PARI S. 481 
be obferved to read, write, count, print, and perform on 
different pieces of inftrumen^tal mufic. The mode by 
which they read is by feeling the letters, which are pur- 
pof'ely railed on a card : and ibis they do with fuels rapi¬ 
dity, that it is difficult on hearing them to difeover their 
misfortune. 
There is a manufactory of fteel carried on in the build¬ 
ing; they alio make whips, writing-cafes, purfes, and 
paper toys of all forts, which are fold for their private 
emolument. There is likewife a prefs, or printing-ma¬ 
chine, in which the whole procefs is performed by the 
blind. The women knit, few, and perform other 
kinds of needlework; and all of them either fing or per¬ 
form on fome inftrument: they often join in a numerous 
concert. 
Injiitution des Sourds-Bluets, Eftabliffiment for the Deaf 
and Dumb; Rue St. Jacqqes.—The celebrated abbede 
l’Epee, a name never to be pronounced without venera¬ 
tion, was the firft man who formed a fyftem of inftruClion 
for the deaf and dumb in France, which he publilhed 
in 1776. He experienced its fuccefs for twenty years; 
during which time he had furrounded himfelf with all the 
deaf and dumb he could aflemble. That refpeftable man 
employed his fortune in clothing and maintaining molt 
of thofe unhappy beings ; and all Europe has witnelfed 
his talents, his conftancy, and his fuccefs. At his death, 
which happened in the month of December, 1789, the 
abbe Sicard, his pupil, took his place as inltruClor, and 
fome benevolent perfons undertook to maintain the deaf 
and dumb. At the end of January, 1791, the National 
Alfembly granted to that eftabliffiment the fite of the Ce- 
leftins, and founded an hofpital for twenty-four children, 
with a penfion of 350 francs for each child. Soon after 
the number of children gratuitoufly admitted was aug¬ 
mented to a hundred and twenty, and their penfion in- 
creafed to 500 francs. During the time of their living 
in the inftitution, which is five years, the pupils of both 
fexes are clothed and maintained ; they are taught read¬ 
ing, writing, arithmetic, and drawing. Any parent who 
can afford to pay a penfion of 800 francs for his child, 
may fend him to this eftabliffiment. 
A few of the pupils have been taught to read and pro¬ 
nounce aloud any fentence written for them ; but, as may 
be expefted, the pronunciation, not being imitation, and 
being wholly unheard by the perfon who utters, is in- 
corredt. It is the effedl of a compelled mechanical exer¬ 
tion of the organs of fpeech, produced by the abbe’s pla¬ 
cing his lips and mouth in certain pofitions, and appear¬ 
ing to the fcholar to make certain motions, who, in en¬ 
deavouring to imitate fuch motions, neceflarily brings 
forth a found, more or lefs like that required. The de¬ 
gree of force which it is neceffary the fcholar (hould apply 
to pronounce diftindtly any word, is regulated by the 
abbe’s preffing his arm gently, moderately, or ltrongly. 
We believe that Dr. Watfon, of our Deaf and Dumb 
Afylum, is by no means behind the abbe Sicard in his 
fuccefsful endeavours at opening the mouths of the dumb. 
See the article Deaf and Dumb, vol. v. and Dumbness, 
where Dr. Watfon’s method is detailed, vol. vi. 
The inftitution is open to the public every Thurfday 
from eleven to one. At the end of every month, a pub¬ 
lic examination takes place, at which the fpedlators may 
appreciate the nature and utility of the plan and mode of 
culture. Exclufive of religious and moral inftruftion, alfo 
in logic and reafoning, writing, reading, and arithmetic, 
the art of defign, the elements of geometry, geography, 
and hiftory, the deaf and dumb are alfo employed in me¬ 
chanics, joiner’s work, and in a number of fmali fabrica¬ 
tions, curious and ingenious. Thefe exercifes are ex¬ 
tremely well attended, chiefly by perfons of refpedtable 
appearance. At one of thefe leftures, the abbe Sicard 
ftated a very curious occurrence. After having obferved 
that our blind Sanderfon, on being alked to deferibe the 
found of a trumpet, compared it to the colour red, he 
ftated, that a deaf and dumb pupil, having been defired 
Vol. XVIII. No. 1259. 
to define his idea of red, immediately anfwered, it refem- 
bled the found of a trumpet. 
The number of deaf and dumb throughout France is 
eftimated at 9000. The abbe Sicard, is at prefent prepa¬ 
ring a fynoplis of all fuch inftitutions as have been efta- 
bliihed, not only in France, (where there are upwards 
of twenty,) but throughout all the known countries. 
Hospice de St. Pe'rine. —This, though not exa&ly a 
charitable inftitution, deferves notice in this place, from 
its very excellent regulations. Here men and women, 
when they have reached feventy years of age, or fooner 
if infirm, can, hj right, and without alking the favour 
of any one, place tbemfelves, in order to pals the remain¬ 
der of their days in comfort and repofe. A fubfeription 
is the elfential and indilpenfable condition of acquiring 
the right of admiffion; according to which, every fub- 
feriber muft pay regularly and punctually, tod. per 
month, from ten till thirty years of age ; 1 s. 3d. per month 
from thirty to fifty; is. 8d. per month from fifty to fe¬ 
venty years of age. Thefe different payments will amount 
to 45I. which muft be completely paid before a perfon 
can acquire the right of admiffion. Hence, if any one 
more than ten years of age ffiould offer as a fubferiber, 
he or flie muft depofit, at the time of fubfeription, and 
according to his or her age, the fum which would have 
been paid if the fubfeription had commenced at ten. In 
order to give encouragement to benevolence, all perfons 
who may be difpofed to fubferibe, may transfer their right 
to as many perfons as they have made fubferiptions, on 
condition that the perfon who ffiall be benefited by the 
transfer, ffiall be, as nearly as poffible, of the fame age 
as his benefa&or, and that he ffiall not be admitted before 
he has reached feventy years of age, and paid the 45I. 
This transferred fubfeription is extinguilhed by the death 
of the fubftitute. The funds are placed on fecurities, 
and fubjefted to an adminiftration which is in every re- 
fpeCt fafe and undeniable. 
The houfe of this inftitution is moft beautifully fituated 
at Chaillot, about two miles from Paris, commanding a 
moft extenlive view of the city, the Seine, and the Champ 
de Mars. In front there is a very large and elegant par¬ 
terre, terminating in an extenlive kitchen-garden; be¬ 
hind, there is another large houle, formerly the monaf- 
tery of St. Perine, which forms a part of this eftabliffi¬ 
ment ; and a field, of about four acres, bordered by a 
well-cultivated garden. In this eftabliffiment are nearly 
one hundred aged perfons, male and female, whofe man¬ 
ners and appearance evidently befpeak that they have fi¬ 
gured in the genteeler walks of life, and whofe counte¬ 
nances indicate the moft perfeCt happinefs and content¬ 
ment. The chambers occupied by the female part of the 
fociety compofe the right wing of the houfe: each female 
has a bed-chamber to herfelf exclufively ; and there is one 
fitting-room or parlour appropriated to two females. 
The left wing of the houfe is occupied by the males, who 
are diftributed in the fame manner as the females, each 
perfon having a bed-room to himfelf, and a common par¬ 
lour being allotted to two perfons, in which they receive 
the vifits of their relatives and friends, without the in¬ 
convenience of being obtruded upon by ftrangers. A 
huffiand and wife have always a room to tbemfelves. 
Their diet correlponds in every refpeCt with the neat- 
nefs and (implicity of their apartments. At one o’clock 
a plentiful dinner is ferved up in the hall for the whole 
fociety; and at feven they again aflemble to lupper. Be- 
fides a fufficient quantity of meat and vegetables, each 
perfon is allowed a pound and a half of bread, the men 
a bottle of wine, and the women half a bottle, daily. In 
cafe of ficknefs, they are removed to a particular part of 
the houfe, which is ufed as an infirmary, where they are 
provided with every medical affiftance, and experience 
every poffible attention; and, in cafe of their deceafe, 
they are decently interred in the neighbouring church 
at the expenfe of the fociety, or elfewhere at the ex- 
penfe of their friends. 
6 G 
Their 
