d be treated separately, but will only say that the
education of the blind will receive an immense impulse when the
improvement of which I believe embossed printing to be capable, is
effected. There are many contrivances for writing; and here also I
am not sure that all which is necessary is yet obtained, though
much towards it has certainly been done. But in this case also, any
increase of speed would be an immense help.

The blind have different wants in writing to those who see. They
want to write easily and rapidly, and they want to commit their own
thoughts or those of others to paper, or, in short, anything they
wish to keep in a tangible form, by means of some rapid and easy
process.

If possible they should have the power of making notes, and
referring to them when made, with as much facility as the sighted.
This at least ought to be the object aimed at. Perhaps it might be
impossible fully to realise this idea, but I think very much might
be done towards it. Even now Braille's embossed system goes far
towards this, but I shall hope one day to treat of both reading and
writing as distinct subjects. I will therefore only now say that
every improvement and facility given to the blind in these two
branches will do a great deal towards bringing their education to
perfection. I have said given to the blind, but I would rather say
every improvement and facility invented and contrived by the blind,
as I believe in truth they must be their own helpers and
deliverers, at least to a great extent.

Before leaving this subject, I will add that I believe the power
of writing in some tangible form, with the greatest possible ease
and rapidity, to be of the highest importance to the blind; and
with this view I should like to see Braille's system in use in all
our schools.

This system was the invention of a blind man, and is, I believe,
the best that has yet been contrived. I am sure the mind of many a
blind person remains far below the degree of cultivation and
maturity to which it might attain, simply from the want of being
able to emboss its thoughts upon paper. Some one, I know not who,
says: use the pen to prevent the mind from staggering about; and
this help should certainly be placed by some means or other within
the reach of the blin