estions."

Early in this year a large oil painting of blind men and women at work
round a table in the Euston Road was painted by Mr. Hubbard. An
engraving taken from the picture, with an account of the institution,
was inserted in the _Illustrated News_ of 24th April 1858, and in May
the picture was purchased "by subscription" for the sum of ten guineas,
and fixed outside the shop, where for many years it attracted the notice
of passers-by. It was engraved for the use of the Institution, and may
still be seen on the Annual Report, Price Lists, etc., whilst the
original painting hangs in the Berners Street Committee Room.

The account given by the _Illustrated News_ called attention to Bessie's
work. It was followed by letters in _The Times_, _Daily News_, and other
journals, and by an article in _Household Words_, believed to be by
Charles Dickens, entitled "At Work in the Dark." Many subscriptions,
donations, and promises of help were received in consequence of these
notices in the Press.

Mr. Walker, who invented a life-belt, offered the benefit of its
manufacture to the Association, and a new trade, corkcutting, was set on
foot.

In the course of the year the "Association of Blind Musicians" applied,
through Mr. Swanson, blind organist of Blackheath Park Church, to be
admitted to union with Bessie's influential society. She was warmly
interested in the appeal, and willing to grant such help, pecuniary and
other, as the greater Association could render to the less. The aim of
Mr. Levy, Mr. James Lea Summers, Mr. Swanson, and other blind musicians
was to give a thorough musical training to, and to obtain employment as
organists and teachers for, blind men with a talent for music.

The petition was courteously received, and after much discussion by the
Committee and consideration by Bessie, the prayer for union, but without
pecuniary aid, was granted. The Musical Association, however, had
neither sufficient funds nor enough influence for the undertaking. But
the promotors acted as pioneers, and a few years later Bessie saw that
the efforts of Dr. Campbell and the establishment of the Normal College
for the Blind at Norwood, would satisfactorily accomplish all that the
Blind Musicians had attempted.

The trades hitherto taught to women had been leather and bead work, and
the making of nosebags for horses. These were found to be
unremunerative, and it was necessary to substitute others for them.
There was at that