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IN ASSEMBLY,

January 25, 1831.

COMMUNICATION

From the Secretary of State, accompanying the Annual Report of the Directors of the N. Y. Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb.

YORK,

SECRETARY'S OFFICE.

Albany, Jan. 24, 1831.

The Secretary of State, in presenting to the Legislature the annual report of the New-York institution for the instruction of the deaf and dumb, (which has been transmitted to him for that purpose,) begs leave respectfully to say, that the directors have, since the last annual report, made the most satisfactory arrangements in regard to the instruction of the pupils, and the management of the institution. A teacher of approved talents and acquirements has been procured from the Royal Institution of Paris; and Mr. Peet, so well known as a qualified instructor for several years past in the American Asylum at Hartford, has also been employed to reside with his family at the Asylum, and to have the general superintendence of the government of the establishment.

These arrangements for teachers, which the increase of the school rendered indispensable, added to the services of Mr. Loofborrow, to whom great credit is due for his zeal and perseverance amidst many embarrassments, will place the New-York school for the teaching of mutes, upon a footing not inferior to that of any institution in the United States.

The Secretary of State visited the New-York school during the past season, but did not go through with an examination of the scholars. The highly interesting and satisfactory report of the di[A. No. 95.]

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rectors, seems to render an annual report from the Superintendent at this time, under all the circumstances of the case, unnecessary.

Appended to the report of the directors is an interesting statement from the Rev. Dr. Milnor, the president of the institution, giving an account of his visits to several deaf and dumb schools in Europe, and of the arrangements made by him for the employment of a teacher from the Royal Institution at Paris.

The attention of the Legislature is respectfully invited to the considerations presented in the last annual report of the Superintendent, (Doc. 235,) in favor of building up one good school for the instruction of mutes, instead of dividing the patronage of the state and keeping alive two of an indifferent character. The American Asylum at Hartford is found sufficient to instruct all the deaf and dumb of the six New-England states; this state has a population about equal to theirs; and if it is good economy for six independent states to patronize one school, surely this state would find it useful to pursue the same course.

A. C. FLAGG.

TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Of the Directors of the New-York Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, to the Legislature of the State of New-York, for the year 1830,

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The directors of this institution most respectfully submit the following annual report for 1830, as required by the laws of this state, and rejoice that they are enabled to perform this duty under a grateful sense of the favor of Divine Providence towards the interests of the institution, and the objects of its charge during the past year.

Treasurer's Account.

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An abstract of the treasurer's account current for the year 1830, is hereunto annexed, showing the receipt of 16,038,5% dollars, which, together with 651 dollars, the balance on hand 8th January, 1830, and 233, dollars, the balance of the Asylum fund, paid over to the treasurer, makes an aggregate amount of 16,923 dollars. Of this amount 13,251% dollars have been expended for the ordinary and some extraordinary concerns of the institution; 3,000 dollars in reducing the debt, and 671%% dollars remain in the hands of the treasurer, as by the certificate of the finance committee appended to the treasurer's account. (Document No. 1.)

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Asylum Fund.

A statement of the Asylum fund, accompanied by the vouchers for the expenditure of the money constituting that fund, was deposited in the Comptroller's office, at Albany, in the month of February, 1830, in compliance with "An act to provide for the building an Asylum for the deaf and dumb in the city of New-York," passed 23d March, 1827. A copy of the statement which is annexed, (as Document No. 2,) will give a comprehensive as well as a detailed view of the disposition of that fund. The vouchers however, referred to in margin, are in possession of the Comptroller of the state.

On the 3d March, 1830, some time after the foregoing statement was deposited, the Honorable the Secretary of State, made a report as Superintendent of Common Schools, in relation to the Central Asylum at Canajoharie, and the New-York institution for the instruction of the deaf and dumb." Had the Honorable Secretary known that such a statement was deposited in the Comptroller's

office, in conformity to law, some of his observations in relation to this institution would in all probability have been omitted. But as he was not aware of the fact until his report was made, and as the secretary of this institution was at Albany at the time it was presented, he obtained leave, and did on the 15th March, 1830, present to the Honorable the Senate of the State, the explanations called for by the Superintendent of Common Schools. As these explanations were presented and referred to a committee, the directors are not aware of their having been printed, they annex them, (as Document No. 3,) and beg that they may be received as part of this report.

Pupils Received and Dismissed.

At the commencement of the year there were 68 pupils as stated in the last annual report. During the year, 37 others have been received, and 20 dismissed, and 85 remain, as exhibited by the annexed list of their names, (Document No. 4.) This increased number is principally owing to the liberal patronage of the state legislature, and the provisions of an act, passed 15th April, 1830, by which the state provides for 56 indigent mutes. There has been a greater number of applicants for the vacancies produced by this act than could be received. Desirous, however, of extending the usefulness of the institution, the directors have felt warranted in retaining some of these applicants on the free list.

If the whole expenditure of the year is divided by the number of pupils, it will give 155 dollars as the average annual expense for each, but if the extra expenses, amounting to 1,700 or more dollars are deducted, the average will be reduced to about 135 dollars, which is less than the average for several preceding years.

Moral and Intellectual Improvement.

That instruction improves the moral sense and exalts the intellect of mutes, there can be no doubt. Frequent and gratifying instances occur, but constant vigilance is necessary, and sometimes also judiciously applied correction, to arrest the evil propensities of human nature, which in the uninstructed mute, are not under the guidance of reason or revelation. Hence they often exhibit bad tempers, habits and dispositions, which require patience and perseverance, to counteract and meliorate. Employment in some useful occupation, is also necessasy, to improve the moral faculties, and prevent the evil consequences of idleness in such a community.

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