GALLAUDET, REV. THOMAS HOPKINS, to whom America is indebted for the introduction of instruction for the deaf and dumb, was born at Philadelphia, December 10,1787. Having passed through Yale College, he commenced the study of the law, but being forced to abandon it, in consequence of ill-health, engaged for awhile in commercial pursuits; then, in 1814, entered the theological seminary at Andover, and upon being licensed to preach, was chosen pahtor of a congregational church at. Portsmouth, New Hampshire. While thus occupied he became much interested in a little deaf and dumb girl, Alice Cogswell, the daughter of a friend, and he was induced to attempt to instruct her. In this he was by great patience very sub oemful, and her father, Dr. Cogswell of Hartford, was Incited by the great benefit which his chill had derived, to earnest efforts to extend the bleeeings of education to other children suffering under a similar deprivation. An association was formed, and funds being provided, a requisition was made to Mr. Gallaudet to resign his muustry, and proceed to Enrope for the purpose of learning the system and organisation of the existing deaf and dumb institutions.
After some hesitation, caused by a reluctance to separate from his flock, he accepted the offer, and in Mey 1315 embarked on his mission. Ho first addressed himself to the London Deaf and Dumb Asylum, but after considerable correspondence he was refused admission to the asylum, except as ordinary junior assistant, and to perform the usual drudgery of that class of assistants. As this he found would have obliged him to 'mend at least three years in the school, without any corresponding gain, he proceeded to Edinburgh, where there was an asylum in considerable reputation. But there, while the com mittee and master showed every sympathy with him, and would have been glad to assist him in his excellent object, there was an obstacle which It was found immersible to surmount. The teacher had learnt Ilia system from the Messrs. Braidwood [Beau:moon, Thomas], and had been compelled by them to sign an engagement not to impart the method to any other person intending to become a teacher.
Thus baffled, Gallaodet was compelled to try Paris. Hero he met from the Abb6 Sicard a warm welcome. Everything was laid freely open to him, and every means that could be devised was used to accelerate his acquisition of the desired knowledge. He was able to return to America before the close of 1816, and the Abbd Sicard cheerfully consented to Lawrence La Clem, himself a deaf-mute, who had been one of the pupils, and was then one of the most valued teachers of the institution (he had indeed been already desig nated its 'glory and support'), accompanying him to America. During his absence in Europe, the society had been incorporated; Mr. Gallaudet was now appointed its principal, Le Clare being his head assistant, and on the 15th of April 1317,' Tho American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb,' at Hartford, Connecticut, was formally opened.
Mr. Gallaudet remained the active head of the asylum until 1830, when be resigned from failing health. His devotion to his duties bad been most exemplary, and his success as a teacher we are told was "uniform and pre-eminent." The system which he in conjunction with Mr. Le Clete ultimately established, and which has been adopted In the other asylums (of which there are now fourteen) in the United States, was founded on that of the Abb6 Sicard, but with very considerable modifications. It is known as the American system. The main principle with Mr. Gallaudet was to call out the Intelligence of the pupil as much as possible, by exercising him in describing things for himself, and to discourage the mere learning by rote; and the result was to stimulate the mind of the teacher, as well as of the pupil, in no ordinary degree.
Mr. ()enmities exertions were by no means confined to the deaf and dumb asylum. Ile took an ardent and active interest in the Improvement and extension of common schools, and in the raising up of a superior body of teachers, and wrote several pamphlets ou the subject. Ho also zealously advocated the adoption of means of imparting moral and religious training to prisoners ; and he was an earnest promoter of the movement for improving the management of the Insane. So strongly did he feel on this matter that, though in but feeble health, he acoepted in ISM the aloe of chaplain of the State ' Retreat for the Insane,' at Hartford; where, it is stated, " the experience of each successive year furnished accumulating evidence of the usefulness of his labours, and the efficacy of kind moral treat ment, and a wbe religious influence in the melioration and are of the insane." lie died on the 10th of September 1851. About twelve months before his death, the good old man, and his colleague Mr. Le Clerc, had the gratification of receiving from the deaf-mutes in America, as a testimonial of their gratitude, a service of plate each ; and on the death of Gallaudet, his fellow-citizens proposed to erect a monument to his memory, as a mark of their sense of his services ; but as soon as their Intention became known, the deaf and dumb urge! their superior claim to the performance of that duty, and accordingly a handsome and costly monument was erected to his memory at Hart ford, at the "sole expense of the deaf-mutes of the United States; " the designer and the architect of the monument being both deaf and dumb persons.
The publications of Mr. Oallandet are numerous, but chiefly pamphlets on the education of the deaf and dumb, and on other edu cational matters; lesson books; and articles iu educational journals. But he also published a volume of sermons, and some books for the young, ono of which, ' The Child's Book of the Soul.' had an extende I popularity both in America and England, and was translated into French, Spanish, Italian, and German.
(Barnard, Tribute to Gal(audet, Svo, Hartford, U.S., 1852.)