BOltN BLIND AND DEAF. 45 



I shall only add farther, before concluding this memoir, that, 

 in submitting it to the Royal Society, I was partly influenced 

 by the hope, that it may possibly be the means of securing a 

 decent provision for the individual to whom it relates ; — per- 

 haps, also, a competent independence for those members of his 

 family on whom he has been so long a burdensome and expen- 

 sive charge. I allude, not merely to his mother, whose claims 

 must immediately force themselves on the notice of every one, 

 but more particularly to his eldest sister, on whom the duties 

 of superintending and educating him have chiefly devolved 

 from his infancy. To the painful and incessant attentions 

 which his helpless condition required, the best years of her life 

 have been hitherto devoted ; and so essential is the continua- 

 tion of the same affectionate cares to his comfortable existence, 

 that, independently of what is due to her own singular merits, 

 she must, of necessity, be included in any arrangement, of 

 which his improvement and happiness are the principal ob- 

 jects. For the purposes already mentioned in this paper, the 

 funds of the Society, I am well aware, are altogether inade- 

 quate ; but if they shall be pleased to recommend the business 

 to the consideration of their Council, I have no doubt, that 

 something may be suggested for the accomplishment of a mea- 

 sure, which, even if it should fail in adding materially to the 

 stock of useful knowledge, would at least prevent the regrets 

 which might afterwards be felt, if so rare an opportunity for 

 philosophical observation and experiment should be suffered 

 to pass before our eyes, without any attempt being made to 

 turn it to the advantage of science. 



NOTE, 



