N00296:316
An essay for the recording of illustrious providences
An essay for the recording of illustrious providences: wherein, an account is given of many remarkable and very memorable events, which have happened in this last age; especially in New-England. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in New-England. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by Samuel Green, 1684
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I have the rather mentioned these things; for that there are several others in this Country who are Deaf and Dumb; whenas if they had an ingenious Instructor, I am abundantly satisfied that they might be taught to speak, their Deafness notwithstanding. Nor is this more difficult than it is to learn those that are blind to write; which though some may think it impossible and incredible, there ⟨p. 302⟩is (or at least three years ago there was) a living Instance to convince them. For in the Weekly Memorials for the Ingenious, lately published at London (in Page 80.) I find an observable passage which I shall here cause to be transcribed and inserted. From the Journal des Scavans, set forth March 25. 1680.
I have the rather mentioned these things; for that there are several others in this Countrey who are Deaf and Dumb; whenas if they had an ingenious Instructor, I am abundantly satisfied that they might be taught to speak, their Deafness notwithstanding. Nor is this more difficult than it is to learn those that are blind to write; which though some may think it impossible and incredible, there ⟨p. 302⟩is (or at least three years ago there was) a living Instance to convince them. For in the Weekly Memorials for the Ingenious, lately published at London (in Page 80.) I find an observable passage which I shall here cause to be transcribed and inserted. From the Journal des Scavans, set forth March 25. 1680.
An Extract of a Letter written from Lyons, by M. Spon. M. D. &c. concerning a Remarkable Particular. Esther Elizabeth van Waldkirk, Daughter of a Merchant of Schaffhausen, residing at Geneva, aged at present nineteen years, having been blind from two Months old, by a Distemper falling on her Eyes, nevertheless hath been put on to the study of Learning by her Father, so that she understands perfectly Fr•••, High-Dutch and Latin; she speaks ordinarily Latin with her Father, French with her Mother, and High-Dutch with the People of that Nation; she hath almost the whole Bible by heart; is well skilled in Philosophy; plays on the Organs and Violin; and which is wonderful in this condition, she hath learned to write, by an invention of her Fathers, after this manner: