Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-02-15

his case and are healthy and well formed. His
mother, who is an intelligent and sensible lady,
very early discovered hts unfortunate situation:
she noticed that he was blind from his discovering
no desire to turn his eyes to the light. to any
bright object; and afterwards lin his early infancy
Also, she ascertaned his being deaf from the cir
cumstance, that no noise however loud, awakened
him from sleep. as lie grew up. he discovered
most extraordinary accutenpss OF the senses of
touch and smell being very snon able, by these.
to distinguish strangers from the members Of his
own family; and any little article which was ap-
propratcd to himself, from what belonged 70 9th
ers. In his chdhood, the most noticeable clrcum
stance relating to him. an eager desire to
strike upon bis fare-teeth any thing he could get
hold of; this he would do for hours; and seemed
particularly gratlHe, ii it was a kew. or any III.
strunent that gave a sharp soupd when struck
against his teeth. This would seem to Indicate
that the auditory nerve was not altogether dor
mant.
- IN 1908. and again in 1910, his father car
ted him to London, whore operations per-
formed upon hi, eyes By the most eminent prac-
mancut) success; while an attempt that was made
at the same lime, to give him the sene u hearing,
BY piercing the tvnFanun. totally taed.
"s Such is The brief history Of this poor lad; it
remains now to rive some account Of his appear
ancc, behaviour, the feelings by which lie seems to
be actuaied, the manner il which he conveys his
desires, ard the method BY which lie is managed.
So His conntcnance, notwithstanding his I'M
fortunate defects, does by no means indicate iatn-
ity; nay, the lineaments OF thought are very OBJ
servable upon it. Hi, features at times lin church,
for instance. and during The time of family prayer,)
are perfectly composed and ses!ate: when sensible
of the presence Of q stranger Of any object
which awakcns his CURIOSITY his face appears ami.
mated; and when offended or engaged, he has
very marked icrocity Of look. He is (for his age)
of an athletic form, and has altogether a robust
appearance.
ss2. He behaves himself in company with much
more propriety than conid be expected ; circum-
stance owing undoubtedly 10 the great care Of his
parents and of his elder sister. lie feeds himself
When stranger arrives, HE smell Immediately
and invariably informs him Of the circumstance,
aud directs him to the place where the stranger is,
whom he proceeds to surrpy by the Of touch.
In the remote situation where he resides, male Wis
tiers arc most frequent and therefore, the first
thing he generally does, is to examine whether or
not the stranger wears boots; il he does wear
them he immediately quits the stranger. goes to
the lobby, feels for, and accurately examines his
whip; then proceeds to the stable and handles his
horses with great care, and with the utmost seem
ing attention. Ii has occasionally happened, that
vsiters have arrived in carriage. and. on such
occasions, he has never failed to 20 to the place
where the carriage stood, examined the whole Of
| it with much anxiety, and tried innumerahe times
the elasticity of the springs. In all this he IS UNI
doubtedly guided by the smell and touch only.
without any assistance from sight: for, going to
call lately for his mother, passed him. nearto the
house, within few feet, without his noticing me
in the least; and offering him glass OF punch
after dinner, he CROPPED Tor IT, as one IN total dark
ness.
"sS The feeling by which he appears to be
most powerfully actuatcd, lat least to stranger,
is curiosity, or an anxious desire to make himself
acquainted with every thing that is new 10 him.
lie appears to feel affection to those of his family
very strongly undiscovered extreme sorrow on
account Of his fathers death; laid himself upon
the coffin after bis fathers corpse was put into It,
apparently IN much grief; went frequently to his
graye and threw himself upon it, whilst he gently
pattcd the turf, and bcmoaned himself greatly
lie is likewise capable Of feeling miith. and fire.
ournty laughs heartily. He is highly gratliicd BY
getting new clothes and as tearing his clothes Is
the most usual expression of his anger, so the pun
isbment he feels most is being obliged 10 wear
them after he has torn them. He Is subject to an
.cr upon heinz crossed in any OF his desires, or
when he finds any Of his clothes, or articles with
which he amnses nlmseli, removed from the chesl
in which he keeps them
..4. Respecting the manner IN which ne CON
yevs Ills feelings and desires, am much at loss
TO Give the information that might be expected. II
is certain that those of his family know perfectly
in what temper of mind he is, and what he wants
, 10 have: and these ntimatons lie conveys to them
in the presence Of strangers, without these .as'
being sensible Of his dong so. When he is hun
cry, he approaches his mother or sisters touches
them in an expressive manner, and points towards
the apartment where the victuas are usually kept
If he wants dry stockings. he points TO his legs
and in similar way, intmates his wishes upon
f other occasions. 4 pair of shoes were lately
brought to him, and on putting them on, he found
them too small His mother then took them, and