called at Mr. Gibbs, as he had requested me to do.  He
was not at home, but had left word for me, that he had not been able to see
Dr. Watson, but hoped to do it before the morrow, and to  be  able  by  11
o'clock to give me the result of his interview.
   Thursday, 3d.  This morning I had an interview of considerable length
with Mr. Gibbs.   He had seen Dr. Watson, who still thought there were dif-
ficulties in  the way of my admission into the school in any other character
than that of a visitor, and expressed some little surprise at my unwillingness
to have some one already acquainted with his art, to go to America, if indeed
it was my object to promote the success of a public and charitable institution
for the deaf and dumb in  that country.  I stated to Mr. Gibbs what I con-
sidered sufficient reasons for my not complying with such a plan of proced-
ure, unfolded to him as distinctly as I could, my object and  wishes, and
assured him that I stood ready to  comply with any conditions which were
consistent with the peculiar circumstances of the undertaking in which I had
embarked, and  with the best means  of promoting its success.   Mr. Gibbs
assured me that  he had no doubt the committee would do every thing in their
power to promote my views, and sanction any arrangement which might  be
made by Dr. Watson and  myself.  He said that a meeting of the sub-com-
mittee would be held  on Thursday of the next week, and in the meanwhile
he advised me to address a letter to Dr. Watson, giving him my views on the
subject of my application, and enclosing  a statement also  of a somewhat simi-
lar nature, to be presented by Dr. W. to  the sub-committee when they should
meet, accompanied with my credentials.  On  leaving Mr. Gibbs I rode to
Mr. Townsend's.  He was from home, but I procured my credentials, which
had been in his possession.
   Saturday, 5th.  I had some conversation with Mr. Piper, one of the sub-
committee.  He expressed  his wish to promote my views, but alluded  to the
difficulties Dr. Watson had  suggested, with some fears that they might not be
obviated.
   Monday, 1th.   I had this morning another interview of considerable length
with  Dr. Watson.  Nothing new transpired.   I asked him if he could pro-
pose any plan by which he could give me the benefit of becoming acquainted 
124           MR.  GALLAUDET'S  VISIT  TO EUROPE.

with the theory and practice of his art.  But he said  he should rather wait
to see the decisions of the sub-committee on Thursday, and that he thought
it would be useless for me to address any letter to himself on the subject of
my  business, as the statement to the committee would be sufficient.   He again
observed, that the committee had no control over him, any farther than that
he had engaged with them to instruct the  deaf pupils who might  be intro-
duced into the Asylum.
  Thursday, 10th.   This morning  I  left with Mr. Piper,  a  paper of some
length, to be laid before the sub-committee  who were to meet this day at the
City of London Tavern, accompanied with  my credentials for their examina-
tion.  In this paper I gave a succinct  account of what had transpired before
I left home with regard to the proposed Asylum at Hartford, and also stated
my reason  for not being  willing to assent to any proposal  of carrying to
America with me an  instructor of the deaf and dumb from this country, or
of pledging myself at present to continue with Dr. Watson for a definite pe-
riod of time, without first making trial of my capacities  for improvement in
his  art: I concluded  with respectfully asking the committee whether they
could, in any way, assist me in the accomplishment of my object.
  Friday  11th.  This morning I received a note from Mr.  Stephen Hough,
chairman of the sub-committee, of which the following is a copy.

                                            London,  10th August, 1815.
  Sir:—I am requested to transmit to you  a copy of a  resolution which the
sub-committee have this day agreed upon, after having considered your appli-
cation referred to them, and which it is their intention  to present to the com-
mittee on Monday next, at the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb.   I am, Sir,
                  Your very obedient servant,
                                       STEPHEN HOUGH, Chairman.
                         Copy of  the Resolution.
  Resolved, That after mature deliberation, taking into view the due discipline
of  the Asylum, and the proper time requisite to qualify an effective instructor
of  the deaf and dumb, the auditors in  conjunction with Dr. Watson, beg to
recommend the committee to allow Mr. Gallaudet to be received into the Asy-
lum for one month upon  liking, with the view that on the expiration of that
period, he shall be engaged as an assistant for three years on the usual terms,
with power  to Dr. Watson to  release  him from his engagement sooner, if it
 should appear that Mr. G. is qualified before the end of that time.

   During the day I consulted with three judicious friends, Rev. Josiah Pratt,
 Rev. Dr. Bogue and Rev. S. W. Tracy, with respect to the report of the sub-
 committee and the expediency of my entering the Asylum on the terms there
 proposed.   These gentlemen unanimously  (though I asked the advice of Rev.
 Mr. Pratt, before I saw the others) gave it as their opinion from what they then
 thought of the subject, that I ought not to accept of such terms, and advised
 me to make application to the Asylum for the Deaf and  Dumb at Edinburgh.
    Saturday  12th.   I called on  Mr. Paroell, one of the sub-committee, to in-
 quire whether the " liking" mentioned in the report was to be reciprocal- 
MR.  GALLAUDET'S  VISIT TO  EUROPE.           125
He replied that that was the intention of the sub-committee.   In the course
of conversation, I informed him that I thought  the conditions stated in the
report, placed me too much in  the power of Dr. Watson;  inasmuch as the
duty of an assistant, if I rightly understood it, was to conduct the pupils, step
by step, through  their several gradations of improvement,  which, of course,
would very much retard my progress in the art; for after having made my-
self fully acquainted with one stage of the progress, I must still wait for the
pupil before I could advance  to the succeeding stage.   I  further observed
that all Dr. Watson's personal feelings and biases (and like  all men he might
be subject to them) would lead him to give as much importance as possible to
his profession, and  to make it appear that a considerable length of time and
patience was requisite for the acquisition of his art.  Of course his individual
interest would lead him to detain me as long as possible, and although I might
think myself qualified in a period of time much  short of  three years, and
might actually be so, still if Dr. Watson thought otherwise,  I should have no
redress.  I observed that I thought it a very unequal bargain ; but still that I
could not ask, I acknowledged, any thing from the Asylum which might les-
sen its reputation by my leaving it in the character of a pupil of Dr. Watson's,
without being duly qualified.  I remarked however, that perhaps I ought to
possess some power of judging in my own case, as every motive, both of duty
and interest, would constrain me to wish to  be  fully  qualified before I re-
turned to my own country.
  Monday, 14th.  I visited Mr. Woodman's private establishment for the deaf
and dumb, at Kelburn, a village in  the  neighborhood of London.  He has
about a dozen pupils, two of whom I saw. * * Mr. W. had  been  an assistant
of Dr. Watson's.  He gave me no very favorable account of the duties of an
assistant, and observed that the necessary information and  skill  he was cer-
tain could be acquired in a much shorter period of time than three years.
   Tuesday, 15th.  I had an interview this morning with Dr. Watson at the
Asylum.  My object in visiting him was to enquire into the duties of his as-
sistants.  He informed me that it is expected of them, and  would be of me,
to be in the school from 7 o'clock in the morning till 8 in the  evening, and
also with the pupils in their hours of recreation.   He observed that the first
employment of an  assistant is to teach the pupils penmanship.   This I re-
marked would be a part of the principal difficulty that I had anticipated, and
would serve to illustrate it.   For it showed that I might be familiar both with
the theory and practice of certain stages of his pupils'  improvement, and yet
be detained from advancing, until they also should become familiar with them.
This, I observed, would be a useless sacrifice of time on my part.   I suggest-
ed again the  plan of my having intercourse with his private pupils, but he
declined saying any thing on that point, till I had made up my mind with re-
gard to the proposal of the committee.
  I called also on Mr. Parnell, he informed me that the committee had ac-
cepted the report of the sub-committee.
                17 
126          MR.  GALLAUDET'S  VISIT  TO EUROPE.

  Friday, 18th.  I saw Dr. Watson at the Asylum and informed him  that I
had concluded not to accede to the arrangements proposed to me by the com-
mittee.  In the course of conversation, he invited me to visit  the  school, so
far as it would not interfere with the progress of his pupils.  He also offered
to answer any enquiries which I might wish to make respecting the school.
I asked him if he could suggest any arrangement which would promote my
views.  I did not press the subject, after seeing that he was rather inclined
to wave it, for he very soon remarked that I might perhaps make experiments
upon deaf mutes in the  Asylum in America as well as here.  He again  al-
luded to the difficulty of introducing me  into the Asylum in an " unknown
character," meaning, I suppose, that I had not brought with me any official
documents of my being sent abroad by a public body of men, to  superintend
a public and charitable asylum on my return.
   Tuesday, 22d.  I have just written the following to Mr. Hough.

                                            London, 22d August, 1815.
   Sir :—I acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 10th inst., communica-
ting the resolution of the  sub-committee with regard to my application;  which
resolution, I understand,  has since been accepted and confirmed by the com-
mittee.  I cannot feel it  to be my duty to accede to the arrangement which is
proposed to me.  Will you, sir, be kind enough to communicate this, either to
the sub-committee or committee, as you may deem proper, with my thanks for
the attention, that the  gentlemen composing these committees have given to my
application.  Iam,&e.
   Mr. Stephen  Hough, Chairman of the  sub-committee.

   Thursday, 24th.   At  5 o'clock in the afternoon of this day, I went on board
the smack Buccleuch, and on  Sunday the 27th at  2 o'clock, P. M., arrived
in Leith Harbor and  soon proceeded to Edinburgh, about a  mile distant (the
whole distance is more than 400 miles.)
   Monday, 28th.  I delivered some of my letters, among the rest, one to the
 Rev. Wm. Innes, and another to James F. Gordon, Esq., one of the secreta-
 taries of the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb.  Mr. Gordon gave me a note
 to Mr. Kinniburgh, (Robert,) teacher of the deaf and dumb, on whom I called
 and  explained the object of my visit to  Edinburgh.  He took me into his
 school, where I spent a little while.   He  expressed the strongest wish to ren-
 der me every assistance in his power, but observed that  he  was under bonds
 to Mr. Thomas  Braidwood, instructor of  the deaf and dumb at Birmingham,
 not to communicate his art to any person for seven years, four of which had
 now expired.  To-morrow I expect to see him and Mr. Gordon again, and
 converse with  them on the  subject.   The result of this and  some sub-
 sequent conversations, was, that I had better write Mr. B., to endeavor to per-
 suade him to release  the institution from  the obligations of the bond.
    Monday, September 4th.  I have  this  day written to  Mr. Thomas Braid-
 wood of Birmingham, soliciting his  consent that Mr. Kinniburgh may com-
 municate to me what he may see fit to do of his  mode of instructing deaf 
MR GALLAUDET'S VISIT TO  EUROPE.           127
mutes. I also wrote to Dr. G. De Lys, the secretary of the Asylum for the deaf
and dumb at Birmingham, asking the favor of his influence with Mr. Braid-
wood.  It seems that Mr.  Kinniburgh met with a disappointment  somewhat
similar to my own, in his application a few years since to the London Asy-
lum ; that he then  applied to Mr. Braidwood, who made it a condition of in-
structing him, that he should not communicate his art to any person for seven
years.   Sad monopoly  of the resources of charity!!!
  Saturday, 16 th.  I this day received a letter from Mr. Braidwood. In it he
declines giving a direct answer to my application until he has consulted  with
his mother, who also professes the art, and is as he observes, " at an advanced
age, still dependent upon her own exertions in this so arduous an undertaking."
He further observes, " Dr. Watson was instructed in this art by my grandfather
and my father, and has reaped most of the advantages  resulting from their
genius and abilities.  You will therefore not, I trust, accuse me of illiberality,
if in giving or withholding my consent in  a circumstance of this  nature, I
should first take the advice of my friends.  At the same time, believe me, my
best wishes are for an arrangement which may enable you to accomplish your
benevolent design."
  Monday,  18th.   I wrote Mr. Braidwood, urging him to give me a specific
answer as soon as  he could make it convenient.
  Friday, 22d.  I this day received a letter from Mr. Braidwood, in which
he says, " In reply to yours of the 4th inst,  I feel it my duty, with the  con-
current opinion of my friends to give a decided negative to your request."
He afterwards assigns as the reason for this, the circumstance of his brother's
being in America and refers me to him, " with the firm conviction that liber-
al encouragement, on  the  part of my countrymen, will be followed  by the
most strenuous exertions of his brother to  deserve ifc"
  I have just written James Farquhar Gordon, Esq., one of the secretaries
of the Asylum in this place, for the deaf and dumb, giving him the  substance
of Mr. Braidwood's letter, and enquiring whether the committee might  not
be induced to think, either that the bond is an illegal one, or that in the ori-
ginal  intention of the parties, it had no reference to a foreign country. * * *
  Saturday, 30th.   For some days past, as I have not heard from  Mr. Gor-
don, I have  been endeavoring to gain access to several of the committee of
the  Asylum, in order to interest them  individually in my favor.  Mrs. Stew-
art, the lady of Dugald Stewart, Esq., at whose house in the country I lately
spent a day  and night, and with whom I had some little conversation on my
undertaking, gave me  a letter of introduction  to Dr. Jno. Gordon of Edin-
burgh, the writer of the article Deaf and Dumb, in Brewster's Encyclopedia,
and one of the committee of the Asylum.   I called on him yesterday,  and
hope something favorable may result from the interview.   *****
  October 5th.   I  have received a letter from Mr. Gordon, in which he says,
" situated as the Edinburgh institution is at present, I know no plan by which
we can either equitably or honorably break through a contract, regularly en-
• 
128           MR.  GALLAUDET'S  VISIT  TO EUROPE.

tered into, and which, however hard it may bear upon the present situation of
matters, has enabled us to give instruction to fifty poor children."
  Still, I am prosecuting this matter in  hopes that it may eventually be
thought by Mr. Gordon and the committee, that the bond has no  reference
to a foreign country.  Dr. Gordon and W. Scott Moncrieff, Esq., two  of the
committee, have promised all the aid which they can give consistently  with
propriety and the fair tenor of the bond.
  October 18th.  Mr. Gordon has  returned from the country.   He promises
soon to consult the  committee on my business.   But as several of them are
still out of town, it may be some days before I can receive their ultimate
decision.
  October 21st.   I  dined this day at Mr. Kinniburgh's.   It was a festival
among his pupils, the celebration of his birth-day.  He was born on the 20th,
but the festival was  deferred for one day.  We dined in his school-room, and
all his pupils, fifty in number, were at the tables.  It was a delightful specta-
cle.   Mr. Kinniburgh  informs me  that Mr. Gordon has sent  copies  of the
bond to each of the committee, and that  a meeting of the committee will be
held on Wednesday next, to decide with regard to my application.
   October  24th.  The following is a copy of a note which I shall send to J.
F. Gordon, Esq., before the meeting of the committee.

                                    St. Andrew's Street, Oct. 24, 1815.
  Sir,—As you are  fully acquainted with the object that has brought me to this
country, will you have the goodness to lay it before the committee of the insti-
tution, who are to meet to-morrow, as I am informed, to consider my applica-
tion for admission into Mr. Kinniburgh's school.
  I can not but indulge the hope, that the public nature of the undertaking in
which I have embarked, designed for the relief of a very large  and suffering
portion of the  human family in  the western world, will receive some counte-
nance and aid  from the land of their forefathers, and that I shall not have to
leave Great Britain, excluded from all public sources of that information which
 I seek, and thus finding my enterprise involved in unexpected and serious  diffi-
 culties.
   I  am with much  respect, your obedient servant,                T. H.  G.
   J. F. Gordon, Esq., Secretary, §-c.

   October 25th.  I have just received from Mr. Gordon the decision of the
 committee on my application, of which the following is a copy;
                     Deaf and Dumb Institution, \
                            25th October, 1815.      i" Committee Room-
   Present—George Ross, Esq., Advocate, Thomas Allan, Esq., Banker, Dr.
  Gordon, Dr. Keith, Rev. Mr. Tait, Mr. Cleghorn, Mr. Donaldson, W.  S., Mr.
  Scott Moncrieff, Accountant, J. F. Gordon, Secretary.
   Mr. Gordon stated that the meeting was called for the purpose of deciding
  upon an application made to them by Mr. Gallaudet, a gentleman who had
  come from  America, and  from Connecticut,  for the purpose of being in-
• 
MR.  GALLAUDET'S  VISIT  TO EUROPE.          129
structed in the mode of teaching deaf and dumb children in his own country,
and more particularly those of Connecticut, where there were one hundred in
that  melancholy situation.  Mr.  Gordon  had stated to Mr. Gallaudet, that
with every wish to forward so benevolent an undertaking, he was sorry that
there was an obstacle, and an insuperable one, he feared, to complying with
his request,—that four  years ago, Mr. Braidwood and Mrs. Braidwood, of
London, had entered  into a contract, by  which  they agreed to instruct Mr.
Kinniburgh (who now teaches at the institution at Edinburgh the deaf and
dumb) gratuitously, upon condition that he would not communicate the same,
directly or indirectly, to any individual,  for the space of seven years from
December,  1811, under penalty of £ 1,000 sterling.   Mr. Gordon  further
stated, that he did not  wish a matter of such importance to rest upon his
opinion, and that therefore he had requested the committee, who were ac-
quainted with the terms of the deed, to give their sentiments upon the matter.
   The gentlemen present  having considered the application, are extremely
sorry that, from the terms of the  bond, it does not  appear to them possible to
comply with Mr. Gallaudet's request, which they all deeply regret.
                                     James Far.  Gordon, Secretary.
     ************
   November 10th.   As the political state of France is apparently in a very
unsettled state, and as the season of the year is considerably advanced, I have
concluded to spend a few months in Edinburgh, before finally concluding to
proceed to Paris.  And indeed  I think  this will conduce not a little to the
furtherance of my general object.  I shall attend the  lectures of Dr. Brown,
on the philosophy of the human  mind,  with which,  in reference to my in-
tended pursuit, I ought  to be  thoroughly  acquainted.   I shall read the
Abbe' Sicard's treatises on the instruction of deaf mutes, and endeavor also
to acquire a greater familiarity with the French language than I now have,
by which means, if I visit Paris,  I shall be enabled in a short time, as I hope,
to derive all the instruction from the Abbe' which I need; and by the spring
it will probably be determined what the state of France will be, so that I can
with more safety than at present decide on the expediency of going thither
or not.  ********
   Monday, February 12th, 1816.  On this day I left Edinburgh, and after
passing through York and  Cambridge, arrived once more  in London, on Sat-
urday the 17th.
   Tuesday, March 5th.  On this day I left London for  Paris, where I ar-
rived on Saturday, the  9th inst.
   Monday Evening, 11th.  To-morrow Mr. Warder  promises to accompany
me to the Abbe' Sicard, for whom I have  a letter of introduction from Z.
Macauley, Esq., of London.  To Almighty God  I do desire most fervently
to commit my undertaking at this juncture.  May His blessing attend it, for
 Christ's sake.
   Tuesday, 12th.   This morning I called on the Abbe' Sicard.   He prom- 
130          MR. GALLAUDET'S VISIT TO  EUROPE.

ised me every facility, and invited me to attend his public lecture on Satur-
day next.
  Monday, 18th.  I visited the Abbe' this morning.  He has appointed three
days in the week, on which I am to attend him for the sake of receiving in-
struction.   His lecture on  Saturday  was an interesting one. * * *
  Tuesday, 19th.   This  morning I  had another interview with the Abbe',
and was also introduced by him to one of his assistants, and to his famous pu-
pil Massieu.  His plan is  to have me proceed regularly through the classes
in their order, till I make myself master of the whole system,—and on Thurs-
day I am to commence with the first class.
  Thursday, 21st.   This day I attended the first class; and here, at length,
I may consider my work as beginning.   May I be spared to see its success-
ful accomplishment.
  Monday, April 8th.  This day I commenced my first week of private les-
sons  with Massieu, which I am to receive daily.
  Monday, May 20th.  In a conversation which I had with Clerc this day,
he proposed going to America with me, as an assistant, if the Abbe' Sicard
would give his consent.  I think of addressing the Abbe' on the subject.
  Tuesday, 27th.  Some days since, I addressed a letter to the Abbe' Sicard,
on the subject of Clerc's  going to America with me.  This morning, I re-
ceived his assent, in the  following words:

  J'ai repondu, ce matin, a neuf heures a mon cher eleve Clerc, et je lui donne
mon approbation, avec des conditions qu'il vous communiquera.  J'Espere,
monsieur, que vous serez content de moi.  Je fais, avec plaisir, le sacrifice que
vous m' avez demande.                      ce 27 mai, 1816.
                                                      L'Abbe' Sicard.

  Friday, June 14th.   Clerc has been to Lyors, to take leave of his mother
and relatives.  To-morrow, we propose to leave Paris for Havre, from which
place we expect to embark for New York. *  *  *  *
  Sunday, June 16th.  Yesterday, 15th, I left Paris with Clerc, and arrived
at Havre this morning.
  Tuesday, June 18th.  Left Havre for  New York, in the ship Mary Au-
gusta, Capt. Hall, with my friend Clerc.
  August 9th, 1816.  Arrived in New York,—and in a few days proceeded
to Hartford.  ****** 
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
  The following history of the American Asylum for the  Education
of Deaf and Dumb persons, was prepared originally for the American
Annals, by Mr. Weld, the principal of the Asylum, who has been connected
with the instruction of the institution for more than a quarter of a century.
  If the circumstances which led to its establishment seem very  unimportant,
yet the results that have followed, though not at all surprising in themselves,
were at that time quite unexpected even by its most  intelligent friends.
Who would have supposed, for instance, that the illness of a little child which
occurred in the year 1807, could have any important consequences except to
its immediate family ? Who would have thought that the interests of hundreds
and thousands of our countrymen could be deeply affected by this event, be-
fore the passing away of the generation to which that child belonged ?  Who
would have thought as he looked upon that suffering little one, that its pains
were charged with countless blessings to many then living and to multitudes
unborn; that the event of its illness  in that short time, or even in any time,
would affect the happiness of families all over our land, the action of most of
its legislatures and that even of the Congress of the United States ?   Yet
such a  train  of consequences has followed in the  case  referred to,  which
existed in this city just forty years ago : and in noticing them we see an af-
fecting exhibition of the kindness of the Divine providence toward an unfor-
tunate class of our fellow-men.
  Alice Cogswell,  the third daughter of  Doctor  Mason  F., and Mrs. Mary
A. Cogswell,  of Hartford, was born  on the 31st  of August, 1805.  In the
autumn of the year 1807, she became deaf by a malignant disease called the
spotted fever, when about two years and three  months old.   The results
usual in such a case were  immediately apparent, and  before she was  four
years of age she had lost the power of articulation, except to a very limited
extent.   Though her parents and family friends spared no efforts which en-
lightened kindness could suggest to make the  little Alice happy, still it
caused them great  pain to see the innocent child embarrassed by the want of
a free and intelligible medium of  communication with  others., and gradually
failing lower and lower in the scale of general intelligence, as compared with
children whose senses were perfect.  The exertions they made for her were
by no means fruitless ; for  she had  much  enjoyment in the society of kind
relatives and friends,  and there was a constant, though gradual  expansion,
both of the  intellect and the heart under their imperfect culture, quite beyond
what commonly attends the efforts of inexperience.  But the soil they strove
to cultivate was naturally good, and though the blight of a sad misfortune had
come over it, many of its best qualities remained.  Dr. Cogswell's sympathies 
132
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
for his beloved child were thoroughly awakened.   He could not be satisfied
with her remaining in the deplorable state of an untaught deaf mute, or rather
in that twilight of intelligence which the best efforts of himself, his family and
benevolent friends of the neighborhood had produced.
  Among the friends referred to, was Mr. Thomas H. Gallaudet,  a young
neighbor of talents, refined education and benevolent impulses, whose atten-
tion was originally directed to the child as  deaf and  dumb while she was
amusing herself with other children at his father's house.  His compassionate
interest^ her situation, with a strong desire to alleviate it, was immediate and
deep.  He at once attempted to converse with and instruct her, and actually
succeeded in teaching her the word hat, before she left the garden where the
interview took place.   This led to a very intimate intercourse with the  child
and her father's family during intervals of relaxation from professional studies
extending  through  several years,  and resulted  in her  acquiring,  chiefly
through his agency, so much knowledge of very simple words and sentences
as satisfied her friends that she might learn to write and read, and that Mr.
Gallaudet of all in the circle of their acquaintance, was the person best qual-
ified to undertake her instruction.   Still he  had other and very different
views, which could not at once be abandoned.  Dr.  Cogswell, however, hesi-
tated no longer, but resolved that by the leave  of a kind Providence his
daughter should be educated.
  The success attending some attempts made in Great Britain and France to
instruct the deaf and dumb in the common branches of knowledge, was im-
perfectly known to him.  He procured other information on the subject and
had  then only to  decide whether  he  should send  his daughter to a foreign
country, or endeavor to procure the means of educating her  at home.   His
benevolent  heart co-operating with  his paternal feelings, was not long in
deciding that question in  favor of the latter course.  He found that  there
were several deaf and dumb youth in our own State, who might be considered
proper subjects for education, and presumed that enough might probably be
discovered within the  United States, to form a pretty large school.   This  opin-
ion, strange as it may now seem, was regarded as quite  extravagant, even by
many of the wise and good ; but they judged in utter want of statistical infor-
mation.  Few could recollect having met more than one or two such persons
perhaps, during a long life, and most would have been astonished to know
that there were five hundred in North America.   Dr. Cogswell however had
regarded the subject with the feelings of a father  and  the benevolence of a
Christian philanthropist.   Having  procured certain data for his opinions in
the  form of statistics from the General Association of the  Congregational
clergymen in Connecticut, he became satisfied, not only that  the attempt to
establish a school for the deaf and dumb was not chimerical, but that it was a
duty devolving upon the Christian people of our country.  His next attempt
was to enlist the sympathies of such of his benevolent neighbors and friends
as had the ability to aid him in the undertaking by their counsel and  pecu-
niary contributions.   In this he was successful, and a little voluntary associa- 
THE  AMERICAN ASYLUM.
133
tion was formed in Hartford, consisting of gentlemen whose names should be
known and held in grateful remembrance, by all the friends of the deaf and
dumb, and especially by the deaf and dumb themselves who have been bene-
fited by their wisdom and goodness.   Such as still survive will pardon  the
liberty we take in here recording their names with those of their departed
associates.   They are as follows :  Mason F.  Cogswell, M. D., Ward Wood-
bridge, Esq., Daniel Wadsworth,  Esq.,  Henry Hudson, Esq., the Hon.
Nathaniel Terry,  John Caldwell,  Esq.,  Daniel Buck, Esq., Joseph  Battel,
Esq., the Rev. Nathan Strong, D.  D., and the Rev. Thomas H.  Gallaudet.
   The first object of Dr. Cogswell and his associates was now to find a suita-
ble  person to  visit Europe, and acquire the art of instructing the deaf and
dumb, and happily this object was soon accomplished.  Mr. Gallaudet, the
youngest of their number, appeared already singularly prepared for  the  un-
dertaking, both by his literary attainments and other qualifications, as well as
by his interest in the subject and the success which had attended his ingenious
and friendly  efforts in behalf of Alice ; to whose  mind he had found  unusual
freedom of access by means of his own devising.  Although he had recently
completed his professional education for the ministry of the gospel, and was
entering upon preparatory  services with flattering prospects, he was induced
to  inquire whether  the course now  proposed was not that of duty.   After
much and careful consideration of the  subject, during which he endeavored in
vain to secure the agency of others in  this new field  of benevolent exertion,
Mr. Gallaudet  did not feel  at liberty to decline becoming himself the  pioneer
in the good cause.   This, as investigation advanced, was assuming an import-
ance which seemed to demand  the  conscientious  and benevolent regard of
every  friend of humanity.  He therefore, "  on the 20th  of April, 1815, in-
formed Dr. Cogswell and Mr. Woodbridge, that he  would  visit Europe for
the sake of qualifying himself to become a teacher of the  deaf and dumb in
this country, if funds could be provided for the purpose."
   " On the 1st of May, 1815, a meeting was held  of seven gentlemen, sub-
scribers to a fund to  defray Mr. Gallaudet's expenses to Europe, to devise the
best method of prosecuting  the general design in which they had engaged.
The meeting was opened with  prayer by the Rev. Nathan Strong, D. D.,
and Dr. Coo-swell and Mr. Woodbridge were appointed a committee to solicit
further subscriptions  for this object."
  " On the 25th of  May. 1815, funds having been provided, Mr. Gallaudet
embarked for Europe."
  While Mr. Gallaudet was pursuing his inquiries abroad, the friends of the
object at home were preparing the way for its  prosecution here on his  return.
In May, 1816, they procured  an act of incorporation from the legislature of
Connecticut.  This act was passed in accordance with the petition of sixty-
three individuals, inhabitants of Hartford, who with their associates were by it
" formed into, constituted and made a body politic and corporate by the name
of the Connecticut Asylum, for the  education  and instruction of deaf and
                  18 
134
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
dumb persons," with the rights and powers usually granted to incorporations
for educational purposes.
   For reasons to be stated when we come to speak of the origin of our fund.
the name of the institution was changed  by a resolution of the  General As-
sembly of the State, passed during the session  hol.len in  Hartford, in May,
1819, which is as follows :
   " Resolved, by this Assembly that the name  and style  of  said corporation
be and the same is hereby changed, and that hereafter it be known and called
by the name and style of The American Asylum at Hartford, for the education
and instruction of the deaf and dumb; any thing in the original act of incor-
poration to the contrary notwithstanding."
   The first meeting of the Asylum as required by its  charter, was held at the
State House in  Hartford, on the second  Monday of June, 1816, and  on the
26th of the same month, at a meeting held  also  at  the  State  House, nine
articles were adopted as by-laws for the  government  of the society ; and at
the same meeting the requisite officers were appointed.   The Asylum, being
now legally constituted and prepared for the prosecution of its appropriate
objects, only waited the return of its agent from Europe, to proceed to the
collection of pupils and the commencement of a course of instruction.
   It is proper here to state that Mr. Gallaudet on arriving in Europe, made
his first application for instruction and general permission to qualify  himself
for his proposed  work in America, to the  late Joseph Watson, LL. D.,
the head-master, and  to the other officers of  the London  Asylum for the
deaf and dumb, situated in the Kent-Road, Surrey.  But finding himself un-
able to comply with certain requirements of that institution, consistently with
his views of duty to his employers and to his  great object, he went to Edin-
burgh.*  " Here new obstacles arose from an obligation which had been im-
posed upon the institution in that city not to instruct teachers in the art for a
term of years ; thus rendering unavailing the friendly desires of its benevolent
instructor (the Rev. Robert Kinniburgh,) and the kind wishes of its generous
patrons.   After these repeated disappointments and discouragements,  in
which, however, let us behold a Providential hand, Mr.  Gallaudet departed
for Paris, where he met with a very courteous  and favorable reception  from
the Abbe' Sicard, and soon commenced  his course of  lessons in the establish-
ment (the Royal Institution for the Deaf and Dumb) over which that  cele-
brated instructor presides."
   After spending several months in the  assiduous prosecution  of his studies,
under the most favorable circumstances for the rapid acquisition of knowledge
in the art,f " an  arrangement, made with Mr. Laurent  Clerc, himself deaf
and dumb, one  of the professors in the institution of Paris, and well known in
Europe as a most intelligent pupil of his illustrious master, enabled Mr. Gal-
laudet to return to his native country with his valuable assistant much sooner
than had been expected."   They arrived in this  country on the 10th of Au-

           * See the First Report of the Connecticut Asylum, l^ll.
           f  See the First Report of the Connecticut Ar-ylum, 1M7. 
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
L35
gust, 1816, and spent the following six or seven months chiefly in attempts to
interest the public mind in regard to the practicability of successfully prosecu-
ting the objects of the Asylum, and in collecting funds, by means of the volun-
tary contributions  of the benevolent  in several of our large cities, for the
immediate  wants of the establishment.
  The way being thus prepared, the Asylum was opened for the reception of
pupils and the course of instruction commenced on the 15th of April, 1817.
The little school, which during  the first week of its existence numbered
seven pupils, and in the course of the first year but thirty-three, was  kept in
the south  part of  the building now forming a portion  of the well known
establishment called the City Hotel; where also the family of the Asylum
resided.   This consisted of the principal, the assistant teachers, the superin-
tendent of the household, the matron and the pupils.  At the commencement
of the second year the school was removed to apartments at No. 15 Prospect
street; and these two places continued to be used for the purposes of the in-
stitution, till its means permitted the erection of the principal building of the
present Asylum.   With them many of the most interesting associations of the
early patrons and friends of the Asylum are connected, as well as those of the
pupils of its first four years.   In them many scenes were witnessed, which at
that early day in the history of our enterprise, were of thrilling interest, both
to the philosopher and the Christian.  In them many an anxious parent had
his doubts  removed in reference to the elevation of his child  to usefulness
and happiness.  From them an influence in favor of our cause, went forth
throughout the land, by means  of numerous visitors of every rank, and there
was first established for the deaf and dumb of America, the social worship of
the Almighty in the language of signs.
   The interest excited by its obvious success during the first year, was con-
stantly extending.  Applications for the admission of pupils were so pressing
that although a second assistant teacher had been employed the preceding
December, two more now became necessary, who entered upon their duties
in the month of May.  The  facts which increased intercourse with the friends
of the deaf and  dumb brought  to light, in regard to the inability of their
parents and guardians, in many cases, to be at the whole expense of their ed-
ucation, as well as  in regard to their number,  especially in New England,
seemed to demand an effort  to enlarge, if possible, the ability of the Asylum
to become the dispenser of charitable aid to its pupils.  The means, however,
of supporting the current expenses of the establishment, were so limited that,
besides the aid of annual subscribers, the liberal contributions of churches in
Connecticut, and  of individuals in  various parts of the country, it became
necessary to employ an agent  to appeal  to the  benevolent in neighboring
states, for assistance in supplying its immediate  wants.  This was done, and
gratifying proof was afforded by the  result, of the strong hold  the cause had
already taken on the sympathies of the Christian public.
  In  October, 1816, a few months after the incorporation  of the  Asylum
(which was nearly  a year before it went into  operation) the  legislature of
Connecticut made it the generous grant of $5,000, without any condition as 
136
THE  AMERICAN ASYLUM.
to the particular appropriation of the money.  This act of the legislature was
most  serviceable and encouraging;  and it is  remarkable as being the first
legislative act in aid of such an object in our  country :—and still farther, as
having been made before any other than probable evidence of success in ed-
ucating deaf mutes, had been, or could have been presented to that honorable
body, for the sufficient reason, that  no educated deaf and dumb person had
ever  been seen in the state.  This sum, $5,000, was afterwards expended by
the Asylum in educating indigent pupils of the state.
   Notwithstanding the poverty of the institution, the directors were satisfied
of the practicability of their undertaking in itself, and hopeful of public  sup-
port ;  and foreseeing that land and public buildings to be exclusively devoted
to the use of the Asylum, would  be indispensable to its  prosperity, they re-
solved to venture  on the  important measure of procuring such property.
Accordingly in July of this year they succeeded after careful inquiry, in the
purchase of the  Scarborough estate, a most  eligible spot, half a mile  west
from  the centre  of the city. It consisted of about seven  acres  of land, a
dwelling-house and stables; and the terms were so  favorable, that with  a
strong faith in the goodness of their  cause, the directors would yield to no dis-
couragement in its prosecution, though incurring a considerable debt.
   The state of affairs  then in the autumn of 1818, was as follows.   The Asy-
lum contained between fifty and sixty pupils, under the care of a principal,
one experienced  instructor, and three others,  who though teachers were also
learners, receiving daily instruction to qualify them for their novel undertak-
ing.  Besides these, there  were  a superintendent and his wife, who had the
charge of providing for the daily wants  of the  household, and the special care
of the pupils when out of school.  The salaries  of officers, the  rents of the
buildings used, and the various other expenses of the institution, were poorly
met by  the receipts on behalf of the pupils.  A debt of $8,000 had just been
contracted and applications for charitable aid  in  the support of pupils were
often and urgently made.  At this juncture, an idea was revived which had
been  suggested the  previous year:  namely, that  of applying to the  general
government of the  United  States for a grant  of  money or of land.   It was
urged that as the Asylum had been established on the plan of a general in-
stitution, as it was disposed to extend its benefits impartially to all parts of the
Union, and had already received pupils from ten different states, and as one
large  and well endowed institution would probably be quite  sufficient for the
whole country during a long period, such an application would  be proper in
itself, and might possibly be successful.  It was also urged that as in process
of time* ether institutions might arise, it would be desirable for this to be
able to aid  them with  the means of instruction, and thus secure  uniformity of
system  and friendly intercourse among all who  might engage in such a be-
nevolent enterprise.

  * A small school, which has since grown into the very respectable and flour-
ishing institution of the state of New York, had been opened a few months be-
fore by the gentleman who had for the first year been employed as the superin-
tendent or steward of this Asylum. 
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
137
  The opinion that one institution for the deaf and dumb would be sufficient
for the whole country, seems now almost ludicrous.  But as stated before, the
directors judged in view of the best  light they had, and this gave them  no
adequate idea of the extent of the  evil they were trying to mitigate.  No
census embracing the deaf and dumb  had then been taken in this country,
and none was known to have been taken in Europe, and  the public mind
had not been extensively turned to the subject beyond the boundaries of our
own little state.  Besides, the population of the country has nearly if not
quite doubled since that day, including of course a proportionate increase of
deaf mutes.
  In  view of these various considerations,  the  directors  on the  25th of
January, 1819, voted, " That the Honorable Nathaniel Terry and the Honor-
able Thomas S. Williams be authorized and requested to present a petition,
either jointly or severally, to the Congress of the United States, praying for
a grant of money or lands, for the benefit of this institution."  This act of the
board of directors may be  regarded as  the great measure  which, under  the
ordering of a beneficent providence,  has conferred upon the  Asylum almost
all its means of extensive usefulness;  and has given an elevation and dignity
to the object of deaf-mute education in our country, which with God's blessing
will never be lost.  It was this act which led to the appropriation on the part
of the national legislature, of a township of wild land, consisting  of more
than  23,000 acres,  in answer to the petition offered by the  gentlemen above
named.  Messrs Terry and Williams were aided, however,  in the procuring
of the grant, by the Honorable Timothy Pitkin and  their other colleagues
from Connecticut,  and by many other influential and philanthropic members
of both houses of Congress:  prominent among whom was  the  Honorable
Henry Clay, then  the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
   The following vote of the board of directors was passed  on  the  19th of
March, 1819, from which we may learn with what promptitude  the  petition
to Congress had been acted on.  " Voted unanimously, that the board recog-
nize with grateful  acknowledgments  the  munificent grant  made to this insti-
tution by the Congress of the United States,  and  present their most cordial
thanks to the Honorable Mr. Terry and the Honorable  Mr. Williams, for
their zealous and successful exertions to effect this desirable object."
  Though from the nature of the case no pecuniary benefit could be imme-
diately derived from the grant of lands, still the sure prospect of such a result
removed all the embarrassments which the poverty of the institution and its
state of dependence  had previously  thrown around it.  Its credit was now
established, and its permanence felt to be undoubted.   The board proceeded
within a week from this time to take  measures for the construction of suitable
buildings on the estate they had purchased, and to adopt other means for en-
larging the operations and extending the usefulness of the Asylum.   Among
these was an affirmative answer to the inquiry, made by the government of
Massachusetts, whether indigent deaf and dumb youth belonging to that com-
monwealth,  and selected  as  its beneficiaries, could be received as pupils.
This was another very gratifying step in the progress of the Asylum.  From 
13H
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
its commencement, philanthropists in Massachusetts had regarded its objects
with favor, and many of them had aided it with liberal contributions.   Their
interest on the subject had led to  inquiry as to the number and circumstances
of the  deaf and dumb among themselves, and now the government, in the
true paternal spirit which has ever distinguished that enlightened state, was
prepared  to  take the place of parents, for a time, to the indigent deaf and
dumb of its population.
  In the autumn of this year a class of twenty pupils, selected and provided
for by Massachusetts, was received to the institution, on terms as favorable as
could then be made,  and  thus  a precedent was established, which has  since
been followed by the other states of New England and two southern states, in
reference  to this institution, and by a majority of the remaining states of the
confederacy, in reference to institutions since  established.
  Before the close of the year, the subject of " locating" the lands granted by
Congress,  and taking measures to  effect sales of portions of them, had occu-
pied the earnest attention of the directors;  and preliminary arrangements
having been made  with  officers  of the  general government, an agent was
sought to whom a matter  of so much consequence to the Asylum and to the
cause of benevolence might be safely intrusted.  The individual selected as
agent was the late William Ely, Esquire,  of Hartford, a gentleman of talents,
of practical skill, and of the best  qualifications in  all respects for the trust.
He devoted  himself for  many months, including large portions  of  several
years, first in the selection of lands and securing them by the necessary legal
instruments to the institution, and then in making sale of such parts of them
as were first in demand in the  then new state of Alabama, where they were
all situated.  Mr. Ely continued  his agency till the lands were mostly dis-
posed of, and then became the commissioner for the management of the fund
he had been so instrumental in securing; in which service he continued till
near the close of life. Few, it is  believed, could have  managed  so difficult
and complicated  a business with equal skill and success, and none with higher
integrity.
  This was the origin of the Asylum fund, the chief source under God of the
past and present usefulness of the  institution; enabling its managers to receive
all intrusted to their  care at about half the actual cost of their education : so
that every pupil is in fact a beneficiary of the fund.   The present commis-
sioner  of  the fund is the  Honorable Seth Terry, who succeeded Mr. Ely in
1839.  From him we learn that the value of the lands, buildings and personal
property of the Asylum is estimated at $56,300, and that its stocks, bonds and
mortgages, yielding from  six to eight per  cent., amount to $221,800 ;  making
an aggregate of $278,100.*  Itisproperto add, that the prosperity of the fund
under its present manager, has been fully preserved, all its unsettled affairs
have been arranged, and it is now consolidated, productive, and believed to

  * The above valuation  was made for the year  ending April 1,  ls47.  The
valuation for the  year ending April 1, 1851, is as follows :  lands, buildings and
personal property, at  $05,910, and the stocks, bonds and mortgages, bearing
interest, $225,633, making an aggregate of $294,545. 
                     THE AMERICAN  ASYLUM.                  139

be as safe as any such property can be made in the United States.  It is con-
secrated by a solemn act of the board of directors to the benefit of the deaf
and dumb of our common country, who may resort to the American Asylum
for education.
   We have  now given incidentally the reasons for the substitution of the
present, instead of the original name of the Asylum, as previously promised,
and may add that its guardians have  no  less disposition than heretofore to
continue it a truly American institution.
   The next event of special interest in our history was the completion, occu-
pation and dedication of the principal building of the Asylum.   The service
of  dedication took place  on the 22d of  May, 1821, and was in accordance
with that spirit of dependence on God which led the projectors of the institu-
tion unitedly to seek his blessing even in their earliest meetings, and which
had afterward  caused the board, in one or more seasons of  difficulty, to ap-
point a special meeting  for this object, at which clergymen of the city were
invited to conduct the exercises.  The directors had ever regarded their en-
terprise  as one of piety and  Christian charity.  They were acting for the
benefit of persons whose condition of intellectual and moral darkness ex-
cluded them, like the heathen, from the hopes, the  consolations, the  knowl-
edge even, of Christianity; and seeing the benign influence which reliofous
truth had already exerted upon their  pupils, mindful of the striking provi-
dences which in so  short a  time had given them, as an institution, not only a
name, but a local habitation and means of usefulness which promised increase
and permanency, they gratefully dedicated the institution to Almighty  God.
The resolution appointing this interesting service, was in the following words :
   " Whereas an edifice has lately been erected by this institution, and is now
ready for the reception  of pupils, and in pursuance of the humane and pious
design of the founders of the Asylum, the directors have constructed it not
only to promote the improvement of the pupils in human and divine knowl-
edge, but have also designed it as a sanctuary where they may worship God,—
for these reasons, and because^the donors and friends of this institution  have
cause to praise Him for having so prospered their undertakings as to enable
them  to  build so spacious  and goodly an edifice, as also generally for His
smiles upon the institution, the directors  resolve to meet, and to invite the
members of the corporation and their fellow-citizens to meet at  said house,
on the 22d day of May next, at 2 o'clock, P. M., and there dedicate said house
to Almighty God, and in solemn  and devout acts of  worship to record His
goodness and supplicate His blessing upon this infant seminary."
  In tracing  down our annals, we find that the next event of special interest
occurred in  January, 1825.   This  was the assembling of commissioners*

  * The commissioners appointed by Massachusetts were the Hon. James Fow-
ler, and the Hon. John Hills.
  By New Hampshire, Salma Hale, Esq.,  and the Rev. Jonathan Xye.
  By Vermont, the Hon. Horace Everett, the Hon. Chauncey Langdon, and the
Hon. Aaron Leland.
  By Maine, the Hon. Prentiss Mellen, and the Hon. Peleg Sprague. 
140
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
from the states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, for
the purpose of digesting a plan in concert with the board, for the reception
of pupils into the Asylum as beneficiaries of those states.  Before this, how-
ever, experiments which  had been made at intervals for several years, for
the introduction of mechanical employments among the pupils, had resulted
in the systematic organization and establishment of a working department,
in which all the pupils of suitable age and  under favorable  circumstances
were to be employed for  about three or four hours daily, in some  trade or
common occupation that might prepare them  to gain a livelihood on leaving
the Asylum.  This was a measure of much importance, and its results ever
since  have shown it to be  very  conducive to the welfare  of the pupils.
Among other changes and events of minor importance, which occurred be-
tween the close of the year 1818 and the beginning of 1825, we will barely
notice the sale of the lands in Alabama;  the resignation of two assistant teach-
ers from ill health, and the appointment of others to fill their places and sup-
ply the demand occasioned by the increase of pupils; the removal of another,
in 1822, to take charge of a new institution in Philadelphia; the admission
of a gentleman from Ohio, and another from Kentucky, to qualify themselves
as teachers in those  states; and a new provision for the care  of the house-
hold, involving the resignation of  the superintendent, and  the appointment
of a steward and matron for that department.   Similar changes take place in
all  similar  establishments, and have a local and temporary interest, but to
mention those at large which have occurred among us, would quite transcend
our limits.
  In returning to the subject of the commissioners, we give the following ex-
tracts from the report of  the directors, published in May, 1825, and a copy
of the resolutions adopted by them as the result of their conferences  with the
commissioners.
  " In the month of January, 1825, commissioners appointed by the States
of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, met in Hartford, to
inquire into the state of the Asylum, as it respects its funds, and the instruc-
tion, treatment and employment  of the pupils, and to ascertain the terms and
conditions upon which the deaf and dumb who might be sent to the Asylum
by those States, could be  received.
  " Massachusetts, without any  solicitation on the part of the directors, as
early as 1819, had entered into  an arrangement with them, and made pro-
vision for the support and education of a number of her indigent deaf and
dumb at the Asylum, for  a succession of years, the term of which is not yet
expired.  This took place before Maine became a distinct State.
  " The example  of Massachusetts was afterward  followed  by New Hamp-
shire, which, to this time,  has continued to make an annual appropriation for
the maintenance of a certain number of pupils at the Asylum.
  " The State of Vermont had the subject of providing some means for the
education of her deaf and dumb under consideration; an agent appointed by
the oovernor to collect information, had visited  the Asylum, and some cor-
respondence, afterward, between him and its officers, had taken place. 
THL  AMERICAN ASYLUM.
141
   " The State of Maine, too, had had communications with the officers of the
Asylum on the same subject.
   " Under these circumstances, and  especially as the legislature of Massa-
chusetts, at its session in June, 1824, had appointed commissioners to confer
with the government of the Asylum at Hartford, and ascertain on what terms
pupils from that State could be received, the directors thought, that  their
correspondence  and negotiations  with these several States could be brought
to the most speedy and  satisfactory result, by each of them sending commis-
sioners, to assemble at Hartford at the same time, and confer with the direct-
ors on the subject.
   " This course, therefore, was proposed to those States, and, on their part,
most  readily adopted.
   " At the conference which took place between the commissioners and the
directors, a full exposition was made of the condition of the Asylum, its man-
agement, its funds, its resources, its expenditures, and its prospects.
   " The deliberations and proceedings were marked with the most entire re-
ciprocal  confidence, and the effects that are  likely to follow we can not but
consider as highly auspicious to the general interests of the deaf and dumb.
   " The terms proposed to the above mentioned States, and, also, to any other
in the Union which may see fit to make provision for their indigent deaf and
dumb at the Asylum, and also to indigent individuals, will be seen from the
copy  of the proceedings of the board of directors, on the subject, annexed to
this report.
   " We think we are perfectly safe  in  saying, that after a very minute and
full investigation, the commissioners were satisfied that the terms proposed by
the Asylum were such as would enable it to do the most good, and in the most
effectual way, to the deaf and dumb of our common country*
   " On this principle the directors of the Asylum have ever acted, and will
still continue to act;  deeming it their  sacred duty, as they  are  chiefly in-
debted for their funds to the  munificence of the general  government, so to
ifianage their resources, and conduct the institution placed under their care,
that its benefits may be communicated in the most equal and  impartial man-
ner to every State in the Union that may wish to participate in them."
" At a meeting of the  directors of the American Asylum, at Hartford, for the
  education and instruction  of the deaf and dumb, held at Bennett's hotel, on
  Thursday, Jan. 27,1825 ;  a quorum present,—Hon. Nathaniel Terry in the
  chair:—
  " The committee appointed  to confer with  commissioners from the States

  * In the course of their deliberations with the commissioners, the  directors
proposed that, in view of all the facts thus laid before them, they should fix the
sum at which the Asylum might safely engage  to receive beneficiaries from the
States they represented.   This  proposal was declined by the  commissioners, but
when the sum of $115 per annum was proposed on the part of the Asylum, they
frankly acknowledged that It  was less than they themselves should have thought
proper to suggest.
                 19 
142                 THE AMERICAN ASYLUM.
of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, made a report, as
on file ; whereupon the following preamble and resolutions were adopted:—
  " Whereas, the  States of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and
Maine, have sent commissioners to examine  into the state and condition of
this institution, as  it respects its funds, and  the instruction, treatment and
employment of the pupils, and  to ascertain the terms and  conditions upon
which the deaf and dumb, who may be sent  to the Asylum by those States,
will be received,—Now, therefore, it is hereby
  " Resolved, That we will receive the deaf and dumb who may be sent to
the Asylum by the  States  aforesaid respectfully, or such of them  as shall
agree to our proposals, for the sum of one hundred and fifteen dollars per
annum for each pupil, and for that sum to furnish such pupils with instruc-
tion, board, washing and lodging, and stationery for the school-rooms, and to
teach them mechanic trades, as is herein after specified; and that the sum afore-
said shall be varied from year to year, as the state of the funds  shall war-
rant,—such sum to be fixed by the directors  at the commencement of each
year, and to continue for one year; the year to commence on the last Wednes-
day of May; the money to be paid in advance, semi-annually.  And fur-
ther
  "Resolved, That the board of directors shall act in future, as they have
done  heretofore, upon  the principle of making the charity with which they
are intrusted, as extensively useful as possible; and for that purpose to ex-
pend all that they have a right by law to expend, (the product of their fund,)
and to distribute it with  an impartial hand,  extending  its benefits  equally,
not only to the States aforesaid, but  to all other States in the Union, who
may send their deaf and dumb to the Asylum, upon the terms and conditions
contained in this resolution,—also to indigent individuals: so that as our fund
increases, (as we may reasonably expect will be the case,) the sum to be receiv-
ed as aforesaid, for instruction, &c, will be lessened from time to time, always
calculating to expend, during the year, the income of the year, after reserv-
ing such sum as the directors shall deem meet, for contingent and unforeseen?
expenses.  And further
   " Resolved, That whereas it is considered important that the deaf and dumb
should be instructed in some useful art or trade, whereby they may be ena-
bled to support themselves by their labor, after having received their educa-
tion, and therefore they" will be considered subject to the direction of the in-
stitution, who are to use their  discretion in this respect,  unless directions
shall  otherwise be given by the State, parent, or guardian, who  shall have
sent them;  and they will be taught such arts or trades as shall be taught at
the Asylum, and such as shall be deemed suitable and proper for them res-
pectively.
   " And whereas it is necessary, not only for the good of the pupils, but  for
the convenience of the  Asylum, that every  pupil should continue at least
four years, that being the least time in which they can acquire even an ordi-
nary education: 
THE  AMERICAN ASYLUM.
143
   " Resolved, That it is expected,  as a  general rule, that no  one will be
placed here for a less term than four years.
   " It is understood, that the privilege of participating in the funds, in com-
mon with other States accepting these propositions, and of indigent individu-
als, is to be considered as permanent.
   " Passed,                        NATHANIEL TERRY, President.
     " A true copy,
            " Attest,       D. P. Hopkins, Clerk."

   The reports of the commissioners to their respective legislatures were fa-
vorable, and led to the acceptance of the offers of the Asylum, and the requi-
site appropriations for the education of indigent deaf and dumb youth of
those States were made,  and  have been continued to the present day.  The
terms, however, on which pupils are received, have been still farther  reduced,
so that since 1834, the charge  for the tuition, board, &c, of each, has been
but one hundred dollars  a year, though the average cost of each to the insti-
tution has far exceeded that sum.  The directors are thus continually redeem-
ing the pledge given to the commissioners, to extend the benefits of their fund
impartially to all  who send them pupils.   The annual charge for a pupil was
at first $200, then $150, then  $115, and then, as above stated, $100 per
annum.
   Between the years 1825 and 1830, the number of pupils varied from about
seventy to one hundred and forty, and changes occurred among the instruct-
ors, by additions to their  number, as the wants of the school required, and by
the resignation of one from  ill health.  The prosperity of the Asylum, the
evidence  of public confidence  in its character, and  of general satisfaction
with its results, were sources of high gratification to its friends.  Still there
was one source of special anxiety, in the failing health of the  principal, the
Rev. Mr. Gallaudet.  The duties of his station increased with the increase of
the school, and though he possessed  the strongest attachment for an institu-
tion and a cause,  both of which owed their success and prosperity in an emi-
nent degree to his efforts, and toward which he had from the first sustained an
almost paternal relation, still a sense  of duty to himself, his family, and, in  his
own view, to the  institution, demanded his resignation.  This he  accordingly
tendered to the board, and it was accepted on the 22d of April, 1830; on the
condition that he  should continue the discharge of his  general duties till the
vacancy in the office could be supplied.   This was done  in the autumn of
that year, by the  appointment of the writer of this article, who joined the in-
stitution as principal on the first of November.  His former connexion with
the school, as an assistant teacher, commenced with its second year; he con-
tinued in this situation four and a half years, and had been the principal of
the Pennsylvania  Institution at Philadelphia, for nearly eight years.   He had
therefore been somewhat longer an  instructor of the  deaf and dumb, than
any one connected with the then existing institutions, excepting Messrs. Gal-
laudet and Clerc.  At this time, there were about one  hundred and twenty 
144
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
 pupils in the Asylum, under the care of a principal and nine assistants, four
 of whom were deaf and dumb, and three of them former pupils of the school.
 There were besides, a steward and matron,  the former of whom was also one
 of the teachers ; and  two masters of work-shops.
   But another change occurred soon after the retirement of Mr. Gallaudet,
 which had not been  so long anticipated.   This was the resignation of Mr.
 and Mrs. Peet, which took place in January, 1831, Mr. Peet having accepted
 the appointment of principal of the New York Institution.   He had been an
 assistant teacher between eight and nine years, and had also held the office
 of steward for six years, during which time Mrs. Peet had been the matron.
 The removal of persons so long connected with the  Asylum, and who had
 filled  places of so much responsibility, as those  of the principal, an experi-
 enced teacher, the steward and matron, could not but occasion anxiety. The
 board were prompt, however, in making the necessary appointments.  The
 place of principal had been supplied as just stated, and that of steward was
 now filled by the appointment of Mr. Turner, next to Mr. Clerc, the most
 experienced assistant instructor in the country.   Miss Peaslee was appointed
 matron, and thus  every place was filled.
  Notwithstanding the changes referred to, the course of the Asylum since
 the time of their  occurrence may be  said  to have been  prosperous.  The
 number of its pupils  has been gradually increasing though it has varied con-
 siderably in different years; the  lowest, which was  that of the year  1831,
 having been 123, and the highest 203 ; which is the  number of the present
 year,  1847.  These aggregates however, do not  include several persons un-
 der the care of the institution who have received the benefit of more  or less
 instruction, but not as regular pupils.
  Near the close  of  the year  1834, several  influential gentlemen of South
 Carolina became interested in  the condition of certain deaf and dumb youth
 of their vicinity, two  of whom  they provided for and  sent to the Asylum for
 education.   This circumstance led  to a correspondence on the subject of some
 public provision for the indigent of that state, which resulted in the directors
 sending the principal with three of the pupils of the  Asylum to present the
 subject before the  legislature then  assembled.  The}- proposed to receive into
 the institution such deaf and dumb youth as that honorable body might pro-
 vide for, on the same terms as pupils were received  from our own and the
 neighboring states.   The result was a liberal  provision on the part of the
 South Carolina legislature, which  still  continues; and ever since, beneficia-
 ries of that state  have been members of the school.  Similar  offers  were
 made immediately afterwards, through the same  agency, to the legislature of
the State of Georgia, which were  met in a  spirit  of equal promptness and
liberality; and a considerable number of youth were  constantly in the Asy-
 lum as beneficiaries of that state until April, 1846, when a school for the deaf
 and dumb was established within its own territory.   This result was not un-
 expected by the directors, but was rather anticipated and desired, as the diffi- 
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
14o
   culty of sending youth so far  from their homes might thus be avoided and
   many more enjoy the advantages of education.
     During the period now under consideration, namely, since January 1831,
   many desirable changes have been effected in the Asylum, increasing its fa-
   cilities for usefulness.  Among  them were the erection of a kitchen and dining-
   hall in 1833, of a large stable in  1839, and of a school-house, including a
   chapel for divine worship, in  1844.  Many improvements have  also been
   made in the convenience, comfort and good order of the buildings and in the
   state of the grounds, which are still going  forward from year to year.
     Changes have also occurred from the  resignation of instructors.   Two left
   us in  1832 to become connected as assistants with the New York Institution,
   another in 1840, to become the principal of an institution  then  established in
   Virginia, and  the present matron, Mrs.  White, also entered upon  her duties
   before the close of that year; the important place she occupies having become
   vacant from the ill-health and  resignation  of the previous incumbent.  Still,
   as vacancies have occurred, or as increasing numbers have required addi-
   tional assistants, they have  been promptly  supplied by individuals selected
   with special care as  to their qualifications for their respective places; and we
>   may add  that  in no instance have  the  directors  found their confidence
   misplaced.
     In 1844 another incident took place in our history not destitute of interest.
   Several gentlemen of Massachusetts, during the previous  year, had proposed
   to connect a department for the education  of the deaf and dumb with one of
   the most interesting charities of their own  state, the Perkins Institution and
   Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind, in Boston;  thinking  that some improve-
   ments in reference to the methods of  instruction might be  introduced from
   Europe and that some  advantages might  be gained by associating these two
   classes of unfortunate persons  in one establishment.   The subject was acted
   on by the legislature of Massachusetts, but the  proposal  was  not sustained,
   that honorable body choosing  to continue the  arrangements which had so
   long existed with the Asylum and which had given very general satisfaction-
   Still the directors, ever anxious to adopt  improvement and aware that no per-
   son in their employment as a teacher  had visited the institutions of Europe
   with the  view of learning the existing state of the art, or of ascertaining what
   changes and improvements had been made  since its first introduction here,
   thought this a favorable opportunity for sending some one on  so interesting
   an errand.  They accordingly authorized  the principal of the Asylum to un-
   dertake the mission.   He was absent nearly  eight months, during which time
   he visited institutions in nine different countries, between thirty and forty in
   number,  and enjoyed most favorable opportunities for accomplishing his ob-
   ject.  The result of his inquiries was, that whatever improvements had been
   made in those  institutions during the previous twenty-seven years, they had
   not surpassed, if they had equaled those of  our  own American institutions.
   That the state of the art in Europe,  judging from its practice and results,
   though eminently gratifying and interesting in  various  respects,  was not a 
146
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
 higher or better state than it had attained to here, and that therefore no fun-
 damental or very essential change could be recommended in  the system  of
 management and instruction pursued in the American Asylum.  In  one par-
 ticular, however, a change was recommended, namely, that a greater degree
 of attention should be given to the instruction in articulation and reading on
 the lips, of certain classes of our pupils; consisting of those who lost their
 hearing after learning to speak, and who still retained some valuable articu-
 lation, and of those who were never totally deaf, and whose hearing might be
 improved and rendered useful by careful cultivation.  This has since been
 done with satisfactory results.
  It remains to notice another change which took place in the management
 of the Asylum in the spring of the present year. Mr. Turner had for twenty-
 six years discharged the duties of an  instructor in the institution, sixteen  of
 which he had also been the steward.   He now found, as  the number of pu-
 pils had increased from about 120 to nearly 200, during the time he  had held
 the latter office, that  the responsibilities of his situation had become  too com-
 plicated and burdensome to be longer borne by one person.  He therefore
 resigned the stewardship and the Rev. A. C. Baldwin was appointed his suc-
cessor with the title of Family  Guardian and Steward.  Mr. Baldwin's con-
nexion with the Asylum commenced on the 1st  of May, 1847.  The care of
providing for the various departments of  so large an institution, with the de-
tails of oversight and government that pertain to this office, furnishes abund-
ant employment to its occupant, and we may add, that the duties it involves)
if rightly discharged, are eminently conducive to the attainment of the great
intellectual, moral and practical results we have in view.
  In concluding this article,  already quite too long, we will only add, that the
number of persons hitherto received to the Asylum  as pupils is  nine hundred
and fifty-two, making an average of thirty-one and a fraction, for each of the
thirty years of its existence  as a school.  A very large part of this number
have gone forth relieved in various degrees, but many of them almost wholly,
from the pressure of severe misfortune.  Many are most respectable  and use-
ful, honorably filling the various stations of common life; while several are
occupying superior stations; and no one, it is believed, who  was endowed
with even a moderate capacity for improvement, has left us without benefit.
We attempt not to estimate  the amount of good which the Asylum has been
permitted to confer upon individuals, families, neighborhoods, states, our com-
mon country.  Thankful in  the consciousness that it has  been great, we ear-
nestly hope  that it may continue and be increased, while subjects of  the mis-
fortue it alleviates, are found to need its aid.

  [The foregoing sketch, by Mr. Weld, brings down the history of the
American Asylum to the close of the year 1848.  The following extract from
the Thirty-Fifth Annual  Report, of the  institution for  1851, drawn up by
Mr. Weld, records one of the most important events which has transpired in 
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
147
the history of the  institution, since 1848, and  of which a  more detailed ac-
count will be found in a subsequent article in  this Tribute, headed " Testi-
monial to Messrs. Gallaudet and Clerc," prepared by Prof. Rae.]

   Next to the progress of our pupils, the event of the year of highest interest
both to ourselves and our friends, was the assembling of a large number of
our former pupils at the Asylum in September last.   The idea  of such a
gathering originated among the deaf and dumb  themselves, and the objects
they had in view were to revisit the scenes  of their early life, to  meet each
other and their former teachers and benefactors still connected with the Asy-
 lum, but primarily and chiefly, to show their affectionate respect and gratitude
 to their first teachers, Messrs. Gallaudet  and Clerc.   They came  to honor
 them not only as the chief immediate instruments  of their own elevation in
 the scale of intelligence and usefulness, and under God, of their respectability
 and happiness, but also as the primary agents  in procuring all the practical
 blessings which  education  has given and is  still bestowing on  their fellow
 mutes, either formerly or now connected with this and the other similar insti-
 tutions of our country.  They carne with substantial  evidence of their ear-
 nestness in the special object before them, in the form of presents of valuable
 silver plate, procured by  their  own contributions and prepared under the
 direction of their own committee.  They met at the Asylum on the  25th of
 September, to the number of about two hundred,  and the directors and other
 officers had peculiar pleasure in extending to them the hospitalities of the in-
 stitution and in participating with them in the various exercises of the occa-
 sion.  The services which most strikingly characterized this festival, occurred
 on the 26th at a public meeting in the first Congregational church ; at which,
 besides more than two hundred persons from abroad, several of them present
  or past pupils of the New York and other institutions, and  two hundred of
  our own present pupils, there were hundreds of citizens,  all deeply interested
  in so novel and affecting a spectacle.
     The deaf and dumb persons in the assembly who had come to us as visitors,
  were most  respectable in appearance and deportment, having generally en-
 joyed prosperity in  their pursuits and  sustained themselves with ease and
  comfort, as useful members of society.  They had the aspect and  bearing of
  virtuous, industrious, respectable persons, no longer burdensome  to  their
  friends or the  community, and with fair prospects of continuing thus to sus-
  tain themselves in independence and honor.   Some were past, some present
  teachers  in  different institutions; some were artists;  many mechanics and
  farmers •  some were employed in  factories;  some as  laborers; and of the
   females who were not heads of families, some were  engaged in the various
   kinds of female labor at home or abroad, and others were residing with  their
   parents or relatives, useful  members of their families,  and enjoying the re-
   spect of all around them.  Some of them had been gone from the Asylum
   between twenty and thirty years, and others had left it at more  recent peri-
   ods, down to  the  previous year.   Many of  our  older citizens who attended 
14*
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
 this festival and had been familiar with the operations of the Asylum from its
 origin, were more deeply impressed than ever before with the evidence of the
 great benefits it had conferred on the objects of its care  ; and its directors
 themselves felt that they had renewed occasion for satisfaction and gratitude
 in view of the results of their labors for the deaf and dumb.

   [Such are the principal incidents in the history of the American Asylum
 for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb persons,—
 the oldest and best endowed institution of the  kind in  America, and one of
 the most successful in the world.
   Its early operations were sustained mainly by the voluntary contributions
 of individuals, most of whom  became interested in the enterprise in conse-
 quence of the  personal application and  public addresses of Mr  Gallaudet.
 The number and extent of these contributions may be  seen  by referring to
 the list herewith published.
   Its concerns are managed by a board of directors, consisting of such persons
 as have contributed the sum of one hundred dollars to the fund, and of ten
 members, elected annually by  the society.   Any person can become a mem-
 ber of the society by the payment of five dollars annually to the treasurer.
   The board of instruction at the close of  the  year  1851, consisted of the
 principal and eleven assistants ; four of whom are deaf and dumb,  and one of
 them is a female, one of the earliest graduates of the institution.   The prin-
 cipal  has been  thirty-four years engaged in deaf-mute instruction and over
 twenty-five  years in the  Asylum.  One  of the  assistants, Mr.  Clerc, has
 been  forty-six years a teacher, and has  had the advantage of being both a
 pupil and an assistant of the Abbe' Sicard.   Another  of the assistants, Mr.
 Turner, has been thirty-one years in this institution, and is the oldest Amer-
 ican instructor,  next to Mr. Weld.
   A list of the officers and instructors of the institution is herewith  published.
   The pupils are all boarded and lodged in the institution and constitute one
 great and admirably regulated family.  The means and facilities  of recrea-
 tion and employment are provided within the grounds of the Asylum, and
 hence there is but little occasion to extend their walks beyond.
   The course of instruction is as extensive and thorough as that of any insti-
 tution of this  class in the world.  For the purposes of intellectual instruction
 the pupils are divided into eleven classes,—each class having  its own class-
 room properly furnished and its own instructor.   In the working department
 the pupils are divided into four classes, and spend some time in the workshops,
 under an experienced overseer, in acquiring some trade which can be pur-
 sued as an employment after leaving the institution.   An hour and a half six
mornings in a week, and the same length of time five evenings  in  the week,
are thus spent.  The girls engage every day under  the  direction of the
matron, in some light household work, and for this purpose they are divided
into four classes, each class having assigned to  it in succession, some appro-
priate work for a week until they are familiar witli the whole department of 
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
149
 domestic, economy.  There are but few educational institutions in the coun-
 try where the habits, manners,  practical habits, as well  as  intellectual and
 moral culture of the pupils are  better cared for, than in the American
 Asylum.]

   The whole number of pupils  connected with the institution  during the
 year,  ending May 10, 1851, was 204: of these 117 were males  and 87
 females.  Of the 204 pupils, 75 were supported  by Massachusetts;  35  by
 Maine ;  23 by New Hampshire ;  17 by  Vermont; 7 by Rhode Island; 6 by
 South Carolina; 23 by Connecticut; and 18 by their friends.
   The whole number of pupils who have left the institution more or less ed-
 ucated, from its opening in April, 1817,  to May, 1851, is about 900.   A com-
 plete catalogue of the pupils will be found appended to this document.

   The following  notice issued  in  connection  with the  last report of the
 directors, explains the terms and conditions on which pupils  are received.
   I. The Asylum will provide for each pupil, board, lodging and washing ; the
 continual superintendence of  health, conduct, manners  and morals ; fuel,
 lights, stationery and other incidental expenses of the school-room, for which,
 including tuition, there will be an annual charge of one hundred dollars.
   II.  In case of sickness, the necessary extra charges will be made.
   III.  No deduction from the above charge will be made on account of vaca-
 tions or absence, except in case of sickness.
   IV.  Payments are always to be made six months in advance, for the punc-
 tual fulfillment of which, a satisfactory bond will be required.
   V. Each person applying for admission, must be between the ages of eight
 and twenty-five years ; must be of a good natural intellect; capable of forming
 and joining letters with a pen, legibly and correctly;  free from any immoralities
 of conduct, and from any contagious disease.

   Applications for the  benefit of legislative appropriations  in the states of
 Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, should be made to the secretaries
 of those states respectively, stating the name and age of the  proposed benefi-
ciary, and the circumstances of his parent or guardian.  In the states of Rhode
Island and South  Carolina, application as above should be made to the com-
missioners of the funds for the education  of  the deaf and dumb ;  and in Ver-
mont and Connecticut,  respectively, to  His Excellency, the  Governor of the
state.   In all cases a certificate from two or more of the selectmen, magistrates,
or other respectable inhabitants of the township or place, to which the appli-
cant belongs, should accompany  the application.
  Those applying for the admission of paying pupils may  address their letters
 (post-paid) to the principal of  the Asylum ; and all letters respecting the
pupils, either to him or them, must be post-paid.
  The spring vacation begins on the last "Wednesday of April, and continues
 two weeks.  The summer  vacation  begins on the first Wednesday of August,
 and ends on the third  Wednesday of September.   The time for admitting
 pupils is at the close of the summer vacation.  Punctuality, in this respect, is
very important;  as it cannot be expected that the progress of the whole class
                 20 
150
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
should be retarded on account of a pupil who joins  it after its formation.
Such a pupil must suffer the inconvenience and the loss.
  It is earnestly recommended  to the friends of the deaf and dumb, to have
them taught how to write a fair and legible hand before they come to the Asy-
lum.  This can easily be done, and it prepares them to make greater and more
rapid improvement.
  When  a pupil is  sent  to the Asylum, unless accompanied by a  parent or
some friend who  can give the  necessary  information concerning him, he
should bring a written statement as to his name;  the year, month, and  day of
birth; the names, in full, of his parents, brothers and sisters; the place of his
residence; where  he was born; whether he was  born deaf, or if  not, what
caused his deafness ; also the name and direction of the person to whom letters
respecting him may be addressed.   He should be well clothed ;  that is, in gen-
eral he should have both  summer and winter clothing enough to last one year,
and be furnished with a list of the  various articles, each of which should be
marked.  A small sum of money should also be deposited with the steward of
the Asylum, for the personal expenses of the pupil not otherways provided for.
  Careful attention to these suggestions is quite important.
  On the day of the commencement of the summer vacation, an officer  of the
Asylum will accompany such pupils as are to  travel  upon the railroads between
Hartford and Boston, taking care of them and their  baggage, on the  condition
that their friends will make timely provision for  their expenses on the way, and
engage to meet and receive them immediately on the arrival of the early train
at the various points on the route previously agreed on, and at the station of
the Boston and Worcester Railroad in Boston. 
OFFICERS OF  THE AMERICAN  ASYLUM,
FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO THE PRESENT TIME.
                PRESIDENTS.

* JOHN COTTON SMITH,
* WILLIAM PHILLIPS,
* DANIEL WADSWORTH,
* NATHANIEL TERRY,
 THOMAS  S. WILLIAMS,
Elected.    Retired.
1816,
1822,
1823,
1824,
1840.
1822.
1823.
1824.
1840.
VICE PRESIDENTS FOR LIFE BY SUBSCRIPTION.
* William Phillips,      1817.
* William Gray,         1817.
* Israel Thorndike,      1817.
* William Parsons,      1817.
 Samuel Appleton,      1817.
* Daniel Wadsworth,    1817.
* Stephen Van Rensselaer,  1817.
* Elias Boudinot,           1817.
* Robert Oliver,           1817.
* John Caldwell,           1819.
* Chauncey Deming,         1819.
 Charles Sigourney,        1819.
VICE PRESIDENTS
  Elec'd. Refd.
* John  Caldwell,     1816,  1819.
* Mason F. Cogswell, 1816,  1830.
* Nathaniel Terry,   1816,  1824.
* Daniel Wadsworth, 1816,  1817.
* Timothy Dwight,    1816,  1817.
 Charles  Sigourney, 1816.
* David Porter,      1816,  1828.
* Joseph Battel,      1816,  1842.
* Abel Flint,         1817,  1821.
 Ward Woodbridge,  1818.
* Henry Hudson,      1819,  1843.

               DIRECTORS FOR LIFE
    * Joseph Battel,          1818
    * P. C Brooks,          1818
     Daniel Buck,           1818
    * John Caldwell,         1818
    * Mason F. Cogswell,     1818
    * John B. Coles,         1818
    * Joseph Coolidge,       1818
    * Chauncey Deming,     1818
    * Simeon Forester,       1818
    * Henry Hudson,         1818
     William H. Imlay,      1818
    * James Kane,           1818
BY ELECTION.

* Benoni Upson,
 Thomas Day,
 Samuel Tudor,
* William Ely,
  Stephen Whitney,
 David Watkinson,
 James Ward,
* Charles  Seymour,
 James B. Hosmer,
 Barzillai Hudson,


BY SUBSCRIPTION.
    Eliphalet Kimball,
    David McKinney,
  * Israel Munson,
    H. Overing,
  * Samuel Parkman,
    Daniel P. Parker,
  * James Perkins,
  * Joseph Peabody,
  * B. Pickman, Jr.,
  * David Porter,
  * P. Remsen,
  * Andrew Ritchie,
Elec'd.  Refd.
 1819,  1825.
 1821.
 1824.
 1826,  1842.
 1828,  1842.
 1831.
 1842.
 1842.
 1842.
 1844.
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818 
152
I'HE AAIERICAN  ASYLUM.
* Samuel Salisbury,
* David Sears,
  Charles Sigourney,
* John Cotton Smith,
* Nathaniel Terry,
  Ward Woodbridge,
  S. V. S. Wilder,
* John Jacob Astor,
* Christopher Colt,
1>18.       * Henry W. Delavan,
1^18.        Samuel Elliot, Jr.,
1818.       * Daniel D. Rogers,
181S.       * Luther Scarborough,
1818.       * Eliphalet Terry,
1818.       * Benoni Upson,
1818.        Stephen Whitney,
1S19.       * Thomas H. Gallaudet,
1S19.       * Eliphalet Averill,
1819.
1819.
1819.
1819.
1819.
1819.
1819.
1820.
1821.
* Joseph Rogers,
 Thomas S. Williams,
 Samuel Tudor,
* William Watson,
* John Butler,
* Jared Scarborough,
 Joseph Trumbull,
* Henry Hudson,
 Daniel Buck,
 James B.  Hosmer,
 Ward Woodbridge,
 Jonathan Law,
* John Russ,
* William Ely,
* Christopher Colt,
 David Watkinson,
 William W. Ellsworth,
  James Ward,
 * Michael Olcott,
  Seth Terry,
 * Eliphalet Averill,
  Thomas Day,
  Aristarchus Champion,
  Thomas C. Perkins,
 * Charles Seymour,
 * Roswell Bartholomew,
 * Daniel P. Hopkins,
  Barzillai  Hudson,
  John Beach,
  Charles Goodwin,
 * Russell Bunce,
  James H. Wells,
  Lynde Olmsted,
  Amos M. Collins,
  Francis Parsons,
  David F. Robinson,
  Calvin Day,
DIRECTORS BY ELECTION.
             Elected.
          1816,
          1816 and 1830,
          1816,
          1816 and 1820,
          1816 and 1824,
          1816,
          1816 and 1821,
          1816,
          1816,
          1816 and 1824,
          1817,
          1817 and 1840,
          1817,
          1817,
          1817,
          1817,
          1818,
          1818,
          1818,
          1818 and 1830,
          1818,
          1819,
          1820,
          1820 and 1844,
          1822,
          1822,
          1824,
          1826,
          1830 and 1841,
          1831.
          1837,
          1839.
          1840,
          1842.
          1842.
          1842.
          1842.
   Retired.
1817.
1817.
1824.
1817 and 1837.
1817 and 1839.
1817.
1818 and 1822.
1818.
1818.
1817 and 1842.
1818.
1818 and 1842.
1830.
1826.
1819.
1831.
1820.
1842.
1824.
1820.
1820.
1821.
1822.
1824 and 1850.
1842.
1830.
 1830.
 1844.
 1840.

 1846.

 1841. 
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
                               Elected.
     Albert W. Butler,           1846.
     Henry A. Perkins,          1851.

                            SECRETARIES.
                    Elected. Retired.                    Elected. Retired.
William W. Ellsworth,  1816,  1818.  Daniel P. Hopkins,     1830,  1835.
Jonathan Law,         1818,  1820.  Barzillai Hudson,      1835.
Seth Terry,            1820,  1830.

                            TREASURERS.
Ward Woodbridge,     1816,  1817.  James B. Hosmer,     1837.
James H. Wells,       1817,  1837.

                    COMMISSIONERS OF THE FUND.
William Ely,          1824,  1839.  Seth Terry,           1839.

                             PRINCIPALS.
* Thomas H. Gallaudet, 1817,  1830.  Lewis Weld,          1830.

                       ASSISTANT INSTRUCTORS.

      Laurent Clerc,
    * Wm. C. Woodbridge,
    * Isaac Orr,
      Lewis Weld,
      William W. Turner,
      Harvey P. Peet,
      Horatio N. Brinsmade,
    * Elizur T. Washburn,
      Wilson Whiton,
      George H. Loring,
      Fisher A. SpofTord,
      David E. Bartlett,
      Charles Rockwell,
      Frederick A. P. Barnard,
      Luzerne Rae,
      Edmund Booth,
    * Joseph D. Tyler,
      Samuel Porter,
      Collins Stone,
     Ebenezer B. Adams,
     Jared A. Ayres,
      Henry B. Camp,
      John O. David,
      Lucius H. Woodruff,
      Oliver D. Cooke,
      James L. Wheeler,
      Catharine P. Brooks,
Elected. 1817.	Retiri
1817,	1821.
1818,	1824.
1818,	1822.
1821.	
1822,	1831.
1823,	1832.
1826,	1829.
1826.	
1826,	1834.
1828,	1833.
1828,	1832.
1829,	1831.
1831,	1832.
1831 and 1839,	1838.
1832,	1839,
1832,	1839.
1832 and 1846,	1836.
1833.	
1835,	1838.
1835.	
1838.	
1838,	1841.
1840.	
1845.	
1847.	
1850.	
 
154
THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
                          SUPERINTENDENTS.
                    Elected. Retired.                    Elected. Retired.
Abraham 0. Stansbury, 1817,  1818.  Samuel Whittlesey,    1818,   1824.

                             tSTEWARDS.
Harvey P. Peet,        1S24,  1831.  Abraham C. Baldwin,  1847.
William W.  Turner,    1831,  1847.
                              MATRONS.
Martha Stansbury,     1817,  1818.  Lydia H. Peaslee,
Abigail G. Whittlesey,  1818,  1824.  Phebe C. White,
Margaret M. Peet,     1824,  1831.
  * Deceased.
  f In 1824 the title of Superintendent was changed to that of Steward, and in
1847 the title of this officer was changed to  that of Family Guardian and
Steward.
1831,   1839.
1839. 
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS



            TO THE




    AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
CONNECTICUT.
HARTFORD.		Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet,	$100.00
Eliphalet Averill,	. #110.00	Henry Hudson,	100.00
John Beach,	. 25.00	Barzillai Hudson, Jr.,	. 5.00
Daniel Buck,	100.00	James B. Hosmer,	15.00
Isaac Bull,	. 50.00	F. W. Hotchkiss,	. 5.00
Russell Bunce,	10.00	Lydia Huntley,	5.00
Dudley Buck,	. 5.00	Philo Hillyer,	. 10.00
Horace Burr,	10.00	Charles Hosmer,	10.00
Jonathan Brace,	. 10.00	Miss Lydia Huntley's school,	5.00
Leonard Bacon,	10.00	Barzillai Hudson,	20.00
Frederick Bange,	. 5.00	Handelian Society,	. 50.00
Isaac Bliss,	5.00	Daniel P. Hopkins,	25.00
Elisha Babcock,	. 20.00	William H. Imlay,	. 100.00
Aaron Colton,	10.00	Jonathan Law,	5.00
Christopher Colt,	. 110.00	Thomas Lloyd,	. 10.00
Aaron Chapin,	5.00	Walter Mitchell,	10.00
Benjamin Crampton,	. 40.00	David McKenney,	. 100.00
John Caldwell,	. 200.00	John Morgan,	50.00
Mason F. Cogswell,	. 125.00	Michael Olcott,	. 20.00
Daniel Crowell,	5.00	Lynde Olmsted,	10.00
Thomas Day,	. 50.00	Nathaniel Patten,	10.00
Jesse Deane,	10.00	Thomas C. Perkins,	. 5.00
Elisha Dodd,	. 7.00	David Porter,	100.00
William Dodd,	7.00	Joseph Pratt,	. 50.00
William Ely,	. 50.00	Joseph Rogers, .	25.00
W. W. Ellsworth, .	20.00	John Russ,	. 50.00
Jonathan W. Edwards,	. 20.00	Alfred Smith, .	10.00
Asa Francis,	5.00	Charles Sigourney,	. 200.00
Abel Flint,	. 5.00	George Smith, .	25.00
E. Goodrich, Jr.,	15.00	Michael Shepard, .	. 5.00
S. F. Griswold,	. 5.00	Jacob Sargeant,	8.00
Samuel Gray, 2d,	5.00	Nathan Strong, Jr.,	. 15.00
Samuel G. Goodrich,	. 5.00	Charles Seymour,	15.00
George Goodwin,	25.00	Nathaniel Spencer,	5.00
Caleb Goodwin,	. 5.00	Jared Scarborough, .	25.00
George Goodwin, Jr.,	5.00	Luther Scarborough,	. 150.00
Charles Goodwin,	. 5.00	Spencer & Gilman, .	4.00
 
156
SUBSCRIPTIONS
TO ASYLUM.
Harvey Seymour,
George Sheldon,  .
Elisha Shepard,
Normand Smith,
Russell Talcott,
Peter Thatcher,
Roderick Terry,
Nathaniel Terry,
Samuel Tudor, Jr.,
Moses Tryon, Jr.,
Mrs. Susan Tracy,
Eliphalet Terry,
Seth Terry,   .
Joseph Trumbull,
Samuel Tinker,
Samuel Tuttle, .
Talcott Wolcott,  .
Mrs. S. Wilder, for  daughter,
Rev.  W. C.  Woodbridge,
Ward Woodbridge,  .
Daniel Wadsworth,
Thomas S. Williams,
William Watson, .
Ward & Bartholomew,
John Withe,
James H. Wells,
Spencer Whiting, .
Robert Watkinson,
Edward Watkinson,
John H. Wells,
David Watkinson,
Mehitable Wadsworth,
John Witter,
$10.00
  5.00
 10.00
 25.00
 10.00
  5.00
 10.00
100.00
 50.00
 15.00
  5.00
110.00
 30.00
 20.00
 10.00
  5.00
 10.00
 20.00
  5.00
100.00
300.00
 50.00
 10.00
 25.00
  5.00
 60.00
 10.00
 25.00
 20.00
  5.00
 50.0'0
 100.00
  5.00
  OTHER TOWNS IN CONNECTICUT.
Ben. Silliman, New Haven,    $15.00
40.00
25.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
 5.00
 5.00
15.00
 5.00
20.00
James Hillhouse,     do.
Jeremiah Day,       do.
George Hoadley,     do.
Simeon Baldwin,     do.
Timothy Dwight,     do.
Stephen Twining,    do.
Charles Dennison,    do.
Eli Whitney,         do.
A. R  Street,         do.
Cyrus Stanley, Newington,
Henry L. Ellsworth, Windsor, 50.00
Mr. Richards, New London,    5.00
Elisha Coe, Middletown,    .    1.00
Rebecca Cutler,     do.       10.00
Union Young  Ladies Soc, do.   5.00
Sally Pierce,        do.        5.00
John B. Coles,      do.      100.00
Henry Overing,      do.      100.00
Stephen Whitney,   do.      100.00
Charles Wilkes,     do.       30.00
William Moore,     do.       30.00
John Howe,        do.       50.00
Samuel Gill,        do.       10.00
Rev.  Benoni Upson, Berlin,   100.00
Sylvester Gilbert, Hebron,   .  50.00
Joseph Battell, Norfolk,   .   150.00
Joseph Wells, Glastenbury,    10.00
Ch'ncey Deming, Farmington, 200.00
       Contributions taken up
New Salem Soc, Colchester,
Sterling,
Green's Farms,
Branford, First Society,
Columbia,
Westfield Society, Middletown
Ashford, Third Society,
Stamford,
Greenfield Society, Fairfield,
Union Society, Danbury,
Charitable Soc, Windham Co.
        Timothy Cowles,     do.      20.00
        Edward Hooker,     do.       5.00
        Bissell Hinsdale, Winchester,   5.00
        S. Hubbard, Norwich,          1.00
        John Cotton Smith, Sharon,   100.00

in Religious Societies in Connecticut.
$7.02   Stanwich Society, Greenwich,
  3.50   Society at Preston.
 12.00   Baptist Society, Waterford,
        First Eccl. Society, Hartford,
        Second do.   do.       do.
        Christ Church,        do.
        First Society, Wethersfield,
 20.20  Andover Society, Hebron,
  8.00  Society in Ellington, .
  5.00  Second  Soc in East Windsor,
 17.50   Newington Soc, Wethersfield
9.61
2.00
9.08
1.25
 $7.50
  8.00
  1.36
300.00
 35.00
 42.48
 67.11
  6.07
 14.26
 18.93
 19.50 
SUBSCRIPTIONS  TO ASYLUM.
157
Episcopal Church, Chatham,  $1.75
First Baptist Society, Colchester, 1.50
Hanover Society in Lisbon,      9.20
Westminster Soc, Canterbury,  2.00
Eccl. Society in Suffield,       IS.17
First Society in Lebanon,        7.50
Chester Society in Saybrook,   11.00
Stratfield Society in Stratford,  16.12
Eccl. Society in Middletown,   71.00
Norfield Society,     do.         2.72
Eccl. Society in  Colebrook,     16.50
First Eccl. Soc. in East Haddam, 9.67
Second Society in Coventry,     5.47
First Society in Tolland,        6.27
Baptist Society in Wintonbury,  1.37
Society in Newington,    .     13.44
Society in Salisbury,   .    .   27.16
Wintonbury Soc. in Windsor,    5.94
Second Society, East Hartford, 16.00
Society in Northford, .    .     9.50
Soc. in Voluntown and Sterling, 6.45
First Society in Glastenbury,   14.16
Society in Bolton,     .    .    5.29
First Society in Washington,   15.00
First Society in Haddam,       15.53
Baptist Society in Jewett City,  2.00
Worthington Society in Berlin, 31.00
Stratford Society in Huntington, 3.50
Society in Goshen,    .    .   29.06
 Eccl. Society in Canton,        8.86
 Society in West Stafford,        2.16
 First Society in Cornwall,       17.22
 Society in Saybrook,   .    .   13.00
 Society in Barkhainsted,  .     3.42
 First Society in Ashford,    .   3.14
 First Society in Canterbury,     9.20
Baptist Society in Newtown,    2.00
 First Eccl. Soc. in New Haven,  58.75
 West Society in Greenwich,    20.00
 Ripton Society in Huntington,  54.00
 Second Society in Mansfield,    4.S5
 Kensington Society in Berlin,   8.00
 First Society in  Sharon,   .     1S.40
 Second Society in Winchester,  18.00
 Methodist  do.  in Winchester,   4.00
 First Society in Milford,     .   20.26
 South Society in Middletown,    4.71
 North Guilford Soc, Guilford,   3.00
 Second Society in Saybrook,    12.71
                21
First Society, Farmington,    $77.22
Second Society, Cornwall,     20.25
First Society in Greenwich,     3.88
Rocky Hill Soc, Wethersfield, 20.13
Shakers' Society in Enfield,    25.00
West Society in Killingly,    .   9.41
First Society in Windsor,  .    17.22
St. Peter's Church in Plymouth, 5.16
First Society in East Hartford, 37.96
Third  Society in Hartford,   .  17.00
Eccl. Society in Simsbury,      6.00
South Farms Society,          3.25
Eccl. Society in Sherman,     11.50
First Eccl. Society in Norwich, 45.81
North  Society in Canaan,       6.21
Eccl. Society in Southington,  26.79
First Society in Hartland,       4.72
Episcopal Soc. in New Haven, 80.82
   do.      do.   in Stamford.    13.00
Second Society in Hebron,     4.97
First Society in Woodstock,    8.88
First Society in Hampton,       9.25
St. John's Church in N. Milford, 8.08
Episcopal Church in Brookfield, 9.24
First Society in Watertown,     9.89
Torringford Society,  .     .    8.25
Society in East Haven,  .    . 11.00
First Episcopal Soc. in Derby,   6.75
Society in Turkey Hills,     .   7.70
New Britain Society in Berlin, 18.79
First Society in Southbury,     23.00
 Baptist Society in Chester,      2.43
 First Society in Cheshire,      12.20
 First Society in Brooklyn,      12.79
 First Society in New Milford,  36.46
 First Society in Bridgewater,    1.34
 First Society in Chatham,       6.00
 First Society in Colchester,     27.60
 Methodist Meeting in Granby,  2.74
 Society in Durham,    .     .   9.70
 First  Society in Guilford, .    13.00
 Society in Bozrah,      .     .   4.00
 Baptist Society in Huntington,  6.37
 Society in Kent,  .     .     .9.70
 Society in Burlington,     .     4.58
 Episcopal Society in Trumbull, 3.80
 Salem Society in Waterbury,   6.55
 First Society in Pomfret, N. Ca-
     naan,      ,    •     •      I6-04 
158                SUBSCRIPTIONS  TO ASYLUM.
Society in Trumbull,   .    .   $3.62
First Society in Fairfield,  .     34.37
Society in Harrington,  .    .11.95
Hadlyme  Society  in Hadlyme
    and Lyme,    .     .    .    9.66
Society in Groton,    .    .      3.00
First Society in Torrington,     16.00
First Society in Enfield,   .     15.33
West Society in Suffield,    .    4.60
Episcopal Church  in Guilford,   8.00
First Society in Winchester,     8.00
Society in Franklin,    .    .    7.76
First Society in Griswold, .     IS.SO
Baptist Society in  Winsted,       .72
First Eccl. Society, Litchfield,  38.22
First Eccl. Society, Warren,    7.23
Society in Bristol,       .    .   13.SG
Congregational Soc. in Wolcott, 3.23
Society in North Milford,        7.00
Society in North Stamford.      3 56
United Society in  New  Haven, 64.53
North Haven Society,    .       7.00
Middlesex Society in Stamford,  7.12
Episcopal Society in  Hamden,   1.84
First Society in Derby,  .    •    9.06
Society in Vernon,   .    .    13.61
Eccl. Society in New London, 44.00
First Society in Granby,       13.48
First Society in Hebron,    .  10.00
Society in Norfolk,   .    .     25.91
Society in Middlebury,  .     .    6.62
Abington Society in Pomfret,     6.53
First Society in Stamford,     $17.00
Second Baptist Church in Say-
    brook,      .     .     .    10.00
West Parish in Woodstock,     2.50
Great Hill Society in  Derby,     1.25
First Society in Coventry,       3.53
Episcopal Society in  Wolcott,   1.32
First Eccl.  Society in Lisbon,   7.56
First Society in Reading,       8,75
Episcopal Society in Fairfield,  4.50
First Society in Pomfret,       9.00
Female Char'ble  So. in Pomfret, 2.75
Third Society in  Lyme,    .     2.60
Christ Church in Middletown, 25.00
First Society in East Windsor, 50.00
Society in Marlborough,        3.95
First Society in Saybrook,       6.70
Methodist Society in  Saybrook, 2.30
East Society in Guilford,       11.33
Episcopal Society in  Bridgeport, 8.80
Episcopal Church in  Ridgefield, 3.28
Episcopal Soc. in East Haven,  1.50
Congregational  Society in  N.
    Preston,     .     .     .    8.32
North Society in Woodstock,   12.50
 Congregational So. in Brookfield, 5.38
Society in Bethlehem,     .     10.75
Methodist Society in Salisbury, 3.00
New Salem Soc.  in Colchester,  7.02
Episcopal   Churches in Oxford
     and Humphreysville.       8.75
 Society in Wallingford,         7.51
             BOSTON.
William Phillips,
Israel Thorndike,     ,
Dr. Sears,
P. C. Brooks.
Samuel Parkman,  ,
William Parsons,
William Gray,
Andrew Ritchie,
Samuel Apple ton,
Israel Munson,
Joseph Coolidge,
William E. Channing,
MASSACHUSETTS.
             James Perkins,   .     .      $100.00
 .   $500.00  Rev. James Freeman,    .     50.00
  .   300.00  George Cabot,    .     .     .   50.00
     300,00  Francis Parkman,   .     .     50.00
  .   100.00  Robert B. Shaw,      .     .   50.00
     100.00  Thomas Wigglesworth,   .     50.00
  .   200.00  Mr. Pickman,    .     .     .   50.00
     300,00  Rt. Rev. Bishop Cheverus,     25.00
  .   100.00  H. Vose,   ....     3.50
     200.00  Nathaniel Goddard,    .     .  50.00
     100.00  Mr. Sharpe,    .     .     .    10.OO
  .  100.00  Daniel E. Parker, .    .     .  100.00
      50.00  Ebenezer Francis,    .         50.00 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
TO ASYLUM.
159
N. Appleton,	$50.00
Samuel Salisbury,	100.00
W. Cockran,	20.00
Josiah Quincy, by J. May,	50.00
John Bellour,	25.00
Benjamin Rich,	50 00
Bryant & Sturgis, .	50.00
Henry Sigourney,	50.00
Samuel G. Warriner,	25.00
John C. Jones, .	50.00
Andrew Brimmer,	30.00
Whitney, C. & Hammond,	30.00
Henry Gassil,	25.00
Henry Hubbard,	25.00
Isaac Rand, .	25.00
Aaron Dexter,	30.00
H. G. Otis, .	50.00
John Wells,	50.00
Thomas H. Perkins, annually	, 5.00
John Tappan, .	25.00
Edmund Monroe, .	29.00
I. D. Rodgers, .	100.00
Caleb Loring,	25.00
Francis Welsh,	25.00
Thomas R. Jones,	25.00
C. R. Codman,	30.00
Thomas Cushing,	25.00
James Carter,	25.09
Elijah Loring,	50.00
Arnold Wells, .	50.00
William Lawrence,	20.00
John Green,	20.00
William R. Gray, .	50.00
Prof. Joseph McKean,	5.00
Whitwell, Bond & Co.,	50.00
Samuel Dorr,	25.00
Benjamin Russell,	10,00
Edmund Munroe, .	25.00
Winslow Lewis & Co.,	15.00
Samuel H, Walley,	15.00
G. & T. Searle,	10.00
William Ropes,	25.00
James Read & Co , .	10.00
Joseph S. Read, Jr.,	9.00
Daniel Denny & Co.,	500
Charles Tappan,	10.00
W. & G. Tuckerman,	10.00
John D. Williams,	50.00
Ebenezer T. Andrews, .	20 00
Sarah Blake,    .    .     .   $30.00
Henry Hall,  ....  10.00
H. Gray, Esq.,   .    .     .    25.00
John Codman,     .    .     .  25.00
George Brinley,      .     .    25.00
Jonathan Armory and friends,  15.00
Mrs. Winthrop,  .    .    .     5.00
Henry Holmes,    .    .     .  25.00
Gilman Callamere,  .     .     5.00
F. C. Gray,   ....  10.00
Otis Everett,    .    .     .    20.00
Thomas Bass,     .    .     .  10.00
Mrs. W. Cross,  .    .     .     5.00
Hon. James Lloyd,    .     .  50.00
Mr. Snow, ....     3.00
Mrs. Goddard,     ...   2.00
Hon. John Phillips,    .     .  20.00
Nathaniel L. Frothingham,    25.00
James Jackson,    .    .     .  50.00
David Sears,    .    .    .    100.00
Thomas Dawes,    .    .     .  25.00
J. Thorndike, Jr.,    -     .    25.00
George Hullet,     .    .     .  20.00
Samuel Hubbard,    .    .    20.00
John Osborne,     .    .     .  25.00
John Hubbard,  .    .    .    50.00
Sundry donations, .    .     .  291.00
SALEM.
B. Pickman, Jr.,	$100.00
Gideon Tucker, .	50.00
Eliphalet Kimball, .	100.00
Joseph Peabody,	100.00
Simon Forester,	100.00
Benjamin W. Crowninshield,	50.00
John Crowninshield,	20.00
G. Crowninshield, by J. Jenks	, 50.00
John Derby,	50.00
Pickering Dodge, .	50.00
John Jenks,	20.00
E. A. Holyoke,	15.00
Joseph Story,	30.00
Stephen White,	30.00
William Fettyplace, .	35.00
Dudley L. Pickman,	30.00
Willard Pule, .	30.00
John H. Andrews,	25.00
Nathaniel Bowditch',	20.00
J. White Treadwell,	15.00
 
160
SUBSCRIPTIONS TO  ASYLUM.
Humphrey Devereux,	. $25.00
C. H. Orne, .	. 30.00
Samuel Orne,	30.00
Ichabod Tucker,	. 15.00
John E. Abbott,	1500
Abel Lawrence,	. 20.00
Elizabeth Bartlett,	30.00
William Proctor, .	. 15.00
John Stone,	5.00
John Dodge, .	. 20.00
William Silsbee,	30.00
Nathaniel Silsbee,	. 15.00
Joseph Ropes,	15.00
Nathan Robinson,	. 20.00
Benjamin Dodge,	10.00
James King,	. 20.00
W. P. Richardson,	20.00
Leverett Saltonstall,	. 15.00
Wm. Dean,	20.00
Sundry donations,	. 34.50
William Brinley, Beverley,
Rev. A. Norton, Cambridge,
Mrs. Reed, Marblehead,        30
Public Collection in Mr. Holmes'
    Meeting House, N. Bedford, 38
Barnabas Hedge, Plymouth,
William Davis,      do.
Nathaniel Russell,   do.
Cash,              do.
Thomas Jackson,   do.
Cash,              do.
William P. Ripley,  do.
Nathaniel Ripley,   do.
Public Collection in Mr. Ken-
    dall's Meeting House, do.   57
Public Coll. in Universalist Soc,
    Charlestown,             51.
Public Coll. in Dr. Morris' Meet-
     ing House,  Charlestown,   51
Public Coll. in Cambridge,    60
Public Coll. in Cambridgeport, 53
.00
.00
00
 OTHER TOWNS IN MASSACHUSETTS.
Rev. T. M. Harris, Dorchester, $5.00
Daniel Dana, Newburyport,
B. Bannister,      do.
Jonathan Marsh,  do.
First Society,      do.
Daniel Waldo,   Worcester,
 31
.00
 00
.00
 00
 00
 00
 00
 00
S. Salisbury,        do.
Abijah Bigelow,     do.
Nathan Maccarty,   do.
J. Robinson,        do.
T. W. Ward,       do.
Levi Lincoln, Jr.,   do.
Miss Waldo,        do.
Levi Lincoln,       do.
Mrs. Harriet Cobb,  do.
First Cong,  and Bapt. Soc. do.
Second Cong. Society,     do
Evening Lect. at Stockbridge,
Second Cong. Soc, Pittsfield,
S. Bucklin,  Marlborough,
Rev. A. Norton, Harvard Coll
Messrs Brooks and Tucker, do. 20.00
Rev. Henry Colman, Hingham, 10.00
 6.00
 5.00
 5.00
43.00
20.00
20.00
 5.00
10.00
 5.00
 3.00
 3.00
15.00
 5.00
30.00
 55.90
 86.12
 20.00
 18.30
 47.28
,  5.00
Sundry donations,    do.
Bezaliel Howard, Springfield,
Thomas Dwight,     do.
Jonathan Dwight,     do.
James S. Dwight,     do.
John Hooker,        do.
H. Dwight,          do.
John Ingersoll,       do.
Oliver P. Morris,     do.
Daniel Lombard,     do.
Joseph Lyman,  Northampton, 10
E. Hunt, Jr.,         do.      10
J.H.Lyman,         do.      10
E. P. Ashman, Easthampton,  10
Seth Wright,         do.      10
Wm. H. Dwight,      do.      15
J. D. Whitney,       do.       5
S. Stoddard, Jr.,     do.       5
Samuel Elliott, Jr.,   do.     100
Mrs. Battel,          do.       5
John Lowell,   Roxbury,      20
John Amory,     do.          10
Eliphalet Porter, do.          10
00

00

85
.77
00
00
00
.00
00
00
.00
00
.00
.00
.00
LOO
i.OO
 00
LOO
.00
.00
.00
 00
 00
.00
 00
 .00
 00 
SUBSCRIPTIONS TO  ASYLUM.
161
RHODE ISLAND.
PROVIDENCE.
Brown & Ives, .	. $30.00
Edward Carrington,	. 50.00
Samuel G. Arnold,	50.00
Crawford Allen,	. 20.00
Zechariah Allen,	20.00
Phillip Allen,	. 10.00
William Church,	10.00
Alexander Jones,	. 10.00
William Blodgett,	10.00
Stephen Waterman,	. 5.00
J. B. Wood,	5.00
Sundry donations,	. 35.00
Contributions First Baptist	Soc. 52.11
          PORTSMOUTH.
Gov. John Langdon,    .     $40.00
Charles Boroughs,    .     .    10.00
E. Parrot,    .     .     .      10.00
South Parish,   .     .     .    94.65
NEW YORK CITY.	
Hannah Murray, New York,	$20.00
Mary Murray,	. 20.00
Hannah Murray, Jr.,	20.00
John Adams,	. 20.00
Garret Hyer,	5.00
John Murray, Jr.,	. 50.00
Peter Remsen, .	100.00
Mr. Wheaton	. 13.00
Nathaniel Richards,	50.00
John Jacob Astor,	. 100.00
Theodore Dwight,	.10.00
John Howe,	.50.00
  OTHER TOWNS IN RHODE ISLAND.
Timothy Green, Pawtucket,   $5.00
Oliver Starkweather, do.       5.00
William De Wolf, Bristol,     10.00
Charles De Wolf,     do.       5.00
Charles De Wolf,  Jr., do.       5.00
Mr. NeWcomb,      do.       1.00
A woman of color,   do.        .10
Contribution  in Congregational
    Meeting House,  do.      28.12
Contribution  in  Dr.  Patton's
    Meeting House, Newport, 29.67
North Parish,      .     .     $60.00
Universalist Society, .     .    32.00
Baptist and Methodist Society, 24.06
Episcopal Society,   .     .    54.00
M. Hopkins,	. $3.00
Stephen Whitney,	100.00
Robert Halliday, .	. 30.00
John & Walter Livingston,	10.00
Isaac Lawrence,	10.00
J. S. Rogers,	. 10.00
H. Le Roy,	10.00
Anthony Day,	. 10.00
John B. Coles, .	100.00
William Moore,	. 30.00
H. Overing,	100.00
Henry D. Sewal, .	. 10.00
Charles Wilkes,	30.00
            PORTLAND.
Cash,
Methodist Society,
          BRATTLEBORO.
J. Holbrook,
S.  Elliott,
   MAINE.
        Second Baptist and Congrega-
 $20.00       tional Society,     .     $163.00
.  40.00  First Congregational Society,  100.00

VERMONT.
                    MIDDLEBURY.
 $10.00  Prof. Hall,     .     .    .     $5.00
    3.00  Evening Lecture,     .     .   22.70
Collection Evening Lecture,    16.60

                       NEW HAMPSHIRE.
NEW YORK. 
162
SUBSCRIPTIONS  TO ASYLUM.
ALBANY.		Jones A; Baldwin,	$25.00
Daniel D. Tompkins,	. $50.00	Vinal Luce,	15.00
John Taylor,	. 20.00	W. James & Co.,	25.00
Smith Thompson,	15.00	D. P. Clark,	10.00
A. Spencer,	. 15.00	H. W. Delavan,	25.00
Elisha Jenkins,	20.00	E. T. Backus,	20.00
M. Van Buren,	. 15.00	Elias Kane,	10.00
William Ross, .	10.00	Samuel C. Farquhar,	5.00
Moses I. Cantine,	. 10.00	Solomon Smith,	10,00
Isaac Ogden,	10.00	C. C. Yates,	10.00
Abraham Van Vechten,	. 15.00	Stephen Lush,	10.00
Ephraim Hart,	10.00	John J. Evertson,	10.00
Stephen Van Rensselaer,	300.00	John Woodworth,	20.00
James Kane,	. 100.00	W. A. Duer,	10.00
Perley Keyer,	10.00	J. Sutherland,	20.00
James Cochran,	. 10.00	W. Chester,	20.00
Ralph Haskall,	10.00	T. V. W. Graham,	10.00
Samuel Stewart,	. 10.00	John C. Cuyler,	25.00
Henry Seymour,	15.00	Elias Willard,	15.00
Nathaniel Pendleton,	. 15.00	John L. Winnie,	20.00
J. B. Prevost,	10.00	James Gibbon,	20.00
John R. Dickinson,	10.00	C. D. Townsend,	8.00
P. R. Livingston,	10.00	John Lansing,	20.00
Henry J. Frey,	5.00	James Van Vechten,	10.00
David Allen,	5.00	N. S. Skinner,	10.00
William Mallery,	5.00	Rufus Brown,	5.00
John Knox,	5.00	John Van Shaick,	15.00
John F. Bacon, .	5.00	John N. Bleeker,	8.00
George Tibbits,	10.00	N. Bleeker, Jr.,	5.00
Cash, . . .	2.00	T. M. Southwick,	5.00
James Kent,	20.00	H. G. Wynkoop,	5.00
John F. Henry,	. 50.00	Gerrit Gates,	5.00
Charles E. Dudley,	20.00	James Daniels, . .	5.00
Webster & Skinner,	. 30.00	S. Stringer,	10.00
George Pierson,	20.00	John A. Webb,	10.00
Orange Stow,	. 20.00	John Robinson,	15 00
Mrs. Banyer, .	50.00	John Stafford,	10.00
Levi Piatt,	. 20.00	John W. Yates, .	15.00
P. S. Van Rensselaer,	25.00	George C. Sharpe,	10.00
James Stephenson,	. 20.00	Joseph Russell,	10.00
Matthew Gregory,	20.00	Sheppard & Boyd,	5.00
Isaac Hamilton,	. 10.00	Winne & Fonday,	8.00
G. W. Porter,	10.00	John Van Zandt,	10.00
W. H. Jepson,	. 25.00	J. A. & H. Ten Eyck,	5.00
R. Tillotson, .	15.00	Daniel Steele,	5.00
Peter B. Porter,	. 10.00	Smith & Warren,	. 10.00
Simeon De Witt,	10.00	W. J. & A. Marvin,	20.00
Charles Z. Piatt,	. 10.00	Elias Willard,	5.00
R. Webster & Co.,	25.00	R. H. King, .	5.00
A. S. Griswold,	. 20.00	J. & G. Sargeant,	5.00
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS  TO ASYLUM.
16
Benjamin Knower,	$10.00	Isaac W, Staats,	. $5.00
Stafford, Spencer & Co.,	. 10.00	C. W. Groesbeck & Co	, 5.00
John D. P. Dowe, .	10.00	John H. Wendell,	5.00
Sundry Donations,	9.00	John Meins,	3.00
Galen Batchelder,	5.00	Peter Gansevoort,	5.00
Walter Clark,	. 10.00	J. Spencer,	3.00
Richard Marvin,	5.00	P. Van Loon,	10.00
D. Van Schelluyne,	15.00	Robert Hyslop,	10.00
Gideon Hawley,	10.00	William Maynell,	2.00
Nathaniel Davis,	. 10.00	J. & A. F. Baird, .	10.00
Edward Brown,	5.00	Augur Wells,	2.00
James B. Douglass,	. 10.00	B. & J. R. Bleecker,	20.00
John Trotter,	10.00	E. R. Satterlee,	5.00
Charles Smyth, .	. 10.00	S. P. Jermain,	5.00
Peter Boyd,	6.00	Benjamin Allyn,	5.00
H. Bleeker,	. 15.00	Joseph Alexander,	10.00
Philip Parker,	10.00	William Hale,	. 10.00
E. & E. Hosford,	5.00	G. V. S. Bleecker,	10.00
John Ely, Jr.,	5.00	John Bryan,	. 10.00
T. Sedgwick,	20.00	John W. Rockwell,	10.00
A. & W. Thompson,	5.00	King & Denniston,	5.00
Cornelius Truax,	5.00	S. S. Lockwood,	5.00
Daniel Hall,	5.00		
Peter E. Elmendorf, .	. 10.00	OTHER TOWNS IN NEW YORK.	
John Chester,	20.00	Henry R. Storrs, Whitesboro', $10.00	
S. P. Schuyler, .	. 20.00	Misses Jay,	20.00
Herman V. Hart,	5.00	W. Jay, Bedford,	. 5.00
H. W. Delavan & Co.,	. 100.00	John Knickerbocker, W	raterford, 10.00
John Reid,	10.00	Daniel Stone, Madrid,	3.00
Elisha Russell,	1.00	W. D. & E. Ross, Essex, . 2.00	
G. Y. Lansing,	10.00		
	NEW JERSEY.		
BURLINGTON.		Six persons, $50 each	- $300.00
George Aaronson,	$1.00	John Bishop,	5.00
Barbaroure,	. 3.00	R. M. Smith,	10.00
Hannah Watson,	15.00	H. & E. Sykes,	1.00
Eliza J. Shippen,	2.00	Stephen C. Ustwick,	1.00
Ann Keen,	2.00	Charles Ellis, -	5.00
Lydia Riche,	. 6.00	Lemuel Hawell,	2.C0
William Griffith,	10.00	H. Smith and daughter, 5.00	
Elias Boudinot,	500.00	Charles Kinsey,	5.00
Mrs. S. V. Bradford,	50.00	A little girl,	.50
Joseph Bloomfield,	25.00	James Gummel,	1.00
George Del win,	20.00	Samuel B. Myers,	2.00
Isaac Collins,	5 00	Samuel Stockton,	1.00
James Brown,	5.00	Stephen Morris, Jr.,	1.00
Joseph Miller,	2.00	John Gummeres' pupi	Is, 17.60
 
164
SUBSCRIPTIONS  TO ASYLUM.
John Gummeres,	$3.00	William Bridway,	$5.00
John Ackerman, -	1.00	William Woolman,	2.00
John Roberts,	1.00	John Neal,	3 00
James Sterling,	5.00	J. McHoarme,	5.00
R. Johnes,	5.00	H. Carr,	- 5.00
Benjamin Moore,	1.00	John Hulme,	1.00
Burr Woolman,	2 00	C. & F. Stockton,	- 2.00
John Quicksall,	1.00	Joseph Pierce,	2.00
Thomas Aikman,	2.00	Joseph B. Burr,	- 2.00
Samuel R. Gummeres,	2.00	Samuel Bowker,	1.00
M. M. Moore,	20.00	David Pancoast,	1.00
Margaret Smith, -	5.00	Caleb Gaskill,	2.00
John Wilson, -	5.00	Lydia Hoskins,	- 1.00
Esther Reed,	5.00	Lydia Harris and Susan Kingsley, 5.00	
William Coxe,	10.00	Joshua M. Wallace,	15.00
Susanna Macarron,	2.00	William B. Griffith,	- 3.00
Anna Lippincot,	1.00	Mary Lippincott,	1.00
Charles H. Wharton,	4.00	Ira Mason,	- 1.00
John Hoskins,	5.00	P. Barker,	3.00
Peter Powell,	2.00	William Newbold,	- 50.00
C. Laryclera.	1.00	John Cox,	10.00
R. King, -	5.00	Z. B. Stout,	- 11.00
J. R. Smith, -	5.00	Clayton Newbold,	50.00
Abigail Stopes, • -	1.00	John Wetherell,	- 10.00
George Allen,	1.00	John H. Lunnose,	1.00
Pupils, Academy,	5.00	Henry D. Sewal,	- 10.00
Joseph Smith,	10.00	Sundry donations,	18.00
L. J. Smith,	5.00	L. Hann, Schooley's	Mountains, 6.00
                        PENNSYLVANIA.
         Philadelphia.              Jacob  Howell,       -       -  $5.00
Collections, transmitted by           F. Nichols,      -      -      5.00
    Richard Paxton,      $1,634.56  Charles Chauncey,   -       -  50.00
                         OTHER STATES.
John Rose, Charleston, S. C, $10.00  C. J. Catlett, Alexandria,    $10.00
D. Crocker,    do.      -      5.00  Rev. Dr. McLeod, Charles-
W. Johnson,   do.   -        10.00      ton, S. C,       -       20.00
F. S. Crocker, do.      -      5.00  W. Parker, Savannah, Ga.,    10.00
J. A. Yates,   do.   -        10.00  John Oliver, Baltimore, Md.,   20.00
Henry D.Ward, Columbia, S.C, 50.00  Robert Oliver,  do.     -    200.00
R. Latta, Yorkville, S. C,       5.00  J. B. Nicholson, U. S. Navy,   10.00
Rev. W. Mead, Millwood,           J. Bolton, Savannah, Ga.,     10.00
    Frederic county, Va.,       5.00  Mr. Byatt, South Carolina,     20.00
Mr. Woods, Georgia,      -    20.00  Jacob Guerard, Beaufort, S. C, 10.00
Oliver Sturges, Savannah, Ga., 50.00  John La Roche,  do.     -     10.00
Robert Beverly, Virginia,       20.00  Edward Winslow, Wilming-
W. Cumming, Petersburg, Va., 10.00      ton, N. C,       -       25.00
James Dunlap,     do.         10.00  Jacob Wood, Potosi, Ga.,      20.00 
SUBSCRIPTIONS  TO  ASYLUM.
165
Joseph Copman, Savannah, Ga., 5.00  Dr.A.Sherman, Knoxville,Ten., 10.00
Mr. Richards,      do.        '20.00  Mr. Beach, South Carolina,     5.00
George Dodd, Charleston, S. C, 5.00
                       FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
  S. V. S. Wilder, Paris,       100.00  Mr. Ridgway, Staffords're.Eng.,  5.00
  Mrs. Hannah More, England,  44.44  M.  E. Levy, Havana,    -   50.00
  Zaehary Macauley,    do.    22.22  Mr. Benning, Isle of Trinidad,   5.00
  Mr. Labauchere, London,     15.00  Sundry donations,      -     3S5.00

  The above list of subscriptions and contributions to the American Asylum,
although  not complete, exhibits the extent of the  ground visited, and the
number of individuals who became personally interested in the success of the
enterprise.   The  following summary  taken from  the treasurer's  annual
exhibit,  presents the  resources of the institution, exclusive of the payments of
pupils, for buildings and current expenses, up to the sale of the lands donated
by Congress.  The charities of individuals and religious societies diminished
in number and amount, as the permanent funds  increased, and  ceased  alto-
gether in  1825.
Donations by individuals* to send Mr. Gallaudet to Europe up to
                                              June  1, 1817,   $12,016.80
Contributions taken up in Religious Societies in 1819,
    "           «                "           1820,
    «           «                "           1821,
Donation by state of Connecticut in 1816,
1818,	3,131.19
1819,	f7,538.43
1820,	447.00
1821,	250.70
1822,	82.50
1823,	18.61
1824,	11.15
	. 2,646.12
	72.66
	18.75
$26,233.91
  5,000.00

$31,233.91
  * The names of the original subscribers, in the order of their subscription, may
be seen in the act of incorporation, passed May, lbl6.
  t This sum includes a legacy of $2,000, left by Mr. Lewis, of New London.
                22 
166           ACT TO  INCORPORATE  THE  ASYLUM.
   The following is the original act of incorporation.
 AN ACT  TO  INCORPORATE THE CONNECTICUT ASYLUM, FOR THE EDUCATION AND
                 INSTRUCTION OF DEAF  AND DUMB PERSONS.
  Sec 1. Be it enacted by the Governor and Council and House  of Representa-
tives in General Court assembled, That John Caldwell, Nathaniel Terry, Daniel
Wadsworth, Mehitable Wadsworth, Susan Tracy. Ward Woodbridge, Henry
Hudson,  Daniel Buck,  Mason F. Cogswell, Joseph Battel!, William  II. Imlay,
Charles  Sigourney, David Porter,  David  McKinney,  Isaac  Bull, Thomas  S.
Williams, John Morgan, Samuel  Tudor, Jr.,  John  Butler,  George Good-
win,  John  Beach,  James Ward,  Roswell  Bartholomew, George  Smith,
Joseph Rogers, Moses  Tryon, Jr., Nathan  Strong,  Jr.,  Charles  Seymour,
James H. Wells, Jonathan W. Edwards, William W. Ellsworth, William Wat-
son,  Russel  Bunce,  Eliphalet Terry, Seth Terry, Lynds  Olmsted, Thomas
Lloyd, James B. Hosmer, Joseph Trumbull, Samuel Tinker, Horace Burr, Rus-
sell Talcott, Christopher Colt, Eliphalet  Averill, Nathaniel Patten,  Joseph
Wells, William Ely,  Spencer Whiting,  Barzillai Hudson, Jr., Jonathan Law,
George Goodwin,  Jr., Daniel Crowell,  Charles  Goodwin,  Michael  Shepard,
Caleb Goodwin, Dudley Buck,  Aaron  Chapin,  Jared Scarborough, Barzillai
Hudson,  Jacob Sargeant, Peter Thatcher, Talcott Wolcott, Nathaniel Spencer,
and their associates, be and they hereby  are formed into, constituted and made,
a body politic  and  corporate, by the name  of" The Connecticut Asylum for the
Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb persons," and by that name they
and their successors shall and may have  perpetual succession ; shall be capable
of suing, and being sued, pleading, and  being impleaded in  all  suits  of what
nature soever; may have a common seal, and may alter the same at pleasure,
and may also  purchase, receive, hold and  convey, any estate real or personal.
the annual income of which shall not exceed five thousand dollars.

  Sec 2. And be it further  enacted, That the said Asylum may from  time  to
time, elect a  president, and such  other officers as they may find  necessary or
convenient,  may elect additional members, and the said Asylum may make by-
laws, respecting the number, qualifications, and duties, of their officers; the
mode of  election and admission of members, the time, place, and  manner of
holding their meetings, and the  number necessary to make a quorum, and  all
other by-laws  which they may deem necessary for the due regulation  of said
Asylum,  not repugnant to the laws of this state or of the United  States.

  Sec 3. And be it further  enacted, That the first meeting of said Asylum be
held at the State House in Hartford, on the second Monday of June next.

  Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That this act or any part thereof, if found
inadequate,  or inconvenient, may be altered, amended, or repealed. 
A SERMON
 DELIVERED AT THE OPEXIXU OF THE CONNECTICUT ASYLUM  FOR  THE
      EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION OF DEAF AND DUMB PERSONS,
                           APRIL 20th, 1817,
                      ay REV. THOMAS II. GALLAUDET.


   Just two years have elapsed, since the first steps were taken toward the
 establishment, in this city, of an Asylum for the instruction of the deaf and
 dumb.  Those who then embarked in this enterprise, felt it to be their duty
 to commend its future prospects to the protection of that Arm, which moves
 so easily the complicated springs of human action, and wields, with unerring
 wisdom, the vast machinery of providence.  Their  united supplications as-
 cended from the lips of one, whose venerable presence has so often filled this
 sacred desk, and whose spirit perhaps now witnesses the fulfillment, in some
 good degree, of his wishes, and the answer of heaven  to his requests.  His*
 voice no more guides our devotions,  nor animates us  in the  path of duty!
 But his memory is cherished in our hearts, and, on  occasions like the present,
 while we mourn  his  absence and  feel his loss, let it be a source of grateful
 consolation to us, that the undertaking, of which this evening is the anniver-
 sary, began under the hopeful  influence of his  prayers.  It has met indeed
 with difficulties, and still labors under embarrassments, which are incident to
 almost all the untried efforts of benevolence.   Yet, in its gradual progress, it
 has  been encouraged by the smiles of a kind providence, and is at length
 enabled to commence its practical  operation.
   At such a season, the directors of its concerns have thought, that a remem-
 brance  of past favors, and a conviction of future  dependence on God, ren-
 dered it proper again to unite in solemn acts of religious worship.  These
 acts they have made thus public, from a grateful  sense of the general interest
 that has been  expressed toward the  Asylum, and it is at their request that
 the speaker rises to address  this respectable assembly.
   He enters upon the duty which has thus devolved upon him, not reluctant!y,
yet with diffidence and solicitude,  principally fearing that the cause of the
deaf and dumb may suffer, and yet hoping that God, in whose hands the  fee-
blest instruments are strong, will deign to make our meditations not only pro-
ductive  of benefit to the unfortunate objects of our pity, but of eternal good
to our own souls.   And,  my friends, how soon would  the apologies of the
speaker, and the implored candor of his hearers, pass into forgetfulness, could
Ave feel  that we are in the presence of Almighty God, and that the awful des-
tinies of our immortal  existence are connected with the events of this passing
hour.  May the Spirit of Grace impress these truths upon our hearts, while

  * Rev. Nathan Strong, D. D.. in whose church this sermon was delivered. 
168     ADDRESS  ON  THE OPENING OF  THE  ASYLUM.
we take as the guide of our thoughts that portion of scripture which is con-
tained in the 35th chapter of Isaiah, and the 5th and 6th verses.
  " Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall
be unstopped.  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue  of the
dumb sing: for in  the  wilderness shall waters break out, and streams'bi the
dBSBVt*"
  These words  depict  a  part of the visions of futurity which gladdened the
eye of Isaiah, and irradiate his writings with so cheering a lustre, that he has
been called " the evangelical prophet."  His predilections are assuming in
our flay, some of their most glorious forms of fulfillment.   For although they
had a more direct reference to the time of our Saviour, by whose miraculous
energy, the ears of the deaf were  opened, and  the tongue of the dumb loos-
ened, yet, without doubt, as might be proved from the general scope and ten-
or of the prophetic writings, they  equally allude  to the universal diffusion of
the gospel in these latter ages of the church,  and  to its happy influence upon
the hearts of all mankind.  The same Saviour, who went about doing good,
is also the Lord of this lower creation.  He once performed the acts  of his
kindness by the mere word of  his power; he now is mindful of the necessi-
tous, and makes provision for  them, through the medium of his providential
dispensations.   It should  be matter,  therefore, of encouragement to us, that
the establishment, which is now ready to receive within its walls the sons and
daughters of misfortune, however humble may be its sphere of exertion, is
not overlooked  in the economy of the Redeemer's kingdom; that its probable
influence is even shadowed forth in the sayings of prophecy;  and that it forms
one link in that golden chain of universal good-will, which will eventually em-
brace and bind  together the whole family of man.  Let it awaken our grati-
tude  to think, that our feeble efforts  are not disregarded by the great Head
of the church,  and  that  we are  permitted thus to cast our mite into  his
treasury.
   In the chapter, from which the words of my text are taken, the prophet
has described the blessings of the Redeemer's kingdom, in the richest colors
of oriental imagery.  He portrays, by the strongest  and  boldest figures, the
joy that  will be diffused throughout  the  earth, when the gospel of Jesus
 Christ shall have been proclaimed to all people, and its principles made the
 universal rule of thought and conduct.  He would thus teach us the intimate
 connexion, even in this world, between holiness and happiness, and excite
 our efforts toward  hastening on the latter day  glory of the church, by pla-
 cing before us  the advantages that will result from it.  Every exertion, then,
 of Christian benevolence, which forms a part  of the great  system  of doing
 good, is entitled, so to speak, to the encouragements which the prophet holds
 forth.  I shall not, therefore, depart from the spirit of the text, if, on the pres-
 ent occasion, I attempt  to describe some  of the benefits which will  result
 from the exertions which are making for the improvement of the deaf and
 dumb, and thus show  how it will happen, that in this department of Christian 
          ADDRESS  ON  THE  OPENING  OF THE ASYLUM.      169

benevolence, " in  the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the
desert."
  The whole plan of my discourse, then, will be to state several advantages
which will arise from the establishment of this Asylum, and to propose several
motives which should inspire those who are interested in its welfare, with re-
newed zeal, and the hopes of ultimate success.
  The instruction of the deaf and  dumb, if properly conducted, has  a  ten-
dency  to  give  important  aid to many researches of the philanthropist, the
philosopher,  and the divine.  The philanthropist and the  philosopher  are
deeply interested in the business of education.   The cultivation of the human
mind is paramount to all other pursuits; inasmuch as spirit is superior to mat-
ter, and eternity to time.  Youth is the season in which the  powers of the
mind  begin  to develop themselves, and language, the grand  instrument by
which this development is to take  place.   Now it is beyond  all doubt, that
great improvement has been made  in the mode of instructing children in the
use and power of language.   To what extent these improvements may yet be
carried, time alone can determine.   The very singular condition in which the
minds of  the deaf  and dumb are placed, and  the peculiar means  which are
necessarily employed in their instruction, may furnish opportunities for obser-
vation and  experiment, and the establishment of principles, with  regard to
the education of youth, which will not be without essential service  in their
general application.  How much light also, may in this way, be thrown upon
 what are supposed to be the original truths, felt and recognized to be such by
the mind, without any reasoning process.   Many speculations, too, which now
 are obscure and unsettled, respecting the faculties of the  human mind, may
 be rendered more  clear and satisfactory.   How many questions, also, may be
 solved, concerning the capability of man to originate of himself,  the notion of
 a God and of a future state, or, admitting his capacity to do this, whether, as
 a matter of fact,  he ever would do it.  "What  discoveries may be made re-
 specting  the original notions of right and wrong, the obligations of conscience,
 and, indeed, most of the similar topics connected with the moral sense.  These
 hints are sufficient to show, that aside from the leading and more important
 uses of giving instruction  to the  deaf and dumb, their education might be
 made  to subserve the general cause of humanity, and of correct philosophy
 and theology.
   But I  pass to considerations of more immediate advantage ;  and one is, that
 of affording consolation  to  the  relatives and  friends of these  unfortunate.
 Parents ! make the case your own !  Fathers and mothers ! think what would
 be your feelings, were the son of your expectations, or the daughter of your
 hopes, to be found in  this  unhappy condition.  The lamp of reason already
 lights its infant eye ; the smile of intelligence plays upon its countenance; its
 little hand is stretched  forth in significant expression of its wants; the delight-
 ful season of prattling converse has arrived ; but its artless lispings are in vain
 anticipated with paternal ardor; the voice of maternal affection  falls unheard
 on its ear ; its silence begins to betray its misfortune, and its look and gesture 
 170     ADDRESS  ON THE  OPENING  OF THE  ASYLUM.

 soon prove, that it must be forever cut off from colloquial intercourse with
 man, and that parental love must labor under unexpected difficulties, in pre-
 paring it for its journey through the thorny world upon which it has entered.
 How many  experiments must  be made before its novel language can be un-
 derstood !  How often must its instruction be attempted before the least im-
 provement can take place !   How imperfect after every effort, must this im-
 provement be!  Who shall shape  its future course through life ? who shall
 provide it with sources  of intellectual  comfort ? who shall explain to it the
 invisible realities of a future world ?  Ah ! my hearers, I could spread before
 you scenes of a mother's anguish, I could read to you letters of a father's anx-
 iety, which would not fail to move your hearts to pity, and your eyes to tears,
 and to satisfy you  that the  prospect, which the  instruction of their deaf and
 dumb children opens to parents,  is a balm for one of the keenest of sorrows,
 inasmuch as it is a relief for what has been hitherto considered an irremedi-
 able misfortune.
   The most important advantages, however, in the education of the deaf and
 dumb,  accrue to those who  are the subjects of it, and these are advantages,
 which it is extremely difficult for those  of us, who are in possession of all our
 faculties, duly to appreciate.  He, whose pulse has always beat high  with
 health, little understands the rapture of recovery from sickness. He, who has
 always trod the soil, and breathed the air, of freedom, cannot sympathize with
 the feelings  of ecstasy, which glow in the breast of him, who, having long been
 the tenant of some dreary dungeon, is brought forth to the cheering influence
 of light and  liberty.
   But  there is a sickness more dreadful than  that of the body; there are
 chains  more galling than those of the dungeon—the immortal mind preying
 upon itself, and so  imprisoned  as  not to be able to unfold its intellectual and
 moral powers, and  to attain to  the comprehension and enjoyment of those ob-
jects, which the Creator has designed as the  sources of its highest expecta-
 tions and hopes.  Such must often be the condition of the uninstructed deaf
 and dumb !  What mysterious darkness must sadden their souls !  How im-
 perfectly can they  account  for the wonders that surround them.  Must not
 each one of them, in the language of thought, sometimes say, " What is it that
 makes  me differ from my fellow men ?   Why are they so much my superi-
 ors ?  What is that  strange mode of communicating, by which  they under-
 stand each  other with the  rapidity of lightning, and which  enlivens their
 faces with the brightest expressions of joy ?  Why do I not possess  it, or why
 can it not be communicated to me ?  What are those mysterious characters,
 over which they pore with such incessant delight, and which seem to gladden
 the hours that pass by me so sad and cheerless ?  What mean the ten thous-
 and customs, which I witness in the private circles and the public assemblies,
 and which possess  such mighty influence over the  conduct and feelings  of
 those around me ?   And that  termination of life; that placing  in the  cold
 bosom  of the earth, those whom I have loved so long and so tenderly; how it
 makes  me shudder!—What is  death ?—Why are my friends thus laid by and 
          ADDRESS ON  THE  OPENING  OF  THE  ASYLUM.      171

forgotten *?—Will they never revive from  this strange slumber ?—Shall the
grass always grow over them?—Shall I see their faces  no more forever?—
And must I also thus cease to move and fall into an eternal sleep !!"
  And these are the meditations of an immortal  mind—looking through the
grates of its prison-house  upon objects on which the rays of revelation shed
no light, but all of which are obscured by the shadows of doubt, or shrouded
in the darkest gloom of ignorance.  And this mind may be set free, may be
enabled to expatiate through the boundless fields of intellectual and moral
research—may have the cheering  doctrines of life and immortality, through
Jesus Christ, unfolded to its view ; may be led to understand who is the Au-
thor of its being; what are its duties  to him; how its offenses may be par-
doned through the blood of the Saviour; how its affections may be purified
through the influences  of the Spirit;  how it may at last gain the victory over
death, and triumph over the horrors of the grave.   Instead of having the
scope of  its  vision terminated  by the narrow  horizon  of human life, it
stretches  into the  endless  expanse  of eternity;—instead of looking, with
contracted gaze, at the little  circle of visible objects, with which it is sur-
rounded, it rises to the majestic contemplation of its own immortal existence,
to the sublime conception of an infinite and supreme intelligence, and to the
ineffable displays of his goodness in the wonders of redeeming love.
  Behold these immortal minds !   Some of them  are before you; the pledges,
we trust, of multitudes  who will be rescued from  the thraldom of ignorance :
pursue, in imagination, their future progress in time and in eternity, and say,
my hearers, whether I appreciate too highly, the blessings which we wish to
be made the instruments of conferring upon the deaf and dumb ?
   For the means  of anticipating these blessings, the  deaf and  dumb owe
much  to the liberality  of generous individuals in our sister states; whose
benevolence is only equaled by the expanded view which they take of the
importance of concentrating, at present, the resources of the country in one
establishment, that, by the extent of its means, the number of its pupils, and
the qualifications of its instructors, it may enjoy the opportunity of maturing
a uniform system of education for the deaf and dumb, and of training up
teachers for such remoter places, as may need similar establishments.
   This state, too,  has  we trust, given a pledge that it will not  abandon an
Asylum, which its own citizens have  had the honor of founding; and which
claims a connexion, (a humble  one indeed,) with its other  humane and lit-
erary institutions.
  In this city, however, have the principal efforts been made in favor of this
undertaking.  Here, in the  wise dispensations of his providence, God saw fit
to afflict an interesting child with this affecting calamity, that her misfortune
might move the^feelirigs, and rouse the efforts, of her parents and friends in
behalf of her fellow-sufferers.  Here, was excited, in consequence, that spirit
of research, which led  to the melancholy discovery that our  own small state
probably contains one  hundred of these unfortunates.   Here, were raised up
the original benefactors of the deaf and dumb, whose  benevo'ence has en- 
172      ADDRESS  ON  THE  OPENING  OF THE ASYLUM.

abled the Asylum to open its doors for the reception of pupils, much sooner
than was at first contemplated.   Here, the hearts of many have been moved
to offices of kindness, and labors of love, which the objects  of their regard
will have reason ever to remember witli  affectionate gratitude ;  and here is
witnessed, for the first time in this western world, the affecting sight of a little
group of fellow-sufferers  assembling  for instruction, whom neither  sex, nor
age, nor distance, could prevent from  hastening to embrace the first oppor-
tunity of  aspiring to the privileges that we enjoy, as rational, social, and im-
mortal beings.  They know the value of the  gift that is offered them, and are
not reluctant to quit the delights of their  native home, (delights doubly dear
to those whose  circle of enjoyment is so contracted,)  nor to forsake the en-
dearments of the parental roof, that they may find,  in a land of strangers,
and through toils of indefatigable perseverance, the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge !  How  can the importunity of such suppliants be rejected !  Hard
is that heart which can resist  such claims  upon its kindness.
  Nor, we trust, will motives be found wanting for future exertions in behalf
of these children of misfortune.  It is always  more blessed  to give, than to
receive.   Efforts of charity, prudently  and  usefully directed, never fail
abundantly to repay those by whom  they are made.  This is true,  not only
with regard to individuals, but also public bodies of men.  That town whose
character is one of benevolence and good-will  toward  the unhappy, enjoys,
in the opinion of all the wise  and good, a reputation more exalted, more val-
uable, more noble,  than it can possibly gain  by the most  extensive  pursuits
of commerce and the arts; by the  most elaborate  improvements in trade or
manufactures ;  by the richest displays of its wealth,  or  the splendor of its
edifices; by the  proudest  monuments  of its taste or  genius.   It gains, too,
the smiles of Heaven, whose  blessings descend upon it  in various forms of
divine munificence.   While the hearts of its inhabitants expand in charity
toward  others, and the  labors  of their hands are united in  one  common
object, they learn together the  pleasure of doing good,—they find,  at least,
one green spot of repose   in  the desert of life, where  they  may cull some
fruits of paradise, and draw  refreshment from streams that flow  from the
river of God.  They feel  that they are fellow-pilgrims in the same wilder-
ness of cares and sorrows, and while  they look to that  country to which they
are all hastening, while they tread in the footsteps of Him who went about
doing good, how quickly do their differences of opinion soften ; the lines of
sectarian  division melt away ; and even political jealousies and animosities
retire into the shades of forgetfulness.
  Yes, my hearers, godliness hath the promise of this life, as well as of that
which is to come.   The spirit of Christian benevolence, is the only one which
will change completely, the aspect of human  affairs.   It has already begun
to knit together the affections, not  only of towns and  villages, but of nume-
rous sects throughout the world, and seems to be preparing to embrace within
its influence, even states  and kingdoms.  On its hallowed ground,  a respite
is given to political  and  religious  warfare;  men lay down the weapons of 
          ADDRESS ON  THE  OPENING  OF  THE  ASYLUM.     173

contention, and cherish, for a season at least, the divine  temper of peace on
earth, and good-will toward men.
  Every charitable effort, conducted upon Christian principles, and  with  a
dependence on the supreme Head of the church, forms a part of the great
system of doing good, and  looks forward to  that  delightful day, when the
earth shall be filled with righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
  While, therefore, my hearers, I would  endeavor to excite  an interest  in
your hearts in behalf of our infant establishment, by portraying its advan-
tages, and addressing to you  motives of encouragement with  regard to  its
future progress, drawn from topics of a more personal and local kind, permit
me to place before you  the purest and noblest motive of all, in this, and in
every  charitable exertion—the tendency it icill have to promote the icelfare
of  the Redeemer's kingdom.
  It was the future advent of this  kingdom which  filled the heart of the
prophet with rapture, when he wrote  the chapter which  has been read in our
hearing.  Do ice participate, in any degree, of his spirit ? Do our efforts for
doing good, however humble may be their sphere of  influence, proceed from
a wish that thus we may be made the instruments of advancing that happy
period, when the heathen shall be  given to Christ for  his inheritance, and the
uttermost parts of  the earth for his possession : when, through the influence
of  his gospel, and the efficacy of his grace, " the wilderness and the solitary
place shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose ;"
when " the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion, with songs
and everlasting joy upon their heads; when they shall obtain joy and glad-
ness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."
   It is Jesus Christ whom we are thus bound to love, to imitate, and to obey.
We are  stewards, but of his bounty:  we  are laborers in  his vineyard.
 Whatsoever we do, should be  done in his name.  For it is by this test, that
all our efforts to do good will be tried at the great  day of his dread and aw-
ful retribution.  Let us not fail then to make a suitable  improvement of this
occasion, by inquiring, whether our benevolence toward men, springs from
love toward the Saviour of our souls;  whether our humanity is something
more  than the offspring of  mere sympathetic tenderness; for it is a truth
which rests on the authority of our final Judge, that, without the principle
of  divine love within  our breasts, we may  bestow all our  goods to feed the
poor, we may give  our very bodies to be burned, and yet by all this be profited
nothing.
   While we seek, therefore, to soothe the distresses and dispel the ignorance
of  the unfortunate objects of our regard ; while we would unfold to them the
wonders of that religion, in which we profess to believe, and set before them
the love of that Saviour, on whom all our hopes  rest; let us be grateful to
God for the very superior advantages which we enjoy ;  consider how imper-
fectly  we improve them ; be mindful, that after all we do, we are but un-
profitable servants; and thus, feeling the necessity of our continual reliance
                 23 
174        HYMNS  ON THE  OPENING OF  THE  ASYLUM.
upon Jesus Christ, trust alone to his righteousness for acceptance with God.
That this may be the  sure  foundation, to each  one of us, of peace  in this
world, and of happiness in the next, may God of his mercy grant.   Amen.
THE FOLLOWING HYMNS,  COMPOSED FOR THE OCCASION, MADE A  PART OF THE
                  RELIGIOUS EXERCISES OF THE EVENING.

                  HYMN  FIRST.   Isaiah, 35th Chap.
                 The wild and solitary place
                 Where lonely silence frown'd,
                 Awakes to verdure, light and grace,
                 With sudden beauty crown'd.

                 Through the long waste, neglected soil,
                 A stream of mercy flows,
                 And bids its thirsty desert smile,
                 And blossom as the rose.

                 Ye feeble hands your strength renew;
                 Ye doubtful hearts believe ;
                 Unclose your eyes, ye blind, and view ;
                 Ye sad, no longer grieve.

                 Behold !  the deafen'd ear has caught
                 Salvation's raptured sound;
                 Praise to the  speechless lip is taught,
                 The helpless lost are found.

                 Say then, with joyful voice aloud,
                 Jehovah's work we see,
                 He hath his way within the cloud,
                 His footsteps  on the sea.

                 But righteous is he to perform,
                 His word is truth indeed ;
                 And 'mid the sunshine or the storm,
                 His purposes proceed.


                           HYMN SECOND.

               While in this glad, inspiring hour,
               We praise Almighty grace and power,
               While strains of grateful  music rise,
               E'en with their tone remembrance sighs.

               He, who implor'd with zeal divine,
               A blessing on this great design,
               Now sleeps in dust;  and  sad we bend
               To mourn the pastor and  the friend. 
HYMNS  ON  THE  OPENING  OF THE  ASYLUM.

      Yet, oh ! if angels cloth'd in light,
      E'er hover round this vale of night;
      If mortal wanderings ever  prove
      Their watchful glance of guardian love;

      Perchance, he views his earthly home,
      This lonely flock, this holy dome,
      And while our humble prayers arise,
      Aids with his harp the  sacrifice.

      But who can speak his boundless joys,
      When those who heard their Shepherd's voice,
      Shall meet him in a world of rest,
      And join the spirits of  the blest.


                  HYMN THIRD.

        Ye happy, rescued throng,
        Escap'd from gathering  night,
        Who mourn'd in  darkness long,
        While all around was light,
          As through the cloud
          The day-star gleams,
          Oh ! love the hand
          That gave its beams.

        And ye whose soften'd souls
        Each generous feeling prove,
        Whose prayers  and labors aid
        This ministry of love ;
          Jehovah's name
           Conspire to raise ;
          His was the work,
           Be his the praise. 
A DISCOURSE
DELIVERED AT THE DEDICATION OF THE AMERICAN ASYLUM, FOR THE
      EDUCATION OF  DEAF AND DUMB PERSONS, MAY 22,  1821.
                     BY REV. THOMAS H. GALLAUDET.


  " For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we
have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in  the heavens.''
2d Corinthians, 5th chapter, 1st verse.

  The faith of Paul in the promises  of God, was an anchor to his soul, both
sure and  steadfast, amid all the sorrows and troubles of life.  Experience
had taught him not to look  to human aid for support, nor to seek repose in
earthly comforts; for  both, he well knew, like the temporary shelter of a
house, might fall beneath the arm of  violence, or crumble into ruin from the
natural progress of decay.   He felt himself a stranger and a pilgrim on the
earth; his home Avas in heaven, rendered sure to him by the declaration of
his divine master,  "in  my father's house are many mansions, if it were not
so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for  you."   To this final
rest from  all suffering and sin, Paul looked forward with such delightful anti-
cipation, that even his affliction appeared but light and momentary, and he
considered it as working out for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory.  The faith which enabled him to do this, he thus describes: "While
we look not at the things which are  seen, but at the things which are not
seen : for the things which are seen  are temporal; but  the things which are
not seen are eternal.  For we know that if our earthly house of this taberna-
cle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens."
  By the expression,  " earthly house of this tabernacle," I apprehend the
apostle intended something more than  the mere  human body, and referred
rather to  our residence in this world, which from its transitoriness and uncer-
tainty, might well be compared to a tabernacle or tent, and thus be fitly con-
trasted with the permanency and stability of the heavenly state.   Thus you
see Avhat  was the true source of the  apostle's consolation under affliction and
of the zeal and hope which animated him in the midst of his  trials; he re-
garded things temporal, as he would  the accommodations of a  house, which,
with  all its conveniencies and comforts, is nevertheless destined to inevitable
dissolution ; he fixed his affections on things eternal, on his home in the heav-
ens, on that building of God, whose  foundation is sure, whose  walls are im-
perishable, and the beauty, order, and magnificence of which, infinitely sur-
pass all our conceptions.  These sentiments of the apostle, and the spirit which
dictated them, seem to me, my brethren, peculiarly suitable for us to imbibe
on  the present occasion.   We see before us a little group of our fellow-be- 
       DISCOURSE  AT THE  DEDICATION  OF  THE  ASYLUM.   177

ings, who are called  in the  mysterious  providence of God to endure afflic-
tion.  This affliction may become comparatively light to them, and, as it were,
enduring but a moment, could  it be made instrumental of working out for
them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.   They are just intro-
duced into an earthly house well calculated for their accommodation ;  but it
becomes both them and all of us, who feel interested in their welfare, to keep
constantly in mind, that this goodly edifice with its various  sources of instruc-
tion and improvement, is one of the things, which though  seen perhaps with
grateful  satisfaction is still temporal,  the worldly advantages of which may
prove uncertain and must be transitory, and at which, therefore, we ought
not to look with any sense of a strong and undue attachment, but rather, raise
the eye of our faith,  and persuade these sufferers to do so likewise, to a bet-
ter home, to that building of God, the house not made with hands, eternal in
the heaA'ens.   When  I say that the worldly advantages of this Asylum may
prove uncertain, do not understand me as wishing to disparage their true im-
portance and value.   To do this Avould  be  alike unAvise and  ungrateful.   It
would be unAvise ;-for godliness hath the promise of this life as well as of that
which is to come, and it is only a misguided enthusiasm Avhich  can aim to pre-
pare youth for a better world, Avithout, at the same time, training them up to
a faithful discharge of all their duties in this.  It would be  ungrateful; for
every creature of  God is good, and nothing to be refused if it be received
with thanksgiving; and we might as Avell close our eyes upon the budding
beauties of the season, Avhich the kind Author of  Nature is now unfolding to
our view, as to shut our hearts against that general aspect of convenience, and
that prospect of future comfort to the deaf  and dumb, which the same  Giver
of every good and perfect gift, deigns to shed over the establishment which
we wish this day to dedicate to Him who has thus far fostered and  protected
it.  But the brightest hopes of spring sometimes fall before an untimely frost,
and human establishments of the fairest promise, have often been so perverted
from their original design, as to become  the nurseries of error, or so conduct-
ed in their progress, as to promote  the views of personal interest; or so decked
out Avith the pomp and circumstance of  greatness, as  to serve rather for the
ornaments with which ambition would love to decorate itself, than as the plain
and useful instruments which the hand  of unostentatious charity would em-
ploy to dispense  her simple and substantial benefits to the suffering objects of
her care.  Believe me, these are the rocks  on  which  this institution may be
shipAvrecked.  Its very prosperity should serve as the beacon of its danger.
  Many of you, my brethren, recollect when your interest for the deaf and
dumb was first excited by a single individual of their number, thus afflicted,
as it were, by Providence, for the very purpose of turning her calamity into
the source of blessings upon her fellow-sufferers;—and now,  when about six
years only have  elapsed, since she was regarded as almost  a solitary instance
of this calamity among us, I see her in  the midst of a considerable  circle of
those Avhom she was  destined to relieve, many of whom, with herself, have
already completed  the fourth year of their education,  while they this day are 
178   DISCOURSE  AT THE  DEDICATION  OF  THE  ASYLUM.

assembled in their own house, reared by the charities of individuals and the
munificence of both  state and  national bounty, Avith means of comfort and
instruction, far surpassing the most sanguine hopes that Avere  indulged by
the friends of  the Asylum at its commencement.  My brethren, such unex-
ampled prosperity is dangerous, and those to Avhom the guardianship of this
institution is entrusted, will do Avell to watch against its insinuating effects.
  Man, whether in his collective or individual  capacity, is a fallen and de-
generate being.  He is always prone to look at the things which are seen and
are temporal, and to  neglect those Avhich are not seen and are eternal.  And
tliis explains a most singular problem of human nature.  You will find indi-
viduals whose hearts overfloAv Avith all the charities of life—kind, gentle, ami-
able,  honorable—Avilling to practice almost any self-denial and to  expend
almost any bounty, in the furthering of plans for the relief of the temporal
distress of their fellow-men.   And they will erect the most princely establish-
ments to furnish the sickness of poverty with a couch of ease, and to afford
the wandering stranger a home, and to soothe the sorrows of the widow and
supply the wants of the fatherless, and to control or mitigate the worst  of all
human evils, the maddening diseases of the mind; and yet they can do all
this and  think nothing of the souls  of these sufferers, make little or  no pro-
vision for their spiritual necessities; and while every thing  is done to render
the earthly house of their tabernacle  convenient and comfortable, they are
not warned that they must soon leave it; they are not urged to secure a resi-
dence in a better home, " in  the building of God, the house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens."  In saying this, far be it from me to decry
the offices of  humanity;  but why  not blend  these  offices with  the nobler
charity Avhich  the gospel inspires.  While men will lavish all the skill and
experience that their bounty can procure  to heal the diseases of the body*
why perform only half the cure, why leave the patient to languish  under a
more  dreadful malady, the corruption of a depraved heart;  why not take ad-
vantage of the composure and  self- reflection, which his very hour of bodily
suffering brings with  it, to soothe the pangs of his conscience, to allay  the tor-
ments of remorse, to  ease him from the burden of sin, to refresh his parched
soul with the well-spring of eternal life, to point  him to that physician in
Avhose gift is immortal health and vigor.   My brethren, look at this fact—it
is to  be found on  the pages of all  the histories of mere philanthropy; and
shows the danger to which all  establishments of benevolence are exposed.
Forgive me, then, for dwelling on this perhaps unwelcome  topic.  But  I do
feel that  the solemnities of this day, if they have any meaning, call upon all
who are  interested in the welfare of the establishment, to  keep  steadily in
view  its  simple, original design, that  of making it the gate to heaven, for
these  poor lambs of  the flock; for, without such means of instruction, they
must continue  to sit in darkness, and in the region of  the  shadow of death,
ignorant of the immortality  of their souls, of their accountability to God, of
their future state of being, of the destinies which await them, of the  cornip"
tion of their own hearts, of the necessity of repentance toward God, and of 
       DISCOURSE  AT  THE  DEDICATION OF  THE ASYLUM.   179

faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the influence of that Holy Comforter,
which can alone renew them in the temper of their minds and prepare them
for  the inheritance Avhich  is incorruptible, undefiled, and  that  fadeth not
away.
  Besides, by thus making the spiritual benefits of the institution paramount
to all others, its  temporal advantages will  be  best secured.   For the former
afford the surest foundation of the latter.  If it is thus devoted to the cause
of Christ and to the building up of his kingdom among the deaf and dumb,
such a feeling of dependence on God, of accountability to him, and of reli-
ance on his providential support, will be produced among those who manage
its concerns, as to give the most consistency,  energy and  success to all their
measures and operations for its welfare.   It will then be placed, if  I may so
speak, under the more immediate protection of the Saviour, it becomes enti-
tled to His covenant promises, it forms a department of His vast and increas-
ing empire in this lower world, and He stands pledged to  overshadow it with
the arm of His mighty and irresistible protection.
  Again, by devoting this institution to the cause of Christ, the moral influ-
ence of the truths of the gospel will have an important and salutary effect
even upon its purely intellectual and temporal departments, and the govern-
ment of the pupils.   Truth is often said to be omnipotent.  It  is the instru-
ment which the  Father of spirits employs to enlighten the minds and purify
the hearts of His intelligent creatures.   But truth is one, and there is prob-
ably a real connexion betAveen all kinds of truth, both human and divine; for
the Author of those operations of nature which furnish the data from which
physical truths  are derived, and  of those dispensations of providence and
grace from which moral and religious truths are derived, is one  and the same
Almighty Being, directing and controlling the vast movements of His power,
and the mysterious processes of His wisdom, and the inflexible dispensations
of His justice, and the engaging displays of His goodness, upon  one  harmoni-
ous plan, all tending to one result, the brightest illustration of His glory, and
the best good of all who love and serve him.  Now in this plan, moral truth
holds a higher rank  than intellectual, and has a nobler influence on the  mind.
and I apprehend that the youth whose understanding is early opened to the
reception and influence of the truths of the gospel in all their beauty and sim-
plicity, will make the fairest and most rapid progress, even in his attainment
of merely human knowledge.  Sin darkens the understanding  as well as de-
bases the heart.  Had man remained in his primeval state of innocence, prob-
ably much of that very obscurity which attends the researches that philosophy
has been attempting  to make, for ages, in the discovery of physical  truth,
and which has been attributed simply to  the limited poAvers of  the human
faculties, in this imperfect state of being, Avould never have existed, and much
that now appears mysterious, Avould  then have  been clear.  But there is a
view of this subject  somewhat  more practical, which gives it, if not a more
elevated, at least, a more heart-felt interest.  How much of the successful
education of youth in any department of knowledge depends upon the docility 
180   DISCOURSE  AT THE  DEDICATION  OF  THE  ASYLUM.

of the pupil, and on the influence which the instructor has over him.   How
is this docility best to be cultivated ?   How is this influence to be maintained
so as to combine respect Avith love ?  No precepts  like those of the  gospel
diffuse over the opening character that tender ingenuousness of feeling which
is so lovely in youth: it is like the deAv of heaven, Avhose mild lustre sheds a
fresher charm over the budding flower, refreshes its infancy, and nurtures its
growth into all the fullness of its maturer beauties.   The faculties of the child
expand in their most desirable form, nay its very acquisitions of knoAvledge
are most rapid, Avhen the affections of its heart are properly cultivated, and
they cannot be so Avithout making use of the doctrines, and precepts, and ex-
ample of that Saviour Avho was the friend of the young and helpless.  Educa-
tion, could it be conducted upon  strictly gospel principles,  Avould soon prove
by actual experiment,  that the influence  of the  religion of Jesus Christ, in
fact elevates and ennobles all the powers of the understanding, Avhile it puri-
fies and halloAvs all the affections of the  heart.  And, in  the same  Avay, it
Avould not be difficult to show, that if it is to be one of the  leading objects of
this institution to form  its pupils to those habits of useful employment Avhich
will qualify them to contribute to their OAvn  future support, and to prepare
them  to sustain the various relations, and discharge the various duties  of life,
with credit to themselves and comfort to their friends, that  this is best to be
accomplished, by leading them to seek first, the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and  then all these things shall  be added unto them.  I have
been  led to these  reflections, my brethren, from considering what appeared
to me to be the real nature of the occasion Avhich  has  brought us together.
It is to dedicate this Asylum  to Almighty God.  It is not simply to consecrate
this building, or any particular part of it, to the services  and ceremonies of
religious worship, although Ave indulge the hope  that this  will form  an  im-
portant feature of the establishment, and  give the pupils  the opportunity of
enjoying this privilege in a manner adapted to their peculiar situation.  But
Ave rather assemble here to dedicate  the Avhole institution,  in  all its depart-
ments, and with all its benefits, to the service and honor of Him Avho has so
kindly reared and cherished  it, and  to invoke  His  blessing  and protection
upon  it.
   On such  an occasion, so  solemn   and so interesting, it is becoming, it is
safe, nay we are under the strongest  obligations, to surrender this whole in-
stitution into the hands of Him, who  retains a property in every gift which
He bestows upon  us,  and under whose  direction, and by  the guidance of
whose precepts, we can best  secure and  enjoy all  our blessings.  Hence I
have  endeavored in this discourse to show, that it is both the duty and inter-
est of those to whom the guardianship of this Asylum is entrusted, to keep
its original and leading design steadily in view, to make the religious welfare
of the pupils its great  object, and to conduct all  its other  departments, not
upon  worldly or merely humane principles, but under the wholesome laws
and maxims of the gospel of  our  Saviour.  Let us, then, my brethren, all of
us who expect to be engaged in its affairs, or Avho are interested in its pros- 
         PRAYER  AT  THE  DEDICATION OF  THE ASYLUM.     181

perity, now, in the presence of Almighty  God, and with a humble  reliance
on His aid, proceed to dedicate this Asylum, in all its departments, and with
all its interests and concerns,  to the service of the Father of mercies, to the
honor of the  Redeemer's name, to the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Com-
forter, invoking  the continuance of the divine  blessing upon it, that it may
prove a rich, a lasting, an eternal benefit to the suffering objects of its care.
   Thus built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus  Christ
himself being the chief corner-stone, it will be established  upon the rock of
ages ; and Avhen these walls Avhich the hands of man have erected, shall have
mouldered into ruin ; when nothing but the winds  of heaven shall sigh in
melancholy murmur through the desolation of these goodly scenes Avhich sur-
round and embellish it;  Avhen the last memorials of its founders and patrons
and  friends, the lonely  tombstones of their grass-groAvn  graves, shall have
crumbled into dust and  ceased to  preserve even their very names  from ob-
livion ; when its present and  future inhabitants, the cherished  objects of its
care, shall have left, one after another, this earthly house of their tabernacle;
Ave will indulge the delightful hope, that it will have proved to each of them,
the preparatory entrance, the outer court, of the building of God, the house
not made Avith hands, eternal in the heavens.   And that this may prove the
happy lot both of them, and of  all  who noAV surround them and shoAV this
interest in their welfare, may God  of his infinite mercy grant.   Amen.
                 DEDICATORY  PRAYER.
  Father of mercies,  and God of all grace and consolation,  enable  us, at
this time, to raise  unto thee the united desires of our hearts, in behalf of
those whose necessities thou hast  not forgotten, and whom thou hast visited,
in their calamity, with the kindest tokens of thy regard.  We  would  rever-
ently admire the overfloAving abundance of thy bounty, and  the countless
ways in which thou  dispensest thy gifts to the sinful and suffering  children
of men.  We thank thee, for all that thou hast done, both in this and other
parts of the Avorld, to succor those who are deaf and dumb,  and we do be-
seech thee to bless them, and the institutions which  cherish  them, with the
kindness of  thy paternal care, with the light of thy gospel, and with the deAV
of thy grace.  Especially would  we acknowledge, with humble and devout
gratitude, all the manifestations of thy goodness toward the Asylum estab-
lished in  this place.  By the wonderful Avorkings of thy providence, thou
didst direct the attention of the benevolent to these children of suffering;
thou didst prepare and  open the  way for their relief; thou  didst move the
hand of charity to supply their Avants ; thou didst provide the means of their
instruction; thou didst touch the hearts of the wise and honorable,  and the
rulers of the land,  with  compassion toward them ; and, now, to crown  all thy
other gifts, thou hast gathered them, as it Avere,  beneath the shadow of thy
Avings, into this their OAvn dAvelling,  in Avhich, we humbly hope, both they
and many of their fellow-sufferers,  will be made partakers of  still greater
                 24 
182     PRAYER AT  THE DEDICATION  OF THE ASYLUM.

and richer blessings.   In all these things, Ave desire, O God, to see, to ac-
knowledge,  and to adore the  hand of  thy  power, and  the  riches of thy
bounty.  " Not unto us, O Lord!  not  unto  us, but unto thy name, be all
the praise and all the glory."   And, now,  O Lord! what shall we render
unto thee for all these thy benefits.   We can only give  back to thee what
thou hast already given.  Wilt thou,  then,  enable  us, by the  aid of thy
Holy Spirit,  through the intercession of thy Son, and with faith in him, at
this time, most solemnly to dedicate this Asylum to thyself.
   Almighty and most merciful  God, in behalf of those whom thou hast call-
ed, in thy providence, to direct and govern the concerns of this  Asylum, we
do now dedicate this whole institution to  thee ; to thee, in all its departments
of intellectual, moral, and religious instruction ;  to thee,  in all its privileges
of worship, prayer, and praise ;  to thee, in all its domestic regulations, and
various means of comfort and usefulness; to thee, with all its benefits, both
spiritual and temporal,—beseeching thee to accept the offering, and to  make
it subservient to  the promotion of thy glory, to the honor of thy Son Jesus
Christ, and  to the building up of his kingdom in the hearts of all who have
been, Avho now are, or who  may be, the objects of its care.  O ! Thou Father
of mercies, take now, Ave beseech thee, this Asylum, with all its interests  un-
der thy future protection.  Defend it from  every danger by thy Almighty
arm.  Give it all salutary favor in the  sight of our  fellow-men.  Excite  the
 prayers of thy own children in its behalf.  Shed doAvn upon all who are in-
 trusted Avith the direction and management of its concerns, in their several
stations, and in the discharge of'their respective duties, a spirit of wisdom
and prudence, of patience and kindness, of fidelity and industry ;  so that all
things being conducted in thy  fear, may meet with  thy blessing, and  result
both in the temporal and spiritual good of those who resort hither for instruc-
tion.  May the  pupils ever be taught the truths of thy gospel,  in all their
affecting simplicity and force.  May the  friend of the wretched, the Saviour
of sinners,  the  Son of thy  love,  here abundantly display the  riches  of his
grace, in gathering these  lambs of the flock into his own fold, and in making
them meet for an entrance  into the spiritual land of promise, the Canaan of
 eternal rest.
   We Avould also remember before thee, O thou hope of the afflicted ! the
 many deaf and dumb in this and other lands, who are still enveloped in the
 midnight of intellectual and moral darkness:  we beseech thee,  in thine
 abundant goodness,  to make provision for their relief, and to cause, that while
 the consolations of thy gospel  are extending to almost  every corner  of the
 earth, these helpless may not be forgotten by their fellow-men.
   In imploring these blessings, Almighty God,  we humbly confess, that we
 are most unworthy to receive them.  For we are sinners in thy sight,  and if
 thou shouldest be strict to  mark our  iniquities, we could not stand  before
 thee;—we Avould look to Jesus Christ  alone  and to his righteousness, for ac-
 ceptance with thee.  O ! for his sake, wilt  thou hear us, and grant us an
 answer of peace.  And to  the Father, to the Son and to the Holy  Spirit, be
 rendered  everlasting praises.   Amen. 
A  SERMON
 ON THE DUTY AND ADVANTAGES  OF AFFORDING INSTRUCTION TO  THE
                            DEAF AND DUMB.
                      BY REV. THOMAS  H. GALLAUDET.


   " But, as it is written, to whom he was not spoken of they shall see; and they
 that have not heard, shall understand."  Romans xv. 21.
   Prophecy inspires the Christian with courage in the cause of his Divine
 Master.   Its accomplishment assures him that the Lord is on his side.
   The former is like the dawning of an effulgent morn on the eye of the in-
 defatigable traveler, cheering him with the promise of alacrity and vigor on
 his way.  The latter is the full-orbed splendor of the noonday sun, illumina-
 ting the region he has left, and yielding him a bright retrospect of the course
 which has thus far brought him so successfully on his  pilgrimage.  Such a
 resolution animated, such a hope gladdened, the breast of Paul, the faithful,
 the intrepid servant of Jesus Christ.  He was sent to preach to the Gentiles.
 He took courage from  the declarations of prophecy.  He Avitnessed  its ac-
 complishment ; and this furnished him with abundant support and consolation
 in his laborious and perilous  service.
   " For I will  not  dare to speak,"  says he,  " of any of those  things which
 Christ hath not wrought by  me, to make the Gentiles obedient by word and
 deed......Yea, so have I strived to preach, not where Christ was named,
 lest I should  build  upon another  man's foundation: But, as  it  is written, to
 whom he was not spoken  of, they shall see;  and they that  have not  heard,
 shall understand."
   While contemplating this generous ardor of the apostle, let us consider his
 example most worthy of the imitation of us all.  And would  to  God, my
 brethren, that his spirit were transfused into the breasts of all the disciples of
 Jesus Christ; for neA-er, perhaps, in any period of the history of the Church,
 has she stretched forth her  hands, with more eagerness of  supplication, for
  This Sermon was published at Concord, N. H., with the following prefatory
note.
  NOTE.—The following Sermon was delivered at Burlington and Montpelier,
 Vermont; Portland, Maine ; and Concord, New-Hampshire; during an excur.
 sion of the author, the object  of which was, not to solicit  pecuniary contribu-
 tions, but to excite in the public mind a deeper interest than has hitherto been
been  felt for the Deaf and Dumb ;—and is now published at the request of the
 governor of Maine,  and other gentlemen in Portland and Concord.  Whatever
 may be derived from the  sale of the Sermon, after defraying the expense of pub-
lication, will  be applied  to the support of indigent pupils, at the Asylum, from
the states in which copies of the Sermon may be sold, 
184           a  PLEA FOR  THE  DEAF  AND DUMB.
the undaunted and vigorous exertions, in her behalf, of all who delight in her
prosperity.
  Now her walls begin to rise, and her toAvers  to lift their  heads  toAvard
heaven ; for many have come up to her help.  Let not our hands refuse their
labor in so glorious a work; for soon she shall shine forth in all the strength
and splendor of the  New Jerusalem, becoming the joy and the praise of the
Avhole earth.
  Paul toiled for her prosperity.  The Gentiles  arrested his  attention and
shared his labors. And his labors derived fresh vigor from the declarations
and accomplishment of prophecy.
  If we, my brethren, have the spirit of Paul, the heathen of our day "will not
be neglected by us;  and prophecy will become to us, also, an abundant source
of encouragement, that Ave shall  not spend our strength  among them for
naught.   These two simple truths form the whole plan of my discourse.
  But who are the heathen ?  My  heart sinks Avithin me while giA'ing the re-
ply.  Millions, millions of your fellow-men.  Europe, Asia, Africa and Amer-
ica contain a melancholy host of immortal souls Avho are  still enveloped with
the midnight gloom of ignorance and superstition.
  They who adore the idol which their own hands have formed;  who wor-
ship the orbs of heaven; who sacrifice their OAvn flesh to a vindictive deity;
Avho bathe in the stream, or who pass through  the fire, to purify themselves
from sin ;  Avho hope to gain paradise by practicing the most cruel bodily aus-
terities ; Avho bid the widoAv burn on the funeral pile of her deceased hus-
band, Avhile her own offspring lights its flames;  who sing their profane incan-
tations, and  revel in brutish madness during their nightly orgies, at the insti-
gation of some  miserable wretch,  claiming the name of wizard or magician;
who never heard of that name, the only one given under  heaven by which
man can be saved.   These are some of the heathen.
   Who are the heathen ?   I direct your observation nearer home.  I point
you to thousands Avithin your own country, and villages, and towns, and cities,
who have grown up, in this favored land, Avithout any correct knowledge of
the God who made them; of the  Saviour Avho died to redeem all who trust
in Him; of the Spirit which is given to sanctify the heart; of the Book  of
Eternal Life, which unfolds to  us  all that can alarm our fears or animate our
hopes Avith regard to a future Avorld.  These are some of the heathen.
   But are there still other heathen ?  Yes, my brethren, and I present them
to the eye of your  pity,  an interesting, an affecting group of your  fellow-
men ;—of those who are bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh; who live
encircled  with all that can render life desirable; in  the midst of society, of
knowledge,  of the arts, of the  sciences, of a free and happy government, of
a widely preached gospel; and yet who knoAv nothing of all these blessings;
who regard  them with amazement and a  trembling concern ; who are lost in
one perpetual gaze  of Avonder at the thousand mysteries which surround
them; who consider many of our most simple customs as perplexing enigmas;
who often make the most absurd conjectures respecting the Aveighty transac- 
A  PLEA  FOR THE DEAF AND  DUMB.           185
tions of civil society, or the august and  solemn rites and  ceremonies of reli-
gion ; Avho propose a thousand inquiries which cannot be answered, and pant
for a deliverance Avhich has not yet been afforded them.
   These are some of the heathen ;—long-neglected heathen;—the poor deaf
and dumb, whose sad  necessities  have been forgotten, Avhile scarce a corner
of the world has not been searched to find those who are  yet ignorant of Je-
sus Christ.
   Has the tear of pity bedewed your cheek, Avhile perusing the terrific his-
tory of Juggernaut, rolling, Avith  infernal pomp, his  blood-stained car over
the expiring victims of a superstition which surpasses  all others in its impure
and cruel rites ?  Do you sympathize Avith the missionary who has taken his
life in his hand and has gone to fight the battles of the  cross against these
poAvers of darkness ?   Do you contribute your alms,  and  offer up your praA-
ers, for the success of the enterprise in Avhich he has  embarked'?
   Do you greet  Avith the smile of Avelcome, and the kindest offices of friend-
ship, the savage  islanders Avhom providence has cast  upon our shores ?  Do
you  provide for their wants, and dispel, by the beams of gospel truth, the
thick darkness Avhich  has, heretofore, shrouded  their understandings ?  Do
you make them  acquainted with  the name of Jesus, and open to them the
prospect, through His merits, of a bright and happy immortality ?
   May the Lord reAvard you abundantly for these labors  of love.  Prosecute
with still more ardor such efforts in the cause of Christ.  Fan  this missionary
flame, until  it  shall burn in every Christian breast, and Avarm and invigorate
the thousands  whose bosoms glow with united zeal to  diffuse the " light of the
knowledge of the glory of  God, as it  shines in the face  of Jesus Christ," to
those who still sit in the vast and remote regions of the shadow of death.
   Far be it from my purpose to divert your charities  from so noble an object.
Palsied be  the  hand  that  attempts to build  up one  part of the walls of the
spiritual Jerusalem by prostrating another in ruins.  I would not draw forth
your  sympathy in behalf of one project of benevolence by decrying others.
I Avill not impeach  the sincerity of your exertions to enlarge the extent of
the Redeemer's kingdom throughout the Avorld, by telling you  that charity
begins at home ; that Ave have heathen enough in our own land; that we had
better give the gospel to our oavii countrymen, before we exhaust our resour-
ces upon those Avhom an ocean divides from us.
   No, my brethren, I hold a very different language.  I  only put in a claim
for one portion of the heathen.   I only  ask  that the  same stream of a diffu-
sive  benevolence, Avhich, fed by a thousand  springs  of private liberality, is
rolling its mighty and fertilizing  tide over the dreary deserts  of ignorance
and superstition and sin that lie in the other hemisphere, may afford one small
rivulet to refresh and cheer a  little barren  spot in  our native land, which
has hitherto lain forgotten, thirsty, desolate.  I only  crave a cup of consola-
tion,  for the deaf and dumb, from the same fountain at which the Hindoo, the
African, and the savage are beginning to draw the Avater of eternal life. 
186
A  PLEA  FOR THE  DEAF AND  DUMB.
    Do  you inquire if the deaf and dumb truly deserve to be ranked among
  the heathen ?  With regard to their vices  they surely do not; for a kind
  Providence, Avho always tempers the Avind to the shorn lambs of the flock, has
  given to the condition of these unfortunates many benefits.  Possessing indeed
  the general traits of our common fallen nature, and subject to the same irreg-
  ular propensities and desires which mark the  depraved character of man,
  they have, nevertheless, been defended, by the very imprisonment of their
  minds, against much of the contagion of bad example; against the scandal,
  the abuse, the falsehood, the profanity, and the blasphemy, which their ears
  cannot hear,  nor their tongues utter.   Cruel is that hand Avhich would lead
  them into the paths of sin; base, beyond description, that wretch who would
  seduce them, by his guileful arts, into  the haunts of guilt and ruin.  Thus,
  they have been kept, by the restraining grace of God, from much of the evil
 that is in the world.
   Yet they need the same  grace, as all of us need it, to enlighten the  dark
 places of their understandings, and to mould their hearts into a conformity to
 the divine image; they require too an interest in that Saviour Avho was lifted
 up, that he might draw all men unto Him.
   I tread not upon dangerous ground,  Avhen I lay down this position ; that if
 it is our duty to instil divine truth into the minds of children as soon as  they
 are able to receive it; if Ave are bound by the injunction of Christ to convey
 the glad news of salvation to every creature under heaven; then we fail to
 obey this injunction, if we neglect to make His name known to the poor deaf
 and dumb.
   I have said that they are heathen.   Truly they are so as it regards their
 knowledge of religious truth.  The experience of more than seven years' fa-
 miliar acquaintance with some of the most intelligent among  them, has fully
 satisfied  my mind, that, Avithout instruction, they must inevitably remain ig-
 norant of the most simple truths, even of Avhat  is termed natural  religion,
 and of all those doctrines of revealed religion, which must be the foundation
 of our hopes with regard to our eternal destiny.
   I have seen the affecting spectacle of an immortal spirit, exhibiting the pos-
 session of every energy of thought and feeling which mark the most exalted
 of our species; inhabiting a body arrived to its age of full and blooming ma-
turity ; speaking  through an eye, whose piercing lustre beamed with intelli-
gence and sparkled with joy at the acquisition of a single new idea:—I have
seen such a spirit, oh! it was a melancholy sight,  earnestly contemplate

                  -----" the boundless store
          Of charms which Nature to her votary yields;
          The warbling woodland; the  resounding shore;
          The pomp of groves and garniture of fields;
          All that the genial ray of morning gilds;
          And all that echoes to the song of even  ;
         All that the mountain's sheltering bosom shields ;
         And all the dread magnificence of heaven;" 
A  PLEA  FOR THE  DEAF  AND  DUMB.           187
----while such an amphitheatre of beauty, and order, and splendor, raised
not in this mind which viewed it the notion of an Almighty Hand that formed
and sustained the whole.
  I have asked such  an one, after a few glimmerings of truth had  begun to
dissipate the mental darkness in which it had been shrouded, what were its
meditations at the sight of a friend on whom death had laid his icy hand, and
whom the grave Avas about to receive into its  cold  and silent mansion.  " I
thought I saw," was the reply, " the termination of being;  the destruction of
all that constituted man.  I had no notion of any existence beyond the grave.
I knew not that there was a God who created and governs the world.  I felt
no accountability to Him.  My whole soul was  engrossed with  the  gratifica-
tion of my sensual appetites ; Avith the  decorations  of dress ;  the amusement
of pleasure ; or the anticipations of accumulating wealth, and living  in gayety
and splendor."
  I have seen, it was a vision of delight, the  same spirit, when it first re-
ceived the notion of the Great Creator  of the universe.  I dare not attempt
to describe  its emotions, at such an interesting moment.   For I believe, my
brethren, it is impossible for us, who have grown up in the midst of a Chris-
tian people,  and who were taught in our tenderest years the being and
attributes of God, to form any just estimate of the astonishment, the awe, and
the delight, which the first conception of an invisible, immaterial, omnipotent,
omniscient, and infinitely wise, just, benevolent and holy Being, is calculated
to inspire, when it breaks in upon a mind, that in the range of  all its former
thoughts, had never once conjectured that there was a Maker  of this visible
creation.
   With Avhat mingled emotions of wonder and rapture must the  bosom of
Columbus have  been agitated, Avhen  the  new hemisphere burst upon  his
view;  opening to his imagination its boundless  stores of beauty, Avealth, and
plenty.  And yet hoAv does such an event, magnificent and sublime, indeed,
compared Avith all sublunary affairs, dAvindle into  insignificance, when con-
trasted with the first conception that an immortal mind is led to form, not of
a neAV Avorld,—but of the God Avho created all worlds.
  I have seen the same spirit agitated with fearful  solicitude at the prospect
of meeting that God, at whose bar it Avas taught, we  must all appear;—and
anxiously inquiring  Avhat must be done to secure the favor of  so pure and
holy an Intelligence.
  I have  seen the same spirit boAved  beneath a  sense of sin, and casting
itself  upon  the mercy of God through a  Redeemer  whose character and
offices  it had just begun to understand.  And I have seen it, as I fondly trust,
consoled and  soothed and gladdened with the hope of an interest in Jesus
Christ, and of being made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light.
   A little Avhile ago this immortal mind had  its vision  bounded by the nar-
i'oav circle of temppral objects :  now, its  ken  embraces  the vast extent of its
immortal existence, with all the momentous realities of that  unseen world
Avhither it is hastening.— Then, oh!  what a degradation ! it  was kindred to 
188           A  PLEA  FOR THE  DEAF  AND DUMB.
the beasts of the field: now, Avhat  an exaltation ! Ave hope that it is allied to
the spirits of the just made perfect; that it is elevated to communion with its
God!
  And now, my brethren, will  you deem my plea too urgent, when I call
upon  you to  imitate the example of the apostle of the Gentiles; Avhen I
solicit your sympathy for those Avho as truly sit in darkness and in the region
of the shadow of death, as those  did among whom Paul labored; or as those
heathen of the present day, to whom missionaries and Bibles are  sent ?   For
the moral waste-ground is alike desolate, whether it lies beneath an Asiatic or
African sun, or whether it is found near at home, sadly contrasted Avith the
gospel verdure Avhich surrounds it.
  Paul was constrained to preach to those among Avhom  Christ had not been
named.   Oh ! aid us, then, while we long to make the same name precious
to the deaf and dumb.
  Is encouragement needed in so generous a work ? Let me present to your
view the same sources of support which animated the efforts of the apostle,—
I mean the encouragement of prophecy.
   " But, as it is Avritten, to Avhom  he was not spoken of they shall see ;  and
they that have not heard shall understand."
   The fullness of prophecy stamps it with the character of divinity.  Stretch-
ing, as it does, through a long line of events, and embracing, within its scope,
not only the immediate transaction to which it  more directly referred, but
those remote occurrences which are unfolded in the progress of God's provi-
dential dispensations; it eludes  in its development the keenest conjectures of
the mortal who ventures too  rashly to explore all its secret premonitions;
while in its wonderful  accomplishments, so obvious and striking when  they
have  actually taken place, it demonstrates that it could not have sprung from
any other source than the Omniscient Mind.
   Thus  many of the psalms Avhich alluded more immediately to the mighty
monarch who penned them and his illustrious son, have been seen to have a
more important  reference to  One mightier than David, and more illustrious
than  Solomon.
   Thus our Saviour's woful denunciation of ruin against the magnificent city
Avhich witnessed His ministry, and sufferings, and death, bears also, Avith por-
tentous presage, upon the goodly structure of the whole visible creation, whose
final  catastrophe is to  be more  terrible than the awful overthrow of Jeru-
salem.
   And thus, we may suppose, the same prophecy which  Paul took up as the
support of his labors among the Gentiles, looked forward to events Avhich are
now passing before our eyes ; and which are yet to pass, until all the inspired
 predictions shall have received their full and glorious accomplishment.   For,
if Isaiah, from whose Avritings the words of my text Avere originally taken, had
 spread before his illuminated vision the Gentiles of Paul's time, why may we
 not reasonably conclude that, the Gentiles, the heathen of our day, were also 
A  PLEA  FOR THE  DEAF  AND  DUMB.           189
included in his cheering predictions ?  And as a portion of these heathen, is
it too bold an inference to suppose that he alluded to the deaf and dumb ?
  " But, as it is written, to whom he Avas not spoken of, they shall see, and
they that have not heard shall understand."
  I wish, therefore, my brethren, Avhile pleading the cause of the deaf and
dumb, to call forth your charity in their behalf from the most  exalted and
encouraging of all motives;—that in aiding them you  are but carrying into
effect the will of God;  that you are co-operating with  him; and that He is
pledged to crown your labor with success, inasmuch as His own prophecy
cannot otherwise  receive its accomplishment.
  And it is already receiving its  accomplishment.  I do not exaggerate  the
truth, when  I  say,  that they already begin to see,  to  whom he was  not
spoken of; that they someAvhat understand, who have not heard.  For it is a
most singular trait of the language of gestures and signs, that it is sufficiently
significant and copious to admit  of an application even to the most abstract,
intellectual,  moral and religious truth.   On this point I was  once  myself
skeptical; but doubt has yielded to actual observation of the fact; and incre-
dulity can no longer urge its scruples among those who  have become familiar
with the deaf and dumb.  Were the occasion a proper one, I should not deem
it a difficult  task to satisfy you, upon the acknowledged principles  of  the
philosophy of the human mind, that there is no more intrinsic or necessary
connection betAveen ideas  of whatever kind, and audible or written language,
than betAveen the same ideas, and the language of signs and gestures; and
that the latter has even one advantage over  the former, inasmuch as  it pos-
sesses a power of  analogical and symbolical description Avhich can never be-
long to any combination of purely arbitrary sounds and letters.   But I choose
the rather to place it  on  the more safe and palpable ground of observation,
and of fact.   No  one who has conversed with the intelligent laborer*  in  this
novel department of education, himself born deaf and dumb ;  no  one who has
witnessed the almost magical facility with which he conveys, by  his own  ex-
pressive language of signs, truths the most difficult and abstract, to his com-
panions in misfortune; no  one who has  observed  the ingenious, and often
subtle inquiries which  they are prompt to make on the various subjects which
have been communicated to their minds; can withhold his assent from the
acknowledgment  of the position, that all important, intellectual and religious
truth may be taught them by the language of signs, and even before they are
capable of reading and understanding ours.
  Do not suggest then, my brethren, that I  call you  to lavish your efforts
upon a fruitless and unpromising soil.  It has long indeed been overrun with
the thorns and  briers of ignorance ; but help us  to  plant and to water,  and
  •Mr. Laurent Clerc, a native of France ;  a distinguished pupil of the
Sicard, and for many years an assistant in the school of his illustrious 1
at Paris, and now one of the instructors in the Asylum at Hartford.
                25 
190
A  PLEA  FOR THE  DEAF  AND DUMB.
 under the blessing of Him Avho giveth the increase, it shall  become like the
 garden of God, and put forth blossoms, and bear fruit, Avhich may yet flourish
 with immortal beauty in the paradise above.
   And Avhile we Avould thus endeavor to prepare the deaf and dumb for a
 better world, Ave Avill not neglect the means of making them happy and use-
 ful in the present life.  How many of their hours are noAV consumed  by a
 torpid indolence, and vacuity of thought!  How cheerless is their perpetual
 solitude !  Hoav are they shorn off from the fellowship of man !   How igno-
 rant are they of many of the common transactions of life !   How unable are
 they to rank even with the most illiterate of their fellow-men !  How inacces-
 sible to them are all the stores of knowledge and comfort which books  con-
 tain !  How great a burden  do  they often prove to their parents  and friends!
 How apt are they to be regarded by the passing glance of curiosity as little
 elevated above the idiot or the beast of the field !
   We would soothe  and cheer these lonely, forsaken, and hapless beings.
 We would give them  the enjoyment which active industry always affords.
 We would teach their judgment to distinguish,  their imagination to portray,
 and their memory to retain,  the various objects which the boundless stores of
 human  and divine knowledge present to their view.  We would make some
 of them capable of engaging in useful mechanical  employments; others of
 holding respectable stations in  private and public spheres of  commercial
 transactions; and those who discover a genius and taste for  such pursuits, of
 cultivating the fine arts;  and  all, of thus becoming valuable  members of
 society, of contributing  to the common stock of happiness, and of gaining a
 livelihood by their own personal exertions.  We would introduce them to the
 delights of social intercourse; to a participation of the privileges  of freemen;
to the dignity of citizens of a flourishing and happy community : we would
furnish them with one of the  highest solaces of retirement, that which may be
 drawn from the fountains of science and literature ; and books  should supply
them with a  perpetual source of instruction and delight, gladdening many an
hour of solitude which is now filled up only with indolence or anxiety.   We
 would render them a comfort to their friends, and the prop of the declining
years of those who have hitherto only bemoaned the sad continuance of their
condition without any hope of relief.  We would shield them against con-
tumely ; and almost render them no longer the objects  even of condolence
and pity.  Thus they would  soon have a common cause of gratitude with us,
for all the temporal blessings which Providence sheds down upon this vale of
tears.
   And how would the feeble powers of him who thus attempts to plead  be-
fore you the  cause of the  deaf and dumb, yield  in  efficacy to the sight of
these children of suffering, could I but place them before your eyes.   Then
I would make no appeal to your sympathy.  I would only afford  it an oppor-
tunity of having full scope, by the interesting and affecting  spectacle which
would  excite it.  I would point you to the man of mature age;  to  the
blooming youth; and to the tender child ; all eager to gather  a  few sheaves 
A  PLEA  FOR THE DEAF AND  DUMB.           191
from that abundant harvest of knoAvledge, with which a kinder Providence
has blessed you.  I would explain to you, if indeed nature did not speak a
language too forcible to need explanation, the lamentation of one bemoaning
the long lapse of years which had rolled  by him without furnishing  one ray
of knowledge or of hope Avith regard to his immortal destiny.  I would bid
you mark the  intense and eager look  of another, who was just catching the
first rudiments  of religious truth.   And your tears should mingle with theirs
Avho would be seen sympathizing, in all the fullness of a refined and suscepti-
ble imagination, with the anguish of the venerable patriarch about to sacrifice
his son ; or the grief of the tender Joseph sold  by his unrelenting brethren ;
or the agonies  of Him, Avho bled to redeem both you and them from sin, and
sorrow, and suffering.                                                   ,
   Yes, the deaf and dumb Avould plead their own cause best.   But they can-
not do it.  Their lip  is sealed  in  eternal  silence.  They are scattered in
lonely solitude throughout our land.  They have  excited  but  little  compas-
sion ; for uncomplaining sorrow, in our cold-hearted world, is apt to be neg-
lected.  Now, they see some dawning  of hope.   They venture therefore to
ask aid from those who extend their generous charities to  other objects  of
compassion; and crave, that the)'  may  not be quite overlooked amid the
noble  exertions that are making, it is to be hoped in the spirit, and with the
zeal, of the great apostle of the Gentiles, to fulfill the animating prophecy ;
that, " to whom he Avas not spoken of they shall see; and they that have not
heard shall understand."
   And can you Avish, my brethren, for a sweeter  recollection to refresh the
slumbers of your nightly pillow, or the declining moments of a short and
 weary life;—than to think, that you have  succored these  children of misfor-
tune, who look to you for the means of being delivered from a bondage more
 galling than that of the slave ; from an ignorance more dreadful than  that of
 the Avild and untutored savage ! !   One  tear of gratitude, glistening  in the
 eve of these objects of your pity; one smile  of  thankfulness, illuminating
 their countenance, Avould be  a rich  recompense for all you should do for
 them.  To think that you had contributed to rescue an intelligent, suscepti-
 ble, and immortal mind, as it Avere, from non-existence; that you had imita-
 ted that Saviour who Avent about doing  good;  that  you had solaced the
 aching bosom of parental love; that you had  introduced a  fellow-being  to
 those enjoyments of society  in Avhich you so richly participate ; to the charms
 of books which had cheered so many of your hours of solitude; and  to the
 contemplation of those sublime and affecting truths of religion, which you
 profess to make the foundation of your dearest  hopes—will not this be  a
 more  grateful theme  of remembrance, than to look back upon the  wasted
 delights  amid which  pleasure has wantoned; the crumbling possessions for
 which avarice  has toiled, or the fading honors for which ambition has strug-
 gled !   These, fascinating as they may be  to the eyes of youthful hope, or
 bewildering as they do the dreams of our too sanguine imagination, soon pass
 away, like the brilliancy of the morning cloud, or the sparkling of the early 
192           A PLEA  FOR  THE  DEAF  AND DUMB.
dew.   The  other will be as immortal as the mind ; it will abide the scrutiny
of conscience; it will endure the test of that day of aAvful retribution, when
standing, as we all must, at the bar of our final  Judge, He will  greet, Avith
the plaudit  of his gracious benediction, those who have given even a cup of
cold water, in His name, to the meanest of his disciples ;  to the least of these
little ones, whom His mysterious providence has cast  upon our care.
   May such an imitation  of His example, in the spirit of His gospel, be to
each of us the surest pledge, that we are truly His disciples; and that we are
meet for the inheritance of that kingdom, where there will be no more sin to
bemoan, or suffering to relieve.   Amen. 
TESTIMONIAL OF THE DEAF MUTES OF NEW ENGLAND

      TO  MESSRS. GALLAUDET  AND  CLERC.
  [The following account of the interesting exercises which took place at
Hartford, on the  20th  of  September, 1850, on the  presentation of silver
plate to the Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet and Mr. Laurent Clerc, by
their former pupils in the American Asylum,—Avas draAvn up by Prof. Rae,
and published in the American Annals of  the Deaf and  Dumb, for
October, 1850.]
  The idea originated Avith Mr. Thomas Brown, of New Hampshire, one of
the earliest  and most intelligent of the pupils of the Asylum.  He said to the
writer of this article, in his graphic language of signs, that his spirit could find
no rest, until he had devised some method of giving expression to the grateful
feeling Avhich filled his heart, and which the lapse of years served only to in-
crease.  He had but to suggest the thought to others of his former associates,
when it was eagerly seized  and made the common property of them all.  In
the vivid simile of the orator of the day, the'flame of love ran, like a prairie
fire, through the hearts of the Avhole  deaf-mute band, scattered though they
Avere, in various  parts of the country; and  measures were  immediately
adopted for the furtherance of the object.  A  committee was chosen to pro-
cure the necessary funds, and in a very short time, the handsome sum of six
hundred dollars was obtained ; wholly from the deaf and dumb themselves.
The entire credit of the transaction belongs to them.  The plan Avas not known,
Ave believe, to any other person, until it had been matured and placed beyond
the chance  of failure.
  After due consultation, it Avas decided to procure a massive silver pitcher
for Mr. Gallaudet, and  another  of the  same size  and workmanship, for
Mr. Clerc—each pitcher to be accompanied by an appropriate salver.
  Upon one side of the pitchers is an engraved scene, representing Mr. Gal-
laudet's going to France in the year 1817, to induce Mr. Clerc to come
to America to instruct the deaf and dumb.  There are figures of the gentle-
men, and ships and waves  illustrating the passage across  the ocean.   The
building of the Hartford institution is likeAvise represented.  On the  other
side is seen a picture  of the interior of the school, Avith teachers and pupils
and apparatus.   In front and between these scenes, is the head of the Abbe'
Sicard, of Paris, the instructor of  Messrs. Gallaudet  and  Clerc, and
said  to be a correct likeness.   On the necks of the pitchers are chased the
different coats  of  arms of all the New England states; and on  the handles
are representations of mute cupids, and also closed hands, indicating the sign
of the mutes for the first letter of the alphabet. 
194   TESTIMONIAL TO MESSRS. GALLAUDET  AND  CLERC.

  The inscriptions are as folloAVs.   On the pitcher destined for Mr. Gallau-
det, Avas engraved:
                          presented  to
                   rev.  thomas h. gallaudet,
           first principal of the american asylum,
                as  a token of grateful respect,
            by  the  deaf  mutes of neav  england.
  moved by compassion for the unfortunate  deaf and dumb
         of his  country, he devoted himself  to  their
             avelfare, and procured for them the
                     blessings of education.
                hartford, conn., sept. 26th, 1850.
On the salver:
                 TO REV. THOMAS H. GALLAUDET,
      FROM HIS FRIENDS, THE DEAF MUTES OF NEW ENGLAND.
                HARTFORD, CONN., SEPT. 26TH, 1850.

On the pitcher designed for Mr. Clerc, was engraved:
                          PRESENTED  TO
                      LAURENT CLERC, A. M.,
                AS A  TOKEN OF GRATEFUL RESPECT,
             BY THE DEAF MUTES OF NEAV ENGLAND.
    LOVER OF HIS KIND,  HE LEFT FRANCE IN  THE YEAR 1816, TO
      PROMOTE THE EDUCATION AND WELFARE OF STRANGERS,
              WHO, LIKE HIMSELF, WERE DENIED  THE
                         GIFT  OF SPEECH,
                HARTFORD, CONN., SEPT. 26TH, 1851.
On the salver:
                     TO LAURENT CLERC,  A. M.,
      FROM HIS FRIENDS, THE DEAF MUTES OF NEW ENGLAND,
                HARTFORD, CONN., SEPT. 26TH, 1850.

  In the mean time, the committee of the subscribers had made known their
object to the principal  and instructors of the American  Asylum, and re-
quested such co-operation on their part as might be  necessary;  a request
which was most cheerfully complied with.   The directors of  the institution,
with  equal heartiness, entered into the spirit  of the occasion, and liberally
offered the hospitalities of the Asylum to the whole  body of its former pupils,
who might come together at the time, and for the purpose specified.  These
directors and instructors were scarcely less eager than the deaf mutes them-
selves, to pay their tribute of affection and respect  to Mr. Gallaudet and
Mr. Clerc, the  American fathers  of their  profession; one of whom is still
actively engaged in the duties of the post which he has so  long and so hon-
orably filled; while the other, though devoting his later  years to another 
      TESTIMONIAL TO  MESSRS. GALLAUDET AND  CLERC.   195

work  of benevolence, has never ceased  to be  regarded with a kind of filial
reverence, by every teacher of the deaf and dumb.
  The twenty-sixth day of September, to be memorable henceforth as one of
the " feast-days" of the deaf mutes of New  England, was selected for the
public presentation ;  and the usual school exercises of the Asylum were sus-
pended, during the half-week in which that day occurred, that the undivided
attention of its officers might be paid to the entertainment of those who should
come to be  present at the ceremony.   The number of these visitants was
even greater than any one had ventured  to anticipate.  A book prepared for
the purpose, received the names of more than  two hundred  deaf and  dumb
persons, not now connected with the Asylum.   Every state in New England
was largely represented; and  from  as far south as Virginia, several of our
former pupils, after an absence of many years, returned to tread once more
the old familiar ground.  We were happy also to have the presence and co-
operation of the president and  nearly all the professors of the New York In-
stitution for the Deaf and Dumb; and not a little of the interest of the occa-
sion was owing to the friendly and hearty manner, in which they entered
into its spirit.
  Most of the morning of the day appointed for the ceremony, was spent by
the graduates of the Asylum, in the chapel of the  institution, where friendly
greetings were  interchanged, and brief  addresses  made.  Had we room for
it, it would be pleasant to " report" many things that were said on this occa-
sion, but our limits forbid.  One young  man, after repeatedly declining the
calls of his friends for a speech, at last yielded to their urgency, and went
upon the platform.  He told the audience, that it would gratify him much to
address them, but he found it quite impossible to collect himself for the pur-
pose, for his thoughts were all in the silver pitchers; and saying this, he sat down.
   At half past two o'clock, P. M., the  procession was formed at the Asylum,
and proceeded to the Center Church, in  the following order:
                          Marshals of  the day.
                              Male Pupils.
                          Masters of the Shops.
                      Family Guardian and Matron.
                             Female Pupils.
                        Former Female Pupils.
                      Committee of Arrangements.
                         Subscribers' Committee.
                  President of the Day and  Chaplain.
                   Orator and Presenting Committee.
                    Messrs. Gallaudet and Clerc
        The President of the Asylum and the  Governor of the State.
                      The Directors of  the Asylum.
             The Principals of Deaf and Dumb Institutions.
               The Faculty of Deaf and Dumb Institutions.
                         Former Male Pupils.
                        Citizens and Strangers. 
 196   TESTIMONIAL TO  MESSRS. GALLAUDET AND  CLERC.

   The exercises at the church commenced at three o'clock precisely.  In the
 absence of the Hon. T. S. Williams, president of the board of directors,
 Leavis Weld, Esq., the principal of the Asylum, gave an explanation of the
 design of  the  meeting in  the sign language, to the deaf mutes present, and
 welcomed them back to the institution.  He then read the same explanation
 to the hearing public present.

                         MR. AVELD'S REMARKS.
   In  the  absence of the  honorable president  of the Asylum, which Ave all
 much regret, I have been requested by the  committee  of arrangements
 to open the exercises of this occasion with a feAV remarks.   And first of all, in
 the name  of the directors and officers of the institution  I Avould say, we
 welcome most cordially our former pupils to this most gratifying festival.   We
 honor them and  thank them for proposing it, especially sympathizing with
 them  in their chief object—that of showing  their  grateful, respectful  and
 affectionate regard for their earliest teachers—the pioneers in the practical
 and successful instruction of the deaf and dumb in the United States.
   We are also highly gratified with the filial regard they evince toward the
 Asylum, their alma mater,  and we rejoice in the renewed evidence they noAV
 exhibit of the exalted benefits of education to the deaf and dumb.
   Again Ave welcome them to our institution.   We welcome also the officers
 and pupils of other institutions; some of whom were once associated with us
 in our labors of love or as recipients of our instructions.  We welcome also
 the other friends  of  our cause,—all indeed who  honor it  by their presence
 this day.
   The idea of this festival originated  more than a year since with the deaf
 and dumb gentleman who has been selected by his fellows as the President of
 the day.   He communicated with others on the subject, and the result is this
 most respectable  assemblage of deaf and dumb persons, contributors to  the
 substantial testimonials of regard they are about to offer to Mr. Gallaudet
 and Mr. Clerc.
   Prayer was then offered by the Rev. Dr. Hawes.
   Mr. Thomas Brown, of New Hampshire,  the President of the day, then
 addressed his former fellow-pupils by signs; Avhich address was read by Mr.
 Weld.
                       mr. brown's remarks.
My deaf and dumb friends :
   The object of our assembling here is chiefly to pay our grateful respects to
our early benefactors—to those, to whose assiduous labors Ave owe our educa-
tion, and the hopes and happiness it has afforded us.
   Let me  congratulate you on our happy meeting.  How interesting to us all
 is the  occasion, as one for the renewal  of former friendships, and the expres-
 sion of grateful acknowledgments to our best friends and benefactors.   Let
 us ever remember them, and  love the great  and good institution with  the
 sincere love of children. 
      TESTIMONIAL  TO  MESSRS.  GALLAUDET  AND  CLERC.  197

  Mr. Fisher Ames  Spofford, the orator of the day, now took the stand.
As  his address had  not been Avritten, a translation Avas made by the Rev.
Thomas Gallaudet, of New York, for the benefit of the hearing part of
the auditory, as he proceeded.

Gentlemen and Ladies:
  You have assembled here in this, building, truly a large assemblage, for the
purpose of witnessing an interesting ceremony.  If the remarks I now shalJ
shall make to  you lack point, I trust I shall be  excused from  the  peculiar-
ity of the occasion.  I feel a delicacy in expressing my  ideas before so many
to whom I am unknoAvn, upon such an interesting topic.  *    *    *
  We are assembled to express our love and gratitude to the founders of this
institution, the first established in this country.   There are present former
pupils of the establishment, who left it ten, fifteen and even twenty years ago,
from distant parts of the country.   We once more warmly greet  each  other..
We have experienced great pleasure in being allowed to assist in contributing
for the object of this day, and thus testifying our  gratitude to our instructors
and to the founders of this institution.   Their glorious example has been fol-
lowed, and now, for the education of our fellow-sufferers, there are  twelve or
thirteen similar places of instruction, all arising from this institution.  Thirty-
three years ago, the deaf mutes in this country were in the darkness of the
grossest ignorance.  They kneAv not God.  They knew nothing of the maker
of heaven and of earth.  They knew nothing of  the mission of Jesus Christ
into the world to pardon sin.   They kneAv not that, after this life, God Avould
reAvard the virtuous and punish the vicious.  They kneAv no distinction be-
tween right and Avrong.  They were all  in ignorance and poverty, with no
means of conveying their ideas to others, waiting for instruction,  as the sick
for a physician to heal them.
  But their time of relief had come.  In  this  city, a  celebrated  physician,
Dr. Cogswell, had an  interesting  daughter, Avho had  been deprived of her
hearing.  Though her father and her friends looked upon her with pity, yet
her deprivation of hearing has proved to have been a blessing to the Avorld.
Had she not been left by God sitting in darkness and ignorance, the success-
ful efforts that have since been made for  our instruction, might never have
been attempted.  Mr. Gallaudet was an intimate friend of the  family, and
devoted himself to contrive some means for her  instruction.  Dr. Cogswell's
inquiries soon established the fact that there were many other persons in  the
same unfortunate condition, a number sufficient to form a school, if a system
of instruction could be discovered.  Some gentlemen  of Hartford  sent Mr.
Gallaudet abroad for this  benevolent purpose.   He visited the London
Institution, but circumstances prevented the acquisition of their plan  of in-
struction.  The same  thing took place at Edinburgh.   But  at  Paris, all  the
facilities that he needed were  given him  by the  Abbe'  Sicard,  the principal
of their Institution.  Here he spent some time, acquired the knowledge  of
their  mode  of instruction,  became acquainted  with Mr. Clerc,  and with
                26 
 19S   testimonial  to  Messrs.  gallaudet  and  clerc.

 Abbe' Sicard's leave, returned Avith him to this country.  Mr. Clerc, at first,
 feared that he should be in  a strange  land Avithout friends.  But he soon
 found that  by his amiable virtues and accomplished mind, he made friends
 here, among his pupils and in the best society of the city.  Funds Avere im-
 mediately raised.   Instructions Avere commenced in  the  building noAV called
 the City Hotel.  The first class of pupils numbered seven.   After a year, a
 building in  Prospect  street was taken, and then measures Avere adopted for
 the erection of spacious accommodations on Lord's Hill, the present buildings
 of the Asylum.

   Thirty-three years ago, there Avere  no educated deaf mutes sent out into  .
 the world—noAV,  a large number.   What a change does this fact present!
 Who have been the instruments of this change ?  Messrs. Gallaudet and
 Clerc, under the smiles of heaven.   Our ignorance Avas like chaos, Avithout
 light and hope.   But, through the blessing of Cod, light has shone through the
 chaos and reduced it to order.   The deaf mutes have long Avished to express
 their gratitude to these benefactors.  Mr. BroAvn first conceiA-ed the idea, and
 addressed letters to all for their consent.  All enthusiastically agreed.  The
 idea flashed over the Avhole, like the fire on the prairie.  The  wishes which
 we then expressed, are noAV carried  out, in the  offering before us, and the
 perfume  of friendship Avhich they convey to our old instructors, will be as fra-
 grant as the offering of the spices in Persian temples to the sun.
   Our thanks are likewise due to the founders of this institution, on which
 Heaven has smiled.  Some may say that  deaf mutes have no gratitude; that
 they receive favors as the swine do the  acorns of the forest  that are shaken
 down for them, but it is not so.  We  all feel  the most  ardent  love  to these
 gentlemen who founded this  Asylum, and to these our earliest instructors.
 This gratitude will be a chain to bind all the  future pupils together.   Those
who succeed us as pupils will be told of the debt of gratitude they OAve to the
founders of the American Asylum.  Our ship, moored by this chain of remem-
bered gratitude, will float safely hereafter, and never be wrecked on the rocks
of pride and envy.  I close Avith earnest prayers for the happiness of our in-
 structors, both in this world and the next.

  The applause at the conclusion of this address, among the deaf mutes, was
 long and loud.
   George H. Loring, Esq., of Boston, formerly a  teacher  in the Asylum,
 in the name and for the behalf of the old pupils, now presented the pitcher  to
 Mr. Gallaudet.  His address was then  read to the audience by Mr. Weld.

              MR. LORING'S ADDRESS TO MR. GALLAUDET.
   Accept this plate which I offer to you in the name of the subscribers,
 former pupils of the American Asylum, as a token of their profound gratitude
 and veneration.
   Thirty-five years ago, there was no school for the education of the deaf and
 dumb in  this country.   They had, for a long time, been  neglected, as their
 case was considered hopeless. 
      TESTIMONIAL TO  MESSRS.  GALLAUDET  AND CLERC.   199

  An interesting child, the daughter of a much esteemed physician, in this
city, was deprived of her hearing by severe sickness.  In consequence of this
misfortune, she was the object of the  parents' constant tenderness and solici-
tude.  They used ever)- means they could contrive to teach her the simplest
rudiments of Avritten language, and, in the attempt, they partially succeeded.
The physician had read that there Avere schools in  Europe, in Avhich the deaf
and dumb were successfully taught to  Avrite and read, and this fact he  com-
municated to you, and proposed to you to go to Europe to acquaint yourself
with the art of teaching the deaf and dumb, for the benefit of your unfortunate
countrymen.  Moved by compassion for the deaf mutes in general, and sus-
tained by several benevolent persons, you embarked for Europe, and  after
encountering many difficulties, you accomplished the object of your mission
in France.  In returning to America, you brought back an intelligent and
well educated deaf mute, for your coadjutor in your labors.  He  demonstra-
ted, by his intelligence and conversation, the truth that deaf mutes are  capa-
ble of being taught to write and read.   The public Avere induced  to second,
by their liberal  contributions, your  efforts to establish  a seminary for the
education of the deaf and dumb.  On this occasion, a public demonstration
of gratitude on the part of the educated deaf mutes is due to those benevolent
persons who  contributed by their benefactions, to the establishment of the
American Asylum in this city.   We lament some of them who have since
died, and Ave will endeavor  to  shoAV ourselves grateful on all occasions to
those who survive.
   It is fortunate, and it was also by a kind dispensation of Divine Providence,
that you adopted the  best method of instruction for the deaf and dumb.  By
this method Ave have been instructed in the principles of language, morality
and religion, and  this education has qualified us to be useful members of
society.   For these blessings of education, we have felt ourselves obliged to
you ; avc have long wished to make you some permanent testimonial of our
 gratitude, and have happily succeeded in getting one prepared.   In present-
ing it to you, we all offer our earnest prayers for your welfare in your declin-
ing  years, and for your reward in the  other world.
   Mr. Gallaudet then made a reply to the deaf mutes, in  the sign lan-
guage, a copy of which he subsequently read.

                        MR. GALLAUDET'S REPLY.
My former pupils and friends:
   I rejoice to meet  you once more. From twenty to  thirty years  have
passed, since we were together in the Asylum for deaf mutes  in this city.
Hoav happy you then were  in receiving instruction, and myself and fellow-
laborers in imparting it.  Our separation has been long.   Some of our  num-
ber, both teachers and pupils, have gone to the spirit world.
   She has gone, the beloved Alice, my earliest pupil, who first drew my at-
tention to the deaf and dumb, and enkindled my sympathy for them.  We
will ever cherish her memory, and that of her father, one of your best and 
 •iOO   TESTIMONIAL TO  MESSRS.  GALLAUDET  AND  CLERC.

 long tried friends.   We aa-111  never forget  that to  them, under the divine
 guidance  and blessing, Ave owe the origin of those  ample provisions Avhich
 have been made for your benefit.
   For God saw fit to visit her, at a tender age, with your common privation.
 And on Avhom else, so intelligent and lovely, could his mysterious, yet benign
 providence have sent this privation, to produce, as it did, so deeply and ex-
 tensively, the interest needed to be felt in  her  and her fellow-sufferers, in
 order to lead to prompt and effectual action  in their behalf.
   In whom else, so beloved and respected as Avas her amiable father, an orna-
 ment to his profession, and filling a large sphere of  usefulness and  philan-
 thropy, could the same providence  have  awakened  such a lively sympathy
 for a cherished child, as quickly to extend itself to others enduring the same
 privation, and to make the necessary movements  for their relief.
   In what other community, more distinguished for its  intelligence, enterprise
 and benevolence, could the same wonder-working  providence have  placed
 this father and daughter, and the esteemed family of Avhich he was the head,
 so as to excite among the prominent  citizens, the devising of the plans,  the
 raising of the means, and the adoption of the measures, which were necessary
 to carry forAvard so novel and  arduous an enterprise to its consummation.
   The same providence cast my happy lot in  this community, near  to this
father and  daughter,  herself a  playmate of my younger  brothers and  sisters,
which led to my acquaintance  with her,  and then to my attempting  her in-
struction.   This I did, from time to time as best I could, inexperienced indeed,
but Avith no little enthusiasm and zealous perseverance.  At length, I had the
privilege of being employed to carry into effect, the benevolent designs of my
felloAv-citizens; designs extending, as they have already done,  in the estab-
 lishment of many kindred institutions in various parts  of our country.
   See in  these  successive links of his  providence, how God  Avorks out the
chain of his beneficent movements.  Let us be grateful if He condescends to
use our humble and feeble  instrumentality in these movements, if He makes
any of us ever so small a link in this his chain of love.
   But there Avas another link still.   What should I have accomplished, if the
same kind providence had not enabled me to bring back from France, his
 native land, one whom Ave  still rejoice to see among us—himself a deaf mute,
intelligent and accomplished, trained  under the distinguished Sicard, at that
time teaching the highest  class in the Paris Institution—to be my coadjutor
here at home ; to excite a  still  deeper interest in the object to which he came
to  devote his talents and efforts; to assist in collecting those funds which Avere
absolutely essential for the very commencement of the operations of the Asy-
lum ; to be my first, and for a time, only felloAv-laborer in the  course  of in-
struction, and then to render necessary and most efficient aid in preparing for
 their Avork the additional teachers Avho were needed.
   Little did I  think,  when  I engaged him in his own chamber  in the institu-
 tion at Paris, thirty-four years  ago, to come AA-ith me to this country, that after
 witnessing  the signal  success and prosperity of  the institution  to  which our 
      TESTIMONIAL  TO MESSRS. GALLAUDET AND  CLERC.   201

mutual  labors have  been  devoted—his, how long and  assiduously you well
knoAv—both of us adA-ancing in years, and he, I trust, yet to enjoy a green
old age ; little did I then think, that Ave  should  thus  stand  together, before
such a gathering of our old pupils, in the presence of the officers, instructors
and pupils of our beloved Asylum, and of the president  and  some of the  in-
structors of a kindred institution, surrounded by a crowded assembly of patrons
and friends, our fellow-citizens and others, and on an occasion like this.
   You,  in the ardor of your generosity,  have  made this occasion.  I rejoice
in it, especially as manifesting your heartfelt attachment and gratitude to my
old friend and felloAv-laborer.   May he long live to enjoy this attachment and
gratitude, and that of hundreds of others, to Avhom he has already been, or
will yet be,  the source of so much benefit.
   As for myself, I beg you to accept my cordial thanks for the part with
Avhich you indulge me, in the touching interest of the scene.  I thank you all.
I thank your committee individually.  In him, from whose hands I have just
received the testimonial of your grateful regard, Avhich you have been pleased
to present me, I recognize one of my very earliest and youngest pupils—one
Avhom I taught for a long course of years, and Avho hoav, in  the maturity of
manhood, is reaping  the rich reAvard of his faithful use of the means of im-
provement Avhich he then enjoyed.   This testimonial of your affection I shall
ever cherish with emotions  which I cannot here express.  As I look at it from
time to time, should my hfe be spared for a few more years,  I shall think of
all the past in Avhich  you were concerned, Avith  a melancholy pleasure—of
this day, as  standing out  Avith a strong and memorable prominence, among the
days  of my earthly pilgrimage—and of you and your  fellow-pupils with a
father's  love.   I shall ever  pray that  God may shed  doAvn  upon you  his
choicest blessings, and  prepare you, by his grace in  Christ Jesus, for the
holiness  and happiness of heaven.
   You look round in vain, for some  of your earliest friends in this city, and
of the Asylum.   Their forms, their kind and benignant  faces, their labors for
your Avelfare, their benevolent offices, as it were of a parental and maternal
care, are fresli in your  memory, but Ave mourn to  see them not among  us.
You owe them and their  survivors a debt of gratitude, Avhich you can best
repav, by seeking to  do good, as they did, to every member of your  large
deaf-mute family, by honoring the institution  at Avhich  you were educated,
in a  course of honest, virtuous and useful occupation, and by endeavoring, as
you have the influence and the means, to sustain its reputation and promote
its welfare.
   Yet a few of these your  earliest friends are spared to greet you this day,
and to honor this occasion Avith their presence.   I know  how much you thank
them for all they have  done for you.   What a pleasure to see  them; and
Avhat a pleasure to them, in their declining years, to witness  in your prosper-
ity, and that of so many others who have been educated here, the blessing of
God  upon their cares and  efforts in  this cause of benevolence.
   Hoav  many others, too,  of our fellow-citizens,  their  juniors in age, who 
202   TESTIMONIAL  TO  MESSRS. GALLAUDET AND  CLERC.

have also devoted their cares and efforts to the same object, are here to-day,
to participate Avith them  in this greeting and in this pleasure.
  Yes, be grateful to these your benefactors, and to all who have been  con-
cerned, in whatever way, in furnishing you with  the means of improvement
and usefulness, and of imparting to you  the  blessed truths of the gospel of
Christ.  They richly deserve your gratitude; but let  its highest and  most
devout expressions ascend to Him who is the sole, efficient author of every
good gift  which Ave  enjoy.  Recognize his hand  in all our blessings.  Let
Him have the Avarmest love of your hearts  and the cheerful obedience of
your lives.
  Mr. Loring then, in  the  same feeling manner, addressed Mr. Clerc,
offering to him a similar  gift.   This address Avas likewise read by Mr. Weld.

                MR. LORING'S ADDRESS TO  MR. CLERC.
  Accept this plate, which I present to you in the name of the subscribers,
former pupils of the American Asylum,  as a  testimonial of our heartfelt
gratitude for the great benefits of education which you have bestowed upon us.
  When Mr. Gallaudet had initiated himself in the art of teaching the
deaf and dumb, under the illustrious Sicard,  he proposed to  you to come to
America, to establish a  school  for deaf mutes; and you  did  not  hesitate to
leave your beautiful country.   You  accompanied Mr. Gallaudet in his
travels to raise funds for the benefit  of the deaf and dumb,  and interested
the public, by your intelligence and conversation, in favor of that unfortu-
nate and neglected portion of this country.  When the lamented Mr. Henry
Hudson and yourself Avere in Washington, soliciting Congress to grant some
bounty to the American Asylum, your intelligence and talents effectually
pleaded in favor of that  institution, so that Congress made that Uberal grant
of land which has since  secured ample funds to the Asylum.
  You alone have continued in your profession since the establishment of the
Asylum.  We are touched with a tender interest for you, Avhen we  see you
growing old in your benevolent labors.  We could not think of letting you
make your exit, Avithout offering you some substantial memorial  of our high
esteem and affectionate  regard.  May you spend the remainder of your life
with comfort, and receive your reward in  the other world.

  Mr. Clerc replied by signs and his address  was then read by Mr. Gal-
laudet.

                         mr. clerc's  reply.

Dear Pupils and Friends:
   This is the most pleasant day we have  ever had:  I do not speak of the
state of the weather, but the day you have appointed to come  and see us
after so long a separation from each  other; and glad indeed, are we to see
you again.  If we, your teachers, have done you any good, as you are pleased
to say we have done, we are satisfied and ask nothing more: but you have 
      TESTIMONIAL TO  MESSRS. GALLAUDET AND  CLERC.   203

chosen to present most valuable  and valued gifts, both to Mr. Gallaudet
and myself, in memory of our having been the first to teach the deaf and
dumb in America, and as a testimony of your gratitude  for the instruction
you have received.
  I thank you for my part  of this beautiful  present: I accept it, not that I
think it due from you to me ; but on account of the pleasure it affords me to
see that our exertions to render you better, have not been made in vain.  In
fact, what were you before  your  instruction ?   Without communication Avith
other men, and consequently without any means of learning from them any
thing purely intellectual, never would you have been what you are now; nor
would the existence of God, the spirituality of your souls, the certainty of
another life, have been made known  to you.  The religion of Christ would
have been for you a material religion, a religion  of sense  and not of faith.
You would have been able to  say no  prayers;  you would have attended
church with your friends Avithout deriving  any benefit whatever either from
prayer-book, or from  sermons  preached by clergymen.   Strangers in mind
and in heart to all the doctrines, to  all the mysteries, to all  the precepts of
the gospel, you would have passed your whole  lives in a kind of excommu-
nication like  that of the reprobate, shutting  your  eyes upon the continual
miracles of divine mercy, and opening them only  on justice.   Your unfortu-
nate parents, deprived of the advantage of implanting in your souls Avhat in-
struction has inculcated  on your minds, would have lamented your birth.
But instead of this, what a happy fate you have in exchange!  And to whom
are  you indebted for it?  Never, my dear friends, could Ave have thought of
the  deplorable destiny to which  the misfortune of your deafness had con-
demned you, on your coming forth  into being, without coining to join our-
selves to those, who, in 1815, laid the foundation of the first school for the
deaf and dumb in this country.   And who  Avere those  benevolent  persons
who first thought of you?  They were the  citizens of Hartford  in general,
and the directors in particular, who were like fathers of yours.   Therefore,
to them all, under God, is  your gratitude due, and great indeed it must be.
Most of the  directors Avhom you have known, alas! are gone.   The few who
still remain, and the new ones who have been chosen to replace the departed,
are  still your friends and the friends of all the other deaf and dumb who are
now with us, and who are to come hereafter.  Some, if not all of those
noble directors, are, I believe, among us in this church.   If you please, we
will rise and bow to them  as a feeble mark of our gratitude toward them.
Again, let us rise and bow  to these ladies and gentlemen who, also, have been
your earliest or latest friends.
   Your gratitude is not the less due to the governors and legislatures of New
England, who have supported, and still support you at the Asylum.   If there
be any of these  benevolent  individuals here  present, and if I could point
them out to you, I would also request you to rise and bow to them; but not
 being able to do so, let us give them three cheers by clapping our hands three
times. 
 204   TESTIMONIAL  TO  MESSRS.  GALLAUDET  AND CLERC.

   You have also another debt to pay: I mean that which you oavc to certain
 citizens of the states of .Massachusetts,  Connecticut, New York, New  Jer-
 sey and Pennsylvania, Avho, also, in the autumn of 1816, gave us handsome
 donations for your benefit.  We have not  yet  done:  there is still  another
 debt due,—it is that Avhich you OAve to the general government of the United
 States, for the grant of land it made us in 1819, '20, the proceeds of the sale
 of which enabled our kind directors to purchase the lot and erect the build-
 ings Avhere the American Asylum is noAV in operation.  Three more cheers
 by three more claps of your hands, therefore.
   I shall not speak of the gratitude you also OAve your teachers, guardians
 and matrons; for I doubt not that  you have already expressed it, either on
 leaving the Asylum or on seeing them again at a subsequent period.
   I presume my dear friends, you Avould like to knoAV Iioav many deaf and
 dumb persons we have taught since the  school  commenced in  the spring of
 1817.   Well, I will tell you.   On  examining our  records a f'eAv days ago, I
 found the number to amount to 1,066, (one thousand and sixty-six,) including
 those Avho are present at  the  institution, viz., 605  boys and 461 girls.   The
 number is rather small in comparison with the number  of the deaf and dumb
 in NeAv England; but Ave have done as  Avell as our means would alloAv.   It
 is, hoAvever, gratifying to knoAV that much has also been done elseAvhere; for
 besides our oAvn, there are noAV nine  or  ten other  schools for these unfortu-
 nate beings in  the United States, most of Avhose teachers have been qualified
 by us,  and of course,  employ the  same  method  of teaching and system  of
 signs;  so that Avherever you  may chance to go, and Avhomsoever you may
 happen to meet, you will not be strangers to each other.
   Hoav many of your fellow-pupils have died since you departed, I cannot
 say exactly : I hope, nevertheless, the number is not great.
   As far as I have been able to  ascertain, upward of one hundred  have
 married, the greatest part  among themselves, and the remainder have Avives
 or husbands who can  hear and speak.   Thanks  be to God, Avith a  few ex-
 ceptions, they all are blessed Avith children enjoying all their faculties, which
 will be a great consolation to  them in their old age.  The fact that a few of
 them have deaf and dumb children like themselves, must not be Avondered
 at: Ave are not more privileged than other men ; for we also are condemned
 to undergo some of the chastisements  which diA'ine providence sees fit  to
 inflict on us poor sinners.
  You, young men, are all above  tAventy-one years old.  You are freemen.
You vote, and I know that many of you feel interested in political matters,
and belong to one or the other of the two great parties which unfortunately
divide our fellow-citizens.  I do not pretend to dictate to you on this subject,
as I am persuaded that you act according to the dictates of your conscience
and best judgment;  allow me, however, to recommend to you  to vote only
 for good men, for honest men, for men who  love their country, their whole
 conntry.
  But  let me  return  to you, my  dear  friends, and repeat that I am very 
TESTIMONIAL  TO MESSRS.  GALLAUDET  AND CLERC.   205
happy to see you once more.  You are going to return to your homes soon.
My best wishes for your health and temporal  comforts accompany you, and
my prayer is that when Ave must leave this Avorld, Ave may all be ushered into
another where  our ears  shall be unstopped and our mouths opened—where
our happiness  shall have  no alloy, shall fear no change and know no end.
                                 Your  old teacher and friend,
                                                   Laurent Clerc.

   A prayer in the language of signs was then offered by the chaplain  of the
day, Mr. Job Turner, of Virginia;  and Avith this, the public exercises were
concluded.
   At an  early hour in the  evening, the  deaf and dumb assembled at the
 Asylum, to spend a short time in social  intercourse, and to partake of the
 rich and plentiful entertainment provided for  them by the officers of the  in-
 stitution.  They  Avere  met by the directors and instructors, Avith their fami-
 lies, together  with a feAv invited  guests, among  whom, apparently not the
 least interested of the  party, Avas the  governor of the  state.  More would
 have been added to  the number, had not the  capacity of the buildings pre-
 vented any additional  exercise of hospitality.
   A more happy assemblage it Avas never our good fortune to behold.  For-
 mer friends and fellow-pupils met again, after years of separation, Avith coun-
 tenances, in many cases, so  changed as  to be barely recognizable, to recall
 ' old times' and old scenes; to exchange,  fragments of personal history;  and
 to brighten aneAV the chain of friendship  and  gratitude that bound them to
 one another, and to the  institution in which  their true  life began.   And it
 was most pleasant to see the joy that beamed from all their faces, and gave
 neAV vigor and animation to their expressive language of signs.
   On Friday morning, at nine o'clock, the graduates of the Asylum assem-
 bled once more in the  chapel, for a final interview.  Various addresses were
 made, sentiments offered, and resolutions passed ;  all  of them appropriate to
 the occasion, and some of them well  worthy of reproduction in this place.
 The three following sentiments, personal to the  gentlemen whom the  deaf
 and dumb had met to  honor, were presented  in writing by a former pupil of
 the Asvlum.
   Mr.  Gallaudet.  While we  revere  him as a father, may we accord to
 him that homage which he so richly merits for his parental zeal and kindness,
 made manifesttiirough a series of years in the deaf and dumb Asylum; and
 for his anxious solicitude for  those who see, yet "hear not."
   Mr.  Clerc.   May  Ave cherish  Avith profound  regard the scholar and phi-
 lanthropist, by whose  lucid and comprehensive mind the deaf and dumb  are
 illuminated, enlightened and taught to reflect and communicate intelligently
 on the works of  nature and of nature's God.
   Messrs. Gallaudet and  Clerc.   Having jointly toiled in  imparting to
 the deaf and dumb, their relative duties to  society and to  man, and their
                 27 
 206  TESTIMONIAL  TO  MESSRS.  GALLAUDET AND  CLERC.

 greater obligation to  God; may these our benefactors, when called hence,
 enter the abodes of bliss, where all can unite in " everlasting praise."

   The  following resolutions of thanks  to various  individuals  Avere  next
 adopted.
   Resolved,  That the  thanks  of this convention  be, and hereby are, tendered
 to Messrs. Brown, Homer and Marsh, for their unremitting exertions as a com-
 mittee to obtain subscriptions ; and  for the alacrity, courtesy and ability  with
 which they have, in their several states, discharged  the duties pertaining to
 their commission.
   Resolved,  That the heartfelt thanks of  this convention be presented to Fisher
 A. Spofford, for the able address which he has delivered to us.
   Resolved,  That the officers and faculty of the  Asylum be respectfully request-
 ed to accept our  best  regards and thanks, for their kind and hospitable enter-
 tainment  of us during the ceremony, as a token of grateful expression to our
 first benefactors.
   Resolved,  That Mr.  Baldwin, the steward, and Mrs. White,  the matron, be
 requested to accept our  warmest acknowledgments, for their  kind attention
 during our stay in the Asylum.
   Probably no resolutions of a similar character, Avith less of form and more
 of genuine feeling in them, were ever adopted.
   On Saturday morning, most of our deaf and  dumb friends, although with
 great apparent reluctance, were obliged to leave the Asylum, to separate from
 each other and to return to their respective homes.  A few of them, however,
 remained  over the Sabbath, to attend the  religious services Avhich are ahvays
 held on that day in the chapel  of the institution ; a privilege which seemed
 to afford them the highest pleasure.   Indeed, we have often  remarked that
 among all the advantages which the deaf and  dumb enjoy at our institutions
 for their benefit, there is not one, the  loss of Avhich  most of them regret so
 much in after life, as the Avorship and religious instruction  of the Sabbath, in
 their own language  of signs.  They seem to feel themselves more isolated
 from society on that day, than on any other of the Aveek;  and Avhile they are
 obliged to suspend their daily business, with  no  resource but reading, Avhich
 to most laboring  persons, whether  deaf and  dumb or otherwise, is rather a
 task, than an enjoyment, it is  not  strange that the hours should hang very
 heavily upon their hands.   It  appears to us that more effectual measures
 should be  taken, in every place where even a few educated deaf and dumb
persons are living in convenient neighborhood with  each other, to secure at
least one meeting of a religious character on every Sabbath-day.
  It is a fact of sufficient interest to  be noted  here, that  this gathering of
 deaf and dumb persons Avas probably the  greatest, in point of  numbers, that
 ever took  place any Avhere  in the world.  So  many deaf mutes were never
 before assembled at one time and in one town,  as in Hartford, on the tAventy-
 sixth day of September, 1850.  More  than two hundred  graduates of the
 Asylum were on the ground ; and these, added to the two hundred pupils now 
    PUBLIC APPRECIATION  OF MR. GALLAUDET'S SERVICES.  207

connected with the institution, give a sum total of over four hundred of the deaf
and dumb, simultaneously assembled beneath one roof.   So far as our infor-
mation extends, there is no parallel case in the Avhole history of this class of
persons.
   We cannot refrain, also, from expressing our great satisfaction at the gen-
eral  appearance  of intelligence and  respectability which they presented.
There Avas every evidence among them  of industrious habits and comfortable
circumstances in respect to Avorldly condition;  and if any observer had been
previousl)- inclined  to suspect that the  benefits  of education to this class of
unfortunates Avere sometimes overrated,  he could not have failed of receiving
the refutation of his error.
   To their  old instructors, the whole  spectacle was  of the most gratifying
character.   They remembered the time  when these now educated and intelli-
gent  men and women first came to them,  to  receive instruction.   They
recalled the  look of blank  ignorance and apparent imbecility Avhich their
countenances then Avore;  their slow and feeble  progress in the simplest ele-
ments of human knoAvledge; the constant  and monotonous labor of months
and years, in the attempt to  dispel the darkness which  enveloped them, and
to open their minds to truth  and their  hearts  to feeling: and now the bread
cast upon the waters Avas found  again;  the seed soAvn  in a rugged soil, had
sprung up and Avas bearing its hundred fold.  No price is too great to  pay
for such results as these; neither is there any place for discouragement in any
labors of  benevolence, Avhen time  shoAvs that such great and happy changes
can be accomplished.
  [In this connection the following incidents and correspondence may be in-
troduced from the Proceedings of the Second Convention of the American
Instructors of the  Deaf and  Dumb, held at the American Asylum, August
27,  28 and 29,  1851.  At the close of a  paper read before the convention
by W. W. Turner, on the establishment of a High School forthe Deaf and
Dumb, the folloAving mention of Mr. Gallaudet was introduced, which was
received  Avith evidence of deep feeling by the convention.]
  " Who will undertake this enterprise ?   This is a difficult question and one
which we are not prepared to ansAver.  K the educated deaf mutes  of our
country were called upon to  make  the selection, their  eyes would  turn  to
him Avhom they have been accustomed to regard in a peculiar sense as their
father and the founder of institutions for their benefit in this country.  In
confirmation of their choice our eyes turn involuntarily to the chair Avhich he
should have occupied on this occasion.  To this election of grateful hearts
there comes back no response.  Our father, our teacher, our guide, lies low
and helpless upon the bed of sickness, it may be upon the  bed of death.   If 
208 PUBLIC  APPRECIATION OF  MR.  GALLAUDET'S  SERVICES.
his work is done, it has been well done;  and the name of Gallaudet will
stand conspicuous and high upon the roll of fame among the names  of those
who have been public benefactors and friends of suffering humanity."
  On the following day,  Rev.  Thomas  Gallaudet, of the NeAV York
Institution, with the unanimous leave of the convention, read the following
letter from  his  father, addressed  to the members of the convention, as
follows:—
                                       Hartford, August 28, 1851.
To  the president, officers  and members  of the convention of those interested
    in the cause  of instruction of deaf mutes, note in session in this city:
  Gentlemen:—With deep regret I perceive that the state of my health is
such as to prevent my enjoying the pleasures and the privileges of participate
ing with you in the objects of the convention.   Look to God for his wisdom
and grace, and may it be richly imparted to you.  Accept the assurances of
my personal regard and best Avishes  for  your success in your various oper-
ations.                        Yours, sincerelv,
                                           '  T.  H. GALLAUDET.
  The above communication was Avritten at the dictation of my father, by
myself.                                   THOMAS GALLAUDET.
  The letter of Mr. Gallaudet was ordered to be entered.in full upon the
minutes, and a committee consisting of Mr. Weld, principal of the  Asylum,
and Mr. Carey, of the Ohio Institution, Avas subsequently appointed to pre-
pare an answer to the note of Mr. Gallaudet, and submit the same to the
approval of the convention.  This committee reported the following letter.
To the Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet, LL. D.,
  Reverend and Dear Sir :—The  convention  of teachers and other
friends of the deaf and dumb, now  assembled at the American Asylum, have
heard with the deepest regret of that protracted and severe indisposition un-
der which  you  are laboring;  and  by which they are  deprived  of  your
presence, your counsel and co-operation, in the business of their meeting.
   The teachers of the deaf and dumb throughout our land regard you, hon-
ored sir, as the father of the cause to which they are devoted, and those of
us who  were induced to engage in  this good cause through your  personal
agency, who received an initiation into the art of deaf-mute instruction im-
mediately from yourself, or under your direction, feel that we have a peculiar
claim to regard you in the light  of a parent and to offer you the affectionate
homage of sons.
   While as individuals and as a convention, we all sympathize with you and
your immediate  family in your  present afflictions, and earnestly desire their
removal, and that your life, health and usefulness may be  greatly prolonged,
we would also render our devout thanks to Almighty God, that he has  made
you  an instrument of so much good, especially to  the deaf and dumb, and 
   PUBLIC  APPRECIATION OF  MR.  GALLAUDET'S SERVICES.  209

other subjects of peculiar misfortune ;  so that multitudes will have occasion in
all future time to rise up and call you  blessed.
   We thank you for the kind Avishes  expressed in  your note of yesterday,
and assure you of our earnest desire to promote in  every way in our power,
the best interests of that department of education and philanthropy to which
our  respective institutions and  ourselves indiA'idually are devoted.   With
sentiments of affectionate regard as Avell  as  of the  highest respect, we are,
dear sir, ever yours,
                         In behalf of the convention,
                                LEWIS WELD,       )  n
                                J. ADDISON CAREY, |  C™l"ee-

   On receiving intelligence  of  his death, resolutions  expressive of the loss
 sustained by the cause of Christian benevolence, and of condolence with the
 family, Avere passed by the directors of the American Asylum, the managers
 of the  Connecticut Retreat, the trustees of the State Normal  School, the
 Gallaudet Society, composed of pupils of the State Normal School, the NeAv
 York Historical Society, and the directors of the NeAv York Institution for
 the  Deaf and Dumb.

   It was the intention of many citizens of  Hartford, Avho felt a deep interest
 in the original movement to pay a suitable tribute of respect and appreciation
 to the life and services of Mr. Gallaudet, to erect by general subscription
 an  enduring monument, or statue in the grounds of the Asylum, similar in
 some respects to that erected to the Abbe' De le Epe'e, at Versailles,  or that
 which has been proposed to Heinicke, in Hamburg.  But intimations hav-
 in»- been  received from deaf mutes  in  various sections of the country, that
 those Avho have been most benefited  by  his benevolent labors, were already
 moving in the same direction, it was  thought best to leave this matter in their
 hands.
  Note.  A catalogue of all the pupils  who  have been connected  Avith the
Asylum from its opening on the  15th of April, 1S17, to January 1st, 1852, will
be found at the close of this volume,                       • 
DISCOURSE
DELIA'ERED AT THE DEDICATION OF THE CHAPEL OF THE CONNECTICUT
          RETREAT FOR THE INSANE, JANUARY 28TII, 1846.
                BY REV. TII0.AIAS  H. GALLAUDET, CHAPLAIN.


  As scriptural authority for the  leading sentiment of my discourse, I have
chosen that portion of the divine word Avhich you will find  recorded in the
gospel of St. Mark,  the  4th chapter, and 28th verse;—ufrst the blade, then
the ear, after that the full com in the ear."
  Every Avhere the law of groAvth is manifest.   The majestic oak is evolved
from  the minute acorn.  The mightiest intellect Avas once an infant  in the
cradle.  Rome, in its proudest day of power  and splendor, is to  be traced
back to a small band of struggling adventurers on the banks of the Tiber.
The Christian religion, now wide-spread throughout the earth, was first propo-
gated by a few obscure and illiterate Judeans.
  Man is prone to be restless under this law of growth.  It works too sloAvly
for him.  He would hurry on the tardy wheels of Providence, and, if possi-
ble, of time, to consummate his projects in a day.  He strains his eye, that
he may anticipate the future.   He stretches his arms too far and too fast, that
he may grasp, at once, the object of his Avishes; and prematurity is but the
precursor of disappointment.
  The most successful enterprises, great in their design, extensive in their
scope, and permanent in their influence, are those which have  sprung from
comparatively small beginnings, expanding as  an  accumulating experience
has imparted to them wisdom and strength.
  The history  of benevolent institutions  bears singular  testimony to these
truths; as if God would thus teach those who project them  to feel their de-
pendence on his aid, to look to him for guidance, and to move forAvard as his
providence points out, and opens the way.  Happy are they if they follow
these  instructive lessons.
  Let it not, then, be to us a source of regret, or of discouragement, that such
has been the history of that institution within whose walls  we are now assem-
bled ; that there has been, " first, the blade, then the ear,  and after that, the
full corn in the ear."  Let all who are interested in its welfare, regard its
unostentatious infancy and its gradual growth, as the surest providential indi-
cations of its increasing and abiding vigor.  It has worked its way into public
favor, not to lose it.  It has proved its usefulness by a series of inestimable
blessings conferred, through its instrumentality, upon the numerous objects of
its care.   It has gained the confidence of an intelligent Christian community, 
           DEDICATION  OF CHAPEL  FOR THE INSANE.       211

by those progressive tokens of the divine favor which have shown, year after
year, that it has been under an Almighty guardianship.
  Had I time to go into details, I am sure that the history of the Retreat, in
these respects, Avould fully establish the truth of what I have said.  But I can
only glance at the most striking facts, (unknown perhaps  to many of you,)
which mark its origin and earlier progress.   With its later history not a few
of my audience  are  so familiar, that  it is the less necessary for  me to re-
hearse it.
  Our medical brethren, who are always ready for such labors of beneficence,
are entitled to the praise of first moving in this philanthropic enterprise.  The
subject came  before  them at the session of the Medical  Society, in October,
1812.   A committee was appointed, and inquiries were  made, principally of
the clergymen in the different tOAvns, with  regard to the number of insane
persons in the state.  But  feAV returns Avere rendered, and these imperfect
ones.   In April,  1821,  at  the county meeting of the Medical  Society in
Hartford, the subject Avas again considered, and  the felloAvs of the Society
from the county, were instructed to bring it before the Medical Convention,
at their session the folloAving May.  This Avas done.   A committee  of three
was appointed, and  reported  a plan of operation.  This plan was  adopted
promptly and unanimously.  In pursuance of it, a  committee of five  was
chosen,—Doctors  Eli  Todd,  Thomas Miner, AVilliam  Tulley, Samuel B.
WoodAvard, and George  Sumner, to prosecute the necessary inquiries, to de-
vise ways and means for raising funds, and  to propose a constitution for the
regulation and government of the institution.   The labors of this committee
Avere arduous, and their exertions indefatigable.  Besides the individual at-
tention which the members of it expended, they met monthly for combined
counsel and action.  They spared neither time nor effort;—and one of them
is still among us, to have his heart gladdened this  day, by witnessing the rich
results of those  labors; to see and  admire  the Avide-stretching oak which a
fostering providence has been maturing from the  acorn, which he assisted in
planting, Avhile beneath its refreshing shade  hundreds and hundreds of those
whose deplorable condition  he and his associates then  so  deeply commiser-
ated, have been, and are still enjoying the shelter and the solace, the sympa-
thy and the relief, Avhich it kindly affords.
  This committee of five presented  their report at the adjourned session of
the convention,  in October of the  same year, 1821.  Their report was ac-
cepted, the proposed constitution adopted, and an appointment  made  of a
committee of correspondence, consisting of seven members, Doctors Eli Todd,
Eli Ives, Thomas Miner, William Tulley, Jonathan Knight, Samuel B. Wood-
Avard, and Geofge Sumner, together with county committees, of three for each
county, to co-operate with them, in order to devise the  means of procuring
funds, to petition the General Assembly for a charter, and, if deemed expe-
dient, to ask  a grant of money from the treasury  of the  state.
  This convention, also, and I wish to direct your particular attention to the
act, appropriated two hundred dollars of their funds, to assist  the committee 
 212       DEDICATION OF  CHAPEL FOR  THE  INSANE.

 in prosecuting their labors.   This Avas the first pecuniary aid which had ever
 been received.  It would seem to have been  indispensable.  Without it, the
 members of the committee Avould have been compelled to make considerable
 adA-ances themselves, or to have given up the enterprise.  What, under provi-
 dence, has not this generous donation, at such a juncture, been the means of
 accomplishing!
   Under the superintendence of the corresponding and county committees
 subscriptions Avere solicited throughout  the  state.   The prospect of success
 opened.   TAVelve thousand dollars had been subscribed.  A general meeting
 of the corresponding and county committees Avas held in NeAv Haven, in
 May, 1822, at Avhich it was resolved to present a petition to the General As-
 sembly for an act of incorporation, and for a grant of money.   This act Avas
 obtained, Avith a grant of five thousand dollars, and permission to solicit con-
 tributions in the churches for five years.   At the same time, the Medical Soci-
 etyj then in session, made another donation by appropriating the remainder
 of their disposable funds, amounting to about four hundred dollars, to the  in-
 terests of the  institution.   Subscriptions Avere again solicited in every town
 in the state, and  by the month of October, the nominal sum of twenty thou-
 sand dollars had been subscribed, exclusive of the grant.   Of this sum more
 than seven thousand dollars Avas subscribed in the city of Hartford.  During
 the same month, the  subscribers assembled  in MiddletoAvn, to organize the
 society, and to choose directors.   In December, of the same year, 1822, the
 society met in Hartford, to fix upon the location of the institution.  The vote
 was unanimous for  Hartford.  The  officers of the Retreat were appointed,
 and the buildings soon after commenced.   It was opened for the reception of
 patients, the first of April, 1824.
   We see, in all this, the controlling, though efficient law of growth :  " first
 the blade,"  and " then the ear," before Ave are permitted to have  "the full
 corn in the ear."   The same law has directed the progress of the institution
 up to the present hour.   I Avish I had time to unfold to you  this progress.   I
 am sure  it would lead you and the public to cherish, with sentiments of the
 most grateful recollection, the patient and persevering zeal, the Avarm-hearted
 philanthropy, the bearing up and onward, at times, under very peculiar dis-
 couragements, and the elastic buoyancy of hope, which those faithful friends
of the Retreat have manifested, who have labored, by their personal efforts,
to make it what it ought to be.  And I am equally sure that you would, also,
find abundant cause of devout gratitude  to God for what his providence has
already done to sustain and bless this enterprise of benevolence, and of un-
wavering trust in him with regard to  its future prospects.
   The more fully we acknowledge, and  the more  fervently we feel our de-
pendence on Him; the  more constantly and  earnestly we look to Him for
guidance and aid; the more deeply we drink into the spirit of His son, our
 Saviour,  and make the precepts of His gospel the rule of our measures and
our efforts in the management of the Retreat,  the more surely shall we see it 
DEDICATION  OF  CHAPEL  FOR  THE INSANE.       213
fulfilling, with still increasing reputation and success, the high and beneficent
end for which it was established.
  While, as I have stated, the time allotted me will not allow of tracing still
further the history of the institution since it was opened for the reception of
patients, the peculiar auspices under which it was opened must not be passed
over in silence.  For how can I fail to speak of that extraordinary man whom
providence raised up, to be the first presiding spirit within these walls.  Some
of us had the  high satisfaction of personally knowing him, and it was no com-
mon privilege to be in  his society, to enjoy communion with his original and
gifted  mind, and his Avarin and generous heart.   He rests from his labors and
his works do  follow him.   Without disparaging his very able  associates and
successors, it  is no invidious distinction to say, that, being among the first, if
not the very first, to originate the enterprise which we have seen, resulted in
the establishment of the  Retreat, and chosen unanimously to superintend its
curative department, at the commencement of its operations, (a place which
he filled, till  his decease, for twelve successive years,)—he impressed a char-
acter  upon it by his surpassing genius, his professional skill,  his singular tact
in this peculiar sphere of duty, his noble enthusiasm, and his winning  sym-
 pathetic benevolence, both in the view of its inmates and of the public, which,
 under God, is to be regarded as one of the principal causes of the progress
 that it has made, and the vast amount of good that it has done.
   I spent a long evening with him at his OAvn house, but a very short time
 before his death.  Disease Avas fast making its ravages upon  his frame, and
 he knew it.  But the eye was as bright, and the lips as eloquent, the heart as
 warm, and  the mind as transparent as ever.  He conversed freely, and at
 length, with regard to  his religious views and feelings.  The full belief which
  he expressed in the religion of  the gospel, and his simple, child-like reliance
  on the merits and intercession of Christ for the pardon of sin and acceptance
  with God, so fervid and yet so composed, so unaffected and yet so impressive,
  so chastened in spirit and yet  so  morally sublime in sentiment, breathing
  forth from his inmost soul, have left impressions on my memory which,  so
  long as it retains any of  its powers, will never be eradicated.
    At the close of his  useful and honorable career in the service of this insti-
  tution, how would it have rejoiced his heart to know what was to be its ad-
  vancing and increasing  success, and  especially that its moral means of  relief*
  on which he placed so great value, and was himself so skillful in applying (in
  connection with the medical,)  would be elevated and energized  by a more
  distinct recognition, and systematic use of the religious principle as developed
  in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
     To apply this principle for the consolation and benefit  of the  inmates of
  the  Retreat, its directors, for nearly eight years past, have  had  regular de-
  votional  exercises on the Sabbath, and  during  the week, conducted  within
  its walls.   For this purpose they appointed a chaplain, whose farther  duty it
  has  also been, in accordance with the views and directions of the superin-
  tending  physician, to occupy part of his  time in ministering to the comfort
                   9.S 
 214       DEDICATION OF  CHAPEL  FOR THE INSANE.

 and relief of the inmates, by such offices of kindness, and  religious counsel
 and aid, as a familiar, personal intercourse Avith them has given him the op-
 portunity of affording.
   That such influences, if wisely and judiciously used, are attended Avith the
 most beneficial results, the experience of this and other kindred institutions
 abundantly testifies.  In vieAv of this experience, and to afford still greater
 appropriateness and efficiency, under the divine blessing, to the religious ex-
 ercises of the Retreat, this tasteful and commodious chapel in Avhich Ave have
 assembled, to dedicate it  to  the worship and service of Almighty God, has
 been prepared.  You see in  it the provision which the directors of the insti-
 tution felt themselves under the strongest obligations to make for the good of
 the afflicted, intrusted to their care, not only by giving them the privileges of
 social and public worship, but by endeavoring to bring under the influence of
 the spirit and precepts of the gospel, all who are here employed in its vari-
 ous departments.
   Could we look doAvn the long vista of the future, and  see those, Avho, year
 after year, will  be  here assembled, to occupy, in succession, the seats Avhich
 Ave now fill, Avhat scenes of deep and affecting interest Avould be spread be-
 fore us.  How many aching  hearts, we may hope, will here be soothed, how
 many disconsolate bosoms cheered, how many desponding spirits raised.  The
 tear of soitoav shall be wiped from the eye, the smile of hope shall irradiate
 the countenance, the strains of devout gratitude shall breathe  from the lips.
 The trembling soul, despairing under a sense of its sinfulness, shall here find
 that there is balm in Gilead, and a physician there.   The winning invitations
 of the gospel  shall draAv the impenitent to Christ.   The  faith of the believer
 shall be revived and confirmed.   The tempted shall be strengthened for their
 conflicts.  The chastened shall be supported under their trials.  The restored
 shall be prepared to rely on  the almighty arm to  protect  and secure them
 against future, recurring evils, and all Avho are called to the performance of
 duty within these walls, shall be taught that the only wise and sure way of
 discharging their duties, is to cherish the prayerful, conscientious, and benevo-
 lent spirit which the gospel  inculcates, and Avhich  it alone, under  the influ-
 ence of divine grace, can inspire.
  Let us rejoice, my friends,  in these anticipations, and that they may indeed
 be realized, let us hope and pray for the  spiritual  presence of that Saviour
 here, who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, who  was " anoint-
 ed to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted,  to preach
 deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at lib-
 erty them that  are  bruised,  to preach the acceptable year  of  the Lord, to
 comfort all that  mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of
joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of  heaviness, that they
 might be called trees  of righteousness, the planting of the  Lord, that  he
 might be glorified." 
NORMAL  SCHOOLS:
SEMINARIES  FOR  THE  EDUCATION OF TEACHERS.
  Among the important services rendered by Mr. Gallaudet to the cause
of education  in  Connecticut and the country generally, his early and able
advocacy of special preparation  as  an  indispensable  prerequisite to the
business of teaching, must not be forgotten.  Although not the first to call
public attention to the subject, his remarks on seminaries for teachers, Avhich
originally appeared in the Connecticut Observer, a paper published in Hart-
ford,  in Connecticut, in January, 1825, and were afterward issued in a
pamphlet  form in Boston,  and  republished in  various educational period-
icals,—did more than any one publication to arrest the attention of educators,
and the public generally, to its importance.
   To Professor Denison Olmsted, of Yale College, belongs the credit of having
first proposed in Connecticut the establishment of an institution designed ex-
clusively for the training of young men to a practical knowledge of the prin-
ciples and art of school teaching.   While at  the head  of  the  Grammar
School at New London, in 1816, he matured the  plan of an academy for
schoolmasters, to be established and supported by the state, as part of a sys-
 tem of measures, designed to improve the condition of education in Connect-
icut.   The subject was ably discussed in an oration which he pronounced at
the annual commencement of Yale College, in  September, 1816, on taking
his master's degree.
   In 1823, Mr. William Russell, then at the head of the New Township
 Academy, in New  Haven, afterward editor of the American Journal of
 Education,  and now  principal of the Merrimack Normal Institute, in  a
 pamphlet entitled Suggestions on Education, approves of a suggestion which
 had been made, that a seminary should be founded for the teachers of district
 schools, and that no individual should be accepted as an instructor who  had
 not received a license, or degree, from the proposed institution.
   Almost simultaneously with the  publication  of Mr. Gallaudet's remarks,
 in the  Connecticut Observer, there appeared in  the  Patriot,  published
 in Boston, over the signature of Franklin, a  series of articles in which ed-
 ucation as  a science,  and teaching as  an art,  were ably discussed, and an
 institution was proposed for the special training of teachers for their profes-
 sion.   These articles were soon afterward collected and  published by their
 author, James G. Carter, of Lancaster, Mass.,  in a  pamphlet form, and in 
216
NORMAL  SCHOOLS.
connection with Mr. Gallaudet's contribution to the same cause, were widely
read, and thoughtfully considered at least by educators.
  In the same year, 1825, Walter R. Johnson, then a practical teacher in
Germantown, Penn., Avithout any knowledge of the views, or publications of
Mr. Carter or Mr. Gallaudet, in a pamphlet on the improvement of semina-
ries of learning,  set forth the necessity and  advantages of schools for the
special training of teachers.
  In the same year, and the year following, Governor De Witt Clinton com-
mended to the consideration of the legislature of New York, the education of
competent teachers, and the establishment of a seminary for this purpose.
  From this time the  importance of the professional education of teachers,
and of institutions specially devoted to this object, attracted more and more
the attention of statesmen and educators, until the idea is  now practically
realized in each of the four states in which the enterprise  was first proposed,
and in connection with other means and agencies, the Normal School is now
recognized, if not as an indispensable, at least as the most important feature of
every system of public instruction, in the  leading states of this country, as
well  as in Europe. 
REMARKS
ON  SEMINARIES FOR TEACHERS,
BY REV. THOMAS H. GALLAUDET.
  The following remarks originally appeared in the Connecticut Observer,
published in Hartford, Conn., in  a series of articles, with the signature of
" A  Father."  The first article  was dated the 5th of January, 1825.

  No important result can be attained with regard to the  accomplishment
of any object which affects the temporal  or eternal well-being  of our spe-
cies, without enlisting an entire devotedness to it, of intelligence, zeal, fidelity,
industry, integrity, and practical exertion.  What is it, that  has furnished us
with able divines, lawyers, and physicians ?  The  undivided consecration of
the talents and efforts of intelligent and upright individuals to these profes-
sions.   How have these talents been matured, and these efforts been trained,
to their beneficial results'?  By a diligent course of preparation, and a long
discipline in the school of experience.   We have our  theological,  law, and
medical institutions, in which our young men are fitted for the pursuit of these
respective  professions, by deriving benefit from the various sources  of infor-
mation  which libraries, lectures,  and experiments  afford.  Unaided by such
auxiliaries, genius, however  brilliant;  invention, however prolific ;  observa-
tion, however acute ; ingenuity, however ready ; and perseverance, however
indefatigable, have to grope their way, through a long and tiresome  process,
to the attainment of results which a little acquaintance Avith the labors of oth-
ers in the  same track of effort, would render a thousand times more easy,
rapid, and delightful.  Experience is the storehouse  of knowledge.  Now
why should not this experience be resorted to as an auxiliary in the education
of youth ?  Why not make this department of human exertion,  a profession,
as well as those of divinity,  law,  and medicine'?  Why not have an Institu-
tion for the training up of Instructors for their sphere of  labor, as well as
institutions to prepare young men for the duties of the divine, the lawyer, or
the  physician ?
   Can  a subject of more interest present itself to the consideration of the
public ? Does not the future improvement of our species, to  which the phi-
lanthropist and the Christian look forward with such delightful anticipation,
depend on the plans  which  are adopted for the development  and cultivation
of the intellectual  and moral powers of man ?  Must not  these plans begin
 with infancy and childhood 1  Do not the attainments of the pupil depend
upon the talents, the fidelity, and the integrity  of those by whom he is taught?
How will  he learn  to think, to speak, to read, and to  write  with accuracy,
unless  his instructors are able to teach him ■?  Shall their  ability depend upon
their individual experience and attainments ■?  Are you satisfied with a divine,
a lawyer, or a physician, who has qualified himself, or pretended to  do so, for
his  profession, by  solitary, unaided, unadvised, untaught, inexperienced
efforts ?   You do not do this.  Why  not, then, require in the instructors  of
youth,  to whom you commit the training up of your offspring, an   adequate
preparation for their most important and responsible employment1?
   But  this preparatory discipline is considered indispensable  not merely for
the  learned professions, but  for the ordinary occupations  of life. A term  of
 years is required to  fulfil the duties of  an  apprenticeship to  any of the me-
 chanical trades.  An artisan does not venture to solicit the patronage of the
 public, till he  has undergone this apprenticeship.  This  training under the
 instruction of experienced  masters,  is deemed of still more importance  in 
218          Mil. (.AU.AFDtrr, on tf.uhdks  skminarif.s

what are termed the liberal arts, such as painting, sculpture, and engraving.
To foster them, academies are formed ; models s»re collected ; lectures are de-
livered;  and the young novitiate is willing to devote years of patient and
assiduous labor, to fit. himself for success in his profession.  We hear, too, of
what is termed a  regularly-bred merchant;  and the drilling of the  counter
and the counting-house is considered indispensable to prepare one for all the
complicated transactions of trade and commerce.  And if men are to be train-
ed to arms, academies are established, at which experience, ingenuity, and
science are put in requisition, to qualify the young and inexperienced for  mili-
tary exploits.  In fact, there is scarce any pursuit connected with the busi-
ness of life, but what men have endeavored to render successful, by a process
predicated on Avell-known principles of human nature ;—by making it, in the
first place, a distinct profession or calling; then, by yielding to  those  who
have long been engaged  in it the deference which their experience justly
demands ; and finally, by  compelling those avIio would Avish to adopt it, to
devote  themselves to it, and to pass through all the preparatory steps which
are necessary for the consummation of their acquaintance, With with its theory
and practice.  In this way only we hope to form good mechanics, painters,
engravers, sculptors, farmers, merchants, physicians, and lawyers.
  Perhaps some of my illustrations may be considered of too humble a kind.
But my subject is a very practical one, and I intend  to treat it  in a practical
way.   Permit me, then, to inquire  of my  readers, Avhen they wish  to get a
shoe made, to whom  they applyt  Do they not take considerable  pains to
find a first-rate Avorkman ; one who has learned his trade well,  and who can
execute his work  in the best manner ?   And when our wives and daughters
want a new bonnet, or a new dress,  will they not make a great many inquiries,
and take  not a few steps, and consume no small portion of very valuable time,
to ascertain the important fact, who is the most skillful and tasteful  milliner
and seamstress within their reach ; and are they not willing to undergo many
inconveniences, and to wait till their patience is almost exhausted, and  their
wants very clamorous, in order to obtain the precious satisfaction of having
the work done by hands whose skill and ingenuity have been long tested, and
on whose experience and judgment in adjusting colors, and qualities, and pro-
portions, and symmetry, and shape, they can safely rely ?
  Is a shoe, or a bonnet, to be put in competition with an immortal mind?
  In your very articles of  dress, to clothe a frail,  perishable  body, that is
soon to become the prey of corruption, will you be so  scrupulous in the choice
of those  whom you employ to make them; and yet feel no solicitude in re-
quiring of those to whom is intrusted the formation of the habits, and thoughts
and  feelings of a soul that is to live for  ever, a preparation for their  most
responsible task ;  an apprenticeship to their important calling; a devotedness
to a pursuit which involves all  that can affect the tenderest sympathies of a
kind parent,—the most ardent hopes of a true patriot,—the most expanded
views of a sincere philanthropist,—the most benevolent  wishes of a devout
Christian ?
  I am told that the Patent-office at Washington is thronged with models of
machines, intended to facilitate the various processes of mechanical labor;
and I read in our  public prints, of the deep interest Avhich is felt in any of
those happy discoveries that are made to provide for the wants,  and comforts,
and luxuries  of man, at an easier and a cheaper rate ; and I hear those  eulo-
gized as the benefactors of our  race, whose genius invents, and whose patient
application carries into  effect  any  project for  winnowing some  sheaves of
Avheat a little quicker, or spinning  some threads of cotton a little sooner, or
propelling a boat a little faster, than has heretofore been done ; and, all this
while, how comparatively few  improvements are made in the process of edu-
cating the youthful mind ;  and  in training it for usefulness in this  life, and for
happiness in the life to come !
  Is human ingenuity and skill to  be on the  alert in almost every other field
bf enterprise but  this ]   How can  we reconcile our apathy on "this subject
with the duties which we owe to  our children, to our country, and to our
God ?
  Let the same provision, then, be made for giving  success to  this depart- 
              MR. GALLAUDET, ON TEACHERS' SEMINARIES.           219

ment  of  effort that is so Iiberallj made for all others.   Let an institution be
established in every state, for the express purpose of training up young men
for the profession of instructors of youth in the common branches of an Eng-
lish education.  Let it be so well endowed, by the liberality of the public, or
of individuals, as to have two or three professors, men of talents and habits
adapted to the pursuit, who should devote their lives to  the object of the
"Theory and Practice of the Education of Youth," and who should prepare
and deliver, and print, a course of lectures on the subject.
   Let the institution be furnished with a library, which shall contain all the
works, theoretical and practical, in all languages, that can be obtained on the
subject of education,  and also with all the apparatus that modern ingenuity
has devised for this purpose ;  such as maps, charts, globes, orreries,  &c
   Let there be connected with the institution, a school, smaller or larger, as
circumstances might dictate, in which the theories of the professors might be
reduced  to practice, and from which  daily  experience would derive  a thou-
sand useful instructions.
   To such an Institution let young men resort who are ready to devote them-
selves to  the  business of instructors  of  youth.   Let them attend a  regular
course of lectures on the subject  of  education ;  read the best works; take
their turns  in the instruction  of  the experimental  school, and after thus
becoming qualified for their office, leave the Institution with a suitable cer-
tificate or diploma, recommending them to the confidence of the public.
   I have scarcely room to  allude to the advantages which would result  from
such a plan.   It would  direct the attention, and concentrate the efforts, and
inspire the zeal, of many worthy and intelligent  minds to one important ob-
ject.   They  would excite each other in this new career of doing good.  Eve-
ry year would produce a valuable accession  to the mass of experience that
would be constantly accumulating at such a store-house of knowledge.  The
business  of  instructing  youth Avould be  reduced to  a system, which would
embrace  the  best and the readiest mode of conducting  it.  This  system
would be gradually  diffused  throughout the community.  Our instructors
would rank, as they ought to do, among the most  respectable professions.
We should  know to  whom we  intrusted  the care and education of our off-
spring.  These instructors, corresponding, as they naturally would, with the
Institution which they had left, and visiting it, at its annual, and my imagina-
tion  already  portrays, delightful festivals, would impart to  it, and  to each
other, the discoveries and improvements which they might individually make,
in their separate spheres of employment.                      _   _
   In addition to all  this, what great advantages such an institution would
 afford, by the combined  talents of its professors, its  library, its experimental
 school, and perhaps by the endowment of two or three  fellowships, for this
 very object, for the formation of the best books to be employed in the early sta-
ges of education ; a  desideratum,  which none  but some intelligent mothers,
 and a feAV others who have devoted themselves to so humble, yet important
 an object, can duly appreciate.
   Such  an Institution, too, would  soon become the center of information on
 all topics connected with the education of youth ;  and  thus, the combined
 results of those individuals in domestic life, whose attention has been direct-
 ed to the subject, would be brought to a point,  examined, weighed, matured,
 digested, systematized,  promulgated, and carried into effect.
   Such an Institution would also tend to elevate the tone of public sentiment,
 and to quicken the zeal of public effort ivilh regard to the correct intellectual
 and moral education of the rising generation.
   To accomplish any great object, the co-operation  of numbers is necessary.
 This is emphatically true in our republican community.  Individual influence,
 or wealth, is inadequate to the task.  Monarchs, or nobles, may singly devise,
 and carry into effect, Herculean enterprises.  But we have no royal institu-
 tions ; ours must be of more gradual  growth, and perhaps, too, may  aspire to
 more generous and impartial beneficence, and  attain to more settled and im-
 movable stability.  Now to concentrate the attention, and interest, and exer-
 tions of the public on any important object, it must assume a definite and pal-
 pable form.  It must have  "a local habitation and name."  For instance, 
 220          MR. GALLAUDET, ON TEACHERS' SEMINARIES

 you may, by  statements of facts, and by  eloquent appeals to the sympathies
 of others, excite a good deal of feeling with regard to the deaf and dumb, or
 to the insane.  But so long as  you fail to direct this good  will in some par-
 ticular channel of practical effort,  you only play  round the  hearts of those
 whom you wish to enlist in the cause.   They will think, and feel, and talk,
 and hope that something will be done;  but that is all.   But erect your Asy-
 lum for the deaf and dumb, and your Retreat for the insane.  Bring these
 objects  of  your pity together.   Let the public  see them.  Commence your
 plans  of relief.  Show that something can be done, and how and where it can
 be done, and you bring into action that  sympathy and  benevolence which
 would otherwise have been Avasted  in mere wishes, and hopes, and expecta-
 tions.   Just  so with  regard to improvements in  education.  Establish an
 Institution, such  as  I have ventured  to recommend, in every state.   The
 public attention will be directed to  it.   Its Professors will have their friends
 and correspondents in various parts of the country, to whom they will, from
 time  to time, communicate the  results  of their  speculations and efforts, and
 to whom they will impart a portion  of the enthusiasm which they themselves
 feel.  Such an Institution, too, would soon become an object of laudable
 curiosity.   Thousands would visit it.  Its experimental school, if properly
 conducted, would form a  most delightful and interesting spectacle.   Its
 library and various apparatus Avould be, I may say, a novelty in this depart-
 ment  of the philosophy of the human  mind.  It would probably, also, have
 its public examinations, which would draw together an assembly of intelli-
 gent  and literary individuals.   Its students, as  they dispersed through  the
 community, would carry with them the spirit of the Institution, and thus, by
 these  various processes of communication, the  whole mass of public senti-
 ment, and feeling, and effort, would be imbued with it.
  Another  advantage resulting from such an Institution, would be, that it
 would lead  to the investigation and  establishment of those principles of disci-
 pline  and government most likely  to promote the progress of children and
 youth in the  acquisition of intellectual and moral excellence.  How sadly
 vague and unsettled are most of the plans in this important part of education,
 now in  operation in our common  schools.  What is the regular and well-
 defined system of praise and blame ; of rewards and punishments ;  of excit-
 ing competition or appealing to better  feelings ; in short, of cultivating the
 moral and  religious temper of the  pupil, while his  intellectual improvement
 is going on, which now pervades our schools?  Even the gardener, whom
you employ to deck your flower beds, and cultivate your vegetables, and rear
your fruit  trees, you expect to proceed upon some matured and well-under-
 stood  plan of operation.   On this subject  I can hardly restrain my emotions.
 I am  almost  ready  to exclaim, shame on those  fathers and mothers, who
inquire  not at all, who almost  seem to care  not  at all, with regard  to the
moral discipline that is pursued by instructors in cultivating the temper and
disposition  of their children.  On  this subject,  every thing depends on the
character and habits of the instructor; on the plans he lays down for him-
self;  on the modes by which he carries these plans into effect.  Here, as in
every  thing else, system is of the highest importance.  Nothing should be left
to whim and caprice.  What is  to  be this system1?  Who  shall devise it ?
Prudence,  sagacity,  affection, firmness,  and  above all, experience,  should
combine their skill and effort to produce it. At such an Institution as I have
proposed, these requisites would be most likely to be found.  Then might
we hope to see the heart improved, while the  mind expanded ; and knowl-
edge,  human and divine, putting forth its fruits,  not by the mere dint of arbi-
trary  authority, but by the gentler persuasion of motives addressed to those
moral principles of our nature, the cultivation of which reason and religion
 alike inculcate.
  It is feared by some that it will be impossible ever to produce a sufficient
 degree of public interest in such a project to carry it into effect.
  I am not so sanguine as to think, that  the Avhole mass of the community
 can, at  once, be electrified, as it Avere, by any appeals, however eloquent, or
 any efforts, however strenuous, into one  deep  and universal excitement on
 this or any other topic.  Information must be gradually diffused ; the feelin^a 
MR. GALLAUDET, ON TEACHERS' SEMINARIES.
221
of influential men in various  sections of the country must be enlisted; able
writers in our public prints and magazines must engage their hearts and their
pens in the cause.
  In addition to all  this, suppose that some  intelligent and  respectable indi-
vidual, after having made himself master of the subject  in all its bearings,
and consulted Avith  the wise  and judicious within his reach, who  might feel
an interest in it, should prepare a course  of lectures,  and spend a  season or
two in delivering them in our most populous towns and cities.  The novelty
of this, if no other cause, would attract a great many hearers.   Such an indi-
vidual, too, in his excursions, would have  the best opportunity of  conferring
with well-informed  and influential men ; of gaining their  views;  of learning
the extent and weight of all  the obstacles which  such a  project would have
to encounter, and the best modes of removing them; and, if it  should indeed
appear deserving of patronage, of enlisting public sentiment and feeling in its
favor.
   But after  all, I  do not  deem it, at present, necessary for  the commence-
ment of  the  plan which I have  proposed, that any thing like an universal
public interest should be taken in it.
   If the experiment could, at first, be made  upon a small scale ; if such an Insti-
tution could  be moderately endowed  with funds sufficient to support one or
two professors, and procure  even the elements of a library, afterward to be
enlarged as public or private  bounty might permit; if it could be  established
in some town large enough to furnish from its youthful population, pupils to
form its  experimental school; and if only a few  young men, of talents and
worth, could  be induced to resort to it, with an intention of devoting them-
selves to the  business of instruction as a profession,—it  would not, I think,
be long before its practical utility would be demonstrated.  The instructors,
although few in number, who would, at first, leave  the Institution,  would
probably be located in some of our larger towns.   Their modes of instruction
would be witnessed by numbers of the influential and intelligent, and, if suc-
cessful, would soon create a  demand for other instructors of similar qualifi-
cations.   And as soon as such a demand should be produced, other individu-
als would be  found willing to prepare  themselves to meet it.  And thus we
might hope that both private  and public munificence, so bountifully bestowed,
at the present day, on other useful objects, would eventually contribute a
portion of its aid to an establishment  designed to train up our youth  more
successfully  to  derive benefit from all the other efforts of benevolence, or
institutions of literature and religion,  which  are so widely extending their
influence through every part  of our highly-favored country.
   Another obstacle, in the prosecution of such a plan, is the difficulty of indu-
cing young men of character  and talents to embark in it, and to devote them-
selves to the  business of instruction for life-
   I can  not but hope that the time is not far distant, when the education of
youth will assume, in the minds of intelligent and pious individuals, its proper
place among the various other benevolent  exertions which are made, through
the aids  of private and public  bounty, for meliorating the temporal and eternal
condition of man.   In the mean while, can not a few young men, of talents and
piety,  be led  to feel that the  thousands of our rising generation, the hope of
the church and the state, have  strong claims upon their benevolence; and
that to concentrate their time and their efforts to  such an enterprise, may be
as much their duty as to engage in the missionary  cause?  Missionaries
make  great  sacrifices, and practice much self-denial, and  endure weighty
labors, without any prospect  of temporal emolument, in order to train up hea-
then youth for usefulness  in  this  world, and for happiness in the  next; and
can not those be found who will undergo some sacrifices,  and self-denial, and
labor, to bring about  so great a good as a reformation in the instruction of
those youth  who are  hone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh?  Only admit
the importance of the object,  (and who can deny it?) and  it  almost looks like
an impeachment of their Christian sincerity,  to  suppose that among those
hundreds of young men who  are pressing  forward into the ranks of charita-
ble enterprise, none can be persuaded to enter upon a  domestic field of labor,
which promises so much for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom.
                                 29 
222
MR. GALLAUDET, ON TEACHERS' SEMINARIES.
No, only let the project be begun, let the way of usefulness be opened, let the
countenance and  support of even a few  pious and influential individuals be
afforded, and I am  persuaded that agents to carry on the work, at least to
commence it, will not be wanting.
  The difficulty is not in being unable to procure such agents :  it lies deeper:
it arises from the very little interest that has yet been taken in the subject ;
from the strange  neglect,  among parents, and patriots, and Christians, o  a
well-digested and systematic  plan for the education of children and youth;
from the sluggish contentment that is feit with the long established  modes of
instruction; and  from the  apprehensions that all improvements are either
unsafe or chimerical.                                             , .
  Once rouse this apathy into the putting forth of a little exertion, and invest
the subject with  its true dignity and importance, and let it be felt that the
church is under the most solemn obligations to feed the lambs of her flock,
and your young men will come at her bidding, to spend their  strength  and
their days in this  delightful service.
  But these young men are poor and cannot defray the expense oja prepara-
tory education at  such a Seminary as has been proposed.
  Poor young men  are taken by  the hand of charity, and prepared for other
spheres of benevolent exertion ;  and shall this wide, and as yet almost uncul-
tivated field of benevolence be quite neglected, for the want of a little pecu-
niary aid 1  Who gave the first impulse to Foreign Missionary  efforts ?  Was
nothing done until the whole Christian public was awakened to a sense of its
duty i   Did this mighty enterprise begin in the collected councils of  the grave
and the venerable fathers of the  church ?  Was the Avhole plan of operation
digested and  matured in all its parts, and no steps taken until all obstacles
were  removed, and  patronage, and  influence, and means  collected  and  con-
centrated to insure the successful  prosecution of the vast design 1   No;
long, long before all this complicated machinery was put in motion, the  mas-
ter-spring was at  work, and  a few  pious and  prayerful young men gave an
impulse, at first to private zeal, and  afterward to public co-operation, and the
result fills us with gratitude and astonishment.
  Let a Mills and his associates arise to a hearty engagedness in the project
of diffusing throughout our  country a system for the best mode of conducting
the education  of  youth ; let  their faith be strong,  and their  perseverance
unwavering ; and influence and wealth will soon contribute their share in the
prosecution of the work ; and poverty on  the part of those who are  willing to
endure the  heat and burden of the  day, will cease to be an obstacle in the
way of accomplishing their benevolent designs.   Providence can, in this, as
in all the other departments of his dispensations, make even the selfish pas-
sions of our nature  contribute to the promotion of good and charitable exer-
tions.                                                            .
  Those who should devote themselves to the business of the instruction of
youth as a profession, and who should prepare themselves for it by a course of
study and discipline at such a Seminary as I have proposed, would not find it
necessary, as our missionaries do, to depend on the charity of their country-
men for support.   Their talents, their qualifications, and  their recommenda-
tions, would inspire public  confidence, and command public patronage.   For
experience would soon prove, if it can not be now seen in prospect, that to
save time in the  education of youth, and to have  this education complete
instead of being  imperfect, and  to  prepare the  youthful mind for accurate
thought, and correct feeling] and practical, energetic action, in all the  busi-
ness of life, is to save money ; and even those who now expend a few dollars
with so niggardly a hand, in  the education of their dear, immortal  offspring,
would soon learn how to calculate on the closest principles of loss and gain,
in the employment of instructors, and be willing to give twice as much to him
who would do his work twice as well and in half the time, as they now give
to him who has neither skill nor experience in his profession.
   Am I extravagant  in these speculations ■?   I  think I am not; and if my
readers will exercise a  little  more patience, I hope to show, that in adopting
the plan Avhich I have proposed, there will be an actual saving of money to
individuals and to the sts-*  in  addition to those numerous advantages in a 
MR. GALLAUDET, ON TEACHERS' SEMINARIES.          223
social, political, and religious point of view, that would result from it, and
which are, if I mistake not, so great, that if they could not be attained in
any other way, a pecuniary sacrifice ought not for a moment to stand in com-
petition with them.
  My  reasoning is  founded on two positions which, I think, can not be con-
troverted ;—that the present modes of instructing youth are susceptible of
vast improvement; and that if these improvements could be carried into
operation, by having a more effectual system of education adopted, and by
training up instructors of superior  attainments and skill, there Avould be a great
saving, both of time and labor, and of all the contingent expenses necessary
to be incurred.                                        .             ,
   Suppose, for the sake  of argument, though I believe it  falls short ot the
truth, that eight years of pretty constant attendance at school, counting from
the time that a child begins to learn his letters, is necessary to give him what
is called a good English  education.  I do not fear to  hazard the  assertion,
that under an approved system of education, with suitable books prepared for
the purpose, and conducted by more intelligent and experienced instructors,
as much would be acquired in five years, by our children and youth, as is now
acquired in eight.                                       ...      /•
   Now with regard to those parents who calculate on  receiving benefit from
the  labor of their children, it will easily be seen that, by gaining three years
out of eight in the course  of their education, there will  be an immense saving
to the state.  This saving alone  Avould,  I apprehend, if youth were usefully
 employed,  more than defray the additional wages which  would  have to  be
 given to instructors of skill and experience, and who should  devote themselves
 to their employment as a profession for life. But if even the advantage to
 be derived from the labor of children is  not  taken into the account, it is evi-
 dent  that, for having  the same object accomplished in five  years that now
 consumes eight, you could at least afford to pay as much for five years of
 instruction as you  now pay for eight.  In addition to this, as it is the custom
 in many of our country towns for the instructor to board  in the families of
 those who  send children  to school, there  would  be  a saving also  in this
 respect.  There would be a saving, toovwith regard  to all the  contingent
 expenses  of the school, such as  books, stationery, wood, &c
   In a community constituted like that of New England, where so great a
 proportion of its population is devoted to agricultural and mechanical pursuits,
 any system of education  Avhich could save the public three years out of eight
 of the time and labor of all its children and  youth, Avould,  it is manifest, add
 an immense sum  to the  pecuniary resources of the country, and recommend
 itself to every patriot and philanthropist, even on the most rigid principles of
 a calculating economy.
    Besides, the grand objects of education—to prepare the rising generation
 for usefulness and respectability in life, and to train them  up for a better and
 happier state of existence beyond the grave—would not only be accomplished
 in a  shorter space of time, but they would be much more  effectually accom-
 plished.  At present, with all the time, and labor, and  expense bestowed upon
 it, the work is only half done; and the  effects of our imperfect modes  of
 instruction are to render youth  far less competent to succeed in any pursuits
 in which  they may engage, than if their education  was conducted by intelli-
 gent instructors, on a well-digested plan, and made as thorough and complete
 as it might be.                                 .
    How often has the individual  of native vigor of intellect and force ot enter-
 prise to lament, through a long  life of unremitted effort,  his many disap-
  pointments in the  prosecution of his plans of business, arising altogether from
  the defects of his early  education !  And if this early education  were prop-
  erly conducted, what an  accession it  would yield to  the resources ot the
  community, in the superior ingenuity  and  skill of our artists;  in the more
  accurate  and systematic  transactions of our merchants ; in the  profounder
  studies and more successful labors of our professional men;  in the wider
  experience and deeper  sagacity of our  statesmen and  politicians; in  the
  higher attainments and  loftier productions of our sons of literature and  sci- 
224          MR. GALLAUDET, ON TEACHERS' SEMINARIES.
 ence ; and, permit me to add, in the nobler patriotism, the purer morals, and
 the more a.rdent piety of the whole mass  of our citizens.
   I know it is no easy task to convince some minds that all these advantages
 yield just so many dollars and cents to the private purse, or to the public
 treasury.  But my appeal is  to those who take a more comprehensive view
 of what constitutes  the real wealth of  any community, and who estimate
 objects not by Avhat they will to-day fetch in the market, if exposed to sale,
 but by their effects  upon  the permanent well-being  and  prosperity of the
 state.
   With such I leave the candid consideration  of the remarks Avhich  I have
 offered in this and the preceding Essays ; in the mean while, cherishing the
 hope, that  that Being who is now most wonderfully adjusting the various
 enterprises of benevolence, that distinguish the age in which we live from all
 others Avhich have preceded it, to the consummation of His gracious designs
 for the universal  happiness of man, on the principles which the gospel of
 Jesus Christ inculcates, and which it alone can produce, will,  sooner or later,
 and in some way  or  other, rouse the attention, and direct the efforts of the
 Christian world to that department of philanthropic exertion, the  neglect of
 which must retard, if not quite counteract, complete success in all others,—
 the education of youth."

   After  the lapse  of a quarter of a century, the  author of the  above
 remarks had the  satisfaction of being present on the 15th of May, 1850,
 at New Britain, and of taking part in exercises  appropriate to  the open-
 ing of the " Normal School, or Seminary for the training of teachers in
 the art of instructing and governing the common  schools of this state."
 The members of the school, during the first  term, formed an  Association
 for mutual improvement, to which they  have  given  the name of the
 " Gallaudet Society," as  an evidence of their appreciation of  his early
and long-continued labors to bring about the  establishment of a Normal
 School in Connecticut. 
  The following Catalogue of all the Pupils of the American Asylum from
its opening on  the  15th  of  April, 1817, to the 1st of May, 1851, was pre-
pared by  Prof. O. D. Cooke, and revised by Mr. Weld and Prof. Turner.
The remarks which follow the catalogue, are communicated by Prof. Turner. 
        List of Pupils of the American Asylum
FROBI THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE INSTITUTION IN 1817, TO MAY, 1851.
Names.	Residence.	Time of adm. 1829	be <	Cause of deafness.	Deaf and Dumb relatives.	How supported.	Time under instruc.		Remarks.	
Abbot, Laura	Lyndeborough, N. H.		18	Illness at 1J years.		N. Hamp.	4	yrs.	Married a deaf mute.	
Abell, Chloe	St. Albans, Vt.	"	18	Dis. in the head at 8 mo.		Vermont.	4		Married a deaf mute; dead.	
Aiken, Mary	Londonderry, "	1827	15	Scarlet fever at 4 years.		cc	4			
Alcorn, William	Boston, Mass.	1849	23	Unknown.		Mass.			Now a pupil.	
Alexander, Albert	Brattleboro, "Vt.	1S26	15	Congenital.		Vermont.	4			
Alexander, Wm., Jr.	Cavendish, "	1833	24	Unknown.		cc	1*			
Allard, Alonzo	Newark, "	1849	14	Congenital.	1 brother.	cc			Now a pupil.	
Allard, Jonathan	cc cc	1841	16		1 brother.	cc	5			
Allen, Adoniram J.	Raynham, Mass.	1847	12		1 brother.	Mass.			Now a pupil.	
Allen, Asa	Canterbury, Conn.	1845	9		Father & moth.,	Conn.	5			
Allen, Delia A.	Westfield, Mass.	1839	10		[1 cous. & 2 sis.	Mass.	5			
Allen, Eliza	Canterbury, Conn.	1849	9		Father & moth. [1 bro. & 1 sis.	Conn.			Now a pupil.	
Allen, George W.	i< <<	1817	14	" [mo.	3 children.	Friends.	1	mo.	A farmer; married a deaf mute.	
Allen, Helena P.	Lynn, Mass.	1846	13	Whooping Cough at 6		Mass.			Now a pupil.	
Allen, Irenus	Hartland, Vt.	1848	9	Dropsy in head at 1J yrs.	1 sister.	Vermont.			Now a pupil.	
Allen, James M.	East Windsor, Conn.	1840	13	Congenital.#	2 sisters.	Conn.	6	yrs.		
Allen, Margaret	CC C<	1S50	11	(C	1 bro. and sis.	"			Now a pupil.	
Allen, Mary M.	cc "	1840	10	cc	1 bro. and sis.	Fd's & Conn.	6	cc		
Allen, Phebe	Nantucket, Mass.	1830	21	CC		Mass.	3J	cc		
Allen, Rebekah	Hartford, Me.	1825	22	cc	4 bro & sis. and	Maine.	4	cc	-	
Allen, Sally	Fairfield, Conn.	1830	21	Dropsy in head at 3 yrs.	[11 other rela.	Conn.	1	"		
Allen, Sarah	Canterbury, "	1843	10	Congenital.	Fath. & mother,	cc	6	cc		
Allison, Archibald	Windsor, N. S.	"	11	Scarlet fever at 3 years.	[bro. and sis.	Friends.	5	cc		
Andrews, Henry	Preston, Conn.	1832	13	Lost hearing in infan'y.		Conn.	4	cc	A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.	
Andrews, John	Solon, Me.	1847	23	Congenital.	1 fourth cousin.	Maine.	4	cc	A mechanic.	
Andrews, Leonard	Essex, Mass.	<<	9	"		Mass.	1	"	Died at the Asylum.	
Arnold, Sophia M.	Wethersfield, Conn.	1834	14	Scarlet fever at 2 years.	1 sister.	Conn.	3	mo.	cc cc	
Arrington, James	Salem, Mass.	1827	15	Congenital.		Mass.	4	yrs.	A mechanic; married a deaf	mute;
Atkins, Galen H.	Duxbury, Vt.	1835	13	Infla'n in head at 2 J yrs.		Vermont.	5	cc		[dead.
Atkins, Samuel W.	Bristol, Conn.	181810		Illness at 1 year.		Conn.	4	"	A mechanic ; married.	
Atkinson, Hannah	Wolfboro', N. H.	183214		Brain fever at 2 years.		N. Hamp.	3J	"	A tailoress.	
Atwood, Ralph H. '	Watertown, Conn.	1848	10	Scar, fev.at 4 yrs. 9 mo.		Conn.			Now a pupil.	
 
Atwood, William T.
Augur, Charles H.
Austin, James
Averill, William H.
Avery, Hannah A.
Ayers, Thomas
Backus, Levi S.
Backus, Lucy,
Bacon, Julia A.
Badger, Abigail
Badger, Mary E.
Badger, Oliver,
Bailey, Austin
Bailey, Harriet
Bailey, Maria
Bailey, Osgood
Bailey, William
Baker, Abby J.
Balch, George H.
Baldwin, Charles O.
Ball, Benjamin W.
Ball, Danforth E.
Ball, George W.
Ball, Julia R.
Ballard, Melville
Barber, Loren
Barber, Thirza L.
Barnard, Albert F.
 Barnard, Anna
 Barnard, Lucretia
 Barnes, James
 Barnes, Marshall P.
 Barnes, Mary
 Barnum, Norval D.
 Barrett, Charles
 Barrows, Daniel M.
 Bartlett, Abigail
 Bartlett, Franklin  P.
 Bartlett, Harriet
 Bartlett, Leonard
Plymouth, Mass.
Milford, Conn.
Swanton, Vt.
Branford, Conn.
Salina, N. Y.
Boston, Mass.
Hebron, Conn.
Plainfield, "
Roxbury, Mass.
Charlestown, Mass.
West Springfield,"
Norwich, Conn.

N. Bridgeton, Me.
Boston, Mass.
Fairfield, Conn.
Bradford, Mass.
Chester, Vt.
Wendell, Mass.
   cc      cc     /
Amherst, Me.
Suffield,  Conn.
Fryeburgh, Me.
Hartford, Conn.
Killingly,  "
Nantucket, Mass.
Baltimore, Md.
Blackstone, Mass.
    cc         cc
Shoreham, Vt.
New Ipswich, N. H.
Bridport, Vt.
Nottingham, N. H.
East Killingly, Conn.
1825
1846
1845
1837
1836
1848
1817
1817
1833
1832
1837
1848
1830
1817
1817
1835
1844
13! Congenital.
10 A fall in infancy.
15! Dropsy on brain at 1 yr.
16 Unknown.
11 Convulsion fits at 7| yrs.
 9,Typhus fever at 1 yr.
14 Congenital
40
13
12
10
 9
14 Spotted fever at 1J yrs.
18| Congenital.
20 Small pox at 1 yr
183512
184310
1838
1825

184S
1825
1850
1840
1843
1832
1833
1826
1817
1846
1838
1833
1817
1830
184G
1850
1846
1847
Congenital
Inflam. fever at 15 mo
Unknown.
Congenital.
Blow on head at 1J yrs
Spotted fever.
IS
18
16
10i Congenital
14 Illness at 1 yr.
  A fall at 1 ^ yrs
  Ulcers in head
  Congenital.
Unknown.
Congenital.
Illness at 3 yrs.
Congenital.
1 bro. and 1 sis
1  «  and 1 "
2 sisters.

1 sis. and 1 bro.
1 "  and 1  "
1 second cousin
1 brother.

1 brother.
1 brother.
2 sisters.
1 sis. and 1 bro,
1 " and 1  "

1 sister.
1 brother.
Ulcers in head at 14 mo
     [1 cousin.
1 sis., 1 bro. and
2 sis. & 1 cous.
1 sis., 1 bro and
     [1 cousin
Mass.
Conn.
Vermont.
Conn.
Friends.
Mass.
Friends.

Mass.
Conn. (fcjF'ds.
  tc       cc
Me. & F'ds.
Mass.
Conn.
Mass.
Vermont.
Mass.

Maine.
Friends.
Maine.
Conn.

Mass.
Friends.
Mass.
  cc
Vermont.
Friends.
Vermont.
N. Hamp.
6  yrs,

5   "
5   «
mo.
yrs
Conn.
A mechanic.
Now a pupil.
A farmer.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.

Now a pupil.
Some years a teacher at Canajoharie, N.
            [Y.;  a printer and editor;
            [married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil.

Married.
Married a deaf mute.
A mechanic.

Dead.
A mechanic.
Died at the Asylum.
A farmer.
A teacher in Ohio  Inst, for D. and D.;
Died at the Asylum.         [married.

Now a pupil.


A mechanic ;  married a deaf mute.
Dead.
Married a deaf mute.
A mechanic;  married.

Married a deaf mute.

A manufacturer and farmer ; married.


 Now a pupil.

 Now a pupil. 
List  of Pupils—Continued.
Names.
 Bartlett, Mary
 Bartlett, Rebecca
 Bartlett, Sarah E.
 Bassett, Amanda
 Bassett, Amanda P.
 Bates, Abby E.
 Beall, Louisa
 Beall, Washington
 Beard, David
 Becker, Jacob
 Beckley, Julius
 Bedford, Caroline
 Beecher, Ferdinand A
 Beecher, Isaac
 Beers, Robert D.
 Belden, Emily
 Benjamin, Barzillai
 Bennett, Mary J.
 Bennison, Marg't H.
 Bennison, Matilda  B.
 Berry, Moses
 Berry, Sally A.
 Berry, Thomas H.
 Berton, Emma Ann
 Bigelow, Samuel S.
 Birdsong, Thomas  H.
 Bishop, Charles
 Bishop, David
 Bishop, Lorenzo
 Blaisdell, John W.
 Blakesley, Stephen A.
 Blanchard, Squire
Blasdell, William
Bliss, Eleazer W.
Bliss, Florilla
Residence.
 Plymouth, Mass.
 Brownington, Vt.
 Lyndeborough, N. H.
 Hinesburgh, Vt.
 Derby, Conn.
 Bellingham, Mass.
 Covington, Ga.
    cc       u
 Milford, Conn.
 Boston, Mass.
 Barre, Vt.
 New York.
 New Haven, Conn.
 Orange,
 Fairfield,
 Wethersfield,
 Bridgeport,
 Charleston, S.
 Salem, Mass.
   cc     cc
Palmyra, Me.
 Frederickton, N. B.
 Harvard, Mass.
 Calhoun's Ferry, Ga.
 Russell, Mass.
    cc     cc
 Unity,   N. H.
 Tamworth, "
 Roxbury, Conn.
 Hinsdale, N. H.
 Goffstown,  "
Springfield, Mass.
Lorain, N. Y.
Time
 of
adm.
1819
1836
1840
1834
1841
1849
1837
1835
1829
1847
1838
1818
1848
1821
1844
1828
1845
1847
1843
1845
 1839
 1844
 1835
 1819
  CC
 1844
 1849
 1S47
 1829
1827
1824
1821
Cause of deafness.
Illness at 1 yr.
Illness at 4 yrs.
Infla'n of brain at 1 yr.
Disease in head at 6 yrs
Congenital.
Scarlet fever at 1 yr.
Congenital.
Deaf and Dumb
   relative!.
Ulcers in head in infa'y
Unknown.
Catarrhal fever at 8 mo
Unknown.
A fall at 4 yrs.
Unknown.
Scarlet fever at 15 mo.
Congenital.
Whoop'g cough at 2 y's,
Scarlet fever at 5 mo.
Congenital.
A fall at 2 yrs.
Congenital.

Typhus fever at 3 yrs.
          "   at 2 yrs.
Illness at 1 year.
Congenital.

Lost hearing at 1 year.
Spotted fever at 9 mo.
Illness at 2J years.
Measles at 1 mo.
2 brothers.
1 bro. and 1 sis
1 bro., 1 sis. &
    [3 cousins
1 sister.
1  "
1 bro. and 1 sis
2 brothers.
1 bro. and 1 sis
1 bro. and 2 sis
1 brother.
1 brother.
How supported
Mass.
Vermont.
N. Hamp.
Vermont.
Conn.
Mass.
Georgia.

Friends.
Mass.
Vermont.
Friends.
Conn.
Friends.
Conn.
  cc
Friends.
S. Carolina.
Me. & Mass.
 <<      cc
Maine.
Friends.
Mass.
Georgia.
Mass.
  cc
N. Hamp,
  cc
Conn.
N. Hamp.

Friends.
 Time
 under
instru •
6  yrs
4   "
3   "
H  "
3  mo
Remarks.
A tailoress.
Married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil.


A mechanic.
Now a pupil.

Died at the Asylum.

A farmer;  married a deaf mute.
A mechanic.
Now a pupil.
A mechanic; dead.
A mechanic; married.
A mechanic.
Now a pupil.
  cc      cc
A laborer.

A farmer; married. 
Blizzard, Dorsey D. |NearMilledgeville,Ga.		1837	22	Congenital.	2 sis.,1 br.,2co.	Georgia.
Blizzard, Elizabeth	cc cc cc	LS36	14	Lost hearing at 2 yrs.	1 sis. &4cous.	cc
Blizzard, Halstead	CC CC CC	1837	11	Congenital.	2 sis.,1 br., 2 co.	"
Blizzard, Penney	cc cc cc	1»3C	11	"	2br.,l sis.,2co.	"
Blizzard, Sarah	'cc cc cc	1837	10	"	1 sis.,2 br., 2co.	"
Boardman, Eliza C.	Whitesborough, N. Y.	LS17	24	Illness at 2J yrs.	1 brother.	friends.
Boardman, Esther	Middlebury, Vt.	1S2G	16	Lost hearing at 4 mo.		Vermont.
Boardwin, Delia D.	3oston, Mass.	1845	LI	Congenital.	1 bro. and 1 sis.	Mass.
O^Boardwin, George	" "	"	8	"	2 sisters.	(<
^Boardwin, Susan F. A.	cc cc	"	10	cc	1 sis. and 1 bro.	"
Bogan, Jane	Jasper Co., Ga.	1839	27	"	1 sister.	Friends.
Bogan, Rosanna	" " "	"	23	"	1 "	"
Booth, Edmund	Longmeadow, Mass.	1828	17	Spotted fever at 4J yrs.		Mass.
Bosworth, Jacob	Buckfield, Me.	1S25	16	Congenital		Maine.
Bowdish, Moses S.	Douglass, Mass.	1830	24	"	1 "	Mass.
Bowdish, Paulina	cc cc	1831	14	"	1 bro. & 3ch'n.	"
Bowers, Caroline	Bristol, N. H.	1825	12	Scarlet fever at 2| yrs.		N. Hamp.
Boyce, Aldis	Richmond, "	1841	17	Whoop'g cough at 6 mo		"
Boyden, Esbon D.	Hardwick, Mass.	1825	15	Lost hearing in infancy.		Mass.
Brace, Julia (deaf,	Hartford, Conn.	"	18	Typhus fever at 4 J yrs.		Asy. & Fr'ds
[dumb and blind,)						
Brackett, Joshua	Hermon, Me.	1840	25	Fever at 4 J yrs.		Maine.
Bracy, Lydia	Somersworth, N. H.	1846	21	Scarlet fever at 3 yrs.		N. Hamp.
Bradbury, Mary C.	Buxton, Me.	1845	11	Congenital.		Maine.
Bradley, Aaron B.	Fairfield, Conn.	1828	15	"		Conn.
Bradley, David F.	Newfane, Vt.	1833	12	cc		Vermont.
Breck, Josephine M.	Medfield, Mass.	1849	19	Scarlet fever at 2 yrs.		Friends.
Brewster, John	Hampton, Conn.	1817	15	Congenital.		Himself.
Brick, John	Boston, Mass.	1849	9	Fits at 9 mo.		Mass.
Bridgman, Asa D.	Dorchester, N. H.	"	17	Scarlet fever at 9 mo,		N. Hamp.
Bridgman, Emily	Westhampton, Mass.	1844	9	Ulcers in head at 2 yrs.		Mass.
Briggs, Lewis	Turner, Me.	1835	22	Illness at 1J yrs.		Me. & Fr'ds
Briggs, Sarah J.	Brandon, Vt.	1839	12!lnfla'n in head at 1 yr.			Vermont.
Brightman, Job A.	Westport, Mass.	1840	12 Congenital.		1 brother.	Mass.
Briglitman, Theodore	" "	1843	12		1 "	"
Brooks, Catharine P.	East Bloomfield.N.Y	1818	10 Fever at 4 yrs.			Friends.
Brown, Alba S.	Montpelier, Vt.	1850	K	(Disease in head at 1 yr		Vermont.
Brown, John G.	Providence, R. I.	1S2&	V,	> " " 7 yrs	[2 cos. & child.	Friends.
Brown, Thomas	Ilennikcr, N. II.	182:	18 Congenital.		Fath., sis.,aunt	N. Hamp.
Brown, Samuel A,	Milford, Conn.	1844	11	<c	5 other rela's.	Conn.
3
3
5
n
5
2
4
6
6
6
1
3
4
3
3
5
4
yrs. A mechanic.
    Died at the Asylum.
Married a deaf mute.
   Married.         [married a deaf mute.
   Married.      [county recorder in IoAva;
   A teacher 7 years in the Asylum ; farmer,
   Married a deaf mute.
   A mechanic ;  married.
   Married a deaf mute.
   Married a deaf mute.
   Married.

   A boarder in the Asylum.

   A mechanic.
   In a factory.

   A mechanic.

   Now a pupil.
   A portrait painter.
   Now a pupil.

   Dead.
   A farmer.

    A mechanic.
mo. Died at the Asylum.
yrs A teacher in the American Asylum.
    Noav a pupil.
    A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
    A mechanic and farmer ; married a deaf
                                   [mute. 
List  of  Pupils—Continued.
Name.	Residence.
Bruce, Caroline M.	Andersonville, S C.
Bruce, Harriet	C-l cc
Bruce, Mary A.	cc cc
Buckley, Eliaha	Ellington, Conn.
Budlong, James-	Warwick, R. I,
Buell, Harry	Pittsford, Vt.
Burlum, George	Salem, Mass.
Bugbee, Amanda M.	Montpelier, Vt.
Bugbee, Chloe	" "
Bull, Celestia	Winchester, Conn.
Bullard, Betsey	New Marlboro', Mass
Bullard, Minerva	cc cc cc
Burbank, James	Barnet, "Vt.
Burgess, Charles	NeAv Bedford, Mass.
Burgess, Susanna	Grafton, Vt.
Burnam, Pliny D.	Middletown, "
Burpe, John B.	Frederickton, N. B.
Burseil, Salome	Candia, N. H.
Burt, Freeman	Cincinnati, Ohio.
Burton, Eliza	Wilton, N. H.
Butler, David	Gloucester, Mass.
Butler, Hannah S.	Thomaston, Me.
Butler, James S.	cc cc
Butler, John, Jr.	cc cc
Butler, Sally T.	Nottingham, N. H.
Buxton, Jonathan, Jr.	Danvers, Mass.
Buxton, William	cc cc
Time
 of
adm.
Buzzell, Lydia A.
Buzzell, Sarah
Byington, Charles II.
CadAvell, George
Campbell, Abner P.
Campbell, Alexander
Campbell, Christina
Campbell, Donald
Barrington, N. H.

Southington, Conn.
|Winchester, N. H.
Bowdoin, Me.
St. Paul's Island, N.S
1835
1842
1835
1830
1842
1817
ilS46
1845

1818
1S23
1825
1826
1819
1825
1826
1842
1836
1818
1834
1848
1842
1833
1846
1842
1850
1841
1847
1830
1843
1845
1844
Cause of deafness.
Deaf and Dumb
  relatives.
Congenital.
Unknown.
Scarlet fever at 1 yr.
Congenital.

Ulcers in head at 2£ yrs.
Congenital.
Spotted fever at 2 yrs.
Congenital.

Spotted fever at 3 yrs.
A fall at 11 yrs.
Scarlet fever at 1| yrs.
Spotted fever at  2£ yrs.
Congenital.
Ulcers in head at 2 yrs.
Unknown.
Spotted fever at  1J yrs
Dro'sy in head at 1J yrs
Congenital.
Ulcers in head at 1J yrs
Congenital.
Lost hearing at 2 yrs.
Congenital.
1 sister.
  sister.
4 sister.
How supported,
^ sis. oc  1 cous. S. Carolina.
        1   "
Conn.
Fr'ds & R. I.
Friends.
Mass.
Vermont.
2 brothers,
I bro. and
1  "
3 cousins.
1 brother.
I    "
1 sis. and
L  "
1 sis
1 "
lbro.
1
1  "
1  "
2 brothers.
I bro  and
Conn.
Mass.

Vermont.
Mass. & F'ds
Vermont.
Friends.

N. Hamp.
Friends.
Vermont.
Mass.
Maine.
N. Hamp.
Mass.

N. Hamp.

Conn.
N. Hamp.
Maine.
Friends.
 Time
 under
instruc.
1 sis.
 1  yrs
 5   "
4   "
2J  «
5   "
3   "
3   "
2   "
2   "
5   "
6  mo.
5i yrs.
4   "
4   "
4   "
4
3J
3

I
1
1
4

5



4
3
3
6
2
Married.
Married a deaf mule.
Married.
A farmer; married.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
Dead.
A mechanic.
Married a deaf mute.

Married a deaf mute; dead.
A mechanic; married.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute; dead.
Remarks.
A farmer; married.
A mechanic.
Married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil.
Dead,
Married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil.
A mechanic.
Noav a pupil.
Dead.
Now a pupil.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute.
Died in the Asylum. 
Campbell, George
Campbell, Jane
Campbell, Seth
Campbell, Sophia
Carlin, Sarah J.
Carpenter, Willard
Carter, Ferdinand A.
Carter, James C.
Challis, Lucinda S.
Chamberlain, Thos.  J
Chamberlain,Wm. M
Chamberlayne, E'd P.
Chamberlayne, H. M.
Champlin, Sarah
Chandler, George H.
Chandler, John J,
Chapman, Laura
Chase, William K.
Chipman, Esther L.
Church, Zalmon A.
Clark, Abigail
Clark, Ambrose  B.
Clark, Avery L.
Clark, David P.
Clark, John
 Clark, Mary M,
 Clark, Orinda
 Cleaves, Daniel
 Clement, Emily  A.
 Cleveland,  Polly
 Closson, George  W.
 Closson, Harriet T.
 Closson, Jeremiah
 Clough, Benjamin
 Clough, Sylvester
 Cobb, Abigail
 Cobb, Caroline
 Cobb. Lydia
 Cobleigh, Henry
 Cochran, Sarah J.  A
Bowdoin, Me.
Bedford, N. H.
Cambridge, Mass.
Littleton, N. H.
Auburn, Mass.
Etna, Me.
Danville, N. H.
Bangor, Me.
South Reading, Mass
Richmond, Va.

Colchester, Conn.
Montague, Mass.
Alstead, N. H.
Glastenbury, Conn.
Charlestown, Mass.
Oxford, Me.
Mansfield, Conn.
New Boston, N. H.
Groton, Conn.
Middleboro', Mass.
Rindge,     N. H.
New Boston,  "
Lyme, Conn.
Halifax, Vt.
 Saco, Me.
 Chelsea, Vt.
Burlington, Conn.
 Lyme,
Gilmanton, N. H.
Wentworth,   "
Hancock,     "

Nelson,       "
Worcester, Mass.
New Boston, N. H.
1850,13
184423
1841J21
1845 20
 "    8
1822 12
1849  9
182915
184417
184511
1844J12
1830  9
185014
183016
183813
Congenital.
1 bro. and 1 sis.
1 sis. & 1 cous.
2 cousins.
I sis.& 1 cous.
1823
Fever at 4| yrs.
Ulcers in head at 1 yr.
Measles at 1£ yr.
Unknown.
Scarlet fever at 7£ yrs.
   '      "     5 yrs.
Congenital.
20
1831
1849
1842
1830J16
1828 15
1846 15
1830,13
1825 11
1828 1C
1843:12
182523
183820
     17
1830
1839
1833
1825
1847
1844
lSlSjll
183514
182121
1827114
Infla'n in head at 1 yr.
Congenital.

Throat distem. at 4 yrs
[nfla'n in head at 6 mo
Congenital.
Spotted fever at 6 mo.
Illness in childhood.
Congenital.
Measles at 2 yrs.
Spotted fever at 2  yrs.
Accident at 1£ yrs.
Congenital.
Typhus fever at 2J yrs.
Fever at 8 yrs.
Illness at 1J yrs.
Congenital.
2 bro. and 1 sis.
2 bro. and 1 sis,
1 sister.
I sister.
Spotted fever at 6 yrs.
Scarlet fever at 1 yr.
Scarlet fever at 3 yrs.
Congenital.

Became deaf at 2 yrs.
Spotted fever at 1 j yrs.
1 brother.
1 sister.
1 bro. and 1 sis,
2 brothers.
1 bro. and 1 sis,

1 uncle,
2 sisters.
2  "
2  "
1 brother.
Maine.
N. Hamp.
Mass
N. Hamp.
Mass.
Maine.
N, Hamp.
Friends.
Mass.
Friends.

Conn.
Mass.
N. Hamp.
Conn.
Mass.
Maine.
Conn.
N. Hamp.
F'ds & Conn
Mass.
N. Hamp.

Conn.
Vermont.
Maine.
Vermont.
Conn.
N. Hamp.
Mass.
N. Hainp.
yrs.
o  yrs
4   "
Now a pupil.
At service.
Noav a pupil.
A mechanic.
A mechanic.
A mechanic.
Married a deaf mute.

Now a pupil.

A laborer; married.
Married a deaf mute.

A mechanic.
A farmer ;  twice married to deaf mutes.
A farmer;  married a deaf mute.

Dead.
Married a deaf mute.

Married a deaf mute.
A mechanic ;  married.

A laborer.
A mechanic;  married a deaf mute.

Dead.
A farmer; married.
Died at the Asylum. 
List  of  Pupils—Continued.
Namk.
 Coe, Sherman D.
 Collin, Lucy S.
 Collin, Sally C.
 Cogswell, Alice
 Col ton, Celinda A.
 Compton, Eleanor A.
 Compton, John W.

 Comstock, George
 Converse, Gustavus A.
 Cook, Jane
 Cook, Lauretta A.
 Coon, Amos
 Cooper, Julia A.  C.
 Coming, Sherburn L.
 Cotton, John R.
 Covell, Martin N.
 Covell, Sylvester
 Cowles, Emily A.
 Cox, Owen, Jr.
 Crane, Elizabeth
 CraAvford, William A.
 Criminings, Margaret
 Crouch, Lois
 Crowninshield, Leon'd
 Culver, Henry
Cummings, George W.
 Cunningham, Martha
 Curtice, Emily
 Curtis, Ann
Curtis, Ebenezer W
Curtis, George
Curtis, Moses
Curtis, Olive S.
Cushing, Mary H.
Middletown, Conn.
Newburyport, Mass.
Wolf borough, N. H.
Hartford, Conn.
Vershire, Vt.
Georgetown, D. C.
Newport, R. I.
Rindge, N. H.
Kingston,    Mass.
Provincetown,  "
Brooklyn,    Conn.
North Haven,  "
Manchester, N. H.
Plymouth, Mass.
Williston, Vt.
Berlin,    "
Cheshire, Conn.
Boston, Mass.
Horton, Nova Scotia.
Bath, Me.
Cambridge, Mass.
Boxborough,  "
Hinsdale, N.  H.
Manchester, Vt.
Antrim, N. H.
Greenville Dist., S. C,
Florida, N. Y.
Leeds, Me.
Wells,  «
Leeds,  "
Norwich, Vt.
Time
 of
adm
 1841
 1850
 1839
 1817
 1843
 1832
 1831

 1817
 1850
 18 30
 1844
 1831
 1835
 184!
 183-;
 182."
 1820
 1S28
 1846
 1845
 1829
 1847
 1829
 1832
 1840
 1837
 1847
 1833
 1S31

1819
1833
1825
1832
Cause of deafness.
Deaf and Dumb
   relatives.
Whooping cough.
Congenital.

Spotted fever at 2| yrs
Congenital.
Scarlet fever at 3£ yrs.
Congenital.
Illness at 3 yrs.
Congenital.
A fall at 4 yrs.
Scarlet fever at 10 mo.
Congenital.
 carlet fever at 2 yrs.
Congenital.
Scarlet fever at 2 yrs.
Congenital.

Spotted fever at 2£ yrs.
Illness at 1 yr.
Ulcers in head at 1J yrs.
Illness at 6 mo.
Congenital.
Palsy at 10 mo.
Congenital.
Typhus fever at 1J yrs
Congenital.
1 brother.
1 sister.
4 bro. and 1 sis
1 cousin.

2 bro. and 1 sis,
1 bro. and 2 sis
1 bro. and 2 sis

1 sis. and 2 bro
How supported.
Conn.
Mass.
N. Hamp.
Friends.
Vermont.
Friends.
Mass.

Conn.

N. Hamp.
Friends.
  cc
Vermont.
Conn.
Mass.
Friends.
Maine.
Mass.
  cc
N. Hamp.
F'ds and Vt.
N. Hamp.
So. Carolina,
Friends.
Maine.

Mass.
Maine.

Vermont.
 Time
 under
inslruc
yr.
mo,
yrs
Remarks.
Now a pupil.
A tailoress;  married.
Dead.

Dead.
Clerk in  the Treasc Department, Wash-
         ington ;  married a deaf mute.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
A tailoress ;  married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil.

A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.

Married a deaf mute.
Noav a pupil.

A mechanic; dead.
Now a pupil.
Married a deaf mute.
A laborer.
Married,

A farmer.
A farmer; married a deaf mute.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute 
Cutler, Abigail M.
Danforth, Warren 0.
Darling, Ann J.
Davenport, Angelina
Davenport, John  W.
David, John O.
Davis, Charles W.
Davis, Elijah R.
Davis, Francis C.
Davis, George W.
Davis, Hiram
Davis, Jeremiah, Jr.
Davis, Rosalia
Davis, Silas
Davison, Phirney J.
Day, Ann V.
Deberry, Edmund,  Jr.
Deering, Oliver D.
Denison, Almond
Denison, Alpa M.
Denison, Gratia
Denison, James
Deniston, Caroline
Deniston, Mariette
Deniston, Mercy
Dennis, Phebe
Denny, Edward  W.
Densmore, Asahel
Derby, Almeda
Derby, Elvira
 Derby, Ira
 Derby, Jordan
 Derby, Wilson
 Dickerman,Hannah B
 Dickinson, Eliza A.
 Dieuaide,  Frances
 Dieuaide, Mary A.
 Dillingham, Abigail
 Dillingham, Nancy
 Doring, Edward
Western, Mass.
|Berkshire, Vt.
Woodstock, "
Northampton, Mass.
Tiverton, R. I.
Boston, Mass.
Fairfield, Me.
Chesterfield, N. H.
Cambridge, Mass.
Milton,       "
Bennington, Vt.
Barnsted, N. H.
Havanna, W. Indies.
Whittingham, Vt.
Waterford,    "
West Springfield, Ms.
Lawrenceville, N. C.
Saco, Maine.
Washington, Vt.
Royal ton,    "
Francestown, N. H.
Fall River, Mass.
Leicester,   "
Conway, N. H.
Weymouth, Mass.
Shaftsbury, Vt.
Weymouth, Mass.
New Haven, Conn.
Essex,       "
Rockport, Mass.
Lee,
Pittsfield,
Boston,
1826	131	Illness at 4 yrs.		Friends.	3 yrs
1846	17	Ulcers in head at 1J yrs.		Vermont.	3 mo
1840	25	Measles at 1\ yrs.			2 yrs 3 "
1821	14	Spotted fever at2| yrs.		Mass.	
1847	12	Fits at 2 yrs.		R. Island.	
1824	11	Fever at 1J yrs.		Mass.	7 "
1848	17	Congenital.		Maine.	
1825	14	"		N. Hamp.	4 "
1848	9	[nfla'n in head at 9 mo.		Mass.	
1840	13	Congenital.	1 brother.		5 "
1839	15	Accident at 10 mo.		Vermont.	2 "
1834	IS	Unknown.		N. Hamp.	2 *s
1824	25	Congenital.		Friends.	8 "
1834	12	Ulcers in head at 2 yrs.		Vermont.	5 "
1843	12	Scarlet fever at 7 yrs.		"	4 "
1825	15	Illness at 1 yr.		Mass.	5J «
1838	15	Congenital.	2 sisters.	Friends.	4 "
1847	16	Scarlet fever at 1£ yrs.		Maine.	4 "
1828	14	Congenital.	2 sisters.	Vermont.	4 "
1838	17	cc	1 bro. and 1 sis.	"	3J "
H	15	cc	1 bro. and 1 sis.	"	5 "
1846	9	Scarlet fever at 4 yrs.		F'ds & Vt.	
1830	18	Congenital.	2 sisters.	N. Hamp.	4 "
<<	14	cc	2 sisters.	"	4 "
1834	14	cc	2 sisters.	N. H. & F'ds	3 "
1836	19	Measles at 2 yrs.		Mass.	5 "
1825	15	Spotted fever at 1 yr.		"	5 "
1844	17	Ulcers in head at 6 mo.		N. Hamp.	3 "
1825	15	Congenital.	2 bro. and 1 sis	Mass.	5£ "
"	14	<c	2 bro. and 1 sis.	"	5J «
1834	11	"	1 bro. and 2 sis.	CC	6 "
1849	ie	Scarlet fever at 4 yrs.		Vermont.	
1828	14	Congenital.	2 sis. and 1 bro	Mass.	5 "
1827	16	Illness at 1J yrs.		Conn.	4 "
1844	9	Scarlet fever at 1 yr.		"	6 "
1848	21	Congenital.	1 sister.	Mass.	3 "
'<	25	cc	1 sister, [rela's	"	1 "
1817	31	c<	1 sis. & 14 oth.	Mass. & F'ds.	4 "
1819	17	cc	1 sister.	Mass.	6 "
1S3G	10	Unknown.		Asylum.	6 "
Married a deaf mute ; dead.
                               [mute.
Now a pupil,   [chanic ;  married a deaf
2 years teacher in Asylum ; master me-
Now a pupil.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
Noav a pupil.
A mechanic.
Dead.
Died at the Asylum.
Died at the Asylum.
A mechanic.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute ; dead.
Dead.

Now a pupil.
Married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute.

A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.

Married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute ; dead.
A mechanic.
Now a pupil.
A mechanic; married a deaf mute.
Dead.
            [Inst, for D. and D. ; dead,
A teacher for 2 or 3 years in  the Penn.
Assistant matron in the Am. Asylum. 
List  of  Pupils—Continued.
Dorr, George
Doughty, Abigail
Douglas, Charles F.
Dow, Daniel W.
Downing, Jacob
Drew, Polly
Drury, John
Dudley, Julius
Dunbar, Abby Ann
Dunn, Martha
Dunning, Margaret
Dunning, Mary
Durkee, Harriet A.
Dutton, Abigail F.
Dyer, Eben P.
Earnest, William
Eastman, Elijah L.
Eastman, Rebecca
Edgetly, Josiah
Ed son, Prudence A. J.
Edson, Rhoda A. M.
EdAvards, Eliza A.
Edwards, Josephus B.
Ellis, Henry S.
Emerson, John
Emerson, Philenia
Emery, Ona C.
Eno, Amanda
Esty, CarolineE. A. F
Evans, Gay
Everton, Amos H.
EAvings, Alonzo H.
Fairbanks, Lucy A.
Felton, Ellen G.
Field, Hubbaid
Residence.
HaTlbwell, Me.
Brunswick, "
Westhcld, Mass.
Charlton,    "
Ivennebunkport, Me.
Duxbury, Mass.
St. Johns, N. B.
Stonington, Conn.
Taunton,   Mass.
Chelmsford,   "
Brunswick, Me.
Ncav Haven, Conn.
Somers,       "
Craftsbury, Vt.
Thorndyke,  Me.
Baltimore, Md.
Amherst, Mass.
Bath,   N. H.
Greenland, "
Hartford, Vt.

Gilmanton, N. H.
Lexington, Ga.
Thetford, Vt.
Durham, N. H.
Cambridge,  Mass.
Poland, Me.
Tariffville, Conn.
Boxford,    Mass.
Williamstown,"
Mendon>      "
Whiting, Vt.
Dedham,  Mass.
Deerfield,    "
Bernardston, "
Time
 of
adm
1850
1825
1833
1848
1829

1831
1818
1843
1826
1834
1828
1840

1835
1819
1821
1833
1839
1838
 (C
1844
1835
1847
1829
1826
1847
 I!
1839
1825
1840
1826
1842
1847
1834
Cause of deafness.
Congenital.
Unknown.
Ulcers at 1 yr.
Congenital.
Illness at 1| yrs.
Congenital.
Fever at 6 mo.
Unknown.
Congenital.
Lost hearing at 1 year.
Unknown.
Typhus fever at 4| yrs.
Ulcers in head at 10 mo.
Scarlet fever at 3 yrs.
Illness in infancy.
Congenital.
UnknoAvn.
Lost hearing at 2 yrs.
Unknown.
Ulcers at 10 mo.
   "  at  8  "
Scarlet fever at 4 yrs.
Congenital.
Spotted fever  at 1| yrs.
Fever at 4 yrs.
Measles at 6 mo.
Congenital.

Scarlet fever at4J yrs.
Congenital.
Fits at 1 yr.
Congenital.
Accident at 2| yrs.
Deaf and Dumb relatives.	How supported.	Time under instruc.	Remarks.	
6 other relat's.	Maine.	4 yrs.	JSlow a pupil. Married a deaf mute;	
	Mass. & F'ds.	7 "	A mechanic.	
1 sister.	Mass.		Now a pupil.	
	Maine.	4 "	A mechanic.	
	Friends.	3i « 2 " 4J "		
	Conn.		A laborer.	
	Mass.	4 " 4 " 4 "	Dead.	
	Maine.			
	Conn. CC	4 "	Married a deaf mute. Now a pupil.	
	Vermont.		cc cc	
	Maine.	41 cc	A mechanic.	
	Congress.	11 "	A mechanic; married.	
	Mass.	9 mo.	Dead.	
	N. Hamp,	4 yrs. li " 5 "	Married a deaf mute.	
1 sister.	Vermont.		Dead.	
1 "	cc N. Hamp.	7 " 5 "	Married a deaf mute.	
	Georgia.	5 "	A teacher in S. C. Inst for	D. and D.'
	Vermont.	2 "	[married	x deaf mute'
	N. H. & F'ds.	81 "	A farmer.	
	Mass.	5J »	Married a deaf mute.	
	Maine.		Now a pupil.	
	Conn.		cc cc	
	Mass. & F'ds.	8 "	Married a deaf mute.	
5 brothers.	"	5 "		
4 cousins.	"	5 "	A mechanic.	
	Vermont.	4 "		
	Mass.	6 " Married. 2 mo. Died at the Asylum.		
	"	5 yrs.		
 
Fisher, Charles
Fisher, Emeline
Fisher, James, Jr.
Fisk, Ferdinand
Fisk, Laura A.
Fisk, Newton
Fisk, Thomas
Fitch, Francis G.
Fitzpatrick, Edward
Flanagan, Amy
Flanders, Frederick
Fletcher, Amy
Forbes, Charlotte
Forbush, Harriet
Ford. John W.
Foster, Delight
Foster, Joseph B.
Foster, Sarah W.
Foster, Sophia A.
Fowler, Parnell
Fowler, Sophia
Frank, Francis E.
Frank, Joseph W.
Frank, Sarah J.
Fraser, William
French, David
French, David B.
French, John G.
Fuller, Aaron
Fuller, Augustus
Fuller, Lucius L.
Fuller, Lucy
 Fuller, Rodney  J.
 Fuller, Warren
 Fullerton, Alexander
 Furrow, Edward B.
 Gage, John
 Gale,  Caroline
 Garland, Ephraim
 Gates, Artemas
Harper's Ferry, Va
Boston,   Mass.
Springfield,"
Holliston,  "
Shelburne, "
Southport, Wis.
Chesterfield, N. H.
Lancaster, Mass.
Boston,      "
Alburgh, Vt.
Cornville, Me.
Rochester, Vt.
Berlin,     "
Stow, Mass.
Stratford, Conn.
Danville, Vt.
Seekonk, Mass.
Guilford, Conn.
   cc       cc
Gray, Me.
Charleston, S. C.
Oxford, Conn.
Hollis, N. II.
Epsom,  "
Deerfield, Mass.

Hampton, Conn.
Coventry,   "
Putney, Vt.
Coventry, Conn.
Boston,  Mass.
Westfield,   "
Chicago, 111.
Waltham, Mass.
Conway, N. H.
Worcester, Mass.
1834 12
1819
1828
1829
1848
1845
1825
1841
1847
1
1846
1828
1829
1833
1842
1831
1834
1838

1817'

1849
1846
    14
    13
    21
    10
     8
    50
    12
     8
    17
    18
    19
    14
    13
    13
    16
    13
    14
    14
    29
    19
    11
    17
    19
1836J13
182325
1834! 13
1827'l3
1818]  9
1824[l2
1828 21
Congenital.
Scarlet fever at 1 yr.
Dropsy in head at 9 mo.
Scarlet fever at 2 yrs.
Unknown.
Illness at 1  year.
Spotted fever at 3 yrs.
Dis. in head at 18 mo.
Scarlet fever at 5 yrs.
Unknown.
Scarlet fever at 2 yrs.
Congenital.
Scarlet fever at 2 yrs.
Whoop'g cough at 1  yr
Congenital.
Scarlet fever at 5 yrs.
Congenital.
Infla'n in head at 3 J yrs.
Illness at 5 yrs.
Congenital.
1835
1839
1831
1819
1850
1843
1825
1837
1835
Unknown.
Congenital.
Disease in head at 1 yr.
L brother.	Friends.	4 yrs.	A mechanic.
	Mass.	7 "	Married a deaf mute.
1 brother.	Mass. & F'ds.	4 "	A mechanic ; married a deaf mu
	Friends.	3 "	
	Mass.		Now a pupil.
	Friends.	4k "	
	Himself.	1 "	A farmer; married.
	Mass.	6 "	
	Vermont.	1 "	•
	Maine.	4 "	
	Vermont.	4 "	
	cc	4 "	Married a deaf mute ; dead.
	Mass.	5 "	Married a deaf mute.
	Conn.	5 "	A mechanic.
	Vermont.	1 "	
2 sis., 3 sec. cos.	Mass.	6 "	A mechanic; tAvicc married t<
1 bro. and 1 sis.	«	6 "	Married a deaf mute. |
1 " and 1 "	"	6 "	
1 sis. & 1 cous.	Friends.	2 "	
1 cc 1 cc	cc	4 "	Married.
	Maine.	5 "	Now a pupil.
	S. Carolina.	5 " 6 "	Married a deaf mute; dead.
	Friends.	3 mo.	
	N. Hamp.	5 yrs. 4 " 5 "	Dead.
1 brother.	Fd's & Mass.		A farmer; married a deaf mute.
1 "	Mass.	4 "	Artist.
	Conn.	2J "	
1 bro. and 1 sis.	cc	5 "	Married a deaf mute; dead.
1 sister.	Vermont.	2 "	Dead.
2 "	Conn.	4 "	A mechanic.
	Mass.	7 "	a cc Now a pupil.
	Friends.	7 "	
	Mass.	5 "	
1 brother.	N. Hamp.	4 "	A mechanic.
	Mass.	6 "	cc cc
[mutes. 
List  of Pupils—Continued.
Name.
Gavit, George
Genet, William M.
Gerrard, George A.
Gibson, Sarah M.
Giddings, Francis
Gilbert,  Harriet
Gilbert,  Mary
Gilman, Henry G.
Gillpatrick, Ellen M.
Glass, Susan
Gleason. Reuben, Jr.
Glynn, James
Glysson, Eunice M.
Gomez, Sarah S.
Goodrich, Henry
Goodrich, Laurette
Goodrich, Lucy J.
Goodwin, Asa
Gordon, Mary H.
Gove, Albert
GoAving, Harriet
Gowing, Nancy
Graham, Frances E.
Grant, Hiram, Jr.
Grant, Wentworth
Gray, William
Green, Cornelia E.
Green, Daniel
Green, Maria
Green, Samuel G.
Green, Sarah A.
Green, William H.
Greenleaf,  Sarah  A.
GreenAvood, Hannibal
GreenAvood, Sarah J.
Westerly, R. I.
Wethersfield, Conn.
Wilmington, N. C.
Westbrook, Me.
Franklin, Conn.
Derby,    "
Hebron,   "
Tamworth, N. H.
Bath,     Me.
Woohvich, "
Dorchester, Mass.
Hartford, Conn.
E. WilliamstoAvn, Vt.
NeAvburyport, Mass.
Worthington,   "
Chatham, Conn.
Cavendish, Vt.
Middleton, N. H.
Hollis, Me.
Henniker, N. H.
Danvers, Mass.
Boston,    "
Meredith, N. H.
East Windsor, Conn.
Warner, N.  H.
Glover, Vt.
Lawrence, N. J.
Griswold, Conn.
Warwick, Mass.
Hopkinton, R. I.
Waterford, Me.
Gardner,    "
Pittsfield, N. H.
Farmington, Me.
Time
 of
 adm.
1850
1824
1839
1850
1846
1845
1817
1845
1847
1831

1850
1831
1836
 1830

1834
1841
1840
1835
 1843
 1826
1843
1838
1841
1831
 1821
 1S49
 1S29
 1S49
 1S46

1842
1842
1S37
Congenital.
Brain fever at 9 mo.
Congenital.
Erysipelas at 1 yr.
Congenital.
 ;carlet fever at 3f yrs.
Scrofula at 2 yrs.
Congenital.
Unknown.
Congenital.
Spotted fever at 5 yrs.
Congenital.
Spotted fever at 1 yr.
Dis. in the head at 1 yr.
Spotted fever at 3 yrs.
        "    at 4  "
Illness at 3  yrs.
  "    at 6  "
Scarlet fever at 1 yr.
Illness at 2 J yrs.
Measles at 2 yrs.
Calomel gi'n for worms.
Fever at 2§ yrs.
Disease in head at 3 mo.
Congenital.   [at 6 mo.
Measles & whoop'g c'gh
Congenital.

Ulcers in head at  3 yrs
Congenital.
Scarlet fever at 6 mo.
Illness at 11 mo.
Disease in head at 2 yrs.
Deaf and Dumb relatives.	How supported.	Time under nstruc.	Remarks.	
	Rhode Island.		Now a pupil.	
1 sister.	Friends.	2 yrs.	Master of cabinet shop, N. Y. Ins	titution
		5 "	[for D.	and D.
	Maine.		Now a pupil.	
	Conn.	2* "	Died at the Asylum.	
	F'ds & Conn.	6^ "		
3 bro. and 1 sis.	Friends. N. Hamp. Maine.	4 " 5 "	Now a pupil.	
1 sister.	Mass. Conn. Friends.	4 " 4 " 3 "	Now a pupil.	
1 cousin.	F'ds & Mass.		Now a pupil.	
	Mass.	4 "	A mechanic ; married.	
	Conn.	4 "	A dress-maker; married.	
	Vermont.	4 "		
	N. Hamp.	3 "		
	Maine.	5 "	Married a deaf mute.	
	N. Hamp.	4 "	A farmer; married a deaf mute.	
	Mass.	6 " 6 "	Married a deaf mute.	
	N. Hamp.	1J «	Died at the Asylum.	
	Conn.	4 "	A mechanic.	
	N. Hamp.	4 "		
	Vermont.	4 "	A mechanic and farmer; married	; dead.
	Friends.	5 "		
	Conn.		Now a pupil.	
	Mass.	6 mo.		
	Rhode Island-		Now a pupil.	
	Maine.	5 yrs.		
1 uncle.	"	5 "	Clerk in Post-Office.	
	N. Hamp.	5 " Married a deaf mute,		
1 sister.	Maine.	5 " I		
1 brother.	CC	5 "	iDead.	
 
  Gregory, Frances A
  Grinnell, George P.
  Griswold,  Mary
  Griswold,  Ralph
  Crush, John E.
  Gurtridge, Emeline
  Hackett, Horatio N.
-.Haley, Augustus
(—'Haley, Nancy S.
  Haley, Tristam
  Hall, Charles P.
  Hallett, Ansenath L.
  Ham, John
  Ham, Lucy,
  Hamlin, Nancy  E.
  Hammond, Frances P.
  Hammond, Phebe P.
  Hammond, Susan M.
  Hancock,  Anthony M.
  Hancock,  Martin
  Hanchett, Ann D.
  Hanchett, Emeline
  Hartshorn, Sylvanus
  Harvey, Francis
  Harwell, Harrison
  Haskell, Elizabeth L.
  Haskell, George W.
  Hastings,  Daniel
  Hastings, Oliver F. W.
  Hatch, Harvey
  Haws, Elizabeth
  Hawks, Nehemiah M,
  Hawlcy,  Abigail
  Hayden,  Eveline
   Hazard, Enoch
   Head, Thomas  N.
   Herron, William S.
   Iligley, Harriet
   Hildreth, Mary E. '
   Hill, Emily
Norwalk, Conn.
Pomfret,   "
Enosburgh, Vt.
Simsbury, Conn.
Boston, Mass.
Horton, N. S.
Minot,    Me.
Orrington, "
Tuftonborough, N. II
Topsham, Me.
Belfast,
Westminster, Vt.
Farmington, N. H.
Lisbon,       "
Buxton, Me.
Brookfield, Mass.
    cc       cc
Worcester,  "
Charlotte, Va.
    cc       cc
Canton,  Conn.
Salisbury,  "
Dover, Mass.
East Haddam, Conn.
Prattville, Ala.
XeAvburyport, Mass.
Medford,
Greenfield,     "
Gilmanton, N. H.
Washington, Conn.
Lincoln Co., Ga.
Goshen, Mass.
Bozrah, Conn.
 Boston, Mass.
 NeAVpoit, R. I.
 Hookset, N. H.
 Montreal, Canada.
 Canton, Conn.
 Lancaster. Mass.
 Catskill, N. Y.
1849
1845
1826
1838
1S49
1839
1829
1842
1846
  37
1819
1830
1833
1847
1S45
1827

1847
1827

1844
1823
1850
1848
1829
1S45
1839
1821
1826
1840
1825
1835
1825
1834
1825
1844
1827
1847
1823
Congenital.
 carlet fever at  6 mo.
Illness at 1 yr.
Scarlet fever at 9 yrs.
Congenital.

Dropsy in headat 1J yrs,
Illness at 3 yrs.
Infia'n in head at 2 yrs.
Congenital.
Became deaf at 2 yrs.
Congenital.
Lost hearing at 3 yrs.
Congenital.
Salt rheum in infancy.
Lost hearing at 1 yr.

Mumps at li yr.
Spotted fever at 4 yrs.
A fall at 2 yrs.
Congenital.

Accident at 6 yrs.
Congenital.
Fever at 3 yrs.
Illness at 7 yrs.
Ulcers in head at 1 yr.
Disease in  head  at 6
                 [mo.
  Palsy at 1 yr.
  Congenital.
  Unknown.
  Fever at 5 yrs.
    "   at 6 mo.
  Dropsy in  head at 1J yrs
  Illness at 2 yrs.
  ft**fula at 2\ yrs.
lttTTfphus fever at 1J yrs.
2 sisters.
1 gr't-g'dfather
1 sister.
1  "

2 brothers,
2   "
1 nepheAV.
Conn.
Friends.
Vermont.
Conn.
Mass.
Friends.
Maine.

N. Hamp.
Maine.
Mass.
Vermont.
N. Hamp.
Mass.
Maine.
Mass.
  cc
Friends.
2  mo.
4  yrs,
3   "
Conn.	0
Friends.	5
Mass.	
Conn.	
Friends.	3
Mass.	4
cc	5
"	5
Friends.	li
"	4
Georgia.	3i
Friends.	3i
Conn.	1
Mass.	6
Friends.	5
"	5
"	5
Conn.	3
Mass.	
Friends.	7
Noav a pupil.
A farmer.
Noav a pupil.

Dead.
A mechanic.
Now a pupil.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute ; dead.

A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute.
Dead.
Noav a pupil.
In a factory.
Married a deaf mute.
Noav a pupil.
Now a pupil.

Married a deaf mute.
Dead.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
A farmer.
A farmer ;  married a deaf mute.

Married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil. 
        Name.

Hill, Marion E.
Hiller, Charles
Hillman, Mary
Hine, Isaac
Hine, James
Hipkins, William
Hitchcock, Irene
Hobbs, John D.
Hobson, Anna M.
Holden, Hrmina M.
Holden, Mary Ann
Holmes, Agnes E.
Holmes, Andrew F.
Holmes, George A.
Holmes, Joseph B. R.
Holmes, Sarah W. C.
Holt, Eliphalet M.
Homer, George
Hooper, Jane
Hough, Edmund
Houghton, Alexander
Howard, Nancy
Howe, Samuel S.
HoAvell, Mary H.
Howell, Thomas II.
Hoyl, Caleb W.
Hubbard,  David
Hulett, Alta
Hulett, Seth
Humphrey, Elias B.
Hunt, Hiram P.
Hunter, Harriet
Hun toon, Laura A.
Huston, Susan W.
Hyde, Mary D.
       Residence,

"Douglass,  Mass.
 JVrtiitucket,    "
 Ncav Bedford, "
 Middlebury, Conn.
 Waterbury,    "
 Alexandria, Va.
 Southington,  Conn.
 N. Hampton, N. H.
 Salem,  Mass.
 Northfield, "
 Boston,    "
   cc       cc
 Portland, Me.
 Boston, Mass.
 Charleston, S. C.

 Andover, Mass.
 Boston,    "
 Gloucester, "
 Berlin, Conn.
 Grafton, Mass.
 Anson, Me.
 Marlboro', Mass.
 Philadelphia  Co., Pa.

 Hoylsville, N. C
 Sunderland, Mass.
 Pawlett, Vt.

 Farmington,  Conn.
 Gray,  Me.
 Clinton,  "
 Hartford, Vt.
 Walden,  "
 Baltimore, Md.
List of Pupils—Continued.
Time of adm.	a3 BO <	Cause of deafness.	Deaf and Dumb relatives.	How supported.	Time under instruc.	Remarks.
1846	13	Typhus fever at 14 yr.		Mass.		Now a pupil.
1825	15	Unknown.			4 yrs.	
1829	22	Congenital.		cc	4 "	Married a deaf mute.
1828	15	Illness at 2 yrs.	1 child.	Conn.	3J «	A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
1S46	8	Congenital.	Fath. and moth.	cc		Now a pupil.
1831	20	Illness at 2 yrs.		Friends.	4 "	A mechanic.
1818	23	Congenital.			4 "	
1826	27 Lost hearing at 3 yrs.			N". Hamp.	2 "	A mechanic.
1831	12 Illness at l£ yr.			Mass.	5 "	
1850	12, Congenital.		1 cousin.	"		Now a pupil.
1828	13|Typhus feArer at 1| yr. 9,Congenital.		1	cc	5 "	Married a deaf mute ; dead,
1848			1 brother.	"		Now a pupil.
1S34	14	Measles at 2 yrs.		Maine.	6 "	
1846	8	Congenital.	1 sister.	Mass.		Now a pupil.
1832	15	"	1 "	F'ds & S. C.	5J "	A mechanic.
"	13	"	1 brother.	cc cc	4| «	Married a deaf mute.
1819	22	A fall in infancy.		Mass.	7 "	A mechanic ; married.
1824	13	Congenital.		Friends.	G "	A custom-house boatman; married a
1840	14	cc		F'ds & Mass.		Noav a pupil. [deaf mute.
1828	15	Fever at 4 yrs.		Conn.	4 "	A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
1830	12	Infla'n in head at S mo.		Mass.	6 "	A mechanic.
1849	19	Congenital.	1 brother.	Maine.		Now a pupil.
1828	16	"		Mass.	4J "	A laborer.
1818	38	cc	1 "	Friends.	3 "	
1817	25	"	1 sister.	"	3 "	A mechanic.
1833	25	UnknoAA'n.		"	14- "	A farmer.
1838	11	"		Mass.	4 mo.	
1845	15	Congenital.	1 brother.	Vermont.	2 yrs.	Dead.
1840	12	"	1 sister.	cc	5 "	
1845	14	Scarlet fever at 16 mo.		Conn.	4 "	
1834	11	Disease in head at 4 yrs,		Maine.	4 " :A farmer.	
1834	12	Ulcers in head at 4\ yrs.		cc	4 « !	
1835	13	Whooping cough at 9		Vermont.	5 " Married.	
1834	22	Congenital. [mo.		"	4 " Died at the Asylum.	
ISIS	19	Unknown.	1 brother.	Friends.	4 "	Dead.
 
Ingham, Eldridge C.
In graham, Margaret
Irwin, John
Jack, Augustus
Jack, Daniel
Jack,Levi
Jack, William
Jackson, Benjamin B
Jackson, Sally
James, William II.
Janes, George B.
Jellison, Isaac II.
Jellison, Lucy J.
Jenckes, Ruth A. M.
Jenne, David
Jewett, Belinda
JeAvett, George
Johnson, Benjamin A
Johnson, Catherine
Johnson, Clarissa
 Johnson, Dolly
 Johnson, Emily
 Johnson, Gertrude
 Johnson, Melissa
 Jones, Reuben
 Jones, Robert P.
 Jordan, Horace
 Jordan, Temperance
 Joslyn, Jonathan
 Joy, Nancy E.
 Keen, Allen
 Kelly, Nelson
  Kendall, Polly
  Kendall, Sarah
  Kendall, Sophia
  Kennedy,  Charles A.
  Kenniston, George B
  Kenny, Henry
  Kent, George
  Keyes, Lauriston
Groton, Conn.
Camden, Me.
Sheldon, Vt,
Belfast,  M:,
Jackson,  "
Dixmont, "
Jackson,  "
Otisfield,  "
Boston, Mass.
Columbus, Ga.
Wilton, Conn
Monroe, Me.

Sturbridge, Mass.
Hartland, Vt.
 Lynn, Mass.
Derby, N.  H.
Middletown, Conn.
[Southbury,    "
 Newtown,     "
 Wendell, Mass
 Lima, N. Y.

 Bozrah, Conn.
 Portland, Me.
 Falmouth, "
 Columbia, N. H.
 Oglethorpe Co., Ga.
 Ware, Mass.
 Lnbec, Me.
 Fairhaven, Mass.
 West Rutland, Vt.
 Weathersfield,  "
Plainfield, Conn.
Hamden, Me.
Greenfield, Mass.
Chester, N. H.
Acwarth,  "
182S|15;Illness at 1 year.
1825 12 Congenital.
1847 17
1845 12
1825 22
1849
1831
1842
1819
1835
1844
1848
1S46
1837
Scarlet fever at 34 yrs
Illness at 2 yrs.
Congenital.
    .__ [Fits at 5 yrs.
183222 Scarlet fever at 2 yrs.
1829',15'Congenital.
1835 13'Dropsy at 2 yrs.
1849J  s'UnknoAvn.
1830;l6;Spotted fever at 4 yrs.
1827J13   "     "     2i "
1.841 13 Congenital.
     11
183014
182944
1840,13 Illness at 1J yr.
lS33':21,UnknoAvn.
1S44!11 Congenital.
1837 14!Fever at 14 yrs.
1838
L847
1831
1840
1850
1845
1840
1825
1829
Congenital.

Fever at 11 mo.
Congenital.
2 uncles.
1 bro. &2neph.
1 cous. & 1 sis.
1 bro. & 2 neph,
1 sister.
1 brother.
1 sister.
1 sister.
1 sister.
2 sisters.
2   "
2   "
  Measles at 24 yrs.
  Scarlet fever at 3 yrs.
  Congenital.
12|Unknown.
21 Spotted fever at 5 yrs.
Conn.
Maine.
Vermont.
Maine.
Mass.
Georgia.
Conn.
Maine.
  cc
Mass.
Vermont.
Mass,
N. Hamp.
Conn.
Mass.
Friends.

Conn.
Maine.

N. Hamp.
Georgia.
Mass.
Maine.
Mass.
Vermont.
Conn.
Maine.
Mass.
N. H. & F:
N. Hamp.
ds
Married.
Noav a pupil.                   .
Name legally changed to Charles Augus-
A farmer.                 I>9 BlWn'
Now a pupil.
A farmer.
Dead.
Now a pupil.

Married a deaf mute.
A farmer.
Married a deaf mute.

A farmer.
Now a pupil.

Married a deaf mute.
Dead.
A laborer.
Married a deaf mute.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.

A mechanic.

Now a pupil.
A mechanic ; twice married deaf mutes
Dead.
In a factory.
Married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil.

 A laborer.
 A farmer ;  married a deaf mute.
 A mechanic. 
List  of  Pupils—Continued.
Name.
Residence.
 Keyes, Mariette W.
 Kibbe, Dorcas Y.
 Kilbourn, Almira
 Kilham, John II.
 Kimball, Augusta
 Kimball, Eliphalet M
 Kimball, Hannah C.
 Kimball, Ozro
 Kingsley, Isabella
 Kinsman, Oscar
 Kirby, Hannah
 Knapp, Harriet
 Knight, Cyrus L.
 KnoAvles, Caleb
 KnoAvles, Isaiah
 Knox, Eli W.
 Kollock, Royal T.
 Lackie, Mary
 Ladd.Celia M.
 Larlerty, Margar >t
 Lamb, Washington
 Lambert, Matthew
 Lambert, William, Jr.
 Lane, Lucius H.
 Langdon, Darwin
 Langevin, Charles F.
 Langley, Joshua
 Lanphicr, Maria
 Lanphier, Fanny
 Larrabee, John
 Larrabee, Phebe J.
 Laughlin, Margaretta
 LaAvrence,GranvilleH.
Lawrence, Joseph
Lebert, Charles
|Watcrto\vn, N. Y.
■ Seiners, Conn.
 Claremont, N. II.
 Manchester, Mass.
 Boston,       "
'Lyme,       N. II.
 West Rumney, "
 Orange,       "
 Westhampton, Mass.
 Sharon, Vt.
 Dartmouth, Mass.
 Northfield, Vt.
 West Boylston, Mass.
 South Kingston, R. I.
Truro,     Mass.
Blandford,  "
Canton,    "
Peaeham, Vt.
 Ellington, Conn.
Pawtucket, Mass.
Groton, Conn.
Norfolk, Va.
Ncav Canaan, Conn,
New HaA-en, Vt.
iKennebunkport, Me.
|Qnebec, Canada E.
JNeAvport,  R. I.
Hopkinton,  "
    cc        cc
Bangor, Me.

Boston,   Mass.
Sandwich, "
Corinth, Me.
Woodstock, Conn.
(Time
  of
adm.
 1823
 1831
 1843
 1846
 1819
 1831
 1845
 1825
 1833
 1849
 1843

 1825
 1833
 1828
 1825
 1S22
 1848
 1839
 1847
 1830
 1817
 1844
 1832
 1837
182S
1834
1841

1850

184S
1846
1831
1S29
Cause of deafness.
Spotted fever at 5 yrs.
Congenital.
Spotted fever at 44 yrs
Infla'n in head at 6 mo.
Lost hearing at 34 yrs.
Congenital.
Scarlet fever at 8 yrs.
Congenital.
Scarlet fever at 5 yrs.
Illness at 24 yrs.
Ulcers in head in infa'y
Fever at 44 yrs.
Fever at 54 yrs.
Illness at 1 yr.
Scarlet fever at 7 yrs.
Congenital.

Illness at 1 yr.
Small pox at 1 yr.
Illness at 16 mo.
Illness at 1 yr.
Congenital.
Deaf and Dumb
  relatives.
Ulcers in infancy.
Congenital.
1 sister.
Moth. & 1 unc.
1 unc. & 1 aunt
3 sis. and 1 bro
1 brother.
2 sis. & 1 cous.
        1  "
1 sister.
1 brother.
1 bro. & 1 cous.
How supported.
Friends.
Conn.
N. Hamp.
Mass.
F'ds & Mas
N. Hamp.
Mass.
Vermont.
Mass.
Vermont.
Mass.
Friends.
Mass.
Vermont,
Conn.
Mass.
Conn.
Friends.
Conn.
Vt. & F'ds.
Me. &  Fr'ds
Friends.
Fr'ds & R. I.
Maine.

Mass.

Maine.
Conn.
 Time
 under
instruc.
7  mo
1  yr.
24  «
3   "
7   "
4   "
4   "
4   "
(3   "

6   "
6   "
Remarks.
4
3
6
6
II
64
14
3
yrs.
Married;  dead.

Died in the Asylum.


A farmer; married a deaf mute.

Married a deaf mute.
Married.
Now a pupil.

In a factory.
Married.

A mechanic; married a deaf mute.
Dead.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil.


A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
A mechanic.

A mechanic; dead,

A merchant; married.
Now a pupil.
Now a pupil.
Now a pupil. 
Lebert, George	Woodstock, Conn.	1834	11	Congenital	1 bro. & 1 cous.	Friends.
Leek, LcA'crctt G.	rlamden, "	1842	12	Scarlet fever.		Conn.
Leland, Nathaniel A.	Grafton, Mass.	1844	24	Congenital.		Mass.
Lemont, William T.	Brunswick, Me.	1845	9	Dropsy in head at 3 mo.		F'ds & Mt
Leonard, Spencer	Wareham, Mass.	1819	14	Congenital.		Vlass.
Lewis, Harriet	Bridport, Vt.	1829	24	«		Vermont.
Lewis, Samuel A.	Middletown, Conn.	"	12	Spotted fever at 14 yr.		Conn.
Lewis, Sarah J.	Townsend, Mass.	1834	15	Congenital.		Mass.
Libby, Lucia	Danby, Vt.	"	10	Infla'n on brain at 4 yrs.		Vermont.
Libby, Matilda C.	Gray, Me.	1849	28	Scarlet fever at 24 yrs.		Maine.
Lindsey, Lizzy	Salem, Mass.	184^	9	Congenital.	1 second cousin	Mass.
Livingston, Hiram L.	Antrim, N. II.	"	16	Fever at 5 yrs.	1 brother.	N. Hamp
Livingston, Josiah E.	cc cc	1847	11	Congenital.	1 brother.	"
Lloyd, John H.	Hartford, Conn.	1823	12	cc		Friends.
Lockwood, Seymour	Springfield, Vt.	1845	19	Infla'n in head at 2 yrs.		Vermont.
Lombard, Barnabas	Eastham, Mass.	1850	48	Congenital.		Himself.
Lombard, Caroline W.	Portland, Me.	1843	18	Unknown.		Maine.
Lombard, Lothario D.	Oxford, "	1842	13	Scarlet fever at 3 yrs.	1 uncle.	"
Loomis, Louisa	West Chester, Conn.	1834	13	Congenital.	[relatives.	Conn.
Lord, Mary J.	Sydney, Me.	1840	10	cc	1 bro. and other	Maine.
Loring, George II.	Boston, Mass.	1817	10	Illness at 24 yrs.	[& other relat.	Friends.
Lovejoy, Benjamin	Sydney, Me.	1844	15	Congenital.	Fath., g'dfath.	Maine.
Lovejoy, Charles	Fayette, "	1825 22		"	1 bro., 1 cousin	"
					[& 3ch'n.	
Lovejoy, Charlotte	Concord, N. II.	1S22	24	"	2 bro. and 1 sis.	N. Hamp
Lovejoy, Orrin	Sydney, Me.	1840	19	"	1 sister & other	Maine.
Lucas, George	Northumberland, N.H.	1S29 13		"	[relatives.	N. Hamp
Luce, Almira G.	West Tisbury, Mass.	1845 13		"	1 sister.	Mass.
Luce, Charles H.	Chilmark, "	184.3; 10		"	1 brother.	"
Luce, Israel	cc cc	183514		"	1 brother.	"
Lyman, Ellen D. S.	Northampton, "	1830 10		"		Friends.
Lyman, Noah	Richmond, "	1825 18		cc		Mass.
Lynde, William	Saybrook, Conn,	1832 10 Fever at G mo.				Friends.
Maeomber, Julia	Oakham, Mass.	1830 15 Disease in head at 14 yr.				Mass.
Macomber, Lydia	Westport, "	1832.21 Congenital.			1 sister.	"
Maeomber, Olive	" "	184012		"	1 sister.	"
Mahoney, Eliza	Boston, "	184443		cc	1 brother.	"
Mahoney, John	cc cc	"'12		"	1 sister.	"
Mair, James	Lanark, Canada W.	183512		Unknown.		Friends.
Maker, Amos	New Bedford, Mass.	1834	37	Congenital.		Mass.
31
4*
7
5
6
5
3i
4
yr.
mo.
yrs.
54
4
54
4
4
0
6
0
5
14
A mechanic.
A mechanic ; married.

A mechanic; married a deaf mute,
Married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil.
Now a pupil.
Dead.

Six years a teacher in the Asylum ; mar-
              fried a deaf mute ; dead.
A mechanic; married.
A farmer.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.

A farmer.
A mechanic; married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute.
|A mechanic ; married a deaf mute ; dead. 
Nam«.	Residence.
Mallory, Susan J.	Middlebury, Conn.
Manchester, William	i;iraet, Vt.
Maner, George R.	3uek Creek, Geo.
Mann, Edwin J.	Portsmouth, N. H.
Mann, Mary A.	Randolph, Mass.
Marden, Thomas W.	Society Land, N. II.
Marsh, Delia	Calais, Vt.
Marsh, Hannah L.	?lymouth, Mass.
Marsh, Jonathan	Winchester, Conn.
Marsh, Lucinda	Litchfield, "
Marshall, Eliza	Bristol, R. I.
Marshall, Hannah	" "
Marshall, Isabella E.	NeAv London, Conn.
Martin, Susan E.	Baltimore, Vt.
Martin, Reuben	Danvers, Mass.
Martin, Ellen G.	New Orleans, La.
Martin, John R.	Hartford, Conn.
Mason, Clarissa	Great Bairington,Ms
Mayhew, Alfred	Chilmark,
Mayhew, Lovey	cc cc
McCluer, Rebecca	Nashua, N. H.
McCoskrie, Mary	Cambridgeport, Mas;
McDutlie, Murdock	Pulaski Co., Geo.
McEwen, Ephraim	Stratford, Conn.
McEwen, George V.	cc cc
McGee.WashingtonW	Cambridge, Mass.
McGuire, Margaret	Boston, "
McKinney,Andrew M	New York,
McLaren, Helen	Bamet, Vt.
McLoughlin, William	Pawtucket, Mass.
McVennan, Mary	Berkshire, Vt.
McWhirk, Margaret	Milton, Mass.
Meacham, James S.	Guildhall, Vt.
Mead, Benjamin P.	Charleston, "
Meeker, Julia	Durham, Conn.
List  of  Pupils—Continued.
Time
 of
adm.
1842
1837
1836
1821
1838
1833
1831
1830
Cause of deafness.
Deaf and Dumb
   relatives.
    14
    27
    10
    12
    10
    17
    22
    21
1S27I13
1825
1821

1843
1834
1837
1840
1850
1S42
1827
1825
1839
1845
1844
1828
1835
1S4S
1850
1827
1832
1847
1832
1844
1S40
1831
1S3
Whoop'g cough at 1 ^ yr
 potted fever at 6 mo.
Congenital.
Became deaf at 24 yrs.
Ulcers in head at 3  mo.
Spotted fever at 4 yrs.
Spotted fever at 4 yrs
Congenital.
Measles at 2 yrs.
Lost hearing in infancy.
Fever at 2 yrs.
Scarlet fever at 3 yrs.
Congenital.
Illness in infancy.
Yellow fever at 3 yrs.
Measles at 4 yrs.
Congenital.
Scarlet fever at 6 yrs.
Congenital.
1 cousin.
3 children.

  sister.
  sister.
How supported.
 Time
 under
instruc
Brain fever at 1| yrs.
Congenital.
A fall at 9 yrs.
Congenital.
Conn.
Vermont.
Georgia.
F'ds & N. H.
Mass. & F'ds.
N. Hamp.
Vermont.
Mass.
Conn. & F'ds.
Friends.
Conn.
Vermont.
Himself.
Friends.
Conn.
Mass.
1 bro. and 2 sis.
2bro.,l sis. & 2
  [second cous.
  Typhus fever at 44 yrs,
  Congenital.
16jUnknoAvn.
14 Spotted fever at 11 mo
10 Congenital.
11 Illness in infancy.
13 Congenital.
13 Ulcers in head at 24 yrs.
22 Spotted fever at 2 yrs
12 Illness at 9 mo.
  brother.
1 brother.
1 sister.
N. Hamp.
Mass.
Georgia.
Conn.
  cc
Mass.

Friends.
Vermont.
Mass.
Vermont.
Mass.
Vt. & F'ds.
Vermont.
Conn.
24
54
24
2
1

0
3
54
5
6
2
4
2 k
yrs
Remarks.
A mechanic.

A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
Married.
Married a deaf mute.
A mechanic : married a deaf mute.
Dead.

Married a deaf mute,
Dead.
Dead.
Now a pupil.

A farmer.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.

Now a pupil.

A mechanic.

Noav a pupil.
Married a deaf mute.

A mechanic.
A mechanic and farmer.
Married. 
Melledge, Robert
Mellen, Mary W.
Meriam, Isaac
Merrihew, Benjamin
Merrill, Barney
Merrill, John J.
Merriman, Laura A.
Messer, James
Messinger, Artemas  S.
Mete all', Lorenzo
Miles, Diana
Mims, Thomas
Miner, Hugh W.
Mitchell, Elizabeth
Monger, Lorana
Morgan,  Josephine  B
Morgan, Diodate
Morgan, Jesse
Morrill, Winthrop
Morris, George  W.
Morris, Orril
Morrison, Eliza
Morrison, Polly
Morrison, Sally
Morse, Nathan  P., Jr,
Morse, Clarissa
Morse, George N.
Morse, Emma A.
 Morse, Sophronia
 Moulthrop, Harvey
 Mo watt, John  E.
 Mowry, Charles W.
 Mowry,  Desire

 Mowry, Minerva
 Munson, Polly
 Needham, Henry C.
 Neill, Helen A.
 Neilson, Philip H.
 Neisler, William B.
Boston,   Mass.
Ilardwick,   "
Bedford,     "
FairhaA'en,   "
NeAV Hartford, Conn.
Bamstead, N. H.
Southington, Conn.
Boston, Mass.
Canton,   "
Wilmington, Vt.
Townshend,  "
Thomas Co.,  Geo.
Stonington, Conn.
North  Yarmouth, Me.
Charlotte, Vt.
LongmeadoAV, Mass.
    cc           cc
Greenville, S. C.
Falmouth, Me.
Lisbon,  N. II.
Sturbridge, Mass.
Peterboro', N. H.
Gloucester, Mass.
Kirtland, Ohio.
Wiliiston, Vt.
Fayette, Me.
Sandwich, Mass.
Middletown, Conn.
New York.
Smitlitield, R. I.
Hamden, Conn.
Bristol, Vt.
Lynn, Mass.
Warm Springs, N. C
Athens, Geo.
1S29
1846
1833
1843
1817
1846
1832
1840
1831
1830
1829
1844
1850
1829
1833
1838
1840
1847
,1826
11825

1817
1831
1823
1835
1837
1846
1818
1835
1842
1844
1819
1842
1847
1819
1835
UnknoAvn.
Congenital.

Unknown.
Illness.
Congenital.
Lost hearing in infancy.
 carlet fever at 34 yrs.
Disease in head at 1 yr.
Illness at 24 yrs.
Lost hearing at 6 yrs.
Illness at 2 yrs.
Congenital.

Unknown.
Whoop'g cough at 6 mo
Congenital.

Unknown.
Congenital.
Ulcers at 24 yrs.
Fever at 8 mo.
Congenital.

Scarlet fever.
Congenital.
1 aunt.
I brother.
2 brothers.
1 brother,
1 sister.
1 cousin.
3 sisters.
3 sisters.
3 sisters.
Unknown.
Infla'n in head at 14 mo
Lung fever at  14 yr.
Fever at 2 yrs.
A fall at 6 yrs.
Mass.
Friends.
N. Hamp.
Conn.
Mass.

Vermont.
   cc
Georgia.
Conn.
Maine.
Vermont.
Mass.
Himself.
S. Carolina.
Maine.
N. Hamp.
Mass.
N. H. & F'ds
Friends.

Mass.
Friends.
Vermont.
Maine.
Mass.
Friends.
       [cousin
2 sis. & 1 see'd
1 br., 1 sis. &  1
[second cousin
1 br., 1 sis. cfc  1
[second cousin.
F'ds & R.
Conn.
Vermont.
Mass.
Friends.
Georgia.
4  yrs

3   "
6   "
li  «
4   "
4   "
44  "
2   "
4   "
3  mo
6  yrs
6   "
6   "
6   "
1   "
5   "
3   "
5*  "
2   "
1   "
Dead.
Noav a pupil.


A farmer.
Married a deaf mute.
A mechanic.
A mechanic; married a deaf mute.

Married.
Now a pupil.
A tailoress.
A farmer.

Dead.
A mechanic.
A mechanic.
Some years  an  assistant in the  Ohio
                             [Asylum.
Died at  the Asylum.

A laborer.
An artist.
A mechanic.
Noav a pupil.
A farmer; married. 
List  of  Pupils—Continued.
Namk.	Residence. 3oston, Mass.	Time of adm.	0) SE < 14	Cause of deafness.	Deaf and Dumb relatives.
Nelson, William		1829		Illness at 24 yrs.	
Newcomb, Abigail N	Sandwich, "	"	15	Congenital.	4 bro. and 2 sis.
Newcomb, Ellen G.	cc cc	1831	15	"	4 bro. and 2 sis.
NeAvcomb, Jane A.	cc cc	1819	14	"	4 bro. and 2 sis.
Newcomb, John W.	cc cc	1821	14	"	3 bro. and 3 sis.
Newcomb, Josiah S.	cc cc	"	11	"	3 bro. and 3 sis.
Newhall, Mary A.	Med ford, "	1825	IS	Unknown.	
Newton, Culver	Middletown, Vt.	1836	16	Scarlet fever at 14 yr.	
Niblo, William	New York.	1826	11	Fever at 1 yr.	
Nichols, Robert H.	Boston, Mass.	1S50	8	Illness at 2 yrs.	
Niles, Almira	Piermont, N. H.	1823	16	Unknown.	
Norwood, Daniel, Jr.	Salem, Mass.	1S4S	15	A fall at 9 mo.	
NoiAvood, Imogine	Washington, Texas.	"	12	Congenital.	
Noyes, Statira P.	NeAA'buryport, Mass.	1819	14	"	
Xnte, Charles	Milton, "	1844	12	Scarlet fever at 9 mo.	
Nye, Eliza	Pomfret, Conn.	1843	12	Scarlet fever at 7 yrs.	
Oakes, Catharine	Richmond, Mass.	1833	8	Congenital.	
O'Brien, James, Jr.	WhitefieM, Me.	1832	17	"	1 sister.
O'Brien, Nancy	Boston, Mass.	1838	12	cc	1 brother.
O'Bryan, Henry	Bristol, Vt.	1845	13	Scarlet fever at 2 yrs.	
O'Connel, Jeffrey	Boston, Mass.	1842	20	Illness at 6 mo.	
Ogburn, Mary A. L.	Brunswick Co., Va.	1838	23	Illness at 1 yr.	
Olds, William H.	Alford, Mass.	1847	11	Scarlet fever at 4 yrs.	
Orr, Nancy	Bath, N. Y.	1817	23	Unknown	
Osgood, Alden F.	Natick, Mass.	1847	9	Congenital.	
Osgood, Elisha	Exeter, Me.	1831	11	"	
Osgood, Henry A.	Boston, Mass.	1827	13	Unknown. [yrs'	
Oviatt, Alvina	Amherst, "	1S46	s^	Cholera morbus at 24	
Packard, Philo W.	Boston, "	"	8	Scarlet fever at 4| yrs.	
Packer, Eldridge	Guilford, Vt.	1844	27	Congenital.	3 sis. and 1 bro.
Packer, Deborah	Leyden, Mass.	1825	24	"	2 bro. and 2 sis.
Packer, Jerusha	cc cc	"	16	"	2 bro. and 2 sis
Packer, Alary	cc cc	cc	21	"	2 bro. and 2 sis
Packer, Simeon	cc cc	"	23	"	1 bro. and 3 sis
Page, John W.	Mollis, Me.	1838	14	UnknoAA'n.	1
How supported.
 Time
 under
instruc
Mass.
Vermont.
Friends.
Mass.
N. Hamp.
Mass.
Friends.
Mass.

Conn.
Asy. & Mass.
Maine.
Mass.
Vermont.
Mass.
Friends.
Mass.
Friends.
Mass.
Mainei
Mass.
Vermont.
Mass.
Mass.
Maine.
yrs
7   "
6   "
If  «
8   "
4   "
3h  "
3   "
4   "
4   "
0  yrs
4   "
Remarks.
A mechanic; married a deaf mute.

Married a deaf mute.
Married.
A mechanic; married.
A mechanic ; married.
An artist; married a deaf mute;  dead
Now a pupil.
A tailoress.
Now a pupil.

Dead.
A mechanic.
Died at the Asylum.
Dead.
A laborer.
Dead.
Dead.
A mechanic.

Noav a pupil.

Noav a pupil.
A mechanic.
A mechanic ; married.
Now a pupil.
Noav a pupil.
Died at the Asylum.


A mechanic; married. 
Page, Nelson S.	Sherman, Conn.	1839	12	Scarlet fever at 3 yrs.	
Palmer, Abby L.	Concord, N. H.	1850	UJScarlet fever at 6 mo.		
Palmer, Cyrus D.	Voluntown, Conn.	1844	13 Congenital.		
Parker, Charles	West Rupert, Vt.	1841	13|		
Parker, Mary A.	Sutton, N. H.	1829	13 Illness at 9 mo.		
Parkhurst.Ithiel, Jr.	Milford, Mass.	1825	21 Illness at 2 yrs.		
Parsons, Sarah A.	Colebrook, N. H.	1839	25JTyphus fever at 6 yrs.		
Pease, Adelaide A.	Hartford, Conn.	1841	10,Congenital.		2 sisters.
Pease, Andrew J.	Enfield,	1844	ll|		
Pease, Bathsheba H.	Somers, "	1838	lOInfla'n in head at 2 yrs.		
Pease, Jane M.	Hartford, "	1843	10 Congenital.		2 sisters.
^Pease, Martha A. Pendleton, Nathan E.	cc cc	1837	9	cc	2 sisters.
	Northport, Me.	1848	11	"	
Penniman, Emily F.	Braintree, Mass.	1833	13	"	3 cousins.
Penniman, Joseph H.	iC C	"	15	cc	2 sis. & 1 cous
Perkins, Benjamin F.	Boston, "	1826	14 Fits at 1 yr.		
Perkins, Lewis N.	Lyme, N. H.	1832	^Disease in head at 14 yr.		
Perkins, Mary A.	Newbury, Mass.	1847	11 Scarlet fever at 34 yrs.		1 second cous.
Perkins, Phebe	Sanford, Me.	1837	18,Congenital.		2 sisters.
Perkins, Sally	cc cc	"	12|		2 sisters.
Perkins, Thos. S., Jr.	New London, Conn.	1831	8 Fever at 13 mo.		
Persons, Dexter	Orwell, Vt.	"	22 Congenital.		
Peugh, Almira	Zebulon, Geo.	1843	12|		
Phelps, Daniel W.	Middlebury, Vt.	1839	9 Scarlet fever at 3 yrs.		
Phelps, Sarah R.	Hartford, Conn.	1842	11 Unknown.		
Philbrick, Martha L.	Andover, N. H.	1834	16Typhus fever at24 yrs.		
Philbrick, Samuel	Wolfborough, "	1838	21 Typhus fever at 2 yrs.		
Pierce, George	Royalton, Vt.	1826	16(Spotted fever at l4yr.		
Pike, Eliza	Buxton, Me.	1840	ISLung fever at 8 mo.		
Pike, Horace G.	Lyme, N. H.	1835	14 Infla'n on brain at 2 yrs.		
Pillsbury, Mariette	Barnstead, "	1843	16 Congenital.		
Piatt, Emmon H.	Washington, Conn.	1820	11		1 sister.
Piatt, Mary A.	cc cc	1822	io|		1 brother.
Poland, Ira	Essex, Mass.	1839	13Unknown		
Pomeroy, Balsora L.	Northampton, "	1840	11 .Congenital.		
Pond, Martha J.	Dorchester, "	1844	11 Illness at 2 yrs.		
Pool, George W.	Weymouth, "	1837	12,Congenital.		1 brother.
Pool, James H.	cc cc	1836	14 " 11 brother.		
Poor, John	Newburyport, "	1832	20,Unknown.		
Potter, Charles	Cranston, R. I.	1827	|2S	Congenital	
Conn.	5 yrs.	A mechanic.
N. Hamp.		Noav a pupil.
Conn.	5 "	
Vt. & F'ds.	54 "	A mechanic.
N.H. &Ms.	64 "	
Mass.	4 "	A mechanic; married; dead.
Friends.	1 "	Dead.
Conn. &F'ds.	7 "	
"	5 "	Dead.
"	5 "	
cc	6 "	
F'ds & Conn.	8 "	
Maine.		Noav a pupil.
Mass.	5 "	
"	4 "	A mechanic.
"	5 "	An artist; dead.
N. Hamp.	4 "	A mechanic ; married a deaf mute
Mass.		Now a pupil.
Maine.	5 "	Married a deaf mute.
"	4 "	Died at the Asylum.
Friends.	6 "	Dead.
Vermont.	6 mo.	Married a deaf mute.
Georgia.	3 yrs.	
Friends.	8 • "	
Conn & F'ds.	8 "	
N. Hamp.	4 "	
"	2 "	Dead.
Vermont.	4 "	
Maine.	5 "	
N. Hamp.	4 " 4 " 5 "	A farmer; married a deaf mute
Friends.		
cc	4 "	
Mass.	4.1 cc	A mechanic.
cc	1 " 6 " 5 "	Died at the Asylum.
cc		A mechanic.
cc	5 "	A mechanic; dead.
l<	4 «'	A mechanic ; married a deaf mute
Friends.	2 "	
 
List  of  Pupils—Continued.
        Namk.

Pratt, Mary E
Prescott, Eldad A.
Prescott, Nathaniel M.
Prescott, Sally
Pressey, Mary
Preston, Erasmus D.
Prichard, Eihvin
Prior, Ephraim
Prior, Lucius A.
Prior, Middleton
Prior, Susan
Pritchard, Hannah
Proctor, Mary L.
Quimby, Charles A.
Quimby, Frances M.
Randall, Cyrus
Ranney, Harriet N.
Ransom, Maria
Raymond, Lovisa
Raymond, Sarah
Read, Adin T.
Read, George F.
Read, Lucy A.
Record, Ann Maria
Record, Olivia J.
Redding, Jacob G.
Read, Stillman S.
 Reynolds, Sarah I.
 Rice, Aliena
Rich, Louisa
Richards, Sybil S.
Richardson, Ellen A.
Richardson,Hannah S
Richardson, James J.
Richardson, Moses H
      Residence.

Cambridge, Vt.
JatFrey, ^  N.  H.
Manchester, "
 iiipert, Vt.
Hanover, N. H.
Hancock,   "
Derby, Conn.
Madison,    Geo.
Cedar Town,  "
Madison,
Middletown, Conn,
Cohasset,  Mass.
Boston,   "
Compton, N.  H.

North Stonington, Ct.
Ashlield, Mass.
Cambria,  N. Y.
Stow,       Vt.
  cc          cc
 Dummerston, "
Buckfield, Me.

Barnet, Vt.
Chesterfield, Mass.
Winchester, Conn.
Galena, 111.
Montpelicr, Vt.
Newburyport, Mas
Fairfield, S. C.
Newburyport, Mr
Time
 of
 adm.
1848
1833
1846
1827
1846
1834
1825
LS32
1849
1832
1830

1819
1842

1840
1845
1819
1820
Cause of deafness.
1S40
1843
1840
1846
1838
1826
1833
1841
1818
1826
1827
1850
1S49
1838
1840
10
16
10
10
17
15
13
20
22
24
18
L8
33
22
13
16
30
  8
21
23
 13
 11
 12
 24
 19
 10
 15
 10
 14
 19
 14
 10
  0
 20
 11
Deaf and Dumb
   relatives.
Scarlet fever at 2 yrs.
Lung fever at 1 yr.
Scarlet fever at 2 yrs.
Measles at 2 yrs.
Scarlet fever at 2 yrs.
Ulcers in head at 2 yrs
Congenital.
Unknown.
Congenital.
Illness in childhood.
Scarlet fever at 1 yr.
Congenital.
Ulcers in head at 14 yr.
Congenital.
Ulcers in head atl4yr.
Congenital.
    cc
 potted fever at 3 yrs.
Whoop'g co'gh at 1 mo
Congenital.

Disease in head.
A fall at 34 yrs.
Congenital.

Unknown.
Congenital.
How supported.
 Time
 under
instruc.
2 bro. and
2 bro. and
2 bro. and
2 bro. and
1 sister.
1 brother.
1 sister.
1 sister.
1 bro. and
1 bro. and
2 brothers.
1 sister.
1 sister.
1 sis
1 sis
1 sis.
1 sis
V ermont.
N. H. fcF'ds.
N. Hamp.
Vermont.
N. Hamp.

Friends.
 onn.
Mass.

N. Hamp.

Conn.
Mass.
[Friends.
Vermont.
Maine.

Vermont.
Mass.
Conn. & F'ds
Friends,
Vermont.
Mass.
1 sis. and
1 sis. and

2 sisters.
o  yrs
5
4
2
24
H
24
3
4 .
4
 I
2
4
 3
 24
 4
 4
1  bro.
1 bro
S. Carolina.
Mass.
Remarks.
Now a pupil.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.

Married; dead.

Married a deaf mute.

A mechanic.

A mechanic.
Dead.
Dead.
Married a deaf mute ; dead,

Teacher of draAving ; dead.

A mechanic.

Twice married to deaf mutes
Married; dead.

Now a pupil.
Noav a pupil.
A mechanic.
Now a pupil. 
Richardson, Wm. R.
Riggs, George L.
Rines, Stephen
Robbins, Daniel
Bobbins, Emeline E
Robbins, Sally H.
Roberts, Miranda D.
Robertson, Adam G.
Robertson, John A.
Robertson, Thomas  C
Roche, John II.
Rogers, Charles, Jr.
Rogers, Ellen P.
Rogers, Lucinda
Rogers, Miriam P.
Rogers, Robert P.
Rose, Mary
Ross, William
Rowe, Benjamin
Rowe, Lucy A.
Rowe, Nancy E.
Rowe, Nathaniel E.
 Roavc, Samuel
 Rowell, Mary P,
 Rowley, Sophia
 Russell, Eliza
 Russell, Mary
 Ryan, William, Jr.
 Sacket, Lucy M.
 Sage, Julia A.
 Sage, Richard H.
 Sanford, William S
 Sanger, Joseph 0.
 Sanger, Levi II.
 Saunders, Martha M
 SaAvtelle, Madison P
 SaAvyer, Paul
 Scott, Anna L.
 Scott, Rufus
 Scovel, Franklin
Townsend, Mass.
Livermore, Me,
Augusta.   *"
Plymouth, Mass.
Deerfield,    "
Plymouth,   "
Hartford, Conn.
Point Levi, C. E.
New Bedford, Mass.
Freeport, Me.

Harwich, Mass.
Freeport, Me.

New York City.
Jefferson, Geo.
New Gloucester, Mt
Hinesburgh, Vt.
Winsted, Conn.
New Hartford, N. Y.
Hartford,    Conn.
East Haven,   "
Westfield, Mass.
Portland, Conn.
Ludlow, Mass.
Cornwallis, N. S.
Westborough, Mass.
     cc         cc
Walpole,        "
Sidney, Me.
Plymouth, Vt.
Sangate,    "
Gill, Mass.
Orwell, Vt
1829 14
1847| 9
1837jl7
,1832:10
184042
1824 23
1841 12
184513
1848 10
184316
1850
1832
1837
1843
1825
1832
1817
 1835
 1841
 1843
 1829
Illness at 8 mo.
Congenital.
Illness at 7 yrs.
 Congenital.
Ulcers in head at 1 yr.
Congenital.
A fall at 34 yrs.
Congenital.

Whoop'g cou'h at 14 yr
Congenital.
1843
Illness in infancy.
Congenital.
182620
1830 17
1824 19
1822 14
184
1840
1835
1825
1841
1830
1844
1850
IS
1827
1819
1818'ilt
Fever at 2 yrs.
Congenital.
Unknown.
Congenital.
               Mass.
 cous., 1 sis. & Maine.
      [1 unci
1 sister.        Mass.
4 remote relat's.
1 brother.
2 brothers.
2 brothers.
2 brothers.

1 bro and 2 sis.
2 bro. and 1 sis

   is. and 2 bro
I bro. and 2 sis
Dis. in head in infancy
Illness at 1 yr.
Congenital.
Spotted fever at 1 yr.
Illness.
Congenital.
4 bro. and 2 sis
 bro. and 1 sis,
5 bro. and 1 sis
4 bro. and 2 sis
4 bio. and 2 sis

1 child & 1 cos.

3 children.
1 brother.
1 brother.

2 second cous.
1 brother.
1 unc & 6 cous
Conn.
Friends.
Maine.

Mass.
Maine.

Friends.
Georgia.
Maine.
Vermont.
Conn.
Friends.
Conn.

Mass.
Conn.
Mass.
Friends.
Mass.
Maine.
Vermont

Friends.
Married a deaf mute.
Noav a pupil.
A mechanic ; dead.
A mechanic; married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil.
Now a pupil.

Noav a pupil.
A mechanic.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
Married.

Twice married to deaf mutes.

Married a deaf mute.
A farmer.
Married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute.
Married.
Married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil.
Now a pupil.

A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute.
Died at the Asylum.

Now a pupil.
A mechanic.
Died at the Asylum.
A mechanic ; married.
Ia pedlar;  married a deaf mute. 
List of Pupils—Continued.
		Time					Time			
NA.MK.	Residence.	of adm.	V etc <	Cause of deafness.	Deaf and Dumb relatives.	How supported.	under instruc.		Remarks.	
Scovel, Harriet E.	Cornwall, Conn.	1818	14	Congenital.	Fath., 4 bro., 1 [sis. & 1 cous.	Conn.	44	yrs.		
Scovel, Olive	cc cc	1838	15	cc	Fath., 4 bro., 1 [sis. & 1 cous.	cc	5	cc	Married a deaf mute.	
Scovel, Stephen	cc cc	"	25	cc	Fath., 3 bro., 2	cc	3	cc	A farmer.	
Selden, Silence	Hartland, "	1818	28	cc	[sis. & 1 cous.	Friends.	3	cc		
Selleck, Augustus	Greenwich, "	1849	9	"		Conn.	2	mo.		
Shackford, Thomas	Boston, Mass.	1829	13	"		Mass.	5	yrs.	A mechanic.	
Sharp, Ann	cc cc	1824	11	Illness at 2 yrs.		Friends.	6	«<	Married a deaf mute.	
Shaw, Arad K.	Bradford, Vt.	1838	13	Spotted fever at 10 mo.		Vermont.	5	mo.		
Sheldon, Sophronia	Ludlow, Mass.	1825	18	Whoop'g cough at 1 yr.		Mass.	4	yrs.	Married a deaf mute.	
Shepard, Edward W.	Salem, "	1832	12	Fever in infancy.		Friends.	6	cc		
Sherman, Randilla	Lisbon, N. H.	1847	19	Fever at 2 yrs.		N. Hamp.			Now a pupil.	
Sherman, Reuben S.	Dover, Vt.	1S26	18	Spotted fever at 5 mo.		Vermont.	3	cc	Married a deaf mute.	
Simons, Henry	Southbury, Conn.	1844	12	Congenital.		Conn.	5	'C		
Skinner, John	Pomfret, "	1841	12	"	1 uncle.	",	6	cc	g	
Skinner, Sherman	Johnston, Ohio.	1830	17	"		Friends.	24	cc		
Slauter, Hiram F.	West Stockbridge, Ms.	1844	13	Measles at 2 yrs.		Mass.	5	cc		
Sloan, Drusilla J.	Pendleton, S. C.	1845	11	Congenital.	1 sis. and 1 bro.	S. Carolina.	44	c<	Died at the Asylum.	
Sloan, Ellen T.	cc cc	CC	13	"	1 sis.and 1 bro.	CC	41	cc	Died at the Asylum.	
Sloan, Robert H.	cc cc	1848	10	cc	2 sisters.	"	3J	cc		
Slocum, Abigail	Portsmouth, R. I.	1845	25		2 sis. and 1 bro.	Rhode Island-	0	cc	Married a deaf mute.	
Slocum, Mary E.	cc cc	"	13	cc	2 sis. and 1 bro.	"	2	CC		
Slocum, Peleg	cc cc	"	20	cc	3 sisters.	cc	2	"	A mechanic and farmer.	
Sloot, James	Vassalboro', Me.	1842	17	Ulcers in head at 1 yr.		Maine.	5	cc	Dead.	
Smart, Samuel	Campion, N. H.	1841	14	Illness at 1 yr.		N. Hamp.	4	cc	Died at the Asylum.	
Smith, Ahnos	New Boston, "	1850	12	Congenital.	3 bro. and 1 sis.	"			Now a pupil.	
Smith, Amos, Jr.	Cambridgeport, Mass.	1841	9	Scarlet fever at 7 yrs.		Mass.	6	"	A clerk.	
Smith, Artemas	Wilmington, Vt.	1840	17	?ever at 8 mo.		Vermont.	3	cc	Married a deaf mute.	
Smith, Caroline A.	Salem, Mass.	1834	12	Jlcers in head in infa'y.		Mass.	5	>c		
Smith, Charles B.	New Boston, N. H.	1842	15	Congenital.	3 bro. and 1 sis.	N. Hamp.	5	cc	Died in the Asylum	
Smith, Colonel	Burlington, Conn.	1819	22	Ilness at 14 yr.		Friends.	6	cc	A mechanic ; married a	deaf mute.
Smith, Consider	lawley, Mass.	1825	16	Congenital.	2 bro. and 1 sis.	Mass.	4	IC	A farmer.	
Smith, Elihu	cc cc	1822	17	cc	2 bro. and 1 sis.	"	6	"	A farmer ; married.	
Smith, Hannah |i	N"ew Sharon, Me.	1842	33J	cc	1 brother.	Herself.	1	'«	Married a deaf mute.	
 
Smith, Ivers
Smith, Mary

Smith, Nathan A.

Smith, Sally

Smith, Sarah
Smith, Sophia
Smith, Thomas
Smith, William S.
Snow, Dolly A.
Southwick, Henry
Southwick, Samuel F,
Southworth, James
Spafford, Fisher A.
Spear, Sarah A.
Spragge, John G., Jr.
Springs, Richard C.
Stanley, Don  Alonzo
Standley, Eliza
Stansell, Ellen
Staples, Francis M.
Starr, Jason
Stearns, Chester R.
Stearns, Ruth J.
Stebbins, Helen M.
Stebbins, Polly

Stebbins, Roland
Steele, William, Jr.
Steere, Charles H.
Stetson, Daniel
Stevens, Charles
Stevens, Ephraim
 Stevens, Ira B.
 Stevenson, Eliza M.
 Stevenson, Mary J.
Stevenson, Sarah B.
Steward, Pembroke S.
New Boston, N. H.
Chilmark, Mass.

Milford, Conn.

Chilmark, Mass.

New Boston, N. H.
Westfield, Mass.
New Boston, N. H.
Hawley, Mass.
Winchester, N. H.
Newport, R  I.
Salem, Mass.
Saybrook, Conn.
Buxport, Me.
Randolph, Mass.
Toronto, C. W.
York District, S. C.
Berlin, Conn.
Steuben, Me.
Barnwell, S. C.
Swanville, Me.
Catskill, N. Y.
Bradford,   "

Deerfield, Mass.
Thompsonville, Conn,
Gloucester, R. I.
Salem, Mass.
Westbrook, Me.
Andover, Mass.
N. Haverhill, N. H.
Newburgh,  Me.
Swanzey,N. H.

St. Albans, Me.
1845
1825

1844

1825

1845
1825
1837
1825
1827
1845
1843
1818
1819
1843
1850
1831
1817
1850
1846
1847
1817
1840
  CC
1845
1817
1848
1846
1825
1842
1825
1834
1847
1850

1850
Congenital.
Illness at 5 yrs.
Congenital.
    cc
Spotted fever at 3 yrs.
Congenital.
Infla'n on brain at  2 J
Congenital.       [yrs-
Scarlet fever.
Congenital.
Spotted fever at 11 mo.
Congenital.
Illness at 2 yrs.
Congenital.
    cc
Dropsy in head at 2 mo
Congenital.
A fall at 6 mo.
Scarlet fever at 64 yrs.
Illness.
Ulcers in head at 3 mo
Fever at 14 yr.
Infla'n in head at 5 yrs
Ulcers in ears at 24 yrs,
Congenital.

Ulcers in head at 1 mo.
3 bro  and 1 sis.
1 sis., 1 child, &
[other relatives.
3 cos. & 2 other
      [relatives.
1 sister &  other
      [relatives.
4 brothers.

3 bro. and 1 sis.
2 bro. and 1 sis.
1 sister.
I brother.
2 second cous
1 bro., 1  sis. &
   [1 2d cousin.
2 sis. if 1 2d cos.
I sister.
I sister.
N. Hamp.
Mass.

Conn.

Mass.

N. Hamp.
Mass.
N. Hamp.
Mass.
N. Hamp.
Friends.
Mass.
Conn.
Mass. & F'ds.
Mass.
Friends.
   CC
Conn.
Maine.
So. Carolina.
Maine.
Friends.
Maine.

Mass.
Friends.
Conn.
Rhode Island
Mass.
Maine.
Mass.
N. Hamp.
Maine.
N. Hamp.

Maine.
yrs
Married a deaf mute.
Married.
Married a deaf mute.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
A mechanic ; married.
Married a deaf mute.

A mechanic.
Married.
A teacher in the Ohio Inst, for D. and D.
Dead.
Now a pupil. [D.; married a deaf mute.
A teacher in the S. C. Inst,  for D. and
A mechanic; dead.
Died at the Asylum.

Now a pupil.
Married a deaf mute.

Married a deaf mute.
A farmer; dead.
Now a pupil.
A mechanic.
Dead.
A mechanic.
A mechanic.

Now a pupil.
Noav a pupil.
Now a pupil.
Now a pupil. 
List of  Pupils—Continued.
        Namb.

Stickney, Israel
Stiekney, Mercy
Stone, Ann R.
Stone, Elizabeth D.
Stone, Ira
Storrs, Sarah W.
Stratton, William
Streeter, Fanny
Strickland, Almira
Strickland, Laban
Strong,  Asahel
Strong,  Charles W.
Strong,  Lavinia
Strong,  Sally
Stuart, Jane
Stuart,  Samuel
Stubbs, Eliza A. K.
Sturges, Sarah A.
SulliA'an, Margaret
SAvett, Thomas B.
SavcU, William B.
Swift, Mary  E.
Swift, Susan
Taber,  Abigail H.
Tail, OtisM.
Tal't, Ursula A.
Taintor, Sophia
Tanner, Mercy E.
Tanner, William A.
Tappan, Israel F.
Taylor,  Asa F.
Tavlor,  Edward T.
Taylor,  Eliphalet, Jr.
Taylor,  Linda
Residence.	Time' of adm.	cu CO <	Cause of deafness.	Deaf and Dumb relatives.	How supported.	Time under instruc.	Remarks.	
Athens, Vt.	183115 Congenital.			1 sister.	Vermont.	3 mo.jDied m the Asylum.		
" '«	182916			1 brother.	"	4 yrs.		
Oakham, Mass.	1838|l9 Ulcers in head in inf'y.				Mass.	5 " Married a deaf mute.		
Dorchester, "	lS25;14jUnknown.				"	5i " JMarried a deaf mute.		
Limington, Me.	1823 20 "				Friends.	l" "	Married a deaf mute; dead.	
Springfield, Mass.	1844ll 1 jWhoop'g cough at 1 yr.			•	Mass.	6 "		
Rindge,N. H.	1847 15 Congenital.				N. Hamp.	4} «		
Wrentham, Mass.	1825 15 Infla'n in head at 2 yrs.				Mass.	4 "	Married a deaf mute.	
Salem, Conn.	1828 20 Congenital.			1 brother.	Conn.	4 "	Married a deal' mute.	
cc cc	182119|			1 sister.	"	2 "	A farmer.	
West Stockbridge, Ms.	1834	12 Dropsy in head at 14 yr.			Mass.	5 " A mechanic.		
Rutland, Vt.	1849	10 Measles at 14 yr.			Friends.	Now a pupil.		
Berlin,	1826	17	Congenital.		Vermont.	3 "	Dead.	
Tolland' Conn.	1830	21	"	1 bro.& 1 niece.	Conn.	4 "		
Philadelphia, Penn.	1818	21 15	cc	1 brother. 1 sister.	Friends.	li « 5 "	A mechanic ; dead.	
Wellfleet, Mass.	1831	11	<<	*	Mass.	4 "	Married a deaf mute.	
Fairfield, Conn.	1827	12	'■		Friends.	4 "	Dead.	
Charleston, S. C. Henniker, N. II. Sandwich, Mass.	1839 1837 1839 1850	12 UnknoAvn. 15 Congenital. 14		C Moth.,broth. < g'dfath., unc ( and cousin.	S. Carolina. N. Hamp. j Mass.	8 " 1 " 3 "	A farmer and mechanic ; A farmer and mechanic Now a pupil.	[mute. married a deaf married a deat [mute.
Washington, N. Y.	1826	9 Illness at 2 yrs.			Friends.	4 "		
Roxbnry, Mass.	"	14 Lost hearing at 2 yrs.			Mass.	54 "	Dead.	
Pittsford, Vt.	1849	12 Unknown.			Vermont.	2 " Dead.		
Upton, Mass,	1832	14Ulcers in infancy.			Mass.	5 " ;Dead.		
Champion, N. Y.	1830	22 Disease in head at 3 yrs.			Friends.	3 "		
iWai-Avick, R. I.	1847	9 Rickets at 2 yrs.			R. Island.		Noav a pupil.	
Webster, Mass.	"	9 Scarlet fever at 34 yrs.			Mass.	2 "	Died at the Asylum.	
Manchester, "	1837	^Congenital.			Friends.	1 "		
Dalton, N. H.	1841	22)			N. Hamp.	3 mo.		
Mecklenburg, Va.	1826	11 Lost hearing at 8 mo.			Friends.	4 yrs.		
Alstead, N. H.	1836	23 Illness at 2 yrs.			N. Hamp.	3 "		
Andover, Vt.	1837	24	Spotted fever at 14 yr.		Vermont.	4 "	Married a deaf mute.	
 
Taylor, Rowland
Temple ton, Hiram
Tenney, Jacob T.
Thayer, Philander
Thomas, Andrew, Jr.
Thomas, Elisha
Thomas, Frances E.
Thomas, Sarah A.
Thompson, George W
Thompson, Joseph W
Thompson, Samuel W
Thresher, Julius
Tift, Lucius
Tilden, EdAvard
Tilton, Deidamia D.
Tilton, Franklin
Tilton, Zeno
Timberlake, Hiram
Tinkham, Jacob
 Tiplady, Thomas
 Titcomb, Augustus
 Titcomb, Nancy
 Titcomb, Sophronia
 Tomlinson, William
 Tomson, Mira E.
 Town, Orris T.
 Towslee, Horace
 Tracy, Elijah
 Trask. Eugene
 Trask, Peter
 Treadway, Edwin
 Treat, Mary W.
 Tripp, Benjamin
 Tripp, Charles
 Tripp, Elizabeth R.
 Tripp, Eunice
* Tripp, Jacob
 Tripp, Lyman  E.
 Trufant, Mary  E.
 Tucker, Guy
Berlin,     Vt.
Montpelier, "
Groton, N. H.
Sandisfield, Mass.
Middleboro',  "
Hartford, Me.
Athens, Geo.
Hartford, Conn.
West Bloomfield, N.Y
Brunswick, Geo.
Chepachet, R. I.
Lowell, Mass.
Groton, Conn.
Fairlee.Vt.
Chilmark, Mass.
Livermorc, Me.
Plymouth, Mass.
Salem,       "
Cumberland, Me.
WatertoAvn, Conn.
Pelham, Mass.
Franklin, Vt.
Rupert,    "
Cornish, N. H.
Deertield, Mass.
Whitefield, Me.
Sharon, Conn.
Orange,  "
Alfred, Me.
Charleston, Vt.
New Bedford, Mass.

Alfred, Me.
Charleston, Vt.
Charlestown, Mass
Barkhamsted, Conn.
1820
1817
1S22
1844
1831
1842
1821
1836
1829
1842
1847
1837
1824
1838
1832
1841

1847
1825
1825
1840
1829114
183l|l5
l.850!ll
181S!12
1847J23
1830,10
Congenital,
Illness at 14 yr.
Congenital.
Ulcers in head at 9 mo.
Congenital.
Dropsy in head at 1 yr,
Illness in infancy.
Scarlet fever at 4 yrs.
Brain fever at 10 mo.
Illness at 8 mo.
Congenital.
 karlet fever in infancy
Congenital.
Scarlet fever at 3 yrs.
Congenital.
Unknown.
Congenital.
       Scarlet fever at 3 yrs.
       Congenital.
       Scarlet fever at 9 mo.
       Infla'n in head at 2 yrs
1822'l2!Congenilal.
184910|
1831 nllllness at 0 yrs.
1828J19 Croup at 1 yr.
1833 12 Congenital.
1819 10
1842 16
1834|11
183214
1819'l9
1848 14
183010
1S3117
. brother.	friends.	4 yrs.	A farmer.
	Vermont.	4 "	A farmer ; married a deaf mute.
1 sister.	M. Hamp.	3 "	A laborer ; dead.
	Mass.	0 "	
L sister.		4 ,;	A mechanic; dead.
L bro. and 1 sis.	Maine.	3 "	Dead.
	?riends.	6 "	Married.
	Conn.	5 "	
	friends.	2 "	
	Georgia.	1 "	
	Fthode Island-		Now a pupil.
1 second cousin.	Vt. & Mass.	5 "	A clerk.
	Friends.	4 "	A mechanic.
	Vermont.	4 «	Dead.
2 brothers.	Mass.	4 "	Married.
1 bro. and 1 sis.	">.	4 "	A farmer ; married a deaf mute.
1 bro. and 1 sis.	"	4 "	A farmer.
	Maine.	5 "	
	Mass.	4 «	A mechanic ; married.
	'<	4 «	A mechanic.
3 sis. and 1 bro	Maine.	5 »	A mechanic.
2 bro. and 2 sis.	"	4 "	Married a deaf mute.
2 bro. and 2 sis.		4h "	
	Conn.		Now a pupil.
	Mass		Now a pupil.
	Vermont.	3 "	
	"	4 "	A farmer.
1 aunt& 2 cous.	F'ds & N. H.	5 "	A mechanic ; married a deaf mute
1 brother.	Mass.		Now a pupil.
	Maine.	4 "	A mechanic; dead.
1 second cous.	Conn.	4 " 4 "	A mechanic ; dead.
1 brother.	Mass.	4 mo.	
1 brother.	Vermont.	■5 yrs.	
1 sister.	Mass.	5 "	Married a deaf mute.
1 sister.	"	4 "	
1 brother.	"	6 "	
1 brother.	Vermont.		Now a pupil.
	Mass.	5 "	Married a deaf mute.
1 brother.	F'ds & Conn.	4 "	A laborer.
 
Namk.	Residence.
Tucker, Harriet N.	Milton, Mass.
Tufts, Alfred	Billerica, "
Turberville, George L.	Fairfax Co., Va.
Turner, Job	Boston, Mass.
Turner, Plummer	Palermo, Me.
Turner, Sarah A.	Clinton, Conn.
Tyler, Mariette	Westford, Vt.
Tyler, Royal G. N.	Killingworth, Conn.
Vaughan, Joseph	Middleboro', Mass.
Wair, Ackley	Middlefield, "
Wakefield, Esther	Gardiner, Me.
Wakefield, Hazeltine	cc .<
Wakefield, Helen	cc cc
Walen, Ellen	Rockport, Mass.
Walker, Susan F.	Medford, "
Walworth, Mary A.	Canaan, N. H.
Ward, Estus	Belchertown, Mass.
Ward, Silas	Rutland, Vt.
Washburn, Seth C.	Randolph, '*
Waterman, Andrew	Thompson, Conn.
Waterman, Freder'k J.	Appleton, Me.
Waters, Otis	Leominster, Mass.
Watson, Elizabeth A.	Lowell, "
Watson, Sarah Q.	Warner, N. H.
Watson, Uriah	Lowell, Mass.
Way, Horace	Stockbridge, "
Webb, James	Danbury, Conn.
Webb, John F.	Windham, Me.
Webster, Elizabeth C.	Plymouth, N. H.
Webster, George	Warner, "
Webster, Jonathan	Haverhill, Mass.
Webster, Marilla	Burlington, Conn.
Webster, Mary E.	Sandwich, N. H.
Welles, Maria	Glastenbury, Conn.
List of Pupils—Continued.
Time
  of
adm
1836
1848
1818
1833
1836
1841
1840
1839
1825

1848
1820

1848
1846
1825
1831
1828
1842
1826
1829
1844
1817
1847
1838
1840
1830
1831
1849
1828
1833
1819
1829
1830
1827
Cause of deafness.	Deaf and Dumb relatives.	How supported.	Time under
-			instruc.
Congenital. cc		Mass.	6 yrs.
Unknown.		Friends.	3 "
Congenital.		Mass.	64 "
Illness at 6 mo.		Maine.	34 «
Illness at 5 yrs.		Conn.	5 "
Infla'n in head at 9 mo.		Vermont.	3 "
Fever at 6 yrs.		Conn.	5 "
Congenital.		Mass.	24 '<
Illness at 6 mo.	[3 cous.		4 "
Congenital.	1 sis , 1 uncle &	Maine.	
"	2niec's, 2 neph.	Mass.	5 "
	[& 1 other relat.		
"	I sis., 1 uncle &	Maine.	
"	[3 cousins.	Mass.	
Lost hearing in infancy.		Mass. & F'ds.	6 "
Disease in head at 4 yrs.		N. H. & F'ds.	5 "
Scarlet fever at 7 yrs.		Mass.	4 "
Congenital.	1 sister.	Vermont.	54 "
Lost hearing at 1 yr.			24 "
Typhus fever at 1 yr.		Conn.	3 "
Brain fever at 34 yrs.		Maine.	4 "
Lost hearing at 5 yrs.		Friends.	2 "
Measles at 2 yrs.	1 brother.	Mass.	i "
Congenital.		N. Hamp.	4 "
Lost hear'g in childh'd.	1 sister.	Mass.	2 "
Congenital.			4 "
"		Conn.	4 "
Infla'n in head at 3 yrs.		Friends.	
Spotted fever at 2 yrs.		N. H. & F'ds.	4 "
Scarlet fever at 24 yrs.		N. Hamp.	4 "
Congenital.		Friends.	1 "
Spotted fever at 2 yrs.		Conn.	4 "
Spotted fever at 14 yr.		N. Hamp.	4 "
Lost hearing at 4 yrs.		Friends.	2 "
Remarks.
Now a pupil.
A farmer; married.
A teacher  in  the Va. Inst, for the Deaf
     [and Dumb ;  married a deaf mute.
Married a deaf mute.

Married a deaf mute.

A mechanic ;  married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.

Now a pupil.
Now a pupil.

Married a deaf mute.
A mechanic.

Died in the Asylum.
A mechanic;  married.
Dead.
A mechanic.
A laborer.
A mechanic;  married a deaf mute.
Now a pupil.
Dead.
A mechanic;  married.
A mechanic;  married.

Married a deaf mute. 
 Wells, Rollin
 Wells, William R.
 Wentworth, Beulah C.
 Wescott, Jervis
 West, Lovina
 West, Sally
 Weston, Elizabeth
  Wheeler, James L.
  Whicher, Levi
 Whitcomb, Eunice
WWhitcomb, James II.
  White,  Daniel
  White, David
  White,  Horatio
  White, Lorenzo'D.
  White,  Sarah
  Whiting, Nathaniel
  Whitman, Charles A.
  Whiton, Wilson
  Whittlesey, James H
  Wiekham, Lucy A.
  Wiggins, Philip
  Wilcox, Sarah L.
  Wiley,  Warren P.
  Wilkins, James G.
  Wilkins, John II.
  Wilkins, Mark
  Wilkinson, Samuel
  Willard, William
  Williams, Amos L.
  Williams, Henry
  Williams, Lavinia M,
  Williams, Maria A.
  Williams, Samuel
  Willis, Earl
  Williston, Thomas
  Winchester, Ezra
  Winslow, Aurelius
  Winslow, Eliza
  Winsor, Phebe A.
Greenfield, Mass.	LS49	9 14	Congenital.
Montpelier, Vt.	1841	10	Scarlet feArer at 14 yr.
Cheshire, Mass.	1820	27	Congenital.
LoAvell, "	1833	21	Brain fever at 2 yrs.
Richmond, N. Y.	1821	22	Congenital.
Duxbury, Mass.	1850	18	""
New York City.	1842	to	cc
Coventry, N. H.	1837	21	Dropsy in head at 14 yr.
Stockbridge, Vt.	1832.	18	Fever at 4 yrs.
Hancock, N. H.	1822	14	Illness at 2 yrs.
Pendleton, S. C.	1840	15	Congenital,
Leicester, Mass.	1834	12	«<
Taunton, "	1830	L8 14	<<
Leicester, "	1837	12	«
Canton, "	182^	14	"
Boston, "	1844	to	Scarlet fever at 6 yrs.
Hingham, "	1817	12	Congenital.
Canaan, N. H.	1840	15	Fever at 14 yr.
PaAvlet, Vt.	184'J	10	A scald at 14 yr.
Charleston, S. C.	1842	12	Unknown.
Killingworth, Conn.	1834	12	Fever at 4 yrs.
Medway, Mass.	1840	9	Congenital.
Antrim, N. II.	1847	15	"
BrunsAvick, Va.	1825	14	"
Antrim, N. II.	184U	20	Scrofula at 14 yrs.
South Berwick, Me.	1847	19	Scarlet feA'er at 34 yrs.
Rockingham, Vt.	1821	15	Spotted fever at 6 yrs.
Hinckley, Ohio.	1834	13	Scarlet fever at 1 yr.
Port Hope, C. W.	184-	I	CC CC g y,.gi
Hadley, Mass.	1850	ti	44 "
Lowell, ii	1847	i'_	Congenital.
Falmouth, Me,	1841	2 (j	
Monson, Mass.	1811	I	cc
Boston, "	"	t(.	UnknoAvn.
Norwich, Conn.	1840	|-_	Congenital.
Rochester, Vt.	1832	21	
Wiscasset, Me.	1847	i;	
[Johnston, R. I.	1840	s	Scarlet fever at 1 yr.
1 brother,
1 brother.
1 sister.
1 brother.
1 brother.
1 brother.
3 bro. and
Mass.

Vermont.
Mass.

Friends.
Mass.
Friends.
N. Hamp.
Vermont.
N. Hamp.
S. Carolina.
Mass.
1 sis
1 brother.

1 brother.
1 sister.
2 second cous.
1 bro. and 1 sis
1  yr.
4   "
4   "
2   "

2*  "
N. Hamp.
Vermont.
S. Carolina.
Conn.
Mass.
N. Hamp.
Friends.
N. Hamp.
Maine.
Vt. & F'ds.
Friends.

Mass.

Friends.
Mass.

Conn.& F'ds.
Vermont.
Maine.
Rhode Island.
mo.
yrs,
Now a pupil.
Now a pupil.
Died at the Asylum.
A farmer.
Married a deaf mute.
Dead.
Now a pupil.
A teacher in  the American Asylom.
A mechanic; married.
Dead.

Now a pupil.
A mechanic.
A mechanic.
A mechanic.
Married a deaf mute.

A clerk.
A teacher in  the American Asylum.
A mechanic.
Dead.

Married.
Married;  a teacher in the Indiana Inst.
A farmer; married.      [for D.and D.
Noav a pupil.
Noav a pupil.
Now a pupil.

A laborer ; married a deaf mute ;  dead.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
A mechanic.
A mechanic ; married a deaf mute.
|Now a pupil. 
Name.
Residence.
Wise, Charles P.
Wiswell, David
Wiswell, Lucinda H.
Wiswell, Mary C.
WisAvell, Peter C.
Withington, Mary W.
Wodell, Rhoda
Wood, Benjamin
Wood, Gilbert
Wood, Harriet
Woodward, Joseph
Woodward, Roxana
Worcester, Frank
Worcester, Susan
Work, Mary I.
Wright, Ellen R.
Wright, James D.
Wright, Lusetta
Wright, Pelatiah  J.
Wright, Varnnm  B.
Wright, Wealthy
Wyatt, Isaac
Young, Charles W.
Young, Ellen A.
Young, Jonathan
Boston,  Mass.
Medway,  "
Canton,   "
Westport, "
Onondaga, N. Y.
Benson,     Vt.
Montpelier,  "
Ashford, Conn.
Peacham, Vt.
Dracut, Mass.
   cc      cc
Williamstown, Vt.
Keene, N. H.
Oglethorpe Co., Geo.
Corn Avail, Vt.
Westford, Mass.
    cc      cc
Cornwall, Vt.
Randolph, "
Wendell,  N. H.
Meredith,   "
Wakefield,  "
List  of  Pupils—Continued.
Time
of
adm.
1850
1846
1843
1834
1825
1843
1821
1837
1830
1819
1S33
1845
1848
1847
1844 CC
1S48
1S31
1837
1840
1825
be <	Cause of deafness.	Deaf and Dumb relatives.	How suppo ed.	Time under	Remarks.
				instruc.	
	Congenital.		Mass.		Noav a pupil.
12	"	1 bro. and 2 sis.	fc	5 yrs.	
14	"	2 bro. and 1 sis.	"	6 "	
10	cc	2 bro. and 1 sis.	cc	54 "	
13	cc	1 bro. and 2 sis.	"	5 "	A mechanic; married a deaf mute.
14	A fall at 2 yrs.		"	5 "	
15	Scarlet fever at 44 yrs.		cc	6 "	
27	Unknown.		Friends.	1 "	Married.
10	Disease in head at 1 yr.		Vermont.	4 "	
11	Whoop'g c'gh at 24 yrs.		"	4 «	
21	Scarlet fever at 4 yrs.		Friends.	2 "	A mechanic; married.
18	Unknown.		Vermont.	4 «	
s	Congenital.	Twin sister.	Mass. & F'ds.		Noav a pupil.
s	"	TAvin brother.	" "		Now a pupil.
14	cc		Vermont.		Now a pupil.
12	Scarlet fever at 24 yrs.		N. Hamp.		Now a pupil.
14	Disease in head at 9 mo.		Friends. •	3 "	
11	Congenital.	2 sis. <& 2d cous.	Vermont.	5 "	
14	"	1 2d cousin.	Mass.	6 "	A mechanic.
10	Ulcers in head at 9 mo.	1 2d cousin.	"	6 "	A mechanic.
8	Congenital.	2 sis. & 2d cous.	Vermont.		Now a pupil.
18	Spotted fever at 14 yr.		"	4 "	A mechanic; married a deaf mute.
21	Fever at 1 yr.		N. Hamp.	34 "	
10	Congenital.		"		Now a pupil.
27	Scarlet fever at 1 yr.		cc	2 "	
 
LIST, OF  PUPILS OF  THE AMERICAN  ASYLUM.      255
                   Classification in respect to residence.
   In the preceding list, the residence of each of the pupils of the Asylum is
given.  It may sometimes be desirable to know how many each state has
furnished.   This information may be obtained from the following table:—
        From Maine,........135
              New Hampshire,......134
              Vermont,.......139
              Massachusetts,.......336
              Rhode Island,      .......     25
              Connecticut,.......171
              New York,.......23
              New Jersey,    .......    1
              Pennsylvania,......       4
              Maryland,.......4
              District of Columbia,.....      3
              Virginia,   ........    8
              North Carolina,......      4
              South Carolina,      .     .     .    .     .     .18
              Georgia,.......26
              Louisiana,      .......    1
              Ohio,........      4
              British Provinces,......18
              West Indies,       ......       2
              Illinois,     ........    1
              Alabama,     .......       1
              Wisconsin,      .......    1
              Texas,        ......%           1

                                                           1,060
   For a time, this  was  the only school for deaf mutes in the country.   After
the question whether such persons could be furnished with a knowledge of
written  language, was  satisfactorily settled, and the value of the  system be-
came apparent, similar institutions were put in operation  in the  middle,
southern and western states, which now receive and educate  the  deaf mutes
within their limits : leaving us a narrower field of usefulness,  and sufficiently
accounting for the  fact that comparatively few of our  recent  pupils are from
the more distant states.
               Classification in respect to means of support.
     Supported by Maine,.......124
                  New Hampshire,.....123
                  Vermont,      ......133
                  Massachusetts,.....316
                   Connecticut,......132
                  Rhode Island,.....10
                   South  Carolina,.....17 
256      LIST  OF  PUPILS  OF THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
    Supported by Georgia,......*
                  United States Government,    ...    1
                  The Asylum,.....
                  Friends,.......178
                  Themselves,       .....       u

  The necessity of legislative assistance in extending the benefits of the Asy-
lum to the deaf and dumb generally, very early prompted the directors and
friends of the institution to efforts in order to secure so important a co-opera-
tion.  In this berfevolent enterprise, the legislature of Massachusetts took the
lead, and has uniformly manifested a liberality and  perseverance worthy of
all praise.  In 1819, provision Avas made for  the support of twenty pupils,
which Avas from time to time increased, until sufficient for the education of all
the indigent deaf mutes Avithin that state.
  It should be mentioned, hoAvever, in this connection, that the legislature of
Connecticut, in  1816, made a grant of five  thousand dollars, to the funds of
the Asylum, which Avas some years aftenvard appropriated to  the education
of pupils from this state.  The example of Massachusetts  Avas followed  in
1822, by New Hampshire; in 1825, by Maine and  Vermont; in 1828, by
Connecticut; and in 1845, by Rhode Island.  These states  have continued
their appropriations, and with increasing  liberality, to the present time.
   As  there was no similar institution in the southern  states, the directors,
anxious to extend the benefits of this system of instruction as widely as pos-
sible, sent the principal of the Asylum, in 1834, with three pupils, to South
Carolina and Georgia; in the hope that he  might be able  to awaken such an
interest on the subject in the legislatures of  those states, as Avould lead to a
permanent provision for the instruction of their own deaf mutes.  This efiort
resulted  in  legislative  appropriations nearly or  quite sufficient for the pur-
pose, to be expended at this institution.   And although a feAv have been re-
ceived from each of those states, yet owing to  the apathy of parents, and their
unAvillingness to send  their children so far from home for so long a time, the
expected advantage of this measure have not been fully  realized.   Each of
these states  has noAV a  school for the deaf and dumb within its OAvn limits.
               Classification in respect to age, when  admitted.
Age. J	'o. of Pupi	Age. No.	of Pupils	Age.	No. of Pupils.
7 yrs. . .	4	18 yrs. . .	44	29 yrs.	. . 5
8 " .	. 31	19 "	39	30 "	. . 4
9 "	. 52	20 "	24	31 "	. . 3
10 "	. 75	21 "	38	33 "	. . 3
11 " •	. 76	22 "	31	34 "	. . 2
12 " .	. 125	23 "	22	37 "	. . 2
13 " .	. 86	24 "	23	38 "	. . 1
14 " .	. 102	25 "	19	40 "	. . 1
15 "	. 94	26 "	7	48 "	. . 1
16 "	. 70	27 "	13	50 "	. . 1
17 " • •	. 56	28 " . .	7	51 "	. . . 1
 
LIST OF  PUPILS OF  THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.      257
  The present pupils  of the Asylum  are comparatively younger than  the
former pupils.  At the opening of the Asylum, there were many deaf and
dumb persons of mature age anxious to avail themselves of the opportunity,
for the first time offered them, of obtaining an education.   At first, the bene-
ficiaries of some of the states were required to be at least fourteen years o1:
age when admitted.  These causes, for a while, filled our  classes with older
pupils than could have been desired ;  although by the rules of the institution,
only those under  ten  years of age were excluded.  At present, the lower
limit is fixed at eight years, which by many judicious teachers,  is regarded as
too young.
              Classification in respect to time under instruction.  t
        Time.                                               No. of Pupils.
       1  year and under,    .....••     7o
       2  u        "........91
       3  <t        «(........107
       4  »        «........280
       5  «        •«   .    .    .   •.....243
       6  «         «........128
       7  "         «........'36
       8  «         «........10
       9  "        "....••••       2
      11  "         "........1
   The average  time of instruction of all who have left the  Asylum is
 about four  years.  This  is quite too short a period for  the purpose  of
 acquiring a common  educution;—such an education  as  will  fit deaf mutes
 to read books easily, and to manage successfully the details of  ordinary busi-
 ness.  The patrons and friends of our pupils, as they have become better ac-
 quainted with the difficulties to be encountered, and more interested in the
 subject of deaf and dumb education, have manifested a  willingness to extend,
 in compliance with the earnest wishes of the officers of the Asylum, the time
 of  their  pupilage; so that five years may now be regarded as the average
 term of instruction.  It is hoped that the time is not distant when the oppor-
 tunity of remaining at least seven years, shall be afforded to all.
               Classification in respect to causes of deafness.
       Deafness congenital,.....
        Caused by fever,       ......
            "     spotted fever,.....
            "     scarlet fever,.....
            "     typhus fever,.....
            "     lung fever,        .....
            "     yelloAV fever,.....
            "     measles,.....
            "     small pox,.....
whooping cough,
537
 32
 48
 91
 15
  3
  1
 16
  2
 14 
258      LIST  OF  PUPILS  OF THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.
  2
  6
  4
  1
  1
  1
 22
108
       Caused by croup,.......       *
           "     inflammation in the head,     .     .     •     .31
           "     ulcers,         "      "    •                    55
           "     dropsy,        "      "      ...
           "     palsy,......
           "     fits,......
           "     scrofula,   ....•■
           "     erysipelas,   .
           "     mumps,       .....
           "     rickets,.....
           "     accidents,     .....
           "     disease  not specified,
           "     unknown,     *.....^6
  The cause of deafness has always been a subject of much interest to those
engaged in the care and instruction of deaf mutes.   It has, in this institution,
been  made a matter of distinct inquiry in every  case;  but owing  to the
negligence of friends in some cases, and their ignorance in  others, we have -
been  unable to  ascertain the  cause  in fifty-six  instances.   We  cannot
speak with entire certainty in regard to all the causes assigned, or supposed
to be known.  It not unfrequently happens that the  parents themselves are
entirely unconscious of the misfortune of their deaf children, until they arrive
at the age of two or  three years ; and are then led to suspect that they may
be deaf by their  not learning to speak. Having ascertained the fact of their
deafness, they then inquire  as to the cause, and in many cases form their
conclusions upon very slight grounds.  If there had been sickness in infancy,
that is often regarded  as the cause, whatever its nature may have been, or
however unhkely to produce such a result.   In  some cases, where there had
been local inflammation, without severe sickness, and even ulceration  in the
ears, parents decide that the deafness is congenital;  not supposing that local
disease of so mild a character could produce such an effect.  It has been our
aim carefully to examine the evidence in these doubtful cases, and come  to
such conclusions as the facts would warrant.   The result of our investigations
is contained in the foregoing table.   From this it appears that in a little more
than half of the  ascertained cases,  deafness was congenital.  We are aware
that doubts have been expressed by medical and scientific men, whether deaf-
ness is ever in  any case congenital.  But these  doubts are  strengthened
neither by analogy nor facts.  Children, in many instances, are born blind,
and no reason can be assigned why the eye should  be diseased anterior to
birth, or subject  to malformation, rather than the ear.  Besides, examinations
made after death, both in  this country and  in  Europe, have furnished clear
evidence on the  one hand of such  deviation from the normal structure, as to
render hearing impossible; and on the other, of such apparent perfection of
all the parts of the ear, as not  to be distinguished from others capable  of per-
forming their appropriate functions.
  The diseases assigned in the table, as causes of deafness, although differing
in many respects from one  another, probably occasion this calamity  in one 
LIST OF  PUPILS OF  THE  AMERICAN  ASYLUM.      259
uniform way;  that is, by inflammation.   Some of them produce this effect in
the fauces or throat, followed by ulcers, in the  healing of which, the eusta-
chian tubes are  closed, and  deafness ensues.   Others produce inflammation
in the internal cavities of the ear, which destroys the organs of hearing, by
suppuration ; or in that part of the brain with which the auditory nerves are
connected, incapacitating it for receiving  impressions from  sounds in the
usual way.
   Most of the one hundred and eight who are said to have lost their hearing
by disease not specified, might have been distributed under some of the other
heads; but their friends could give no other information respecting the cause
than that assigned.  Next to this, the most common causes of deafness are
spotted fever and scarlet fever.   The former of these diseases, however, has
nearly ceased  to be a  cause.

        Classification in respect to the age at which hearing was lost.
            Ase-                                        No. of Pupils.
       Under  1  year,        .......102
       Between  1 and 2 years,.....       151
           "    2 and 3    "         .....98
           "    3 and 4    ".....        38
           "    4 and 5    "         .....40
           "    5 and 6    ".....        13
           "    6 and 7    "         .....13
7 and  8
8 and  9
9 and 10
                                     .....       1
                                  .....         1
       Age unknown,.......19
  Most of  the pupils who lost their hearing before five years of age, had lost
nearly or quite all knowledge of articulation before coming to the Asylum,
even  when pains had been taken, on the part of friends, to preserve it.
Many of those who could articulate to some extent, were very unwilling to
practice it; preferring the language of signs, although imperfectly understood
by others, as a medium of communication.   In these  cases, it  has been  our
aim not only to secure to them what knowledge of articulation they brought
with them,  but to perfect and extend it as far as possible, without interfering
with our more appropriate work of intellectual and moral education.

            Classification in respect to deaf and dumb relatives.
  Families in each of which there is but
       1  child deaf and dumb,    ......    738
       2 children,    "       ......      102
39
13
 7
 2
 2 
260      LIST  OF  PUPILS OF THE AMERICAN ASYLUM.

          Instances of deaf and dumb children in the foregoing list
                                                        Different families,
With one deaf and dumb parent,       ......4
   "   both parents deaf and dumb,......
   "   a deaf and dumb parent and grandparent,    ....     3
   "   an uncle or aunt deaf and dumb,.....14
   "   one or more deaf and dumb cousins,.....23
   "   relatives more remote than cousin,.....26
   "   one great grandparent,      .......*
   Tavo married couples have each one deaf and dumb child.
  Three married couples have three deaf and dumb children.
   One man, Avith a hearing wife, has three deaf and dumb children.
   The number of those who have been  pupils of the Asylum, noAV known to
us as married, is 252.   Of these, 61 have partners who can hear and speak ;
while the remaining 96 have married among themselves, or other deaf mutes.
   The question is often asked, whether Ave believe deafness to be hereditary.
The facts which Ave have collected and embodied in this report, lead to the
opinion that it is hereditary in  the same  sense that insanity, scrofula and
consumption are hereditary.  To use a common expression, it runs in  fami-
lies ;  sometimes affecting all the children, sometimes every other child, and
sometimes only those of one sex.  In only a few instances have Ave known it
transmitted  by parents to  their children, and  in  only three instances,
through  three  successive generations.   Of the 144 families formed  of
our pupils who have married, there are deaf and dumb  children in  only
five  of them,  while  in other families  of  six or  eight  children  each,  all
can hear and speak.
  In conclusion of what we have to say  on this head, we would remark, that
while it would  not be a matter of surprise if persons afflicted with congenital
deafness  should have deaf and  dumb children, still it is far  more  probable
that their children Avould hear and speak.
   The number of deaths which have occurred among  all those who have
been  pupils at the  Asylum  so far as known to us, is 130 ;  namely,  63
males and 67 females.  Of these, 31 died at the Asylum; namely, 13 malea
and 18 females. 
CAUSES OF  DEAFNESS.
261
  Note.—The following statistics are taken from an article on the Education
of the Deaf and Dumb, in the Penny Cyclopedia, by Charles Baker, Super-
intendent of the Yorkshire Institution.

  " The importance of an inquiry into the causes of deafness, induced the di-
rectors of the institution at Paris to issue circular letters, containing a series
of questions, as follows, addressed to the parents of their pupils.

  1. Was the child born deaf, or has he become so since his birth ?
  2. In the first case, what circumstances preceded, accompanied, or followed
his birth ?  In the second case, at what  age was he found to be deaf?
  3. Since the time of his birth till that when he lost his hearing, has he suffer-
ed under any illness, or met with any accident ?
  4. Is the loss of hearing to be attributed to this illness, or this accident ?
  5. Independent of deafness, has he any other infirmity ?
  6. In this case, was this  infirmity anterior or posterior to the deafness, and
for how long ?
   7. Had the child spoken before he lost his hearing ?
   8. Hoav many children are there in the family, and among them how many
deaf mutes ?
   9. Are  the father or mother deaf and dumb, or have they any other disease ?
   10. What was the age of the father  and mother at the time of  the child's
 birth ?
   11. What is their occupation ?
   12. Is the residence of the parents in a flat, mountainous, or marshy coun-
 try ?  Is it exposed to humidity, or to any other peculiar atmospheric influence ,'
   Lastly.  The parents or the friends of the child are requested to give all the
 particulars which it is possible to furnish explanatory of the causes of deafness.

   " The  following is a brief notice of the result of this inquiry.   Out of 102
 children  whose  parents furnished  the  required information, 52 were born
 deaf, 37 became so after birth, and of the remaining 13 no positive information
 could be obtained.   Of the 37 who became deaf after their birth,  7 lost their
 hearing during the first year, 13 in the second, 7 in the third, 1 in the fourth,
 5 in the fifth, and 4 in the eighth year of their age.  On examining into the
 causes of the deafness of these children, 8 cases  were found to arise from vio-
 lent convulsions during the period of dentition or from fright; in 10, deafness
 supervened upon epidemic fevers—cerebral, nervous, scarlatina,  inflamma-
 tory, putrid, or catarrhal; 2 cases  followed measles, 6 arose from verminous
 disease,  1 from  a  deposit of matter  under the ear, 1 from a violent sore
 throat, 1 from a fall, 1 from a cold, and 1 from ophthalmia caused by a scrofu-
 lous habit; 7 cases of deafness were attributed to virulent diseases, of which
 the parents could not explain the nature; lastly, four children who were not
 born deaf lost their hearing without it being possible to refer the loss to any
 illness of a serious nature.  Of these 102 deaf mutes, 21 belong to families in
 which there are other children afflicted with the same infirmity;  9 families
 contain  each two deaf and dumb  children among two, three, four, five, six,
 and eight; 7 families have each three deaf mutes, out of three, four, seven
                   34 
262
CAUSES  OF DEAFNESS.
eight, and twenty-six children;  3 families contain each four, out of four, sev-
en and ten children; 1 family has five deaf and dumb children out of eight,
and there is 1  family which out of ten  children contains seven deaf mutes:
Avith the exception of one brother and one sister who lost their hearing after
birth, all  these children, belonging to  families where there are several deaf
mutes, are afflicted Avith congenital deafness.
  " Many cases of deafness are attended by circumstances which deserve to be
especiallyYecorded.  One deaf mute from birth had a maternal great-grand-
mother who was afflicted with the same malady;  another child, Avho lost its
hearing at the age of four years, is the issue of a father who was also affected
with deafness at the age of seven years, and there are several other parents
who have labored under the same infirmity.  In the family which numbers 7
deaf mutes.out  of ten children, the father had an aunt Avho Avas deaf from
birth; in  another family, which contains  tAvo deaf mutes, the sister of the
father married Avith  the brother of the mother has five male children, of Avhom
three are afflicted with congenital deafness. In one family, the father has been
twice married; by his first wife he had two children Avho can hear; by his
second  he has one daughter born deaf and dumb.  In a second family, the
father has also contracted two marriages: he had  three deaf and dumb chil-
dren by his first wife, and four Avho hear by his second.   In the family which
contains 3 deaf mutes out of twenty-six children, the father has been married
four times;  his last wife, who is affected  Avith goitre, has had five children,
three of whom are deprived of  hearing.  Lastly, in the family Avhich, out of
eight children, numbers five deaf and dumb from birth, all the five were born
in a damp house, where the persons who had formerly resided had three chil-
dren, two of whom Avere deaf and dumb.
   " We are enabled to compare the above results Avith  the results of an in-
quiry into a nearly  similar number of cases obtained at one of the English in-
stitutions, the Yorkshire Institution for  the Deaf and Dumb.  The details in
the latter case are upon 110 pupils, and while they, in many respects, verify
and corroborate the evidence already before us, in some important particulars
there is considerable variance.  It appears that all ordinary means  are used
to obtain correct statistical data at the Yorkshire Institution, not only on the
physical influences which cause deafness, but also  on the effects of moral and
intellectual culture.  A sufficient number of years has not yet elapsed since
the institution was established, to enable us to draw any  important inferences
from the facts hitherto recorded.  From  November, 1829, to August, 1835,
110 pupils were received  into the Yorkshire  Institution: of this number,  75
were born deaf, 26 became so after birth, and of the remaining 9 no accurate
information could be obtained.  The statements as to the time at which deaf-
ness was first  perceived  in the  26 above mentioned are  very vague, but it is
certain that a very large majority became so under the age of three years, and
that only one occurred at five years of age.  Respecting the diseases on which
deafness followed, the information is full and complete, so far as the observa-
tion of parents and the attestation of the medical practitioners of the various 
CAUSES OF DEAFNESS.
263
families could make  it.   In 9 cases, the deafness is reported to have arisen
from hydrocephalous and other affections of the brain, as inflammation, brain
fever, &c.; in 5 from general fever, scarlet fever, &c.; in 4 from measles; in
3 from convulsions and other fits; in 2 from inflammation of the lungs; in 1
from cold;  and in 3 cases from diseases which were unknown, or on which
the friends of the children had no positive knowledge.  Seventy-four of the
110 cases are in families where there are only these single instances of deaf-
ness; the remaining  36 belong to 27 families, and these 27 families contain 68
cases of deaf and dumb offspring.   Seventeen of them have each 2 deaf and
dumb ; seven have each 3 ; two have each  4 ; and one has 5, making in all
68.  Of these 27 families,
1 has	5 d. d.	( 5)	out of 9 children ;	( 9)
2 have each	4	( 8)	<c 7	(14)
3	3	( 9)	« 7	(21)
3	3	( 9)	" 6	(18)
1 has	3	( 3)	cc 5	( 5)
1	2	( 2)	cc 10	(10)
3 have each	2	(0	cc 8	(24)
1 has	2	(2)	cc 7	( ">)
3 have each	2	( 6)	« 6	(18)
2	2	( 4)	« 5	(10)
5	2	(10)	<c 4	(20)
1 has	0	( 2)	» 3	( 3)
1	o	(2J	" 2 "	( 2)
27		68		161
This statement presents us with 27 families containing 161 children, of whom
68 were deaf and dumb.   It has been mentioned that 26 of the 110 cases now
under consideration  are the effects of accident  or disease;  24 of these in-
stances may be somewhat positively concluded to be in families free from con-
genital deafness, from the  fact that these are the only instances known in the
families.  The other case of two children, making the 26, is that of a brother
and sister who are said to have become deaf after birth, in each case from in-
flammation of the lungs at tAvo and a half years of age : it is proper to remark
that in this instance both the father and the mother of the two children died
of consumption at an early age, and that both the children are subject to pul-
monary complaints and other affections indicatiA-e of disease.
  " Out of  the total number of  children that have been received into the
Yorkshire Institution, 8 were subject to goitre;  7 to other scorbutic tenden-
cies ; 5 to fits; 2 to partial paralysis;  2 to consumption, and 8 were of other-
wise delicate constitutions: three have died; 1 of inflammation of the lungs,
1 of dropsy  supervening on scarlatina, and 1 of a very gradual consumption.
In five families, idiocy exists;  in  several, goitre is  found  in the parents;  in
19, one or both the parents died early, or before middle age; in several, deaf-
ness exists in collateral branches of the family; in one case, where the father
is deaf and dumb, he has two children who can hear, and one who is deaf and 
  264                  CAUSES  OF  DEAFNESS.

  dumb.  In another, the family consists of four children, two of Avhom are deaf
  and dumb, and twins.   The number of families employed in agriculture in
  the district to which the operations of the institution extend, is 62,377; em-
  ployed in trade and manufactures, 140,856 ;  other families, 73,333.  Of the
  110 pupils, 63 were from mining or manufacturing districts, chiefly from large
  towns, and 47 were from agricultural districts.  Of these 110  pupils, 20 were
  found to be of decidedly superior intellectual poAvers;  61 Avere of ordinary
  talents; 19 Avere inferior in mental endoAvments, and 10 were very low in in-
  tellect—compared even  with those of the next grade, but not so Ioav as to be
  considered idiots, for even these were able to connect simple ideas in Avriting,
 to comprehend all ordinary subjects connected Avith their daily exercises and
 wants, and  were capable of moral improvement.   In each  of these ten in-
 stances, it is remarkable that causes exist Avhich partly account for this intel-
 lectual barrenness: in one instance, the child and both parents are unhealthy;
 in another, there exists paralysis of one entire side of the body, and doubtless
 of one side of the brain,  as the child is of a very active temperament;  in the
 next case, there is a general feebleness of the constitution, (in this case, both
 the parents are healthy, and a very large family of children are remarkably
 so;)  in two instances, the children are subject to fits; in another case, the
 child is a species of dwarf,  being  physically  and mentally undeveloped, re-
 markably good-humored, and the moral sense good, considering the unfavor-
 able circumstances under Avhich  the child was brought up; in the ninth  in-
 stance, the pupil labored under St. Vitus's dance, and scorbutic affections ;
 and in the tenth,  the mother has goitre, the father is dwarfish,  and one of the
 brothers is an idiot.
   " Such  are some of the results Avhich have been obtained at  one institution,
 and we now  submit the form in which the information is recorded.   This
 form embodies particulars  which,  from the comparatively short existence of
 the  institution, cannot yet  be completed, and it is probably  capable of im-
 provements  which in due course will present  themselves.   At the same time
 it is a document which, as far as it goes, is satisfactory, and which even in its
 present form may serve as a model till something better is suggested.
   " The book in which the details are  kept is  divided into columns varying in
 width according to the information to be written in them.   The heads are as
 follows:—No.  of Case,  Name of  Child, Description  and Circumstances of
 Parents, Moral and Physical Habits of Parents and Family,  Residence,
 Physical Character of the District, No. of Family, No. of Deaf and Dumb,
 Age of Pupil, When Admitted, Born  Deaf or become so, and when, Under
 what Circumstances became Deaf, If otherwise Diseased and its Nature, No.
 of Years at School, Intellectual Character, Moral Character, Why left School,
 Deafness in Family, Cases of Consanguinity existing between Parents before
 Marriage,  Business on leaving School, Additional Remarks.
   " The only statistical document which the publications of the London Asy-
lum for Indigent Deaf and Dumb Children furnish is the following very im- 
CAUSES OF  DEAFNESS.                   265
portant one, extracted from their report for June, 1833, by which it is
shown that 20 families, containing 159 children, number 90 deaf mutes.

                                            .  .          No of      No. of
           Names.            Parents.     Description.      Children.    D. & D.
  Mary Martin,.............Father a laborer,..............10........7
  James Wm. Kelly,........   do.   a porter,................8........7
  Mary Aldum,.............   do.   a broadcloth weaver.....12........6
  William Coleman,........Mother a widow, ..............11........5
  David Thompson,.........Father a smith,................10........5
  James Cousens,...........   do.   a brickl's laborer,....... 8........5
  George Franklin,..........Mother a widow,...............8........5
  Silas Vokins,.............Father a laborer,.............. 7........5
  Thomas Barnes,..........   do.  a cobbler............... 6........5
  Thomas Pounceby,.......   do.  a dyer,.................12........4
  Henry Tatler,............   do.  a working jeweler,......10........4
  Abr'm Murgatroyd,.......   do.  a cloth weaver,.........  9........4
  William Baynes,..........   do.  a school  master,........8........4
  Mary Lovegrove,.........   do.  a laborer,.............. 8........4
  Elizabeth Cherry,.........   do.  a watch finisher,........ 7........4
  William Cockton, ........Mother a widow,..............  6........4
   Robert Mortimer,.........Father a cloth weaver,.........  7........3
   Francis Hancock,.........  do.  a small farmer,.........  6........3
   Susannah Rye,...........Mother a widow,.............. 3.....all 3
   Eliza Fox,...............(an orphan).................... 3.....all 3
                                                          159        90

   "In Be'bian's 'Journal de 1' Instruction des Sourds-Muets,' No. II., p. 117,
 118, it is remarked that the canton of Vaud, in Switzerland, containing 122
 parishes, presents a remarkable phenomenon.  In 67 parishes there is not a
 single deaf mute ; in the other 55, there are 152, Avhich is about one in every
 hundred of the population.   In the  district of Moudon  there are  43  deaf
 mutes among 6602 inhabitants ;  in Payerne only 25 in 6095 ;  in Eaubonne
 20 in 9688 f and in Valle'e, 12 in  3938.   The physical causes of this differ-
 ence are unknown, but of 152 deaf mutes 66 were found capable of instruc-
 tion.   Most of the others (70) are also afflicted with cretinism ; age and dis-
 eases of  various kinds unfit the others for instruction.  Almost all are the
 children of poor parents, who could not contribute  to the expenses of edu-
 cation." 
LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS

     BY REV. THOMAS H. GALLAUDET.
Discourses on various points  of Christian Faith and Practice;  most of
  which were delivered in the Chapel of the Oratoire in Paris, in 1816.  N.
  York: 1818.
Discourse on the Opening of the American Asylum, in May, 1817.
Discourse at the Dedication of the American Asylum, in 1822.
Plea in behalf of the Deaf and Cumb, delivered in the principal cities of
  New England.  1824.
Early History of the American Asylum—m a Letter to the Editor of the
  North American Review.  1819.
Papers on Deaf-Mute  Instruction, published in the  Christian Observer,
  London, for October and December, 1819.
Papers " on Oral Language, and the Language of Signs," and " on the Lan-
  guage of Signs auxiliary to the Christian Missionary."  Published in 1826.
Annual Reports of the American Asylum, from 1817 to 1830.
Recollections of the Deaf and Dumb,—in Annals of Education for 1838.
Language  of Signs,—in the American Annals of the Deaf and Dumb, Vol.
  I., Nos.  1 and 2.
Remarks on Teachers'  Seminaries,—first published in a series of articles in
  the Connecticut Observer in 1826,—and in the same year, in a pamphlet
  at Boston.
Discourse on Female Education,—pronounced at the Dedication of the Hart-
  ford Female Seminary, In 1827.
Public Schools, Public Blessings,—published by the Executive Committee of
  the New York Public School Society, in 1837.
Schoolmasters' Manual,—an American  edition  of  Dunn's Principles  of
  Teaching.  Hartford: 1838.
An Address in behalf of the Sandwich Island Mission.   1819.
An Address at the Annual Meeting of the Hartford Tract Society.  1820.
An Address in behalf of the American Colonization Society.  1829.
A Statement with regard to the Moorish  Pupil, Abdahl Rahhaman.   1828.
Lecture on the Principles  of Association in  giving  dignity to Christian
  Character.   1833.
The Every-Day Christian.   Boston, Crocker & Brewster: 1836.
The Child's Book on the Soul.   1830.
The Child's Book on Repentance.
The Child's Book of Bible  Stories.
Youth's Book on Natural Theology. 
PUBLICATIONS BY  MR. GALLAUDET.           267
Scripture Biography,—published by the American Tract Society, viz :—
               Adam to Jacob.  1838.
               Joseph.   1834.
               Moses.  2 vols.   1839.
               Joshua and Judges.
               Ruth and  Samuel.
               David and Saul.  1843.
               Solomon.
               Josiah.
               Jonah.
The Child's Picture Defining and Reading Book.
Mother's Primer.
The Practical Spelling Book, with Reading Lessons.
The School and Family  Dictionary and Illustrative Definer.

          Contributions to  American Annals of Education, viz:—
Philosophy of Language.   1830.
Methods of Teaching to  Read.   1830.
Remarks on Seminaries for Teachers.  1831.
Language $f Infancy.  1831.
Family and School Discipline.   1837.
         do. •    Its Results on Society.
         do.     Economy of the Family  School.
         do.     Its Moral Results.
         do.     Responsibility of Parents and Teachers.
         do.     The Parent, God's Vicegerent.
         do.     The Happy Family, a type of Heaven.
Hints to the Instructor.
         do.     How to gain Moral Influence.
        do.     Influence  of the Bible on Education.
On Attention.  1839.

           Contributions to Connecticut Common School Journal.
Female Teachers of Common Schools.    1838.
Training of Teachers.  1838.
Co-operation  of Society in  improving Common Schools.  1838.
What can be  done to improve Common Schools ?   1840.

                   Contributions to Mothers' Magazine.
The Mother's Face.  1838.
On the Evidence of Early  Piety.  1838.
Domestic Education at Table.   1839.
On Family Devotion.  1843.
The Prayer of Children.   1850.
Questions for Christian Parents.  1851. 
                        ERRATA.

Page 5, line 2 from bottom, for not usual, read not unusual.
Page 7, line 19 from top, for loveliness, read loneliness.
Page 28, line 3 from top, for principles, read prejudices. 
 
 

 
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