The Talking Deaf Man | Page 2

humbly beseech you, that him whom you
have begun to love, yea, though he be removed far from you, that you
will persist still therein, and to take upon your self as need shall require
it, the Patronage of the Truth it self. Farewel, and be well.
_J. Conrade Amman._
Dated from my Study, Aug. 10th, 1692.
* * * * *
To his Learned friends Richard Waller, and Alexander Pittfield,
_Esquires, of the_ Royal Society.
Gentlemen,
The holding of a Candle to the Sun is not more absurd, than thus to
present you with an English Version of a Latin Treatise. All who know

you, know you to be Masters of not only most of the European, but
also of the Learned Languages. But my excuse is, that what I have done
for the sake of English Readers, I expose under your learned Names;
the Subject-matter of which may be useful, and therefore acceptable to
your selves and others. However, I am willing to discover my
Ambitious aim herein, which is to let the World know who are my
Friends, and what Names may give Honour to mine. I know, that
several very considerable Members of that great Society, to which you
so nearly relate, have already, both in Theory and Practise, acquainted
the World with very remarkable things of this nature; and whether what
is here published, will in the least, either elucidate or add to those
already taught, and done by those very knowing persons, I neither dare
nor will determine; but if neither one nor the other be here found, yet it
is sometimes grateful to us, to see how good and great wits do jump,
and in such Circumstances as these no Man can account Store to be a
Soare. I have only this to further mention, that the Author chose the
_High-German_ Tongue to become his exemplar, rather than any other
Modern or Antique; it therefore is necessary, that he who would put his
Rules in practice in any other Language, must observe a due Analogy
in mutatis mutandis. Thus (my Friends) I have exposed both you and
my self, if any blame happen, let that be all mine, who (without your
Knowledge and Concession) did this Indignity to you, and to aggravate
it, thus publickly to stile my self,
Gentlemen,
Your Cordial Friend and Servant,
_Dan. Foot._
* * * * *

TO THE READER.
Candid Reader,
_In these few Pages, I expose to thee openly and ingenuously, by what
means I can learn the Deaf, (and because they were born so) the Dumb

to speak articulately_, and easily to understand others also when they
are speaking, so as they may be able both to read, and to understand a
Book, or Letter, and to discover their own Minds, either by Speach or
Writing.
How important a Benefit is this? How advantageous is the not hearing
supplied by this Art? If Envy, or the detestable greedy Desire of Gain_
_could have prevailed with me, I had retained this Art, as lockt up in
my own Breast. But alass! How miserable is the condition of the Deaf?
How lame and defective is that Speach, which is performed by Signs
and Gestures? How little are they capable to receive of those things
which concern their eternal Salvation? Who doth not commiserate_
_this sort of Persons? Who can refuse to help them by all means which
are possible? For my part, I, by the help of God's Grace, will not only
help them, but will make publick and vulgar what is best to be done
therein, yea, and have done so already, that they can understand others
speaking, even with the softest_ Voice, or rather whispering.
_This Doctrin will seem new and incredible to most Men, yet is not
plainly altogether unheard of; for, as I heard, there have been some,
who engaged themselves in this cure; but what they effected therein, I
must acknowledge is unknown to me; yea, I Religiously attest, that
before I did excogitate this Matter, I met not with the least_ _foot-step
thereof in any Author. Notwithstanding, some there be, who reject at
first sight this Doctrin as fabulous; others, and those perhaps the same
also; who when I shall have discovered to them the manner thereof,
will cry, that they could do the same thing: I, for my part; am not
concerned at either of them, well knowing, that those who are just in
their_ _Estimation of things, will judge otherwise.
When thou, by reading shalt arrive thus far (good_ Reader) _stop a
little (I pray thee) and use the liberty granted to every one, and
attentively revolve in thy Mind, what thou thy self would'st do, if such
a case as this was committed to thy care. If so be