It is one of the oldest institutions of the kind in the United States, the act of the Legislature of New York incorporating it being dated on the day (April 15, 1817) when the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb at Hartford, Connecticut, was opened. The illustrious De Witt Clinton was the first president of the association. Its progress was slow for several years, when, in 1831, Mr. Harvey P. Peet was installed executive head of the asylum, as principal : he infused life into the institution immediately. Its affairs were administered by his skilful and energetic hand during more than thirty years, and his services were marked by the most gratifying results. In 1845, the title of President was conferred upon Mr. Peet, and three or four years later he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. He was at the head of instruction and of the family in the institution. Under his guidance many of both sexes, shut out from participation in the intellectual blessings which are vouchsafed to well-developed humanity, were newly created, as it were, and made to experience, in a degree, the sensations of Adam, as described by Milton : --

" straight towards heaven my wondering ej-es I turned, And gazed awhile the ample sky, till raised By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung. As thitherward endeavowing, and upright Stood on my feet ; about me round I saw Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, And liquid lapse of murmuring streams ; by these, Creatures that lived, and moved, and walked, or Hew ; Birds on the branches warbling ; all things smiled ; with fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflowed. Myself I then perused, and limb by limb Surveyed, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran. With supple joints, as lively vigour led ; But who I was, or where, or from what cause.