e leaving town soon, when once I have
your sanction I shall write to the people thought of, to ask them
whether they will undertake it. Of course there will only be a few
who will really work, but we must have names besides. I send you a
copy of the proposed rules. My notion is not to have a public
meeting this year, but only to let the Committee meet, and to hire
a room for this purpose. Levy suggested that Mr. Taylor should
visit the workmen at their homes. I think he would do this well.
Our love to mamma. We hope she is better.--Your loving, dutiful
child,
BESSIE GILBERT.

The Bishop's reply has not been preserved; but as the first Committee
consists of persons selected from the list furnished, he probably had
few changes to suggest, and in forming a committee Bessie was carrying
out advice he had previously given.

An appeal to the public was drawn up by her, of which the following is a
copy. On the reverse was a list of goods made by the blind, with prices.
The public was informed that these articles were superior in durability
and equal in price to those ordinarily offered. It was hoped that the
circumstance of their being entirely made by blind men would induce
purchasers to encourage the industry of those who labour under peculiar
disadvantages in obtaining employment.

ASSOCIATION FOR PROMOTING THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE BLIND.

In addition to the many difficulties which the loss of sight
imposes on all blind persons, those whose livelihood depends upon
their own exertions labour under three great disadvantages.

1. Comparatively few have an opportunity of acquiring a trade.

2. The trades taught are very few in number.

3. Those who have acquired an industrial art rarely obtain constant
employment or a market for their manufactures.

In consequence of these difficulties great numbers are reduced to a
state of beggary and degradation. These would, as a class, be only
too thankful to be enabled practically to refute the prevailing
idea that a life of pauperism, or at best of dependence upon
almsgiving, is an inevitable necessity of their condition. It is
surely the duty of the community at large to afford them an
opportunity of so doing, and thus enable them to take their right
position as active and useful members of society.

An undertaking was set on foot