DEAF AND DUMB SCHOOL.

135

to the infant institution, and under his superior management the school soon became popular. The public seeing the progress made by the pupils placed under his care, liberally came forward to its assistance, and the premises occupied by the charity in Stanley-street, near the New Bailey, became too small to receive the number of children which its funds could support. A building had long been in contemplation, and a fund for its erection had been commenced; but now the conductors of the institution felt themselves called upon to make active and vigorous exertions for its accomplishment. The town and neighbourhood were again canvassed, and a handsome sum was obtained; but the most important aid which the fund received arose from the proceeds of a bazaar, which was held in the large room of the Town Hall, in April, 1836, was most numerously attended, and the receipts, including the proceeds of a ball, amounted to upwards of £4,000. After deducting all expenses, the sum of £3,848 was paid over to the treasurer of the building fund.

The trustees of the bequest of the late Mr. Henshaw, for the endowment of a blind asylum, having about this time succeeded in raising a fund for the erection of a building for that purpose, it was agreed between them and the committee of this institution to erect the two buildings in the immediate locality of each other. After-considerations induced the committees more immediately to unite the two institutions by the erection of a chapel in the centre.

The cost of the portion of this splendid pile of buildings, occupied as the Deaf and Dumb Institution, including the purchase of the land, was about £11,000. The accommodation provided is calculated for one hundred children, besides containing apartments for the masters, private pupils, and the requisite members of the establishment, and the building is so constructed, that in case it should be required increased accommodation could be obtained at a slight cost. The children admitted within its walls are taken from Manchester and the surrounding counties; no instructions as to

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DEAF AND DUMB SCHOOL.

locality existing in the rules except to those counties in which there is a school for the deaf and dumb established. Thus admitted, each child has to be provided with clothing, according to a list furnished to its friends, who are required to find securities to keep up the same during the continuance of the child at the school. If the parents be in indigent circumstances, the children. are instructed and maintained gratuitously; but if they can afford to pay something towards their support, the committee after an inquiry into their circumstances, fix the sum, varying from 2s. per week to £20 per annum. The period for education occupies five years, with the usual vacations at Christmas and Midsummer. The children are admitted into the school by election of governors. The election takes place annually, generally in the month of May or June. Previous to the day of election, each subscriber is furnished with a list of the candidates, containing a list of their cases, and the circumstances of their friends. With this list the subscriber marks with his initials the names of the parties whom he wishes to be admitted, according to the number to be received into the school; and at the close of the poll, which commences at eleven in the morning, and closes at three in the afternoon, the votes are added up, and those children which have the largest numbers are declared duly elected. A subscription of £1 1s. per annum shall, during its continuance, entitle the subscriber to one vote at all elections of children into the school a subscription of two guineas per annum, to two votes, and so on in the proportion of one vote for every guinea subscribed." "Every donation of ten guineas, at one time, shall entitle the donor to one vote at all elections of children into the school; a donation of twenty guineas shall entitle the donor to two votes, and so on in the proportion of one vote for every ten guineas." And all governors are allowed to vote by proxy. There were in March, 1841, under instruction,

Boys
Girls

53 29

Total........ 82

and there are also upon the books many candidates. Divine service takes place in the chapel twice every Sunday, during the summer months, at eleven o'clock in the morning, and at half-past six in the evening; in the winter months, at eleven o'clock in the morning, and at half-past three in the afternoon. Full cathedral service is regularly performed by one of the most efficient choirs in the neighbourhood.

The Rev. T. Buckley is the secretary, and Mr. Patterson the master of the institution. The public, generally, are admitted into the institution only on Wednesdays, between ten and one o'clock.

In connexion with the last-mentioned must be named

THF BLIND ASYLUM,

Which forms one of the wings of the same building. Its origin is attributable to the late Mr. Henshaw, of Oldham, who, about twenty-six years ago, bequeathed the sum of £20,000 for the endowment of an asylum for the blind, which sum was to be appropriated whenever a suitable building was erected for the reception of inmates. The original sum having doubled itself, the Manchester people began to arouse themselves, and they commenced a subscription for the building. In a short time nearly £9,000 was subscribed. The asylum will accommodate 150 inmates. Its object is to provide for the aged and impotent blind, and to afford such instruction to the indigent blind capable of working, as will enable them, in some degree, to provide for themselves.

In the report published in 1842, it is stated that, "the number of inmates that have been admitted from the commencement are 53; of these there are 45 at present in the asylum. Several have voluntarily left the asylum, to follow the branches of manufactures in which they have been instructed, and one, with sight restored." The income of the asylum for 1841 was about £2,000. Mr. Hughes is the governor.

Appended to the last Report of the Blind Asylum, is the following very interesting Surgical Report, by Mr. Crompton, Surgeon to the Institution :

K