1822. ] 
enough to deny having taken any part in 
the Annals, and that he had this denial in- 
serted in the Journal de Peultier, with 
which he was commected. But neither this 
tergiversation, the petition of bis pupils, 
nor the interest which many persons ex- 
erted in his favaur, could appease the re- 
sentment of the Directory; nor was it till 
after the 18th Brumaire, that the Abbé 
Sicard was restored to his duties. The 
establishment tor the deaf and dumb had 
been much neglected in his absence; the 
funds necessary for the expence of the 
house were po longer furnished: they 
were not satisfied with depriving the deaf 
and dumb of their master, but wished also 
to deprive them of the only source of con- 
solation they were capable of enjoying in 
their affiiction. These severities were 
discontinued on the return of the abbé, 
when M. Chaptal, the minister of the inte- 
rior, gave the establishment his protec- 
tion, and even projected plans for it, well 
calculated to promote its prosperity. A 
press was established at the institution, 
which was put in activity in December, 
1800, and by which the deaf and dumb, in 
a short time, became acquainted with the 
art of printing. From this press the abbé 
published most of his works. The public 
exercises of the abbé attracted much at- 
tention; he took great pleasure in them, 
as they contributed to increase the popn- 
Jarity of his system by the success of his 
pupils, and the proofs they gave of a 
sound understanding. He frequently ex- 
hibited Massieu, whose intelligence and 
sagacity were admired by all Paris; he 
was the abbé’s favourite pupil, and the 
one who first gave splendour and reputa- 
tion to the system in which he was in- 
structed. His name was not less cele- 
brated in foreign states than in France. 
The exercises of his pupils were an object 
of curiosity with all foreigners on their ar- 
rival at Paris; he took great pleasure in 
exhibiting them, and explaining his system 
and the improvements he made npon that 
of the Abbé de l’Epee. He had the ho- 
nour to receive the sovereign pontiff, who 
blessed the chapel of the institution, 
which ceremony is recorded by an inscrip- 
tion. He also presented the pope with 
several of his works, among which was a 
prayer-book for the use of the deaf and 
dumb, printed by themselves. It is singu- 
lar that Bonaparte could never endure the 
Abbé Sicard ; whatever was the cause of 
this antipathy seems doubtful, but it was 
as incessant as well known. He never 
Visited the establisiment, though he often 
passed the house: he refused to confirm the 
nomination of the abbé as a prebendary of 
Notre Dame, and would not give him the 
decoration of the legion of hononr, of 
which he was very prodigal. ‘The abbé, 
on an occasion of great embarrassment, 
having once demanded an audience, re- 
The Abbé Sicard. 
183 
ceived, instead of assistance, a harsh and 
uncourteous answer, On the 28th June, 
1808, he lost his friend, the Abbé Bonne- 
foux, formerly eneval superier of the doc- 
trinaires, and director of the charitable in- 
stitutions at Paris. It is thought, that, 
had the Abbé Bonnefoux lived, his advice 
would have saved the abbe from the vexas 
tions which afterwards afflicted him, when 
an excessive easiness of temper and a blind 
confidence in some intriguers exposed him 
to the most mortifying privations. He 
had accepted bills of accommodation, 
which were perverted, and he, in conse- 
quence, was persecuted for their amounts, 
The arrangements which he was obliged 
to make with his creditors to liquidate 
these debts, which he had. never con- 
tracted, reduced him to a state next to 
poverty. He appropriated his salary for’ 
the payment of these debts, sold his car- 
riage and furniture, and reserved but a 
small pension for his own maiutenance. 
In a few years he discharged himself from 
the difficulties, but it appears that new 
misfortunes, or new acts of imprudence, 
reduced him, at the decline of life, to simi- 
lar privations. It is, however, some con- 
solation in alluding to these afflicting cir- 
cumstances, to know that the abbé was in 
them a victim to the goodness of his heart : 
he was in his private expenses moderate 
and economical, but not sufficiently expe- 
rienced to avoid the snares laid for him by 
avaricious and designing flatterers. His 
health was declining for several years. 
These vexations made sensible inroads on 
his constitution; every means were taken 
to remove the malady, but they could 
not prescribe remedies for his diseased 
mind. 
Besides his situation of director and 
principal instructor of the school for deaf 
and dumb, he was a titular chaplain of 
Notre Dame; one of the managers of the 
Hospital des Quinze Vingts, and of the 
Establishment des ‘Travailleurs-Av eugles ; 
he was member of the second class of the 
Institute from its establishment ; and one 
of the commissioners named for abridging 
the Dictionary of the French Language. 
He was, besides, associated with several 
foreign academies, and decorated with or- 
ders by several monarchs, In 1817 he 
visited England, where he received the 
most flattering 1eception. 
L’Abbé Sicard had the courage to intro- 
duce the deat and dumb to the career of 
metaphysics. There is in his Cours 
d’'Instruction d’un Sourd-muet, a develop- 
ment of the means he adopted, by which it 
may be judged what time, industry, feel- 
ings, and patience, were required, to bring 
the minds of his pupils to notions which 
did not seem adapted to their capacity, 
His works have, without doubt, been prin- 
cipally advantageous in respect to reli- 
gion; the genius, doctrine, and precepts of 
which 
