Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-06-09

dustry with which they have pursued
their studies and for The harmony and
good will which have marked their happy
intercourse with each other an inter-
course, too, which has contributed to their
improvement in the acquisition OF Ian
guasp, by afiording them frequent oPpor
tunities Of conversation with their IN
structors aud each other. They have Sc
cured, also, the universal affection and
esteem of their acquaintances in the town
in which they reside Aud this deserv
ed praise is bestowed upon them, not to
excite their vanity, but for the better Pur.
pose Of encouraging them in the way OF
we'll DUNG of sffording consolation I"
their friends and, may we add, OF lead
ing all who feel interested in their haPpl-
ness, to think how much gratitude is due
to that Saviour, by whose continual in
tercession % many comforts have de'-
cended from the source OF all good: to
soothe and to cheer them.
Thus tar the lahors of the instructors
have been principally direc'ed to the i'm
provement If the pupil, in ,orittsn Ian
guage. This is the only avenue TO the
various departments Of knowledge which
books contain, and which must, forever,
be inaccessible to the deaf and dumb,
until they become familiar with the pow
ers and use OF letters in their various
forms and combinations. THIS, also, is
necessary even tor the purposes of their
common intercourse with mankind, most
CT whom know nothing f TIE manner in
which thoughts can 81 easily and distinct
ly be expressed b. signs and gestures.
Some simple lessons. however, have
been given the pupils in asst onomy and
geography; and their views OF :he world
which they inhabit have been much en-
larged by occasional descriptions Of is
mig hty and diversified population, with
its varieties Of climate, manners, Gu q
toms and government. Still Correct or
biography. the meaning Of words, and
their combination into phrases and SEN
fences, have been the object. Of instruc-
ton to which the attention Of the teIcbers
has been, and must, for some considerable
time to come, yet be, principally direct
ell. The magnitude of their task, in this
respect vii doubtless be duly apprecia-
ted by all rejecting minds. when it is
considered how many years of patient
labor must be bestowed even upon those
youth who are in possession eOt oil their
faculties, before they are able to Iead
and write their mother tongue correctly;
possessing too, as they do, a most invalu-
able privilege Of which the deaf and dumb
are deprivcd-'he constant opportunity
of learning language by their daily ia-
tcrcourse with mankind.
How far the use OF written language,
as medium for the communications OF
thought, has been successfully taught in
the asylum during the past year, may be
perhaps estimated from few spe clmens
of the compositions Of some Of the most
advanced pupils, entirely original with
regard to thong b., style. choice Of words,
aud photography, which are annexed to
this report.
OF the general s:ccess, too, which has
crowned tie l;bcrs of the instru ctors, and
the very faithful and assiduous appIica.
ton Of the pupils, the directors deem it
but justice to say, that it has removed the
doubts of many incrcdulous, and tie fore
bodngs Of many fearful persons; that it
has settled the question of the practicabi
lity OF afotding ample, useful instruction
q, DO re m IN NJ int la 81
and religious knowledge to the inteIee.
tual deaf and dumb; that it has gained
the decided appreciation of those who
have visited the school aud that, SO tar
as the information Of the directors has
extended. it has eaqa!led the most san.
suine expectations Of the parents and
friends of the pupils
Much time aud patient labor, however,
will yet be necessary to place this infant
establishment upon such basis that it
Cali epjov all the faculties Of Improvement
which a long COURSE OF experience has
furnished to similar institution in Europe.
The system Of instruction, in it. general
outlines, is like that SO successfully pur.
sued in the institution in Paris. Itsp,ung
from the wonderful genius Of the Aboe de
l.'Epee. His successor is the venerable
AbSe Sicard, who still, in the decline Of
life, enjoys all the freshness aud energy
of youth and like some stately tree OF
the forest, extending its arms. as # for
the support and projection OF the plants
which fondIy eucircIe its trunk, spreads
his parental care over the unfortunate
children to whose happiness hi, talelr.
and life have been devoted. This father
of the deaf and dumb is now eyhlb mig,
even to this new world, the most saistac-
Iu ...aof aE fhn 81 mi nhla nerfac finn Ia