Mb. Alston <m Printing for the Blind. 241 



for Scotland, Edinburgh, in 1832, oflfered their gold medal, value 

 £20, for the best alphabet for the blind. Fifteen different competitors 

 presented themselves. Of these fifteen plans, twelve were composed 

 of arbitrary characters, or symbols, and three were modifications of 

 the Roman character. These alphabets were submitted bj the 

 Society to the diflferent Institutions for their consideration throughout 

 the kingdom, in 1836 ; and it was at that period that my attention 

 was first directed to the subject. We had adopted the alphabet of 

 Mr. Gall, but did not realise the hopes we at first entertained of 

 them. 



It then occurred to me, that the best method proposed, was that of 

 Dr. Fry of London, who recommended a light modification of the 

 capital letter of the Roman alphabet. By communicating with the 

 Society of Arts, I ascertained that neither Dr. Fry (now deceased), 

 nor any other person, had tested his plan by experiment. 



I now set about a series of experiments in Dr. Fry*s letter, which 

 I had cut for the purpose, but found they would not do, being too 

 obtuse ; but I had them modified successively, after putting them 

 to tlie test of the children's fingers, till the whole underwent very 

 material changes, which it is needless here to describe, but may be 

 observed in the adaptation of the sharpness of the letters for hair 

 strokes and other peculiarities suggested to me during a careful 

 observation of the best method of meeting the wants and obviating 

 the difficulties of my blind charges. 



With my experimental knowledge thus acquired, I thought I might 

 venture to recommend Dr. Fry's plan with such changes as had been 

 suggested by these observations, to the Society of Arts, which I 

 accordingly did on the 5th October, 1836 ; and the Society in May, 

 1837, reported in favour of Dr. Fry's alphabet, in preference to any 

 arbitrary character, and most deservedly awarded the medal to his 

 plan. 



On the 26th October, 1836, I brought before the public at the 

 annual examination of the blind, in the Trades' Hall, my first speci- 

 men of printing. By the exertions of the ladies who attended that 

 meeting, and with the assistance from kindred institutions, and a 

 grant from Her Majesty's Government, I was enabled to complete the 

 great task of printing the whole Bible in December, 1840. 



In May, 1837, after I had brought out my elementary books, I 

 resolved to pay a visit to the different institutions. In this I was 

 greatly encouraged by the friendly co-operation of the Rev. William 

 Taylor of York, who had paid great attention to the subject, to whom 

 the Society of Arts had submitted the competing alphabets, and who also 

 reported on this subject to the British Association. I was also under 

 obligations to another gentleman, namely, Charles Baker, Esq., the 

 talented head master of the Doncaster Institution for the Deaf and 

 Dumb, and the writer of the article " Blind," in the Penny Cycle- 



