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but who possesses language, to a deaf and dumb school,) I saw very little 
of the deaf and dumb, and I gradually got into the habit of speaking more 
and better. 
« The reason why I do not speak to every one is, simply, that every one 
cannot understand me, and I am reluctant to give people the trouble of trying 
to understand. Being deaf, I cannot always pitch my voice at the right 
tone with reference to surrounding noises. I mispronounce some words, 
and have little skill in modulation ; hence I cannot expect to be imme- 
diately understood, except for single words or common expressions ; but I 
infinitely prefer being with people who can understand me, and I have 
not the smallest hesitation or reluctance in speaking to them, or to my 
servants, or others to whom I do not mind giving the trouble of finding 
out what I say. Most people understand me readily enough, and after a 
few days’ acquaintance and practice find it hard to believe they ever could 
not understand me. 
« Of course I am silent in company ; the reason being, simply, that I 
cannot hold by the thread of the conversation going round. If I do get hold 
of it now and then, I have no hesitation in saying anything I wish ; but 
of course the thread drops off again directly, unless, indeed, there is some 
one by who takes the great trouble to repeat to me on his fingers or by 
writing the main points of the conversation as it goes on. 
“ I never think of using signs, or of speaking on my fingers, except, to 
persons deaf and dumb. In fact, I hardly ever meet with a hearing 
person, other than a teacher of the deaf and dumb, who can read spelling or 
understand signs. 
“ it is much more difficult to read spelling than to spell. I was much 
astonished at the statement in the paper that Mrs. Tonna always spelt on 
her fingers, and did not speak. If the statement rests only on the words 
quoted” ‘ We never divided the words, &c.,’ I should be inclined to doubt 
whether the ‘ we ’ is not here exclusive of Mrs. Tonna herself. It would be 
quite true for one of my sisters to say, ‘We never divided the words, &c., 
in talking to Arthur ;’ but not one of my family or friends would under- 
stand me if I spelt a sentence on my fingers to them, unless I did it with 
most emphatic slowness. 
« To sum up ; although I do not speak to every one, and am silent in 
mixed or large companies, it do£S not arise from any kind of ‘ moral 
disability ’ or 1 disinclination,’ such as Dr. Kitto appears to have laboured 
under, but from reasons easily understood, and of which I feel quite 
certain. , 
“ I started by saying that I did not think the case of the deaf and 
dumb strengthened the main argument of the paper ; therefore, my ex- 
periences, which differ from those brought forward, must be equally 
immaterial to it. _ _ , 
« The conclusions of the paper have my sympathy , although I remember 
reading a very ingenious argument to prove that speech had its origin 
from men trying to imitate the sounds of nature and of animals, the 
