THE TALKING DEAF MAN.



CHAP. I.

_An Inquiry into the Nature of a_ Voice, _and in what respect it
differs from the Breath_.

Let no Man presume, that he shall ever attain to this noble Art, if he
remain Ignorant in what it is that the nature of the Letters, as well
in general, as special, doth consist; for it was this very thing which
gave occasion to the composing of this small Treatise: Wherefore,
before I treat of the manner of instructing _Deaf_ Persons, I shall
bring into examination, First, the material part of the _Letters_,
viz. _Voice_ and _Breath_; Secondly, the _Letters themselves_, and
their Differences: Thirdly, and Lastly, I will teach the _Practise_ of
the Art.

I have oftentimes heard from some Persons, that it was little beneath
a Miracle, that God should give Men, to express the Thoughts of the
Mind, rather by Motions, which are effected by the Lips, the Tongue,
the Teeth, &c. than otherwise, and that so universally, that there is
no Nation so Barbarous, no not excepting the _Hottentots_, which
cannot speak in a Language. But let (I pray) these Men consider, what
it is that Men rightly Instituted would have, whilst they mutually