Why then should we refuse the same kindness to the deaf and dumb, our associates, our friends, our countrymen, our kinsmen? Ought we not to deem ourselves sufficiently compensated for this constraint, if of constraint it merits the name, by the consolatory reflection of remedying, in some measure, the defect of their organs, in thus furnishing them the means to gather by the eye, what they are disabled from gathering by the ear?

I think I have how performed the double task I had imposed on myself, which consisted, 1st, In pointing out the route by which the deaf and dumb may be taught to pronounce all sorts of syllables like ourselves; 2nd, In making known the means to render the words which issue out of our mouths, sensible to their eyes and intelligible to their minds, although unproductive of impression on their ears.

May this fruit of my labour be answerable

to its design, or may other teachers arise and throw greater light upon a matter so important.

APPENDIX.

I

AM happy to have it in my power to communicate to the public an account of the progress made in the education of the two children (see page 5) by their parents and a schoolmaster in the small village of Buckhaven, in Fifeshire.

The following letter I received from the father of the children, in about two months after I saw him and verbally instructed him how to teach them.

“SIR,

"I take this early opportunity of informing "you of the progress my children have made in their "learning. The oldest I began with writing, and used no "counters; she learned the manual alphabet in one day, "and can now spell accurately and write down distinctly "the name and surname of all the family, by pointing to any of them.

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"She can describe them by their names, as well as the "different relations they stand in to one another, as father and mother, sister and brother, uncle and aunt; besides a good many words and names of things, likewise some "sentences. Their minds are beginning to be enlarged,

"and we converse with them with more facility. They

now begin to be more fond of information.

"I hope that in a short time the oldest will be able to "write some sentence or sentences to you, convincing you of what I now say. From the very short time since

they began, some of the neighbours are not a little "surprised to see what they can do. The youngest I sent "to school, and she is doing as well as can be expected in 66 so short a time.

“All this, Sir, is accomplished by the directions I got "from you; and I must in my own and name of her "mother return you our very best thanks for the great "interest you have taken in my children, for before I saw "you I had no knowledge of the method of teaching "children who are deaf and dumb. I have sent you some "of her writing, the top line she wrote herself, and the "others she covered the pencil with ink.

"I am,

"SIR,

"Your humble and obedient Servant,

"Buckhaven, 16th June, 1819."

"W. IRELAND."

About three weeks after I received the above letter, I wrote to the poor man, and requested he would desire the schoolmaster who was educating his youngest daughter to inform me what progress his pupil had made, upon which I received the following gratifying lines from them both.

"SIR,

"I with pleasure perused your's, and that you "wish to know the progress that I am making on my 66 young pupil that is both deaf and dumb. She is now

:

"learning to read, write, and understand a great many "words. I really think there will be little more difficulty "in her education than in some that are neither deaf nor "dumb.

"I approve much of your plan, and of your particular "diligence in putting out your excellent book. I add no "more, but remain,

"Your obliged, &c.

"JOHN KINNEAR."

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The following was written underneath the above.

“SIR,

"Above you I have the teacher's account of the progress my youngest daughter is making in her learning, my oldest is doing as well as possibly can be expected; she can by signs write a good many sentences, and within "these few days I have been giving her an example in "arithmetic, and she can now add two or three lines very "well, provided the amount does not exceed nine; and for "the very short time since I began, her proficiency is as "much as can be expected; and I think that parents or "teachers may teach them if the simplicity of the plan was "laid before them.

Printed by J. Hartnell, Wine-office-court, Fleet-street, London.