BORN BLIND AND DEAF. 77 



chell. This occurred several times, so that there appears 

 no reason to consider it as an accidental coincidence. 



Though his ordinary conduct be decorous, it seems to be in- 

 fluenced by habit and instruction rather than by feelings of de- 

 licacy. When the females of his family are undressing, he has 

 been observed to turn aside. There are no males in the house. 

 But in an opportunity which has lately occurred, he has been 

 thought to shew a similar disposition in the case of males. 



I have seldom seen an imperfection of the senses attended 

 by so little an air of defect in the countenance. Singular as it 

 may seem, I should even venture to call his features intelli- 

 gent. He handled every part of the room in which we sat, 

 with indications of an inquisitive mind. 



His sister is a young woman of most pleasing appearance 

 and manners, distinguished by a very uncommon degree of 

 modesty, caution, and precision, in her accounts of him ; and 

 probably one of the most intelligent, as well as kindest com- 

 panions, that ever guided a being doomed to such unusual, if 

 not unexampled privations. 



You will not think me fantastic for adding, that the ha- 

 bitual exercise of ingenious benevolence seems to me to 

 have left its traces on her countenance, and to have bestowed 

 on her naturally agreeable features, an expression more de- 

 lightful than beauty. Her aversion from exaggeration, and 

 her singular superiority to the pleasure of inspiring wonder, 

 make it important to the purposes of Philosophy as well as of 

 Humanity, that she should continue to attend her brother. 

 Separation from her would indeed be an irreparable calamity to 

 this unfortunate youth. ■ By her own unaided ingenuity, she has 

 conquered the obstacles which seemed for ever to preclude all 

 intercourse between him and other minds ; and what is still 

 more important, by the firm and gentle exertion of her well-earn- 

 ed 



