Yours, Sic." These specimens have been copied literally from the manuscripts of the pupils, and have not undergone the slightest correction from the master. The general turn of the expression in some parts, but particularly in the last specimen, seems to us to hear a striking resemblance to the language of scripture ; and yet we are assured, that all these compositions were written before either of the boys had begun to read from books of any sort.
In concluding the consideration of this department, we have only further to remark, that it is quite unneces sary to delay beginning the explanation of words, until a certain progress has been made in Writing, and Dac tylology, and Speech. It might even be entered on, be fore any of these departments are commenced. The connection betwixt objects and the written characters which represent them, can be established equally well, whether the pupil to whose organs of vision they are addressed, is or is not, able to speak or to write them. The explanation of words, therefore, ought to be begun as soon perhaps as the scholar enters on his education, although but a very small portion of his time can, at this early stage, be devoted to that object.
We have now gone through, with all the minuteness that appeared requisite to ourselves, and perhaps with more than may have seemed necessary to some of our readers, the different departments of the education of the Deaf and Dumb. We shall be happy if our remarks are found calculated to afford the slightest assistance to any humane individual, who may have resolved to at tempt the instruction of any Deaf and Dumb relation or friend, in the privacy and retirement of his own home. But we much fear that private tuition, in the case of the Deaf and Dumb, as well as in that of other children, can seldom be conducted with so much judgment as to afford advantages to the pupil, equal to the method of public instruction. We should wish, therefore, to regard all the early domestic lessons, which the natural affection of a parent may lead him to bestow on his Deaf and Dumb Phil I, in the li. lit melt It of preparation for his introduc tt sonic public school.
There is much re•-oo to re -ret, that the public insti e 1 r t•iis purpose in Gi at Britain are so few in ri.n bt r We are artillaintld only ea all two that have yet tc ,tut I any rt putation, one in London, and the other in ongh.
The fainter is entitled, the "Asylum for educating tht Deal an I Dumb ildren of the Poor," and was in :anted 1792. This asylum contains at the present
time, 11 wc art not misinformed, about luO pupils; and these .re f Drtunate encugh to have for their instructor, the %cry judicious person whom we have had occasion bo often to quote, Dr Jos-ph Watson. It does not, how cr, admit any childien on the charitable foundation until t sty are nine )cars old. " The reason for fixing tq»n this age," says Dr Watson, " was not any idea that it nas the earliest at which regulai education could be adtantageously begun; but five years being deemed, generally speaking, sufficient to accomplish that course of instruction thong .t most essential to children, desti ned to cal n their bread by the labour of their hands, and purteen being the St age at which they could be appre.aiced, it was judged best, for the economical pus poses of the institution, not to receive them before the age of nine yc ars." 'Tat he may not be misapprehended, Dr Watson af terwards states precisely whit lie understands by an edu ca ion must essential to deal children of the class men tioi ed. I deem it essentiat," says he, " that they should have such a knowledge of language, as to enable them to express their id( as on common occasions; to under sea the commands or directions it may be necessary to g v. them in ordinary cases, &c.; to read with intelli geace th.: precepts, the examples, and the promises, which :.re co.a.ained in the scriptures, particularly the New Testament; that they should write a good hand, spell correctly the words they use, and understand the principal rules of arithmetic. When I say that these ac quirements may be attained infive years, I mean to state that as the shortest time, even where the capacity of the leainer is good." The " Edinburgh Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb Children of the Poor," was esta blished only in 11110. Its objects are precisely the same as those of the London Asylum. It does not admit chil dren before eight, nor after fourteen years of age. It already contains 33 pupils, and yet we are persuaded that its advantages only require to be more generally known in this part of the island, to secure to it still more of the public favour than it has already enjoyed. We can speak from our own observation, as to tice done this institution by the teacher Mr Kinniburgh, who is a person in every respect well coallified for the important and laborious duties of his situation.