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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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Of this visit he writes as follows to a friend in Hartford:

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I called at his house just before the morning service, and went with him to his chapel, which is quite a small building in an obscure part of the town. Mr. Hall's discourse was from these words:

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"There shall be no more curse there." His subject was set forth in a very plain, perspicuous and affectionate manner, with considerable feeling. There was nothing in his style, or expression, or turn of thought, very remarkable or eloquent. Yet there was a charm cast over the whole, a delicacy, a tenderness, a simplicity, in short, an accommodation of a great and lofty spirit to the weak comprehension of even the lambs of his flock, which raised my admiration more than the grandest display of his decidedly powerful talents would have done. . .

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I witnessed his family devotions in the evening, and there was something in his prayer which said, what he well knew and felt, that the real saint has always in remembrance the injunction of our Saviour, which requires of His followers to become like little children. Mr. Hall, though a Baptist, is most liberal in his feelings toward other Christian sects. His congregation are in part Independents, who, of course, have their children baptized by some other clergyman. Oh! that the spirit of Catholicism would pervade all the Christian world!

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On Monday, July 36, he visited a small school for the deaf in Birmingham, on Tuesday he had a glimpse of Oxford, and on Wednesday, the 5th, he reached London, where he expected to achieve the object of his mission to Europe. He was aware that schools for the deaf had been in operation for more than fifty years in Great Britain, and that in London the largest and presumably the best of them was to be found.

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To the managers of this institution he presented himself with suitable letters of recommendation, expecting to find open doors, cordial hearts and ready hands to aid him in his work of benevolence. A very different reception awaited him. For he was soon to learn the astounding fact that in Great Britain the benevolent and Christ-like work of teaching the deaf had been for two generations a monopoly in the hands of a certain family; a monopoly so heartless that it refused to allow schools to be established in Ireland, and so grasping that at the moment of his visit to England a member of this family, of doubtful reputation and unsteady habits, was in America seeking to establish the monopoly in the New World.

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The following letter from Mr. Gallaudet to Dr. Cogswell gives so full an account of the difficulties encountered by the former in London, that it may be inserted entire without further comment than to remind the reader that all the persons mentioned have long since passed away: in view of which it can not be thought indelicate to permit Mr. Gallaudet's expressions concerning them, never before published, to be made public.

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LONDON, August 15, 1815.

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MY DEAR SIR: -- I have not yet received a single letter from America. Surely my friends have not been waiting to hear from me before they wrote. I expected to have been made acquainted, before this time, with the progress of the concern in which we are mutually and so deeply interested. And such information I have really needed in order to conduct my negotiations with the school here in the best manner. For my application for admission into it has been attended with delays and obstacles that I did not expect. I will find no fault at present with those who compose the committee of the school, for I believe they have really wished to gratify me in what I requested of them, nor with Dr. Watson, its instructor, till I know a little more of his true character and learn whether his conduct toward me has proceeded from a wise and prudent Caution or a cold and selfish heart.

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Premising that since my arrival in England I have written yourself and Mr. Woodbridge five times, giving you an account of what I had then done with regard to our project and the circumstances in which I stood -- I will now lay before you a succinct narrative of my proceedings till the present day.

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I arrived at Liverpool on the 25th of June last and in this city on the 5th of July. On the 7th I delivered my letter of introduction to the Rev. John Townsend, accompanied by Mr. Barlow (Mr. Woodbridge's friend). I made Mr. T. acquainted with my object in visiting this country. He wished me to call at the City of London Tavern on the 10th, where he would converse with me further on the subject.

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July 8th, I formed an acquaintance with the Abbé Sicard, who has since returned to Paris. He promised me every attention and facility at his school there, and his secretary invited me to attend the lectures which he was then delivering in this city.

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10th, I called at the City of London Tavern, and in a note sent my credentials to the Rev. Mr. Townsend, who was in the committee room. After some time I saw him. He told me that he had laid my application before the committee and that a sub-committee had been chosen to confer with Dr. Watson on the subject. The same day, in the afternoon, I attended the Abbé Sicard's lecture.

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