251 
nutation standing for the name of the object. It is easy to see how, 
from these first simple sounds, which a savage might make as naturally as 
gesticulation, a language might be elaborated ; at least there are no such 
great difficulties as lie in the way of the transmutation of an ape into a 
man. I thought I had read the theory in Goguet’s Origin of Laws , but I 
cannot now find it in that book. 
“ Believe me ever faithfully yours, 
“A. H. Bather. 
“ James Rejddie, Esq.” 
I consider, Sir, that this is an important communication ; and with reference 
to Mr. Bather’s want of any disinclination to speak, such as was experienced 
by Dr. Kitto, I think it may be explained thus. Having as a child only heard 
up to four years old, he would not be afterwards so conscious of the marked 
difference between his condition as a person who once had heard, and one 
who does not now hear ; which would probably be acutely felt in the case 
of Dr. Kitto and by “ Charlotte Elizabeth.” Mr. Bather’s case also is more 
nearly analogous to that of those who are deaf-mutes from their birth, and 
who consequently never heard at all. And here lies, I think, the great weak- 
ness of Professor Young’s argument. He has himself slightly noticed it,— 
but I think it ought not to be noticed merely incidentally, for it is the most 
important point of all, — namely, that the theory is only good if applied to a 
community of deaf people ! The argument is founded upon only two cases, 
and those are of people who did not hear. They, of course, could have no 
pleasure in speaking, and therefore would not use speech, unless convinced 
of the usefulness of speaking. I may observe, that although Mr. Bather does 
not hesitate to speak, yet he speaks in an awkward monotone, and one 
requires to get accustomed to his imperfect articulation to understand him 
readily. I am sorry I have not got from him an explanation of one point, where 
his letter would seem to be discordant with Professor Young’s statement, that 
all those people who cannot hear, may yet be taught to articulate perfectly. 
ut Professor Young has also not told us whether congenital deaf-mutes are 
disinclined to use that power of speaking which, he tells us, they all may 
acquire.. With reference to the question whether speech could be invented 
from imitating sounds in nature, I must say, (if man had not a gift of speech 
originally, and the ideas that come with the power of speaking,) it appears to me 
that he would scarcely have been able to express with his hands what is 
meant by such gestures as those which Professor Young has exhibited. But, 
at any rate, he could surely do quite as much in making signs of various 
lands with his tongue, when he had the power of uttering sounds, as he 
could by merely moving his hands. And people who are not deaf cannot 
help being aware of their power of vocal utterance, because even children 
from their birth utter sounds naturally, and man hears every variety of 
sound m nature all around him, especially the cries of birds and beasts, which 
6 AV0U c naturally imitate. I must also say, with reference to those gesture- 
signs which Professor Young exhibited, that I can scarcely believe' that a 
