a copy was enclosed; for
information as to presenting it, for support and assistance in the
labour involved. She also asked the opinion of those to whom she wrote
as to the best method of procedure, whether by petition to Parliament or
by a memorial to the Lords of the Privy Council.

The replies which she received were very encouraging, and she found that
general opinion was in favour of a Memorial. The document was prepared,
and copies of it were submitted for approval, together with a circular
letter. A private letter written by Bessie herself to the authorities,
and to all influential friends, accompanied the printed documents. She
sent these papers to the Oxford Street shop to be folded and addressed,
and as an example of her minute care, the following episode is of
interest.

Amongst her papers there is the copy of instructions sent to Oxford
Street, after she had inspected the circulars. She writes that the
titles of institutions must be copied from the list she had previously
furnished, that full titles must be used in the Memorials to
institutions and to private individuals, and that abbreviations are only
admissible on the envelopes. She gives instructions for writing out
afresh all those memorials in which she had found the titles to be
abbreviated.

These preliminaries occupied the early months of 1869. The Memorial was
completed and sent up in July, and Lord de Grey promised to receive a
Deputation in support of it. Bessie drew up a list of the names of those
members of Parliament and influential members of her own and of kindred
institutions who should be invited to form the Deputation. All
arrangements being made, the Deputation met at the Westminster Palace
Hotel, on the 10th of February 1870, and proceeded thence to the
Education Office. Bessie, with other ladies, remained at the hotel, and
subsequently received a report of the proceedings.

Earl de Grey and Ripon, Lord President of the Privy Council, with whom
was Mr. Forster, received the Deputation. The representatives of
twenty-nine institutions for the blind were present, and also Lord
Houghton, Lord Manvers, Dean Hook, Sir James Hamilton, Admiral Ryder,
Admiral Sotheby, General J. Graham, and the following members of
Parliament: Messrs. D. M'Laren', Beresford Hope, H. Woods, W. J.
Mitford, W. D. Murphy, F. Wheelhouse, Sir J. Anson, and Lt.-Colonel
Gray.

Lord Houghton introduced the Deputation, and said they desired to
impress on Lord de Gr