REPORT OF THE NEW-YORK FEMALE ASSOCIATION TO AID IN GIVING SUPPORT AND INSTRUCTION TO THE INDIGENT DEAF AND DUMB, NOVEMBER 18TH, 1827. THE Managers of the "New-York Female Association to aid in giving support and instruction to the indigent Deaf and Dumb," feel it a duty, on this occasion, to lay before their patrons and friends, the objects of the Association, and the proceedings of the Society, during the past year. This Society was organized in 1825, under the name of the New-York Female Association, &c. the great objects of which were to raise the means to administer aid for the support and instruction of such indigent Deaf and Dumb persons, as might be selected and placed in the Institution for the instruction of the Deaf and Dumb in the city of New-York, and who, for want of adequate provision, cannot otherwise receive the benefits of instruction. The Society and its Managers consist of ladies who have associated for the purpose of uniting their feeble endeavours with others, who are engaged in the benevolent objects of rescuing from debasement and ignorance, such Deaf Mutes as the means at their disposal would enable them to select, and place in the Institution for instruction, and who without that instruction, must remain in a state of irreligious and moral degradation, in the midst of a world, which to them, is at best, an inexplicable mystery. The Female Association is in some measure an Auxiliary to the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb established in this city, and continued in successful operation since the year 1818. The Association, however, have the entire disposition of their own funds, which are deposited in the Savings Bank, by their own Treasurer. They select and place in the Institution, such Deaf Mutes as show sprightliness and an aptitude to learn, and they pay to the parent Institution, the amount of board and tuition for such pupils. The reason of this arrangement is stated in the address accompanying the Constitution of this Association, as it was published in 1825, viz: "The forlorn condition of the uninstructed Deaf and Dumb, cannot fail to call forth the sympathy and assistance of a benevolent and enlightened community. The number of this unfortunate class of society is astonishingly great, and although they were formerly considered like brute beasts, Dumb, and incapable of instruction, yet it has been amply demonstrated by the pupils taught in the New-York Institution for the instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, that they have faculties which may be developed, and capacities to acquire information whereby they may become practically useful and valuable members of society." The State of New-York having provided for the instruction of thirty-two indigent Mutes, and there being numerous applicants excluded for want of means, it became a matter of serious inquiry whether New-York is capable, and whether this growing and wealthy city ought not to do something more for the Deaf and Dumb, who cannot speak for themselves? An appeal was accordingly made to the liberality and benevolence of the inhabitants, in behalf of those whose tongues are mysteriously sealed, and whose ears are closed to sounds. This appeal was heard, and the Association have been enabled to keep in the Institution seven pupils, for whose board and instruction they have heretofore paid. During the last year, they have expended nine hundred and forty-three dollars and thirtytwo cents for the board and tuition of the following pupils, the parents providing them with clothing, viz: OBADIAH ROGERS, of Islip, in Suffolk Co. STEPHEN MCGUIRE, of the city of New-York. JAMES JENNINGS, do. Of these pupils, the three first have been dismissed,* because the funds of the Association were inadequate to provide for them, and without further patronage, the others must also be dismissed in a few months, the balance remaining in the hands of our treasurer being barely sufficient to maintain them till spring. Some of these Mutes are very promising children, and will be exercised to show you their capacities, and that what has heretofore been bestowed has not been misapplied. Other applicants must necessarily be rejected, unless the appeal we now again make, shall enable us to extend a helping hand to those yet under our care, and to those who, without your liberality, must supplicate in vain. We cannot forbear on this occasion, to • The parent Institution retains one of them as a charity pupil. implore your aid to enable us to continue under instruction, those remaining in our charge, and to present for your consideration, the application for a little girl of this city, by the name of Caroline Bennet. She is an active, sprightly, and promising child, between eight and nine years old, but too young to be received into the parent Institution under the State Law, and must therefore be left to grow up in her ignorance, unless your bounty shall enable us to provide for her. This interesting child has a mother. That mother we are assured is poor, but honest and industrious, and supports this and two other children, by the work of her hands. These children have a father, but he has abandoned them and their mother to struggle and surmount difficulties at which his heart failed. Maternal affection now clings to them the stronger, and the one that is Mute she has prayed may be taken by this Association, being certain that she can provide for the others by her own exertions. This is but one of numerous applications which neither this Society nor the parent Institution can provide for. Since they cannot all be instructed, we rely upon the liberality of this assembly and the public, to enable the Association to continue the support and instruction of those remaining, and to select some others who are seeking for what they cannot find, and asking for what, without help, we cannot give. Assist us therefore to instruct them, and you shall experience the luxury of doing good. truth, the cultivation of the understandings of the Deaf and Dumb is bringing as it were, so much of the raw material of intellect into market, which has never yet been wrought." "In "On the whole, are the Deaf and Dumb poor helpless creatures, utterly dependent for their pleasures, nay, often for their very subsistence, on the kindness or caprice of those to whom they yet are a burthen? Humanity says, instruct them. Does there run through their minds an intellectual vein, the richness of whose ore has never yet been properly assayed? Philosophy says, instruct them. Is Deity in all its varied, delightful characters of Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, shut out from their minds? Christianity says, powerfully, sweetly, awfully, INSTRUCT THEM. The Report having been read, it was moved and seconded, that the same be accepted and printed. In the name of the Society, and at the request of the Female Association, the Chairman returned their thanks to Mr. Jennings, for the gratuitous use of the large room in which the meeting was held. After the pupils were exercised by Mr. Loofborrow, Principal Teacher of the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, the Rev. Mr. "Extract from the Fourth Report of the Dublin Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. Ives delivered a pertinent address and an eloquent appeal on the occasion. A collection was then taken up, which, together with some new subscriptions, amounted to about $150. The meeting then adjourned. By order of the Society, 66 In the month of October, 1827, the Honourable the Secretary of State, of the State of New-York, who is ex officio Superintendent of Common Schools, visited the New-York Institution for the instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, in accordance with an Act of the Legislature, entitled, “ An Act to provide for the building an Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb in the City of New-York," passed March 23rd, 1827. His Report, in pursuance of this visit, "in relation to the instruction of the Deaf and Dumb in the City of New-York," was presented to the Senate of the State, on the 14th April, 1828. It consists of his Report and accompanying Documents, comprised in a pamphlet of sixtyeight pages, from which the following extracts are made. REPORT. STATE OF NEW-YORK, } ALBANY, APRIL 12, 1828. "THE Secretary of State respectfully submits to the Legislature, the annual report required of him by " An Act to provide for the building an Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb in the city of New-York," passed March 23rd, 1827. "The first section of this Act requires, that "the price of the ground to be purchased, and the plan of the buildings to be erected, shall be submitted to the Superintendent of Common Schools, and be by him approved, before the said sum of money ($10,000) shall be drawn from the treasury." In June last, the plan of the buildings, and a lease from the Corporation of the city of NewYork, of a lot on which they were to be erected, were presented for approval. Impressed with the belief that a public institution ought to be placed on permanent ground, and guarded against future embarrassments, the Superintendent communicated to the Directors, some objections to placing the buildings on leased land; after which the Directors made a second application to the Corporation of New-York; which body, with its characteristic libera |