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Samuel Akerly To Mason Cogswell And Response, August 21, 1821

From: Letters To Mason Cogswell
Creator: Samuel Akerly (author)
Date: August 21, 1821
Publication: Father and Daughter: A Collection of Cogswell Family Letters and Diaries (1772-1830)
Publisher: American School for the Deaf
Source: Yale Medical Library


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Instit. for Deaf & Dumb
N. Y. 28 Aug. 1821

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Dr. M. F. Cogswell
Dear Sir:-

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The Committee of Instruction have directed me to send you for the Library of the Hartford Institute for the Deaf & Dumb a work lately published here entitled "Elementary Exercises for the Deaf & Dumb." This work has grown out of our wants in this Institution and probably never would have been published if Mr. G.'s book had been in use in our school. I never saw but one copy of it and that was brought by Mary Rose I believe from Hartford. We were informed by our late Superintendent that it could not be procured for the use of our School, and therefore after experiencing difficulties for the want of method or plan, I was set to work and compiled the volume I send you.

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I have been induced thro' Mr. Stansbury to believe that an unfriendly disposition existed in your Institution toward us, and I was not alone in that belief, wherefore no intercourse has taken place between us. The cause of that belief being removed in the change which has taken place in the management of this Institution, we now hope that an interchange of good wishes and offices may begin and continue between our Institutions as is fit and becoming men and Christians in the pursuit of the same objects thro' Charity and Benevolence. We wish success to yours and all other Institutions for the Deaf and Dumb.

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I have the first report of your Institution. Will you be so good as to send me your 2nd and 3rd?

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With respectful consideration I am, Dear Sir, your most obt

Samuel Akerly Secy.

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From Hartford-Oct. 15, 1821, M. F. C. answers as follows:-

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"The peculiar circumstances under which your Institution commenced. the Principal you first employed and the entirely different mode of instruction which you at first adopted, rendered it not only useless and inexpedient, but absolutely forbid us from holding any intercourse respecting the deaf and dumb, however much we might have wished it. Now that your Institution has found a new character and you have come forward with friendly advances we willingly accept your preferred kindness and wish you every success."

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