132 ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS 



go into the house. He did not discover the least wish to visit 

 the church-yard either time. 



" I had an opportunity of observing his conduct with regard 

 to a dead body very lately ; — the body of an old gentleman, a 

 near neighbour of ours, and one who had been very kind to 

 him, frequently indulging him with a pipe and tobacco, his fa- 

 vourite gratification. I brought him to the room where the 

 body was laid, and allowed him to feel it, which he did very 

 willingly, not shrinking as upon a former occasion, but seem- 

 ingly rather anxious to examine it. When he had done so, he 

 stood for a few seconds, rather thoughtful ; and this was follow- 

 ed by a smile, with, I thought, something of wildness in the 

 expression of the countenance. He then came away very wil- 

 lingly with me, but not before he shewed that he recognised 

 the person, and was sensible of the situation. This he did, by 

 making his usual sign for smoking, and by putting his hand to 

 the ground, his sign for interment. He discovered a wish to 

 learn when the ceremony was to take place, (by a slight incli- 

 nation of his head to one side,) which I endeavoured to inform 

 him of; and he kept constantly in the way until it was over; 

 frequently going to the apartment where the body was kept ; 

 but without discovering sorrow, further than now and then ap- 

 pearing rather thoughtful. 



" These particulars are perhaps of little consequence ; but 

 from the great interest you have always taken in my brother, 

 I think it right to mention them. And, with best respects, I 

 am," &c. 



The following letter, dated Nairn, 31st October 1814, is 

 from Miss Mitchell to Mr Parker, and communicates the 

 complete failure of her attempts to educate her brother by 

 means of the tangible alphabet. 



" Sir, 



