meaning of them, and every unbiassed person, after perusing his method of educating the deaf and dumb, will be convinced of this fact. Could any thing so chimerical have entered the mind of any man, as to attempt to teach a deaf and dumb child to write a word, without explaining the meaning of it. No person, it may be presumed, would be so foolish as to do this, much less a man of such abilities as the good Abbé de l'Epée. The authors of the Edinburgh Encyclopædia, after having totally misrepresented the Abbé's method of education, say, "We have done with the Abbé de l'Epée;": the teachers at the asylums may also say they have done with him; and they would, no doubt, be glad to find every body else of the same opinion. But I must beg leave to differ from these gentlemen, and wish I could find language sufficient to express the sense of gratitude I feel for so benevolent and good a man. The French nation has acknowledged him to be the greatest character she ever produced by the following eulogy bestowed upon him, which diffused his fame to all nations. "Science would decide for D'Alembert, "and Nature, says Buffon; Wit and Taste "present Voltaire, and Sentiment pleads for "Rousseau; but Genius and Humanity cry. "out for de l'Epée; and him I call the best "and greatest of all.' What shall I say of these persons who have attempted to degrade and vilify the character of this good and great man, now in his grave? Shame and Disgrace cry out for them, and such I call the basest and vilest of all. If the good Abbé was now living he might well say with Shakespeare; "Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; ""Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands: "But he that filches from me my good name, "Robs me of that, which not enriches him, "And makes me poor indeed " The preceding instructions for the early education of the deaf and dumb, it is to be hoped, may prove useful to these unfortunate infants, and enable them, when they attain a maturer age, to enter upon a more arduous branch of education, namely, grammar, with greater pleasure and profit. I have no doubt, nay, from experience, am absolutely certain, that every person who is capable of instructing youth, will find very little difficulty in teaching a deaf and dumb child the rules of grammar, if he follows the method adopted by the Abbé de l'Epée. I consider myself as peculiarly fortunate in having met with the Abbé's Work, the most important part of which is subjoined. I am confident, that by adopting the system I have pointed out in the education of the infant deaf and dumb, together with the assistance of the Abbe's method, the public will readily discover, that this interesting class of our fellow-creatures may be as completely and even better educated by their own parents, or by the teacher of any charity or ordinary school, and at far less expence too, than they can be taught at any public asylum whatever. I intend, in the course of a short time, to publish, as a sequel to this Work, a dictionary for the use of the deaf and dumb, which will be illustrated with a very great variety of engravings. In this supplementary work, it shall be my endeavour to communicate all the additional information I can possibly obtain on this subject. In the mean while, I shall receive with attention and gratitude, any hints or suggestions from the ingenious or benevolent for the improvement of the Work. I shall also be particularly obliged to such ladies and gentlemen as may have any books in their possession, relative to the instruction of the deaf and dumb, if they will have the goodness to allow me a perusal of them, that this dictionary may thereby be rendered as useful and complete as possible. |