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From both these letters evidence is afforded that Mr. Gallaudet had been led by his interest in Alice Cogswell to seek out other deaf children, while he was still a student at Andover, and that he was known by his friends to have considered, at least, the subject of general deaf-mute education.

Of course the suggestion of Mr. George Hall, through Nathan Lord, can not be said to have produced any result. And yet the object he aimed at was attained through the very man he had named as fitted, better than any other, to the work.

Mr. Gallaudet was now in the twenty-eighth year of his age. Precocious in his early development as a scholar, he had added to his college course of study a decade of varied and valuable training. A year's study of law; two of teaching; three given to active business, including extended travel; three of theological study, and one spent in general reading, with practice in writing and public speaking, had combined to give him an experience, every element of which was of importance, as will appear in the sequel, in preparing him for the work that now opened before him. His social surroundings had been such as to make it easy for him to meet, on a level, persons of the highest rank in society. His sacred profession gave him a standing in the community second to none. His personal character secured him the confidence of every one who knew him, while his manners were so engaging as to inspire almost equal trust in the minds of strangers. In spite of his delicate health he exercised great personal magnetism. Although small in stature, his bearing was so dignified, and the evidences of his intellectual and moral strength so marked that many persons have been known to say, after meeting him, that they remembered him as a person of imposing presence.

All these elements of strength and influence would have proved as valuable in the profession of his choice, as they did in the career to which he was chosen. Few men have ever stood on the threshold of the Christian ministry with greater promise of success than was Mr. Gallaudet's at this time. The esteem in which he was held at Yale College and Andover Seminary was such as would have insured him an eligible position whenever he should signify his disposition to begin work. It was after many mental struggles that he had decided to devote himself to the preaching of the gospel, and he felt "the vows of God" to be upon him. He had completed his preparations in spite of great difficulties and discouragements and was now ready to preach. He was not without ambition, and in 1815 the position of a clergyman in New England carried enough of weight and influence to make it attractive to a young man.

It is not difficult to perceive, therefore, that while Mr. Gallaudet accepted cheerfully the responsibility now laid on his young shoulders, and did not hesitate to respond to the call of duty, so soon as he perceived it to be such, this decision involved no small personal sacrifice.

But the decision once made there was no looking back, and the second entry in his journal (May 10th) shows that in less than three weeks he was on his way to Europe. In the mean time (May 5th) he went with Dr. Cogswell to Glastonbury, ten miles from Hartford, where he had a memorable interview with the blind deaf-mute Julia Brace, then eight years of age, whose education at a later period attracted a degree of attention second only to that excited by the development of the more brilliant Laura Bridgman.

Spending a few days' in New York, where his father's family were then residing, Mr. Gallaudet embarked on May 25th, in the Mexico, burden three hundred tons, S. Weeks, Master, for Liverpool. Among the passengers was Washington Irving; also a number of English army officers, of one of whom Mr. Gallaudet related the following incident:

One of my military friends who was commonly lively and cheerful in his manner came to the table one morning with a very long face. I took occasion to ask him, later, if any thing unusual had occurred to dampen his spirits; when he told me that during the night he was suddenly awakened by what seemed to be the pressure of a heavy weight lying across him. Rousing up he perceived by the light of the moon, the body of a man in naval uniform stretched out on him in his berth. For some seconds after he was fully awake the apparition remained, and then gradually faded from his sight. He rose, dressed and walked the deck until morning. The chief cause of his depression of spirits lay in the fact that he had a brother in the navy. A note was made of the day and hour, and on our arrival at Liverpool my friend told me before we parted on the wharf that news had met him of his brother's death at sea on the night when his wraith appeared.

Mr. Gallaudet landed at Liverpool on Sunday, June 25th. During the few days he remained in Liverpool he made the acquaintance of Rev. Thos. Raffles and Rev. Robt. Philip, and visited the school for the blind several times. The following Sunday he spent in Leicester, preaching for Rev. Robert Hall in the afternoon, spending the evening, until a late hour, with the noted divine.