livered to them in the finger and sign language. These people would always congregate together; previously to the establishment of the institution he represented, they would meet at public-houses, but they all acknowledged that there had been a great improvement in their moral condition since these special services had been started. It had come to his knowledge that the adult deaf and dumb in Berlin, who would meet together for lectures, &c., were now complaining of their want of cultivated sign language for effective communication. He lately saw two deaf Germans in Mayence who conversed orally with hearing friends, but he noticed that with one another they preferred the finger and sign language. In the highest interests of the adult deaf and dumb, therefore, he must most earnestly plead for the retention of the finger and sign language.
Mr. Cooke mentioned several cases which had come within his knowledge, where deaf persons had been able to communicate by the lips, and in no other way.
Mr. A. M. Skinner, Q.C, Treasurer of Lincoln's Inn, remarked that, in proportion as they valued the gift of hearing and of speech, should they compassionate those from whom these blessings had been withheld or withdrawn. He had listened with great interest to Mr. Smith, who endeavoured to support the convenience of signs; but, after all, the argument seemed to come to this—If you cannot get the best tools, use the best you can get. Possibly there was a greater facility in this off-hand mode of feeling one's way to the intelligence of others, but these communications must depend on the special training of those who were to make and receive them. He remembered, many years ago, visiting a noble lord who had been afflicted with deafness from childhood, in consequence of fever. He could read and write English and French very well; but he found that at the dinner-table her lady-ship kept up the conversation with him by means of signs, and thus informed him what his guests were saying. Now, if a man always had a sympathising and capable wife opposite him, this might answer pretty well; but if he had learned to articulate, and read from the lips of others, he would not have been so dependent, and could
