The Newport Gazette

LONDON.

Extract of a Letter from Paris, to the Printer of the London Chronicle, dated Jan. 26.

As the following extract of a letter I lately received is on a subject in which humanity is much interested. I cannot give so short an account in a very full paper.

"On reading your letter, I paid a visit to the school in which the deaf and dumb are instructed, and which, in my opinion, is one of the greatest curiosities in this city. In so far as it appeared to you, it is however a fact, that the master of this school, the Abbe de l'Epee, will not accept of any gratuity whatever, for perhaps one of the most disagreeable tasks that ever man undertook; on the contrary, it costs him, as I have been informed, near three hundred pounds a year, impoverishing his own purse. To see a number of people conversing together by signs only, you must allow, a very extraordinary sight, but this is succeeded by another, which is so improbable that I would not mention it to a stranger, lest he should imagine I meant to impose upon him. but as you know me too well to entertain a thought of that kind, I will tell you, that I have seen some of the Abbe's pupils take down in writing what he said, merely from the motion of his lips; this you may depend on to be a fact, and no deception, but I must close with you, that they must be very well acquainted with any one to understand him from the motion of his lips. They learn to write with great ease, but to speak to be understood they find very difficult, the sounds they articulate being imperfect and disagreeable: however, as the Abbe leaves this part of their instruction to their parents and friends, who, it is more than probable, are not qualified to instruct properly. there is no saying to what degree of perfection they might be brought to Yes, if they were kept in the school house with their master, as the pupils of a Scotchman who teaches the deaf and dumb is in Edinburgh do, as I have been informed. The Frenchman's method has, however, in other respects, much the advantage, for he makes signs represent things, whereas the Scotchman makes signs represent words and of course his pupils may speak like parrots, without knowing what they mean. whereas at the other comes at once to the point, and never gives a word without the explanation of it. The government has, out of their usual humanity, lately ordered proper persons to visit the school, and examine the Abbe's method of instructing, which they accordingly did, and have, it is said, made so favourable a report of it, that such a public permanent school is established at the expense of government, under the immediate inspection of the Abbe virtuous promoter of it. Should such an institution take place, it will resound more to the honour of Lewis the Sixteenth than building a palace could do. If the Abbe's method be preferred to what is called the old method, which it is generally supposed has here to be. I should hope that some one, from a principle of humanity or interest, or both, would be induced to come over from London to receive his instructions, which I am told, he gives cannot be communicated by writing, though he has attempted, in a small treatise which I have, and will send you the first opportunity: any foreigner who has attended his lectures with a view of learning his method, except an Irish physician, is at present here. The number of pupils at present is above forty, to whom he gives two lessons a week, which by the bye are too few to expect any rapid progress from, but his other avocations probably prevent his giving so more of his time to his children, as he calls them: and thus, now that progress is, it would astonish you to hear what infinite pleasure every little knowledge they acquire gives him; indeed, they really feel themselves, that from the most wretched and miserable of beings, they are now made the happiest, by their generous benefactor. I am, &c."