able,
depressed her more than they had ever previously done. These attacks
recurred several times, and lasted for many weeks at a time. It was
difficult for her to shake off the gloom that accompanied them, and the
sense of isolation and solitude. Her hands and arms were too feeble to
allow her to read or work for more than a few moments, so that she was
not only cut off from the society of those she loved, but unable to
occupy herself in any way.

From time to time she regained a little strength, and then it was
touching to see how she at once resumed her labours. At the beginning of
her illness she took great interest in the inauguration of the Normal
College for the Blind. Dr. Campbell had several long conversations with
her in 1871, before she left Queen Anne Street, and at his request she
had joined the Committee of the College and even attended some of its
meetings. She rejoiced in the success that now attended Dr. Campbell's
efforts; but she was convinced that a musical career was, in most cases,
impossible for the blind. "Many adult persons lose their sight, but the
loss does not entail a love of music," she would say. She saw, and had
always seen, that handicrafts were the only possible occupation for the
majority, especially amongst the poor and uneducated; and one of her
chief objects was to increase the number of trades which the blind could
follow. She used to say that, with a little ingenuity and contrivance,
many additional trades might be thrown open to them. With this end in
view she continued to make herself acquainted with the details of
different occupations, and wished that experiments "on a very small
scale" should be carried out. But there were too many difficulties in
the way. Want of health, want of money, want of space for workrooms, met
her at every turn. Still, whenever there was a bit of work that she
could do, she did it. In November 1874 a special Committee had been
appointed by the Charity Organisation Society to consider "what more can
be done to promote the welfare of the blind, especially in relation to
their industrial training." The Earl of Lichfield presided, and the
subjects to be considered were as follows:

1. What is being done industrially for the blind, and in what ways?

(_a_) For learners.

(_b_) For journeymen.

2. What more can be done through existing agencies?

(_a_) By improvements in system of working.

(_b_) By co-operat