Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-19

not be the sans1 There may be therstore a
language formed OF gestures, as there is a la,i-
| g,ia@e of words.
Full Of these fundamental ideas. the Abbe de
! LEpee was notlong without visiting the untor-
! tunate family again. and with what Measure
was he not received He reflected. he imita
zee ne delineated, he wrote, believing he had
| but language to teach, while, in tact he had
| two minds to cultivate I! How painful how
difhcnlt were the FIRST ESSAYS OF the inventor,
! deprived ofall assistance, in career full of
diihcultes and of obstacles, he was a little en-
| oarraSSed, but was not discouraged He arm
| eel himself with patience. aud succeeded in
| Tune, TO restore his pupils to society aud rel-
The novelty of that important discovery,
aud the wonderful progress of the French
| Deafand Dumb, was soon known to all Eu-
rope.
Zach sovereign, wishing to make their own
sun9ec's ENJOY such a benefit, dePuted geutle-
! men To Paris, to study the Able De 'Epee'S
method. This respectable ecclesiastic receiy-
| ed aud treated them with poteness and be-
nevolencc which characterised him. and com
municated hissystcm of instruction to them
II is then to him that all European Deaf and
Dumb owe their present happiness.
Soon after, and before his method might have
attained the highest degree of perfection of
winch i was susceptible, Death, that cruel
Unsuitable, which reapS ALL without distinction
OF age, OF sex, OF condition, came and removed
that excellent Father from his grateful chill
dren. Afilicton was in all hearts Luckily.
the Aohe Sicard, who was chosen for his sue
cesSor, caused their tears TO cease. He was
man OF profound knowledge, and Of a mind
very enterprising. He reviewed the Able de
LEpee's method, made perfect what had been
lett to De devised, and had the glory of going
beyond all the disciples of his predecessors.
ms present pupils are now worthy of him. The
institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Paris
| has in view, not only to enable them to com,nu-
mcatc their ideas, and TO form their reason and
understanding, but also 10 procure n subsis-
tence tor those among them who are iIrwant
| oft.
In going out OF tho asylum, the Deaf and
Dcnb OF this description are all capable ofiol-
lowing profession or trade, or to fill up some
| employment which may ensure their mainte-
| nance.
Their apprenticeship begins on their going
INTO the asY lum, and is terminated with instruc-
Ton. 'shIS apprenticeship takes place under
the inspection OF many masters, some of whom
| i've III the town, and others of whom have
| then residence ia the aSylurn, a. receive their
board and "A salary.
| Those Deaf and Dumb. who were formerly
| so unfortunate, are now the happicst ia the
| world. Many are married and have children
| endowed with the faculties of all their senses
| and who will be tho comtorterS and protectors
| OF their parents IN their old days. Many 9th
| ers are the instructors of their companions of
misfortune Many Others are employed in the
omces OF TIE government, and other public
administrations. Many Others are good paint
| ers, scuiptors, engraverS, workers in mosaick
! ana printers. some others in fine, are lner-
chants, and rule their affairs perfectly well
| Ladies and Centlemen!-I have already Civ
en- you anidea the European Deafand Dumb,
ana you can easily appreciate the extent of
! tneir private comfort and happiness. Ii is
! time TO speak now of your own countrvnen 1
| nave had the pleasure TO see some of them An
| how great is the difference between an eeinca-
| ted 3nd an uneducated Deaf and Dumb!i Who
| can be indifferent abOutsuch a matterli Who
| canrefuse his aid in extending the blessings of
Snowiedge TO those poor ignorants. they
have no idea OF things purely intellectual, and
| II nevertheless they say tlrt there is one God
| III the universe, can assure you that they do
| not Know what ne IS, nor cannot conceive how
II is possible lie should be every where. and
| possessed of infinite wisdom; of unparalleled
| goodness, OF undiminlshsd mercitulness OF
| strict justice, OF eternal truth, OF extreme pow
| er, and of a facility 10 know our most secret
| thoughtSn They cannot ut all read the HOLY
bloie winch is the woik OF God, nor acquire
| the acquaintance OF the reason why Jesus
Christ has come here below, and of the cond-
non he has imposed upon us to obtain better
happiness i'll The other world = They go to
Gnurch without knowing how to pray TO God.
! should be able TO tell you more, To show YOU
how much they must be pitied but it
would abuse your patience to attend to us lon
ger.
Ladies and Gentlemen, beg leave to invite
You to become their patrons. The first lesson
we shall give them, wllthave for its object the
nomenclature of objects which fall under their
! senses. The second will teId TO conduct them
I
third to speak to them of the Supreme Being
and OF the design for which he has created
theni--The fourth, to entertain them by way OF
discourse, upon the obligations they will have
. | towards the Parents and BenefactOrs and ;bf
last session achieving their education, what
pleasure Will they not experience in consider
| ing themselves different from what they were
before! with what sensbility will thew moi
learn the names OF the authors of their happi-
ness with what eagerness will they not ex
| press their gratitude towards their neighbours
and what satisfaction will You not feel ladies
and gentlemen, IN seeing the good YOU wiIlhavc
dOnel and III thinking that Your reward viii be
IN heaven! Who can assure YOU that there
, | willnever be sooner or later. some of those I'M
fortunateS among your own children, or among
the children OF your children : Then YOU
, would wish school for them, form itatpresent
! Then you would wish their well being pye-
pare II at present: Then YOU would wiShiheil
, future felicity in heaven, open TO them the wa,
OF tat present. In fine, ladies and gentlemen
pray dc at present the good you would desire
, al some future time TO have done for YOUR ur
fortunate cOuntrymen. | shall often pray that
your hearts may be opened in favour of Guna-
nifty.
LAURENT CLERC.
The following resolutiouswere offered to tho
meeting, and unanimously adopted viz
, ReS0iCed, That the Ladies and Gcnteine I
present entertain an impressive and cratefi
sense of the bcnevolencc which has induced
MIR. Cierc TO devote hunseiftO the instruction
E OF tic Deaf aud Dumb in the United States
and tender To him their thanks for the oppor
tunty which he has kindly afforded them Vi
witnessing tue efficacy Of thatSyStcm by which
Z | he has DcCu distracted.
Rcsoircd, That this meeting consider il to b,
an important aud interesting duty to aid tie
! cNcTtiOnS which are making for the education