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Governor’s Message]

useful arts will not necessarily be diverted from his paramount object by attending to other branches with which it has no connexion [connection]. This plan has already excited attention in different parts of our country, and institutions somewhat similar have recently been founded in some of the largest and most enterprising of our sister States. Such establishments, which have for their primary object the dissemination of useful knowledge among the productive classes of the community, are obviously entitled to liberal support.

The last Legislature having appropriated the sum of fifteen hundred dollars for the purpose of erecting or purchasing suitable buildings and establishing an institution for the support and education of the deaf and dumb in this State, the Executive adopted such measures as seemed most likely to comport with the views of the Legislature, and to insure the accomplishment of the object. The first inquiry was, if a suitable person could be procured to take charge of the institution. Considering the peculiarity in the mode of instruction, there was little probability of obtaining, in this State, a person possessed of practical Knowledge in that business. After repeated fruitless efforts, it was deemed expedient to make application for an instructor to some similar institution. That course was adopted, but proved equally unsuccessful. The correspondence disclosed so many obstacles to be overcome in establishing and conducting such an institution as to induce doubts of the expediency of expending the appropriation in that manner. It was however, thought advisable to extend the enquiry, and obtain further information. Accordingly, the Hon. Enoch Lincoln, one of the Representatives of this