The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-16 00:00:00

SCHOOL FOR TIE DEAF AND _DUMB.

The annual meeting of the supportersof this institution
was held yesterday, the Rev. Augustus Campbell, the
rector of Liverpool, and president of the institution, in
the chair. Mr. Harmood Banner, the chairman of the
committee, and other gentlemen who take an interest
in the welfare of the charity, were also present.
The following report was read by Mr. Edward Banner,
the honorary secretary.
"In presenting their report for the past year, the com-
mittee of the Liverpool School for the Deaf and Dumb
have again the gratifying duty to speak of the continued
prosperity and increasing usefulness of the institution.
" During the year 1855, the number of pupils rose to
80. On the re-opening of the school, in January last, the
number was 74. Twelve admissions took place during
the year, raising the total number to 86 ; but nine of
these having left school within the same period, the
number upon the books is thereby reduced to 77. Two
of the applications could not be entertained, on account
of the candidates being above the age of 14 years ; two
other applicants have been elected to enter after the
present vacation ; and several children are awaiting
admission, when they shall have attained the age of seven
years.
" In the financial position of the institution, a great
improvement has taken place during the past year. By
a special donation (to be referred to hereafter), the
balance due to the treasurer on the previous year's
account has been absolutely paid off ; and from all the
various sources of income there has been an increase of
receipts. By the active exertions of the new treasurer,
Charles Forget, Esq., a considerable addition has been
made to the number of annual eubseribers ; and, not-
withstanding the losses by death and removal (amounting
in all to £27 5s ) the subscription list has risen to a
higher amount than has been attained in the previous 12
-ears. By the deaths of several subscribers, a further
loss will be sustained during the present year, the amount
of which the committee trust they will have no difficulty
in replacing, through the ready support of those who can
honour public spirit and are eager to imitate good
example.

"The board payments, which have shown a progressive
increase since 1832, have in the past year nearly reached
the sum of £6600; the later increase being due chiefly to
the augmented number of private pupils which the high
reputation of the institution, under its present manage-
ment, has drawn hither, as boarders in the family of the
principal:
" The continued high price of provisions and other
articles of consumption has occasioned considerable
anxiety to the committee, and could only be met by the
strictest economy, So successfully, however, has this
been practised, that the ordinary income of the institu-
tion, with the aid of sundry donations, has been sufficient
for the annual expenditure, leaving the larger benefac-
tions at liberty to be invested for the permanent benefit
of the charity.
" With a household doubled in numbers, no increase
has been made in the domestic staff; and the amount
paid for wages is absolutely less now than it was in the
year 1852. The extra work is done by the female
pupils, who are thus successfully trained in habits of
usefulness, which must be of great value to themselves
and their families in after life.

" In the ordinary school course drawing has for some
time formed an -important part. In June last the
school was visited by Henry Cole, Esq., C. 8., and Richd
Redgrave, Esq, R.A., the inspector general and art.
superintendent of the government department of science
and art. They inspected the work of the pupils in free
hand drawing, and to five of the most proficient awarded
suitable prizes. It is hoped that this course of instruc-
tion will induce such a degree of skill in drawing as may
not only furnish a delightful resource roast appropriate
to the peculiar condition of the deaf and dumb, but
may also open to them suitable means of employment
for their future livelihood.

"The prosperity and well being of their former pupils
are a subject which the committee are very desirous to
promote, and concerning which they have from time
anxiously deliberated. The welfare of the adult deaf
and dumb appears to be exciting considerable attention
in many of the larger towns in this and other countries.
Various experiments have been tried, and up to the
present time with var.ying degrees of success. The
progress of these experiments will be carefully watched,
and if it should appear that any effort in this direction
can be consistently combined with that wore of edu-
cating the juvenile deaf and dumb, which is the specific
object of this institution. the committee will not be
unwilling to avail themselves of the experience which
may thus be acquired.
" They regret that they are unable to conclude their
report without making one announcement which they
are sure the subscribers will receive with equal concern.
In July last, the respected chairman of the committee,
Richard Rathbone, Esq , was compelled by the slate of
his health, and on the urgent representations of his
medical advisers, to resign the official connection with
the institution which had existed from it first establish.
'Tient, in 1825. As one of the patrons and trustees, and
as treasurer or chairman, he had watched over it for
more than thirty years, supporting it munificently by
his purse, and aiding powerfully by his influence,
counsel, and co-operation in developing its growth, from
the days of early struggle and difficulty to its present
position of active usefulnzss and high standing among
the kindred institutions which reflect so worthily the
benevolence of their supper ers and alleviate so
efficiently the touching deprivation of those who have
mouths but they speak not, ears have they but they
hear not, neither speak they through their throat.'
"The committee, while regretting the retirement of
Mr. Rathhone, have much satisfaction in paying this
well merited tribute to his beneficence, devotion, and
seal, while he is yet spared to occupy his place amongst
us; and they trust that, relieved from the cares and
anxieties of public duty, he may be permitted to enjoy
for many years to come, the congenial pleasures of a
happy home and the retrospect of a life spent in doing
good.
" On his retirement, Mr. Rathbone made the very
handsome donation of £BO to the funds of the institution,
in order that the debt of the previous year might be paid
off, and as a protest against the legacy duty, which,
upon the plea that the poor, who are ' with us always,'
are ' not of kin,' appropriates ten per cent. of every
bequest which is made in favour of the sick and needy,
the ignOrant and destitute, the afflicted and fatherless,
and him that hath none to help him.'
" In the room of Mr. Rathbone, Harmood Dinner, Esq.,
was elected chairman of the c emmittee, and that gentleman,
who has long taken a warm and active interest in the insti-
tution, has accepted the office.

---,"Vhile Liverpool is extending on every side, acquiring
larger influence, increasing rapidly in wealth, developing new
forms of enterprise, and opening new sources of usefulness,
and fresh avenues to honour, it is surely not too much to
hope that her citizens will not saffer the utility of one of
their own most valuable charities to be impaired through
inadequate support, seeing that it affords to our deaf and
dumb neighbours all the means which they enj y of being
useful and happy on earth, and unfolds to them all their hope
of immortality and heaven!'
The treasurer's statement of accounts was then given,
which showed that the receipts from the annual subscrip-
tions were £5lB ls. and from legacies and donations £493
9s 4d. The total income of the past year was e 1,689 9s
Bd, and the balance at the bankers available for the
current year's expenditure .f... 00 17s 10d.
It was resolved that the report and financial statement
should be printed and circulated as usual.
A. complimeniary resolution (which will be found in the
official record of the proceedings which appears in our
advertising columns) was passed, in acknowledgm'ent of
the valuable services rendered to the institution by Rich.
Rathbone, Esq., the late chairman of the committee, who
had been compelled, by impaired health, to resign his
office.. _

The thanks of the meeting were voted to the president,
chairman, and other officers of the institution and members
of the committee during the past year, and the appoint-
ments for the ensuing year were made. The proceedings
terminated by a vote of thanks to the chairman for his
attendance and presidency on the occasion.

THE " LAW TIMES."—The legal world is just now
divided against itself, by a remarkable feud. arisinz out of
the opposition between its class organs. The Law Times,
the most influential and widely circulated of the legal
papers, has hitherto fought the battle of the country solici-
tors against the great town agents. Now, as the interests
of these two classes of solicitors are widely distinct, this,
conduct on the part of the Law Times bas drawn upon it
the displeasure of the great attorney dictatorships of Bed
ford'row and Lincoln's inn fields, who have organised a
limited liability company to found a paper which is to anal-
hilatb their antagonist: In the prospectus, the proprietors
say that the only paper which at all represents the profes-
sion. is the Legal Observer—a statement which must betaken
in conjunction with this significant fact, that the limited
liability company aforesaid has just purchased the Legal
Observer. Thus, then, the matter stands, and it remains to
be seen whether the country solicitors are powerful enough,
or rather zealous enough, to support their paper against the
intrigues of the great London houses. A curious result of
the feud should also be noted ; there is now a rumour of a
counter movement on the part of the country solicitors—no
less than a limited liability company to carry on agency
business in London upon commission. This would be taking
the wind out of the sails of the great three deckers with a
vengeance.