CHAP. II.

The manner in which the Infant Deaf and Dumb are taught to write and understand short Sentences.

To teach the deaf and dumb to write, is an easy and pleasant part of their education ; in the first place, it is proper to give them copies in red ink or pencil, for them to cover with black ink, or you may perhaps find it necessary to guide their hands a little at first.

As soon as you begin to teach the child to write, I would advise you to give him for copies, such words as he knows, or you can explain the meaning of, so that by his writing them over and over again, he will become so familiar with them, that he will never more forget how to spell, explain, or know the meaning of them. The days in

the week, the months and seasons in the year, the names of objects surrounding us, most naturally present themselves to begin with. Make the child explain every word, either by a sign, or by pointing to the ob ject designated, taking care at all times, that the child is perfect in every word, both in orthography and meaning. The child will not be so soon tired as children who can hear and speak, because he is pleased and entertained, and will be constantly amusing himself with writing. My brother learned to write when he was six years old, and in a short time he was capable of writing copies for the other children, equal to his master. This circumstance stimulated the children who could hear, to endeavour to excel him; they could not bear to be told, that my brother, though deaf and dumb, was the best scholar; and my brother was stimulated in like manner, and took great delight in the idea of excelling others who could hear and speak. If I

could assign no other reason than this, why the deaf and dumb should be educated with those who can hear and speak, the utility of the method would be sufficiently obvious.

By degrees, you get on with their copies from words to sentences, and then you may begin to exercise them in grammar. At the time my brother was educated, there was not a book to be procured, which treated on the subject of educating the deaf and dumb in any manner, otherwise, I have no doubt, he would have learnt the English language, or any other, grammatically. However, although the language could not be taught him so perfectly, it was taught him sufficiently to enable him to read the Bible, Testament, and most books to advantage, and to communicate his own ideas, and understand others in writing, together with the manual alphabet, which were great blessings. Much is done by the child at the preparatory school, if he has only learnt that

words mean something; and a considerable point is gained, when the learner has acquired a habit, ever so limited, of associating the sign in his memory, with the thing signified.

Nothing can possibly contribute so much to the information of the deaf and dumb as pictures. The vocabulary and plates published by Dr. Watson in 1809, would have been the most useful part of his publication, had the pictures been properly arranged and referred to; but they are jumbled together in such a manner as rather to confuse the ideas than edify the understanding, -like a lantern without a candle.

It is impossible for a child deaf and 'dumb to find out any thing in this book without a master. My object will be to enable a child to assist himself in his education, in the same manner as other children do, by means of books; for which purpose, it is my intention to publish, as soon as

possible, a more extensive and regular dictionary of useful words, not only entertaining and edifying to the deaf and dumb, but to children who can hear and speak: the meaning of every word to be explained by signs, or by a reference to a drawing, which the child may be able himself to refer to, and clearly apprehend, without being under the immediate eye of a master.

This dictionary and plates will be so admirably calculated to elucidate the meaning of words, that the deaf and dumb child will have it constantly about him for some years, and look upon it as his greatest treasure; and if it please God to spare my brother's life, he intends himself to draw the figures for the engraver.

By means of this dictionary, the parents, or any ordinary teacher, may be able to give a child a lesson, when he can write down half a dozen or more words, for him to learn in the same manner as other chil