Now what I have effected by this my Method, especially to the Daughter
of Mr. _Kolard_, a Merchant of _Harlem_, I can appeal to a great part
of _Holland_, and universally almost to the whole City of _Harlem_,
and to innumerable other Witnesses, of all Ranks and Conditions.
The first thing which I require in the Person I am to teach, is, that
he be of a docible Wit, and not too young of age; than that the
_Organs of Speech_ be rightly constituted in him; for stupid Persons
are capable of no Teaching, whose Age is yet too tender; nor do they
mind enough, nor know how Teaching will be for their Use and Benefit;
but those whose _Organs of Speech_ are altogether unfit, they may
learn indeed to understand others when they speak, and discover their
own Mind by Writing; but they will never learn to speak.
Having therefore a fit subject, my first Care is to make him to sound
forth a _Voice_, without which, almost all labour is lost, but that
one point, whereby Deaf Persons do discern a _Voice_ from a _Mute
Breath_, is a great Mystery of Art; and if I may have leave to say so,
it is the _Hearing of Deaf Persons_, or at least equivolent thereunto,
_viz.
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