A considerable number of rival systems have competed in this country for adoption, greatly to the prejudice of the cause of education among the blind. The most important of these we here briefly summarize: {79} 1. LUCAS SYSTEM. The letters were represented by curves and lines, having no connection with the form of the characters they denoted. In this type the Scriptures occupied about 36 volumes. 2. FRERE’S SYSTEM. Wholly phonetic, the sounds being represented by circles, angles, and lines. These symbols were cut in copper wire, and soldered upon sheets of tin. From this form a stereotype-plate was taken. 3. MOON’S SYSTEM. Based upon the two preceding, but professed to be alphabetic. Nearly each symbol represents the form of a portion of the Roman letter it denotes. The plates were prepared by Frere’s method. 4. BRAILLE’S SYSTEM. A series of dots in various combinations, designed as a universal system. This system was introduced in the “Institution pour les jeunes aveugles” in Paris, in place of the alphabetical system which had prevailed since Haüy’s time. 5. CARTON’S SYSTEM. Also arbitrary, though following somewhat the form of the lower-case alphabet. 6. ALSTON’S SYSTEM. This great improvement consisted in the rejection of all arbitrary symbols, and the adoption of the plain Roman alphabet of capitals. In addition to the simplicity both to the teacher and the scholar, its adaptability to typography was obvious. Instead of soldering the wire outlines on to tin, the letters were now cut and cast by the ordinary process of typefounding. The subsequent alphabetical systems have all been modifications of or attempted improvements on that of Alston, as perfected by Dr. Fry, and there seems every probability that this system will eventually become the recognised method of printing for the blind in all European countries. INITIALS. [Illustration: 46. Dutch Initial Letters used in Boyle’s Irish _Testament_, 1681. From the original matrices in the Enschedé foundry, Haarlem.] [Illustration: 13. Blooming Initials, at the Oxford University Press. _Circa_ 1700.]