frequently changed, so as to shift the burden, and give all a variety. Many a mother has reason to be grateful for the habits of thrift and industry which her daughter has learned at the Asylum.

Mr. Bell's method of "Visible Speech" has been used in teaching articulation in the same way as during last year. Forty pupils in all have been instructed in this branch for one hour a day. This class is a little smaller than that of last year, which numbered forty-six. Two of the forty pupils have left school, one has died, and eight have been dropped after trial as unpromising cases, so that the class numbers twenty-nine at the date of this report. Fourteen of the class are semi-mutes, who had gained more or less knowledge through the ear, before losing hearing. The power of speech, which is soon lost by disuse, has been improved and enlarged, and in some cases much which had been forgotten has been recalled and preserved, and the pupil saved from becoming absolutely mute.

All the class have had constant practice upon the elementary sounds and their combinations, and various exercises to strengthen and regulate the breathing and develop the voice. They have read for the most part in the books used in the other classes, such as Hillard's Primary Reader, Picture-Teaching, Near Home, The Manual of Commerce, and Hooker's Child's Book of Nature, and in geography the names of the most important places. The reading lessons from these books are first written upon large sheets of paper in Visible Speech symbols, with the inflections and accent indicated, to insure the proper pronunciation. The pupil practises upon them by himself, and then reads to the teacher, who makes the necessary corrections. The pupil then learns to read the same lesson from the book by comparison. This process of translation is necessary to introduce the pupil to reading and speaking, to teach the power of the letters, and form the habit of speaking with expression. There is also constant practice in questions and answers, and in a variety of exercises in simple language. The pupils are encouraged to volunteer to say something original every day, in order to make them think in spoken language, and all but the youngest-at least three-fourths of them-do so. They write what they wish to say in a little book, and bring it to the teacher, thus preserving what they have learned, and avoiding repetition.

Reading from the lips has been taught. With beginners, pictures are shown, and questions asked about them. To the older ones, lessons and stories are read, which they write upon the slate, or repeat. The progress of this class has been necessarily interfered with by the prevalence of the mumps among the pupils, and by the death of Miss Sweet, and the introduction of her successor.

After a trial of three years, we are confirmed in the opinions stated in our last report, as to the great value of Visible Speech wherever articulation is taught to deaf-mutes, and we see no reason to modify them essentially. Experience strengthens the opinion, that, aside from the semi-mutes and the semi-deaf, the number of deaf-mutes to whom it is profitable to teach articulation in our Institution, is quite small.

The school, except the department of articulation, is divided into fourteen classes, taught by as many instructors, and numbered from first to thirteenth, the latter being the youngest, and the Gallaudet high class the most

advanced. Two classes of new pupils are usually formed each year, at the opening of the term in September. Classes are ordinarily made up of those pupils who entered in the same year, but also with reference to attainments. A thorough examination is held at the close of the summer term, the result of which determines the pupil's standing for the next year.

The thirteenth class has been taught by Miss Wing, a semi-mute lady, and a graduate of our high class, and consists of eighteen pupils,—twelve boys and six girls,-who entered school last September. They have studied Mr. Keep's First Lessons, and Dr. Peet's Scripture Lessons. They have learned to read and spell many words, and can write simple sentences and short stories.

The twelfth class, which entered at the same time, has been taught by Mr. Keep. It contains seventeen pupils,―ten boys and seven girls,—and has followed the same course of study as Miss Wing's class.

The eleventh class has been taught by Miss Larned, and is composed of six boys and seven girls, some of whom have been in school two years, some three, and some four. They have studied Jacobs' First Lessons, picturereading, Keep's First Lessons, addition, and Scripture lessons.

The tenth class, composed of sixteen pupils,-ten boys and six girls,—has been taught by Miss Mann, and entered school two years ago. They have studied Jacobs' First Lessons, Hillard's Primary Reader, with descriptions of the pictures and questions and answers in regard to them, addition and subtraction, and Scripture lessons.

The ninth class, taught by Mr. Weeks, contains five girls and thirteen boys, and is the oldest portion of the pupils who entered two years ago. They have studied Jacobs' First Lessons, picture-reading, Keep's School Stories, addition, subtraction, and multiplication, and Scripture lessons.

The eighth class, taught by Miss Kellogg, consists of ten boys and five girls, whose time in school varies from three to four years. They have studied descriptions of pictures in Hillard's Primary Reader, Peet's Elementary Lessons, part third, primary geography, addition, subtraction, and multiplication, and Scripture lessons. Up to the fourth year, books specially prepared for the deaf and dumb are used chiefly, to introduce the pupil gradually into general language, and enable him to take up books written for hearing children.

The seventh class, composed of sixteen pupils, half of whom are boys, has been taught by Miss Hammond. Their time under instruction is three years. Their studies have been picture-teaching, Peet's Elementary Lessons, part third, geography, multiplication, and Scripture lessons.

The sixth class consists of six girls and thirteen boys, and has been under the instruction of Mr. Bird. They have been at school four and five years. They have studied History of the United States, Guyot's Elementary Geography, Near Home, or the Countries of Europe Described, Division, and Federal Money, and the Scripture Question-Book.

The fifth class, taught by Miss Camp, is composed of seven girls and ten boys, most of whom are in their fifth year in school. Their studies are the same as those of the sixth class.

The fourth class, containing seventeen pupils,-six girls and eleven boys,— is taught by Miss Caroline Sweet. This class is mainly formed of the less

advanced portions of former classes, and its different members have been at school five, six, and seven years. They also have pursued the same studies as the sixth class.

The third class, under the charge of Mr. Bartlett, has fifteen members,— four girls and eleven boys,-who have been under instruction five, six, and seven years. They have studied Parley's History of the World, Colburn's Mental Arithmetic, Felter's Practical Arithmetic through Federal Money, and the Scripture Question-Book.

The second class of fourteen members-five of whom are girls and nine boys-has been taught by Mr. Storrs. Their school age is six years. Their studies have been Harper's School History of the United States, Camp's Intermediate Geography, Parley's History of the World, Common and Decimal Fractions, English Grammar and the Analysis of Sentences, although no text-book in grammar has been used, and Bible Lessons.

The first class contains eight girls and six boys, mostly in their seventh year at school, and is taught by Mr. Williams. They have studied Harper's School History of the United States, Parley's History of the World, Geography in connection with History, Grammar, and Analysis, Fractions and Compound Numbers, and Bible Lessons.

The high class is taught by Mr. Bull, and consists of thirteen pupils, who have been at school from seven to ten years, and all of whom are boys, except one. The full course of study in this class covers three years, and comprises the following studies: Berard's History of England, Physical Geography, Anatomy, Physiology and Hygiene, Botany, Arithmetic, Algebra, Natural Philosophy, English Grammar and Composition, The Vicar of Wakefield, and the Sketch Book as text-books in the study of the English language, Allen's Latin Reader and Grammar, and Bible Lessons.

All the classes have frequent practice in the use of simple language, and the writing of stories and compositions according to their ability, and in going over the various text-books much attention is given to the study of language in addition to the acquisition of mere facts. The specimens of composition appended to the report give a fair idea of the progress of the pupil at the different stages of the course. A regular monthly exercise of the school is the writing of letters, which, except in the younger classes, are without suggestion, and with slight correction, and exhibit to friends a journal of the advancement made.

The regular course of instruction occupies seven years. Many pupils, however, do not remain during this time. Those who complete this course acquire a good common-school education. As is shown by the list of studies, they have a fair knowledge of arithmetic, geography, and history, and a moderate acquaintance with our language, with ability to express themselves intelligibly by writing. The few who are able to enter the high class, about one in fifteen, enjoy there the opportunity of further culture. From year to year our pupils leave this class, and enter the Deaf-Mute College at Washington; and some after graduating there with honor, are already filling important stations in life, from which they would have been debarred without such training. With no wish to boast, we may safely claim that nowhere are advantages offered to deaf-mutes for acquiring education, superior to those furnished by the Asylum.

If we look back fifty-eight years, to the time when Mr. Gallaudet gathered his first class into this the pioneer school of the Western World, and contrast those days with the present, when in fifty institutions scattered all over the land, five thousand pupils are assembled and taught by three hundred instructors, with such educational advantages, and amid so much comfort, there is abundant cause for gratitude to Almighty God for this marvellous change.

To the watchful providence which has kindly cared for this institution in the past, we would confidently commit it, with all its interests, for the future

Respectfully submitted.

HARTFORD, May 8, 1875.

EDWARD C. STONE, Principal.

TERMS OF ADMISSION.

I. The Asylum will provide for each pupil board, lodging, and washing, the continual superintendence of health, conduct, manners, and morals, fuel, lights, stationery, and other incidental expenses of the school-room, for which, including TUITION, there will be an annual charge of one hundred and seventy-five dollars.

II. In case of sickness, the necessary extra charge will be made.

III. No deduction from the above charge will be made on account of vacation or absence, except in case of sickness.

IV. Payments are always to be made six months in advance, for the punctual fulfilment of which a satisfactory bond will be required.

V. Each person applying for admission must be between the ages of EIGHT and TWENTY-FIVE years; must be of good natural intellect, capable of forming and joining letters with a pen legibly and correctly, free from any immoralities of conduct, and from any contagious disease.

Application for the benefit of the legislative appropriations in the States of Maine and New Hampshire should be made to the secretaries of those States respectively,-in Massachusetts to the secretary of the Board of Education,-in each case stating the name and age of the proposed beneficiary, and the circumstances of his parents or guardian. Applications as above in Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, respectively, should be made to His Excellency the Governor of the State. In all cases a certificate from two or more of the selectmen, magistrates, or other respectable inhabitants of the township or place to which the applicant belongs, should accompany the application.

Those applying for the admission of paying pupils, may address their letters to the principal of the Asylum, and on all letters from him respecting the pupils, postage will be charged.

The time for admitting pupils is the second Wednesday of September, and at no other time in the year. Punctuality in this respect is very important, as it cannot be expected that the progress of a whole class should be

retarded on account of a pupil who joins it after its formation. Such a pupil must suffer the inconvenience and the loss.

It is earnestly recommended to the friends of the deaf and dumb to have them taught to write a fair and legible hand before they come to the Asylum. This can easily be done, and it prepares them to make greater and more rapid improvement.

When a pupil is sent to the Asylum, unless accompanied by a parent or some friend who can give the necessary information concerning him, he should bring a written statement embracing specifically the following particulars:

1. The name in full.

2. Post-office address and correspondent.

3. Day, month, and year of birth.

4. Cause of deafness.

5. Name of the parents.

6. Names of the children in the order of their age.

7. Were the parents related before marriage? If so, how?

8. Has the pupil deaf-mute relatives? If so, what?

The pupil should be well clothed; that is, he should have both summer and winter clothing enough to last one year, and be furnished with a list of the various articles, each of which should be marked. A small sum of money-not less than five dollars-should also be deposited with the steward of the Asylum, for the personal expense of the pupil not otherwise provided for.

Packages of clothing, or boxes sent by express, will reach the pupils safely.

The express charges should in all cases be prepaid.

Careful attention to these suggestions is quite important.

There is but one vacation in the year. It begins on the last Wednesday of June, and closes on the second Wednesday of September. It is expected that the pupils will spend the vacation at home. This arrangement is as desirable for the benefit of the pupils, who need the recreation and change of scene, as for the convenience of the Institution, thus affording opportunity for the necessary painting, cleansing, etc. The present facilities for travel enable most of the pupils to reach home on the evening of the day they leave Hartford. Every pupil is expected to return punctually at the opening of school on the second Wednesday of September.

On the day of the commencement of the vacation, an officer of the Asylum will accompany such pnpils as are to travel on the railroads between Hartford and Boston, taking care of them and their baggage, on condition that their friends will make timely provision for their expenses on the way, and engage to meet and receive them immediately on the arrival of the early train at various points on the route previously agreed on and at the station of the Boston & Albany Railroad in Boston. A similar arrangement is made on the Connecticut River Railroad as far as to White River Junction. No person will be sent from the Asylum to accompany the pupils on their return, but if their fare is paid, and their trunks checked to Hartford, it will be safe to send them in charge of the conductor.