t whatsoever therefrom, shall be admitted by
the decision of the Committee, or by some one deputed by
themselves, and not by the votes of the subscribers.

2. As long as blindness shall not disqualify any person from
holding the office of Superintendent, Traveller, or Porter.

3. As long as it is a fundamental rule of the Association that the
immediate objects of this Association shall be to afford employment
to those blind persons who for want of work have been compelled to
solicit alms, or who may be likely to be tempted to do so; to cause
those unacquainted with a trade to be instructed in some industrial
art; and to introduce trades hitherto unpractised by the blind;
also to support a circulating library consisting of books in
various systems of relief printing, to the advantages of which the
indigent blind shall be admitted free of charge, and others upon
payment of the subscription required by the Committee; to collect
and disseminate information relative to the physical, mental,
moral, and religious condition of the blind; and to promote among
individuals and institutions, seeking to ameliorate the condition
of the blind, a friendly interchange of information calculated to
advance the common cause among all classes of the blind.

4. As long as the Committee shall consist of both ladies and
gentlemen.

5. As long as at least six blind men or women shall be supplied
with work at their homes by the Association, each at a sum of not
less than six shillings per week; and so long as at least three
blind men and three blind women shall be receiving instruction at
the cost of the Association.

These conditions deserve the careful consideration of every one
interested in the blind, and should be religiously observed in the
Institution founded by Bessie Gilbert.

Her work had now greatly increased; a large number of blind persons were
regularly employed, and the public had responded to every appeal for
funds. A meeting was held in May 1859, with the Bishop of London in the
chair, and the time seemed to have come for that further information
which Colonel Phipps had intimated might be sent to the Queen.

In April 1859, therefore, a letter was written to Her Most Gracious
Majesty, by her very dutiful and humble servant E. M. M. Gilbert, to
which the following reply was received: