Library Collections: Document: Full Text
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Laurent Clerc To Mason Cogswell, January 14, 1817
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To Dr. M. F. Cogswell
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| 2 | New York, Jan. 14, 1817. | |
| 3 | You doubtless know, my dear Friend, that the adjourned and last meeting for the purpose of deciding upon the policy of having one only or two Institutions in the United States will take place this afternoon at 4 o'clock. Well! I shall suspend my letter till this evening to wait the issue of their decision and to communicate it to you. Mr. Gallaudet and I shall not attend the assembly; two reasons impose this conduct upon us; the first is we wish they may deliberate freely and without any influence on our part; the second is, if they vote against us, we shall not be exposed to their looks of triumph; and themselves not seeing us, they will be mortified by our disdain of witnessing their unwise decision; but we shall take great care to invite our friends to be present there. | |
| 4 | P.S.-to letter | |
| 5 | At 7 o'clock in the evening | |
| 6 | Ah! my worthy friend, Man proposes and God disposes; the meeting of this afternoon has decided in favour of another Institution here; I had expected this; the number of the deaf and dumb who have been enumerated amounting to 47, a part of whom are susceptible to instruction, has been one of the principal causes for the decision. The Assembly was composed of gentlemen whom I had never known- Mr. DeWitt Clinton, Judge Livingston, General Clarkson, General Stevens, the Reverend Dr. Romeyn, Dr. Mitchell, Mr. Radcliff, and our other friends, I cannot conceive why were not present, so that our party was not enough supported to get the majority of votes. They have thought of another Institution and appointed a committee of nine members to form a constitution and to petition the Legislature of New York and the corporation of the City. | |
| 7 | Laurent Clerc | |
