Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-21 00:00:00

DEAF AND DUMB SCHOOLS

The annual meeting of the committee and subscribers
of these schools was held at the Institution, Oxford-street
East, at half-past ten o'clock yesterday. The chair was
taken by Harmood . Banner, Esq. ; and the other
gentlemen present were—Rev. Messrs. James North and
Thomas Moore ; Messrs. Edward Banner, secretary ;
Charles Forget, treasurer; James Mawdsley, John
Drinkwater, William Gregson, R. Rathbone, E. Arnaud,
and D. Burton, principal of the schools.
Mr. E. Banner read

TILE REPORT,

"The Liverpool School for the Deaf and Dumb. has
been in existence about thirty-five years. Nearly 400
pupils, one-third of them within the last seven years,
have been admitted to enjoy the advantages of education
which it affords to all who are found eligible to receive
them. Many of these, on completing their school course,
have returnod to their own homes or neighbourhoods to
earn their own livelihood ; and some have gone forth to
distant lands to give evidence in the remotest dependen-
cies of the empire of the care of the Christian public at
home for their afflicted neighbours, and to incite others
in new spheres of enterprise and duty to "go and do
likewise.'

,‘ Daring the past year twenty-three new pupils have
been admitted, and after deducting those who have left
the institution within the same period, the school will
re-open after the Christmas vacation with an aggregate
of eighty, of whom about fifty are resident in the -institu-
tion, and the remainder are day scholars.
" Many of the pupils who have recently left school
have obtained good situations, and it is, hoped and
believed that they are likely to do well.

" In a period of generarand severe sickness, especially
amongst children, the committee are thankful to be able
to say that no serious illness of any kind has occurred
among the pupils under their charge. All of them have
continued to enjoy their usual health, and it is a fact,
only to be mentioned with gratitude, that no death has
token place within the institution since the year 1847.
" The present building was .opened in 1840 for the
accommodation of 48 pupils, 27 of whom resided in the
house. In 1841-2 the whale number had increased to
58, of whom 36 were inmates of the establishment.
Latterly, as the supporters and friends of the institu-
tion are well aware, the nnmbers have largely increased,
and an augmented staff has also been found necessary,
so that the complete household now numbers upwards of
90 persons. All this has been effected without running
into debt, and without materially increasing the annual
expenditure. It has, however, been found that the
building, originally constructed for a much smaller
number of inmates, is very deficient in the accommoda-
tion and conveniences which are really necessary in an
establishment where the pupils are of both sexes and
of different classes, and where (though happily it is
rarely reqnirod), provision should in common prudence
be made for the proper care and separation of the sick.
" During the past year, the committee have had under
their consideration the question of extending and improv-
ing the present building ; but to effect this most desira-
ble object an outlay of at least £l,OOO will be required,
and this sum they now appeal to the subscribers and the
public to enable them to raise. In the kindred institutions
of Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow, at Bristol, New-
castle, Swansea, and elsewhere, new or enlarged build-
ings have also been found necessary, and the committee
advert to those facts as proofs that institutions for the
deaf and dumb have become more extensively appro-
-1 ineressingly resorted to, And that they are

snecessfully, engaged in fulfilling the, designs of their
promoters. In most of the other places named money has
been- raised, and the work of the proposed extension
already enteredupon. Here, where the likenecessity equally
exists, it is hoped that when it is publicly known the
requisite funds will be supplied with a readiness which
will leave nothing wanting to the proper arrangement
and efficient manaaement of our own institution. Hitherto
the committee have not hesitated to admit every suitable
candidate, but each addition has only made the want of
accommodation more severely felt, and increased very
considerably the labours and anxieties of the officials of
the institution.

"Several applications have lately beetr made on behalf
of personi, generally females, who were beyond' the eligible
age for admission. Upon this point thae• rule of the
institution is peremptory ; and the comini;ttee have no
alternative but to reject every candidate who is above 14
years of age. It is a remarkable- fact, too, that these
cases have generally been brought to light by the
occasional visit, or the more lengthened residence, of
ladies from Liverpool in the country districts where
these deaf-mute girls resided, and where they have been
suffered to grow up without any effort on the part of their
own neighbours and connections to do that which bene-
volent strangers have desired to do, ami which, if earlier
undertaken, could have been effectually accomplished.
In other cases application has been made in time, and
the children have been admitted.

" As regards the financial position of the institution, it
will-be seen that the annual subsc iptions have fallenvery
little short of the amount received in the previous year;
but as many of the subscribers have deceased in the course
of the year, it is evident that, in order to raise the same
sum this year; new friends must be found to take the
places of . those who have departed from amongst us.
The board payments show a diminution of about £35,.
and the expenditure has been reduced by about the same
amount; but still a considerable portion of the sums
received as legacies and donations has been required to
meet the current expenditure. -
"We see, in our own immediate neighbourhood, how
it is the nature of charitable objects to suggest kindred
schemes of benevolence. One institution shows the ne-
cessity for another, and one asylum gives rise to another.
In other localities the care of the adult deaf and dumb,
and the training of infants, are worthily exciting
public attention, and receiving considerable support.
Our own object is• a simple and a single one—to give
instruction to the young deaf and dumb of both sexes.
To do this adequately and effectually we now require
increased aid, and a special effort. Until this is accom-
plished, it would be unwise to contemplate any addition
to our own proper work and responsibilities,. When
this is happily effected, it may become our grateful duty
—thanking the Almighty friend of the poor and the
afflicted for the measure of success vouchsafed to us—to
follow His guidance into fresh fields of Christian bene-
ficence, saying--' Lord, it is done as Thou halt com-
manded, and yet there is room.' "
Mr. Charles Forget read the Treasurer's Account, from
which it appeared that the balance in bank at the
beginning of last year, was £53 18s 1d; subscriptions
during the year, £539 3s 6d ; legacies, £536 7s H;
interest, £l4 3s lid ; —making a total of £1,787 Ils 2d.
The total disbursements amounted to ti,asi 4s 3d;
which, with £4OO ordered to be invested, left a balance of
£26 6s Ild.

Mr. Mawdsley proposed that the report and statement
of accounts be adopted.
Mr. Drinkwater seconded the motion.

The Chairman explained that the £4OO to be invested
did not arise from any increase of subscriptions, but was
caused by an amount of legacy received during the past
year, which, of course, could not be calculated upon for
other years.
The motion was carried.

The Rev. Mr. Moore proposed a vote of thanks to the
president, officers, and committee, which was seconded by
Mr. Mawdsley, and carried unanimously.
Mr. Forget moved a vote of thanks to the chairman,
which having been carried by acclamation, the proceed-
ings terminated.