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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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How do you all do? What advances is Alice making? My best regards to Mrs. C., to Mary, Elizabeth, and Mason. Nor would I forget your domestics, to whom I wish to be remembered. May Almighty God continue to bless you all with every needful temporal and spiritual good.

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Yours truly,
T. H. GALLAUDET.

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In a letter bearing date Edinburgh, December 6, 1815, to Mr. Ward Woodbridge, of Hartford, Mr. Gallaudet, after rehearsing his futile efforts to induce Mr. Braidwood to release the authorities of the Edinburgh school from their bond of £1,000 to him, writes as follows:

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Notwithstanding Mr. B's refusal, I still had hopes that the committee of the institution, might, upon reflection, consider the bond as an illegal one, or, at least, as not applicable to my case. I was encouraged in this by several of my friends. I resolved, of course, to apply to the committee. Many of them, and Mr. Gordon among the rest, were in the country. I had to wait some time for their return. They at last met and were unanimously of opinion that good faith required of them a strict observance of the bond even in the case of a foreigner. I wish, however, that you should understand that in all the intercourse which I have had with the committee and with Mr. Kinniburgh, the worthy and able teacher of the institution, I have met with the most kind and liberal treatment; and I have not the smallest doubt, that had it been possible, I should have received from the institution, gratuitously and cordially, every assistance which it could afford me. These events occupied some time. The season had advanced considerably and several reasons determined me to spend a few months longer in Edinburgh. The state of France was at the time very unsettled. A few months would probably determine whether the Bourbons could maintain their place. The libraries here contain several rare and valuable works on the instruction of the deaf and dumb, which I could not probably have any other opportunity of examining. From these, especially from a treatise by Dalgarno, belonging to Dugald Stewart, Esq., I have made extracts that I hope will be of service to me. Dr. Gordon also, the author of the article "Dumb and Deaf" in the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, and Dr. Thos. Brown, Professor of Moral Philosophy, have been kind enough from time to time to lend me books which treat directly on the subject of my intended pursuit. I have also been attending Dr. Brown's lectures on the Philosophy of the Mind and revising my French a little; so that, all things considered, I hope our project will not eventually suffer by my detention here. I ought to mention also that I have been successful enough to procure the Abbe Sicard's works, which I have been reading. My present plan is to visit Paris in the spring. In some of my late letters I have mentioned that it would be well to add a little to my pecuniary resources. It is best to be in season with things of this kind. I have resolved to ask whether it would be thought quite consistent with the strictest adherence to propriety, to allow me while abroad something more than my mere expenses. I have one reason for making this request, the wish that I have to improve the opportunity I enjoy of purchasing a few books. But do not mistake me. I have no wish to push this matter. Whether it be pride or a better principle, I do hope that my settled plan of life is to devote myself to the service of God and to trust to His providence to make provision for me, without being at all particular on this point in any dealings which I may have with my fellow-men.

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I close this letter in haste, as I have just received a letter from my brother who expects to sail from Liverpool in a few days. Give my best remembrance to all inquiring friends. My health has suffered a little from the extreme variableness and humidity of the Edinburgh winter; but I hope to revive in the spring. May the Giver of all good continue to yourself and family this invaluable blessing and shower down upon you the more delightful blessings of His grace. My best regards to Mrs. W. and your family.

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Yours truly,
T. H. GALLAUDET.

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Among Mr. Gallaudet's papers numerous evidences appear of the efforts he speaks of making "to procure acquaintance among persons of influence" who might aid him in his efforts to break down the Braidwood monopoly.

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His diary mentions a "breakfast Thursday morning, August 31st, with Rev. D. Dickson, D. D.;" of a "dinner with Dr. Duncan, senior, Friday, September 1st;" of a "dinner with Mr. James Carmichael, Saturday, September 2nd;" of a "dinner with Dr. Anderson, Sunday, September 3d;" of a "breakfast with Rev. Dr. Hall, Monday, September 4th, at Pulan's farmhouse, half a mile from the Lunatic Asylum Morningside village, Lenton Road;" and a dinner at a "festival of Pomona, Oman's Tavern, St. Andrew's Square, Tuesday, September 5th." Among the friends he made was Lady Anna Maria Elliott, a daughter of the Earl of Minto, to whom Mrs. Dugald Stewart had introduced him. Lady Anna was a friend of Mrs. Braidwood, and expressed the hope to Mr. Gallaudet that "Mrs. Braidwood might perhaps listen to the representations of an impartial person, sooner than to those who may be supposed to have a nearer interest in the matter." But the Braidwood monopoly was equally proof against the blandishments of personal friendship and titled rank, as against appeals in the name of Christian charity.

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