The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-17 00:00:00

THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND.

A very interesting and fashionably as well as
most numerously attended meeting was held on
Saturday, at St. James's Hall, in support of this
institution, which owes its origin to an amiable
lady, Miss Gilbert, the daughter of the Bishop of
Chichester, herself afflicted with deprivation of
sight, and to whose untiring exertions and liberal
contributions much of the success which has at-
tended the association is due. The undertaking
was commenced in 1854, and its main object was
to ensure regular employment to blind working
men, and to obviate those difficulties which reduce
so many blind persons to the position of street
musicians or street beggars, and which arise from
the want of opportunity to learn a trade, and the
want of a market where the products of their labour
may be sold, even when they succeed in mastering
any of the very limited number of industrial oeca"
potions to which they are eligible. In January,
1857, the association as it now exists was founded,
and it at present affords employment in various
ways to 67 blind men and women, of whom 33 are
supplied with regular work at their own homes,
at sums varying from 12s. to ls. 6d. per week ; 26
are instructed at the institution of the association,
and nine are engaged in selling goods for. the
society. Particular attention is paid to the instruc-
tion of those who on account of age are. in-
eligible for admission to many other institutions ;
and a boarding house has been opened for the
convenience of those who are anxious to
find a home. The mental and religious Wel.
fare of the blind is also sought ; a free cir-
culating library has been established, from which
books printed in relief are lent to 65 blind persons;
and instruction is given in reading and other
branches of education.. A special department has
also been organised to afford to the blind a pod
musical education. To secure the continuance 0
the association, and in the hope of its becoming
gradually enlarged, and to a great extent a sell"
supporting national institution, the foundress has
subscrit el £2,000 towards an endowment fund. .
The meeting of Saturday was presided over by
the Bishop of London, who is the president of the
institution.

The Bishop of Chichester took part in the pro-
ceedings.
The Bishop of OXFORD moved a resolution by
which the meeting resolved to do all in its power
to assist the association in its efforts to improve the
condition of the 30,000 blind persons in the United
Kingdom. The right rev. prelate, in an eloquent
appeal, urged the claims of the institution, one
valuable feature of which was that, in administer-
ing..., its charity to those who most needed it,
avoided any compromise of principle, for it simply
placed those to whom God in his wisdom had de-
nied the blessing of sight in a position of self,:
dependence. It appeared that there were 2,50 u.
blind people in the metropolis; and at this moment
there were 90 applicants for admission to the insti-
tution ; and they were told that £4OO was needed
to be raised to maintain 20b1ind persons, who Were
now compelled to beg for the means of subsistence'
while they were learning a trade, in order that the/
might be enabled to- support themselves by them
own industry. Surely those whom God had
blessed with the inestimable boon of sight Wm'
at once make up that paltry sum. If 20 gentlemen
on the platform would only give £2O each, the
thing was done; and he would gladly contribute
his £2O. (Cheers.)
Mr. R. PALMER seconded the motion, and urged
the claims of the association in withdrawing the
destitute blind from the temptation to add to t%
number of street beggars. As showing how eePe•bi
the blind were of instruction, he mentioned the
case of a young blind gentleman who entered the
University of Oxford, and, aided by his sister, suc-
cessfully studied there, and afterwards wont t°
India, where he studied Sanscrit, and was nes'7.6
candidate for the professorship of that language in
the university at which he was educated.
The resolution was carried.
Mr. Gurney, M.P., Dr. Jelf (the Principal of
King's College), Dr. Robinson, and other gentlemen,
addressed the meeting in support of the association,
and their appeal was responded to by a liberal
collection.
Miss Gilbert, and several other blind ladies and
gentlemen, were amongst the company, and ap-
peared to take a deep interest in the proceedings.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

COLCHESTER-MAy 14.

The supply was rather small, and English wheat suet ii,
fair sale at a reduction of 3s to 4s per qr. upon the rates of
this day se'nnight. There was little disposition shown t°
buy all descriptions of spring corn, at late prices. -Is
Wheat, white Us to 60s I Beans, Mazagan..4os to 't
35005 s
toto
40556 s I
wtilitdedlpee & small 42: to 441
4446:
red
Barleyas ......42542 to 461
Oats 26s to 32s I Grey ..

CHELMSFORD—MAY 14.
The show of wheat was small, and prices at is to 2s per
qr higher than last week. Farmers hold very firm, ay'
will not sell urilcss the above rates are acceded to. Barley
nominal. Beans and peas were both the turn in favour
of
the seller.
Wheat, white.... 48s to 62s

red 4ss to 588
Barley 32s to 42s
Chevalier 34s to 45s
Grinding 27s to 35s
Malt 60s to 66s

Chevalier 63s to 69s
Oats 26s to 35s

Peas Partridge 44s to 480
White 44s to 480
Boiling 46s to 480
Dun 42s to 440
Beans, Tick — 4 ls 45s
Harrow Ticks 41s to 460
Mazagan 39s to 421

DERBY-

WAY 14.

-
Yesterday the supply of wheat from the farmers W 9
small, and the trade more active, at an advance of is to 20;
Barley as before. Beans were fully as dear. Oats and
other articles unaltered. -
White wheat, new, 60s to 62s
Red do. 4Bs to 56s
Old white sos to 62s
Red do.. 48s to 56s
Barley, malting 38s to 42s

Barley, grinding 28s to 30
Oats, old, 283 to 30
New do 28s to 324
Beans. 44s to 601,
Peas . ..----8 to --it

0 X FORD—MALY 14.
To-day the attendance was numerous, and the farmerbrought forward large supplies of wheat, for which there,
was a better demand. Barley dull. Flour a firm trade/ 5'
£2 per sack.
24s to 269
Wheat .......... ..52s to 56s Oats....
White do .55s to 60s I Beans —s to
Barley .33s to 408 Ditto, old ........48s to 501

KIRKALDY—MAY 14.
We had small supplies to-day of wheat and barley, but
fair of oats. Sales ready, and prices generally is to 20 P'
qr less for wheat and oats ; barley maintained its price.
Wheat (N). Barley (N). Oats (N).
First.... 40s Od 31s Od 23s Od
Second.. 48s Od 35s Od 28s Od
Third .. 56s Od 36s Od 30s Od
Wheat (0). Barley (0). Oats (0).
First.... —s Od —s Od —s Od
Second.. —s Od —s Od _s Od
Third —s Od —s Od dO

ET—MAY 16.
the dose of the market.)
Walls End.
0. d.
Braddyll's Hetton ..... 16 .9
South Kelloe ........ 17 v
Heugh ......... `. 16 .3
Kelloe .............. 17 na
Lambton. ............ 19 u,t
Riddell .............. 16 .v
Eden Main ........... 16 4",
Thorpe l6 °
...
Cassop ............ .. 16
IHartou ••••'1516 °R
Hetton. Lyons Main •• • Ay
Hartlepool.. ....... 17
Caradec .. 16 9
Birchgrove Graigola .20 0
Powell's Duffryn Steara 21 u
t, 65—Sold, 52.