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Life Of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet

Creator: Edward Miner Gallaudet (author)
Date: 1888
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, New York
Source: Available at selected libraries
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 2

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In thinking over the utility of Peace Societies, both here and in America, it occurred to me that there was a way in which they might be infinitely more beneficially employed, than in publishing general declamations against war and its evils. If our Peace Societies would take pains to correct all the misrepresentations and exaggerations respecting the state of feeling towards us in America, and to produce kindly feelings towards her, by exhibiting the various circumstances of a favorable kind, which might be noticed; and if your Peace Societies were to pursue a similar conduct, with respect to this country, I can have no question it would do more to preserve peace, and prevent war between the two countries, than all the general reasoning on the subject of war they either have employed or can employ. This would be a practical and practicable object. The pursuit of it would prove the sincerity of their professions and the strength of their principles; and I think would make them popular in both countries.

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Mrs. Macaulay and my brother, the general, who is now with us, unite in every kind wish, and in all assurance of esteem and regard, with, my dear sir,

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Yours, very sincerely,
ZACHARY MACAULAY.

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CHAPTER IV.
1816-23.

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Return to America -- Efforts to Interest the Public in the Education of the Deaf -- Public Addresses in Many Cities -- Organization and Opening of the School at Hartford -- Favorable Action of State and National Legislatures -- Munificent Grant of Land from Congress -- Erection and Dedication of Permanent Buildings for the Institution -- Rapid Increase of Number of Pupils -- Difficulties in Management -- Attempt in the Board of Directors to Remove Mr. Gallaudet from Office.

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EAGER as Mr. Gallaudet was to commence in America the work to which he had devoted himself with such enthusiasm, he was destined to experience, a trial of his patience on the homeward voyage. Calms and head-winds hindered the progress of his vessel, and fifty-one days passed after leaving Havre before he landed in New York. These days, however, were not wasted, for they afforded an excellent opportunity for him to perfect himself in the art of deaf-mute instruction with the aid of his assistant Clerc, and gave the latter time to improve his knowledge of the English language, which was slight when he left France. Mr. Gallaudet landed in New York on the 9th of August, 1816, and spent some days in that city, reaching Hartford on the 22d of the same month, having been absent on his mission a little more than fifteen months. The interest manifested, everywhere, in Mr. Gallaudet's undertaking was, naturally, very great; for it must be remembered that in 1816 no public charitable institutions of any sort, except a small hospital for the insane in Virginia, existed in our country; unless, indeed, alms-houses could be spoken of as such.

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The following letter from Nathaniel F. Moore, a professor in Columbia College and later its president, to Rev. John McVickar, for more than half a century a professor in the same institution, written within a fortnight after Mr. Gallaudet's arrival in New York, gives a graphic picture of the attention shown to him and his companion.

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NEW YORK, August 21, 1816.

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MY DEAR SIR: -- Knowing the interest you take in the subject, I have procured for you from Mr. Gallaudet a report published by the Edinburgh Institution for the Education of the Deaf and the Dumb, containing some specimens of their composition; and I also send you a minute of the conversation we had day before yesterday with Mr. Clerc, the deaf and dumb companion of Mr. Gallaudet. This gentleman, you know, was sent abroad by the Connecticut institution that he might qualify himself to take charge of a school to be established at Hartford. He had not intended to return so soon, but this Mr. Clerc, who was seven years a pupil of the Abbe Sicard and eight years more a teacher in his institution, and who when Mr. Gallaudet became acquainted with him had charge of the highest class, having offered to accompany him, he thought it quite unnecessary to wait any longer, considering Mr. Clerc as capable of forming either the teachers or the pupils of the institution here as the Abbe Sicard himself would be.

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Mr. Clerc does not speak except by signs, by means of which we saw him and Mr. Gallaudet communicate with each other as expeditiously, almost, as we could do by words. With strangers he converses by writing. Mr. Gallaudet says that Mr. Clerc knew very little of English before they embarked together. You may judge yourself of his progress in it. My father saw him several days ago at the house of Mr. Gallaudet's father, and wrote upon a slate, "I hope you are pleased with New York." He wrote in reply, "Yes -- so well that soon I shall not regret France." When he called the day before yesterday with Mr. Gallaudet to return my father's visit my father wrote, "I hope you continue to be pleased with this country." He wrote, "Yes -- better and better," and before my father could read his answer he reached out his hand for the slate and added: -- "I meet with a good reception everywhere, and the kindest attentions are shown me." I wrote -- "We are surprised at your progress in English, your method of learning must have something peculiar in it, or your industry must be very great." He wrote: -- "By dint of studying I have got some progress, but my friend, Mr. Gallaudet, has been my best methodic." Before I had time to read his answer, he asked Mr. Gallaudet by signs whether he had not committed an error in the last word, and being told he had, he stepped up to me and rubbed out the two last letters. I wrote: -- "It is no wonder that you make mistakes, but that you make so few of them." He wrote in reply: -- "Ah, I make many mistakes, and very often, I assure you." When I read this he reached his hand for the slate and wrote: -- "Before having seen me, and being informed that I was deaf and dumb, did you know there were deaf and dumb? What idea had you of them? Did you think them unhappy or did you think their situation could be alleviated by learning to read and write?" I replied that "We had heard a great deal in this country respecting the Abbe Sicard and his predecessor, and we took great interest in the deaf and dumb, and consequently knew that their situation might be alleviated." He wrote: -- "I thank you for it, and the interest you express for us poor unfortunates."

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