188 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



solved, and there are regular rules to be followed, leading to 

 positive results. Oliver Caswell is not nearly so interesting as 

 Laura, not having her great talents. He talks and compre- 

 hends slowly, but there is a happy expression in his face. 

 Dr. Howe says that he and Laura are the happiest persons in 

 the establishment ; perhaps because they have no care, and are 

 tenderly cared for — and do not know the extent of the privation 

 they lie under. The institution here is not confined to the 

 blind, a class having recently been added for idiots, several of 

 whom are now under care. Dr. Howe says that the degree of 

 idiotcy is to be measured by the amount of language — that any 

 person with hearing, and without the power of articulation, 

 is an idiot. Several such have been under care, and are found 

 to be susceptible of instruction, and of being taught to speak. 

 He does not look forward to their making much progress, but 

 finds that they can be taught decent habits, and several simple 

 trades or occupations ; in fact, raised very considerably above 

 the state in which the institution finds them. It is delightful 

 to see such an institution in operation, and so well supported by 

 endowments and grants from the State. 



Yesterday I went down to Providence to lecture at the 

 Franklin Institute. The lecture was on seaweeds, treated in 

 popular fashion. The audience, about . 800. They were very 

 attentive, and I hope edified by an hour and a quarter's dis- 

 course. Several persons are now zealously collecting here, and 

 have sent me sundry parcels of Algae. Unfortunately I missed 

 the visit of a Mrs. M — , of Lynn, who was here yesterday after 

 I had started, and again to-day before I had arrived, and who 

 is "a wild enthusiast," as Dr. W — would say. She is, I 

 believe, the wife of a tradesman ; and, living near the coast, 

 has taken most fondly to collecting Algae, and spends all her 

 leisure time at the work. She longs to know the history 

 and names of what she finds, but as yet lacks books and in- 

 struction. She told Mrs. G — that she rises every morning at 

 four o'clock — stealing quietly out of bed, not to rouse her 

 husband, who, poor man, is very unwilling she should get up 

 so early, fearing she does not liave sleep enough. She then 

 regulates the house, gets him his breakfast, and ships him off 

 to his work ; then sweeping up the hearth, off she sets for 

 Nahant Beach ; and there she spends her day picking seaweeds. 



