_2d._ That children constitute but a small proportion of the blind, as about nine-tenths of the thirty thousand blind in the United Kingdom become so above the age of twenty-one. _3d._ That about half the sightless population live in rural districts. _4th._ That the health of persons without sight is, as a general rule, below that of others. _5th._ That this cause operates, in addition to loss of sight, to bring about the slow rate at which the blind work as compared with the sighted. _6th._ That social ties are even more essential to the blind than to others. OBJECTS TO BE AIMED AT. _1st._ To foster self-reliance, and to enable the blind to help themselves. _2d._ To eradicate the habit of suspicion by promoting friendly intercourse between the blind and the sighted. _3d._ To develop the faculties of the blind in every direction. _4th._ To improve their physical condition. _5th._ In industrial training to endeavour to lessen, as far as possible, the difference in speed in the work between the work of the blind and that of the sighted, while making it the first object to secure good and efficient work. _6th._ To do everything to reduce the dependence of the blind as far as possible, while endeavouring, by Christian instruction, to enable them to accept the unavoidable dependence of their condition in a spirit of humility and thankfulness which will soften and sweeten it to them, and will turn this dependence into one of their greatest blessings, as it will be the means of uniting them more closely to their fellow-creatures. MEANS TOWARDS THESE ENDS. _1st._ Endeavour to enable the blind to earn their own living, and with this view seek out and send children to existing blind schools. _2d._ Promote the establishment of institutions for providing the blind on leaving the schools with regular employment, and for teaching trades to persons ineligible for admission to the schools, which is the case, as a rule, with those above twenty-one years of age. _3d._ When practicable, supply blind persons with regular employment at their own homes, and encourage them to do anything they can on their own account independently of any institution. _4th._ Try to introduce trades hitherto not carried on by the blind, giving the precedence to such as can be practised without sighted aid. _5th._ Cultivate habits of method and precision in the blind, which will all tend to improve the rate at which they work. _6th._ Make the training of efficient blind teachers a special object. _7th._ Encourage residence in the country rather than in towns by giving employment at home, thus cementing family ties and promoting health.