his "Illustrations of English Rhythmus," and his "Letter to Mr. Cline, on Defective Developements of the Faculties, Mental and Moral, as well as constitutional and organic; and the treatment of Impediments of Speech." IMPEDIMENTS. In practical application, the system is not only adapted to the ordinary purposes of superinducing a distinct and intelligible delivery, and to the removal of those defects, usually considered under the denomination of Impediments; but, also, to the remedy of Feebleness and Dissonance of Voice; to the correction of Foreign and Provincial Accents, and every offensive peculiarity of Tone and Enunciation: nor are even those cases precluded from relief, in which there are actual Deficiencies and Malconformations, in the Natural Organs of Utterance: particularly of the palate and uvula. To cases of this last description, hitherto universally regarded as beyond all hope of remedy, he has paid, indeed, a very particular attention; several such cases having been referred to his management by Surgeons and Medical practitioners of the very first respectability. In every one of those his success has been such as to surpass even his own most sanguine expectations; a completely intelligible distinctness having been produced in all; ; and where time and perseverance has not been denied, even an agreeable utterance and harmonious intonation; so that the expectation may confidently be encouraged, that, wherever the pupil is put under proper management at a sufficiently early period, a delivery so complete and perfect may be produced, as scarcely to leave a vestige of peculiarity: and this without the troublesome and dangerous application of any artificial organ whatever. At the same time, by a felicity, that frequently belongs to the discoveries of real Science, the principles most conducive to the obvious purposes of utility, are found to be no less applicable to the highest refinements of grace and elegance; and the system of Instruction, that gives Speech to the Mute, and Fluency to the convulsive Stammerer, may be applied to the improvement of all the Harmonies of Language; to the rhythmus of Poetry and elegant Composition, the easy flow of Couversational Eloquence, and the energies of Public Oratory. Nor is the process adopted, either tedious or precarious. The time necessary to the attainment must, of course, depend, in a considerable measure, upon the extent of accomplishment desired,—the nature and degree of the impediment or habit to be encountered, and the susceptibility, diligence, previous attainments, and dispositions of the pupil:-but frequently, a single quarter, and generally, a single year,--will be found sufficient, for the removal of the most troublesome defects:especially, where the mental habits, of the Pupil, have been such as are at all favourable to intellectual expansion, and scientific and literary accomplishment. In some instances', indeed (even where there were Impediments of a very formidable description), a few weeks have been sufficient, for attaining the essential objects of tuition. Such instances, however, ought rather to be regarded as the miracles of the art, than to be calculated upon, as in the ordinary occurrence of events; and, upon the whole, it were to be wished—that every person, afflicted with any serious Impediment, before he embarks at all in so important an undertaking as the remedy of such a defect, should have previously made up his mind to persevere, with diligence, for a reasonable time, in the plans of the Institution. It is for this reason (among others, sufficiently obvious,) that so marked a difference is made, in such cases, between the terms of shorter, and of longer engagements. It is equally important to the reputation of the Science, and to the interest of the pupil, that, in every case, the cure (if attempted) should be perfected and confirmed; and tho this has sometimes been accomplished with a celerity surpassing the most sanguine expectation, it cannot be denied that serious, tho not insurmountable difficulties, do occasionally occur; and altho, in almost every instance (in A 2 every one, indeed, in which there has been tolerable persever ance,) the advantages once gained by any pupil of this establishment, have been as permanent as they have been satisfactory; yet absolute security from relapse, can only reasonably be expected, where time and practice are suffered to confirm, what science and discipline have taught. Uniform experience, however, has authorized the assertion-that, wherever the Student has capacity, leisure and inclination, to give the same attention to the subject, which other sciences, and much more frivolous accomplishments require, a correct and impressive elocution is universally attainable. Only one single instance of failure (where any reasonable time has been allowed to the experiment) has occurred during the whole twelve years of Mr. Thelwall's practice; and even in this instance, as far as relates to reading, the object was accomplished to a degree that might have been considered as highly satisfactory. But as nothing could arouse the mind of the Pupil in question to the state of cheerful and social activity, by which alone the conversational faculties can be developed, it must be confessed that in this individual case very little was attained in what relates to spontaneous utterance. But all circumstances considered, this solitary instance can scarcely be considered as impeaching the infallibility of the general system. The difficulty, indeed, will generally be increased, in proportion as the pupil advances towards the maturity of life: tho the system and discoveries exclusively acted upon in this Institution, have even been found successful in removing the impediments of persons who were upwards of thirty, and even of forty years of age. Parents, however, will do wisely, to seek for proper remedies, on the first appearance of difficulty or hesitation; since it is not to be concealed-that impediments of speech frequently originate in, and still more frequently produce, defects or peculiarities of a mental or moral description; which are more easily, if not more efficaciously remedied, in the earli . -- est stages of youth and ductility, than when the passions have began to exert their dominion, and the business and the pleasures of life, to complicate the malady, and distract the attention. Nor let it be regarded as invidious, if it be added—that the customary modes of initiating children in the first elements of literature, have a lamentable tendency to aggravate, and even to produce this calamity; while the system of initiation adopted in this institution, will inevitably preclude (even in instances of the most unfavourable conformation,) the possibility of such an occurrence: at the same time, that system is so methodical, and proceeds upon such solid principles of reason and of nature, as cannot fail of a beneficial operation, on the understanding and general faculties of the pupil. Neither ought it to be forgotten, that Impediments are, in a great degree, contagious; and that, consequently, wherever they are suffered, in an individual instance, to grow into confirmed habit, they are very apt to infect the whole of the younger members of a family. What are sometimes called hereditary impediments, are, in reality, nothing more than demonstrations of the contagious influence of early, and perhaps, unconscious imitation: a circumstance, which might suggest to a conscientious parent, the injustice, as well as the impolicy, of sending any child infected with this malady, to any ordinary seminary; where, while the customary discipline must, in all probability, considerably aggravate the disease, the calamity is most likely to be propagated thro' a much wider circle. Other considerations might, also, be insisted on, to evince the impropriety of placing young persons afflicted with Impediments, in any seminary of that description; where, as it is utterly impossible (without manifest injustice to other pupils) that the tutor · should devote to them the extended portions of time and attention, which the performance, even of the ordinary scholastic exercises must require, the obstruction of the utterance, too frequently, becomes a cause of still more calamitous deficiency. Instances are not wanting, in which the intellectual powers, have been suffered thus to languish into imbecility, till organic impediment has been confounded with physical or mental idiocy. Nor would it be difficult to demonstrate-(as has been, perhaps, already sufficiently done, in the letter to Mr. Cline,) the almost equal impropriety of placing the pupil who either labours under an impediment, or is even absolutely speechless, without being destitute of hearing (and such cases, though rare, most undoubtedly exist) in seminaries for the deaf-born dumb; where habits must inevitably be acquired, from which the pupil whose defect of utterance does not originate in deafness, should be jealously and absolutely precluded, To avert, effectually, the danger of these calamities, and obviate every disadvantage, under which so numerous a class of persons will be found to labour, it appeared to be indispensable, that the Institution for the Cure of Impediments, should not only extend its views to every object and consideration that might challenge the attention of more adult pupils,—but that it should be conducted upon such a plan, that even the first rudiments, as well as the last finishing accomplishments, and the intermediate gradations of liberal instruction, might be secured within its walls. JUNIOR PUPILS. The superintendence of Junior Pupils, is therefore, undertaken by Mrs. Thelwall; who will initiate them in the rudiments of the English, French, Latin and Italian Languages; and, in the elements of such other parts of erudition, as are necessary for the early developement of the faculties, and the introduction of youth to the higher walks of scientific and literary instruction. LADIES. Three or four female Pupils (either Adults or Juniors) may also be accommodated, under the immediate superintendence of Mrs. Thelwall, in the apartments reserved for the accommodation of her own daughters: where they will be treated, in every respect, with maternal care and attention, and |