TOUR IN THE UNITED STATES. 187 



To Mrs. T . 



Boston, November 21st. 

 My lectures are now nearly over, and I believe the people 

 have been well enough satisfied. I see ladies taking notes, and 

 they frequently stop to ask questions. For the most part (one 

 or two stormy wet days excepted) they have been well attended. 

 Agassiz has been at all of them, which I think a higher compli- 

 ment than if an additional hundred filled the seats. I hope to 

 have Professor Bailey's company on my way south. He is still 

 very delicate. 



I have seen Laura Bridgeman, but have not much to add to 

 the accounts you are familiar with. She is now about nineteen. 

 She came into the room with her friend Miss White, laughing 

 and talking most glibly (with her fingers). Something had 

 highly diverted her, and kept her for some time in brisk mirth. 

 Her friend told us she was describing how some rats had got 

 into her room and gnawed holes in her clothes, &c. She held 

 her friend's hand, and kept playing the fingers about with such 

 extreme rapidity that I could hardly follow them, and could 

 not see a single letter she made. Her friend as rapidly touched 

 her hand, and thus the two hands kept up conversation. Her 

 face changes instantly with the passing thoughts, and so vividly, 

 that you would sometimes think her deeply distressed when 

 she is only describing something unpleasant. When she heard 

 I was from Ireland, she asked did I know " Father Mathew ?" 

 She has a great affection for him, and, while talking about him, 

 suddenly seized her companion by the waist and then embraced 

 and kissed her, a habit she has when anything that moves her 

 affections is passing through her mind. Then she asked about 

 the poor people in Ireland, and whether they would have food 

 enough this season ; and was quite distressed to hear that there 

 was likely to be a scarcity. She takes great interest in passing 

 events, particularly in hearing of any reform or amelioration. 

 Miss White, her companion, devotes herself entirely to her, and 

 seems admirably suited for such a vocation. 



Dr. Howe says that, although it was found very difficult to 

 commence with a case like Laura's, that now, by the experience 

 of hers and that of Oliver Caswell, the instruction of others 

 similarly affected has become quite easy. The problem is 



