of from the engraving at page 398. The back of the pupil's hand is placed before the Teacher's lips, and the other hand on the throat. i comes next, being sounded by the articulation of e directly after a (as in father). Then o and u follow. Most of the consonants are not difficult to add when this much is attained, and syllables and words are taken in due course. The word when spoken is associated with the object by writing it on the slate, showing a picture of it, and by the agency of the usual language of signs.

Results of Instruction.-After a year or two's instruction of this sort several of the pupils can speak sufficiently well to hold a one-sided conversation with considerable ease. Some few who are most expert obtain a remarkable quickness in following a conversation, and understanding every word from the movement of the lips of the speaker. This is attained to so great an extent with some that at times it is almost impossible to believe that they are deaf. The author in this way carried on a conversation with two of the deaf and dumb Teachers who had been brought up at the Institution. One of them was particularly quick and repeated after him by word of mouth the sentences as soon as they were uttered.

Further Instruction-Varying Intelligence. When they have attained fair proficiency in the knowledge of common things they are taught Geography, Grammar, and Composition. The difference in the aptitude of the pupils is, of course, very great. Some appear almost devoid of intelligence, while others even exhibit talents above the average of persons possessing all their faculties. The physical condition, however, of many of the deaf and dumb children is generally poor, and shows a lowness of development approaching very nearly to that met with at the Idiot Asylum at Earlswood.

Industrial Work usually not attempted.-Industrial work is not now attempted at the London Asylum, for either the boys or girls; nor is it carried on very largely at any of the Institutions. At some few places, however, it is tried with fair success. At Doncaster, printing and book-binding are taught; and at Bath, basket-making and tailoring. Formerly, instruction in tailoring, shoemaking, &c., was carried on in London, but the authorities here and in most other places now consider that if the boys are placed with proper masters when they are apprenticed, they

learn their trade more readily than if an attempt is made to teach them in the School. The girls in nearly all Institutions are taught household duties, together with sewing, knitting, &c., and occasionally they assist in the laundry work of the School. The period during which the Institutions generally retain their pupils varies from four and a half to seven years. It usually depends on the age at which the children are admitted. Seeing how short a time four and a half years is to educate a child having all his faculties, it seems evident that it cannot be sufficient for deaf mutes, who have to commence with such a very great disadvantage, and who must spend a large part of their time before they arrive at that point from which the others start; except for some few, seven years' instruction cannot be more than is absolutely required.

Most earn their Living after being Trained.-Perhaps the most satisfactory proof of the success of the Institutions for the Deaf and Dumb is shown by the ultimate result which the training has upon the pupils in enabling them to earn their living. In this respect these sufferers contrast favourably with the Blind. The occupations of the Deaf and Dumb, as given in the last Census returns, are somewhat remarkable. 3 were in the Civil Service; I was a Conveyancer; 48 were Artists and Engravers; 13 were Schoolmasters and Teachers; 9 were Female Teachers; 594 were Agricultural Labourers; 227 were other Labourers; 505 were Shoemakers; 230 were Tailors; 86 were Miners; 66 were Carpenters; 57 were Cotton Manufacturers; 49 were Farmers; 45 were Blacksmiths; and only 106 were described as Paupers. Of the females, a large proportion were Dressmakers, Seamstresses, Domestic Servants, and Laundresses; only 124 were entered as Paupers. At the London Asylum, the subsequent history of each pupil is well known, and but very few after leaving the Institution fail to earn a respectable livelihood.

Cost. The cost of a Deaf and Dumb School is necessarily considerable, owing to the large staff of Teachers which is required, because much of the instruction must be made personal to each child. The outlay on the London Asylum in 1869 was a little over 30%. per head,

Insufficient Provision. The provisions for teaching the Deaf and Dumb, like those for instruction in most of the branches of

education in this country, are not sufficient to embrace all persons whom it is requisite to educate. Considering the excellent results which are nearly always attained from those who do enter the Schools, this is much to be regretted. Of the 12,236 deaf mutes in England and Wales, it is reasonable to suppose that at least a sixth might with advantage be at school; whereas in 1861, only 1,000 were collected in all the Institutions. The new census of next year will probably show that the number of intelligent and educated deaf and dumb children has greatly increased; but it is feared that it will also prove that a large proportion is still unprovided for.

Conclusion. Few works, apparently so hopeless as that undertaken by the promoters of this class of School, have ever been accompanied with more encouraging results, both as regards the proportion of pupils improved and their satisfactory after-history. Without education the Deaf and Dumb must of necessity stand very low in the social scale. Experience has clearly shown that by patient training they may be made to participate in many of the pleasures and pursuits enjoyed by other persons. With this fact so apparent no system of education can be considered complete until it provide for all whose affliction gives them so strong a claim on their more favoured fellow-creatures.

44. SCHOOLS FOR CRIPPLES.

Origin of Schools for Cripples.-The Schools which are specially set apart for the training of Cripples, though unfortunately few in number, deserve attention as forming a separate and distinct class of Institution for the special training of a certain section of the community. The first school of the kind originated in a somewhat singular manner, and almost, it may be said, by an accidental circumstance. In 1851 some ladies proposed establishing a female Industrial School, under the regulations of the Committee of Council, which had then recently been issued. They commenced their work with three children, and it so happened that one of these was a cripple. From this the idea was conceived of establishing a school specially for those who had lost the use of their limbs. The sum of 120/. was accordingly raised for this purpose, and premises in Hill Street, Dorset Square, were secured. In this way the 'Cripples' Home,' now removed to Marylebone Road, was commenced with two pupils, superintended by a Matron. The want of such an Institution was evident from the success which attended this small beginning.

Existing Schools.-At the present time there are in London three Schools in operation. The original one, for girls only, in the Marylebone Road; another, in connection with it, for boys, in Kensington; and a third, called the 'Cripples' Nursery,' for both boys and girls, in Old Quebec Street. The total number of children thus provided for is about one hundred and eighty. Besides these in London, no regular Cripples' Schools exist in this country. Those children of the poorer classes who are afflicted in such a manner as to require peculiar treatment, if they obtain any education at all, are mixed with other children, and receive no special training applicable to their condition, either physical or mental.

Statistics. The number of Cripples in England alone is estimated to be a hundred thousand. What proportion of these belongs to the poorer class of the community, and how many require peculiar training, it is impossible to ascertain. It must, however, very far exceed the number at present provided for, after deducting from it those whose deformity does not render them incapable of joining an ordinary school.

Assistance of Refuge Girls.-The Institution in Marylebone provides for one hundred girls; and of these usually about seventyfive are cripples, the remainder being able-bodied Refuge Girls who are sent there by a Magistrate's order, under the Certified Industrial Schools Act. The latter do the work of the house, such as scrubbing, cooking, &c., and are very useful in attending to the Cripples, who, from the nature of their complaints, are unable to perform these duties. Without some such combined plan, the expense of the School would be considerably increased. Division of Work.-The Cripples' work is divided into two branches, viz., School occupation and Industrial occupation.

THE SCHOOL OCCUPATION.

Subjects and Hours of Instruction. This forms but a small portion of the daily avocation of the pupils. It is usually limited to an hour or an hour and a half each morning, and is presided over chiefly by voluntary teachers. The subjects taught rarely go beyond Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic; but thorough instruction is given in Religious knowledge. Those who are less advanced than others receive additional instruction in the evening. These extra lessons are given on a certain number of evenings each week by a paid certificated Teacher, who comes from the Home and Colonial Training College for the purpose.

THE INDUSTRIAL OCCUPATION.

Description of Occupations. The professed object of the School is to teach the pupils some trade, and consequently the Industrial occupation is considered the more important branch of the work. With the exception of the short time devoted to Theoretical instruction, the whole of the working day is given up to Industrial pursuits. Some of the girls are employed in