respecting the blind and deaf boy. 133 



" Sir, 

 " I have from time to time deferred writing you, from a de- 

 sire rather than from a hope, of being able to give you favour- 

 able accounts of the result of my endeavours to instruct my 

 brother, by the means of letters ; and regret excessively being 

 obliged to state, that I have completely failed in putting into 

 effect the plan you so ably sketched out for me, principally, 

 and, indeed, I may say wholly, from my brother's wanting the 

 necessary habits of application. With my first attempts he 

 seemed rather amused, but afterwards appeared teazed, and got 

 into bad humour, and, without risking the loss of the little 

 power I have over him, I could not persist in irritating him, 

 being sensible that I only retain it from having recourse to it 

 seldom, and using it sparingly. How much I am grieved, at 

 thus being obliged to relinquish a plan from which so much 

 benefit might have been derived, I cannot say ; my only con- 

 solation is, that it is not from any want of exertion on my part. 

 Had any such plan been commenced with him in infancy, or 

 at an early period, and steadily persevered in, I doubt not but 

 it might have had the wished for success; but now r when his 

 habits are formed, and his passions strong, I much fear there is 

 little chance of any thing being done ; at least if there is any 

 thing done, it must be by some person who has more the power 

 of controlling him than I now have. In short, I am unable to 

 make it sufficiently interesting to be a source of amusement to 

 him, and, as a task, he will not apply to it. Nor is it (how- 

 ever much to be regretted) astonishing that he will not, accus- 

 tomed, as he has always been, to follow his own immediate 

 gratification only, and dispose of his time as inclination leads 

 him. — Allow me now to make offer of our warmest acknow- 

 ledgments for the benevolent interest you have taken in this 

 affair, and to assure you, that it will afford us much happiness to 



be 



