TRANSACTIONS OP THE SECTIONS. 167 



bitants, or 4 per cent ; but this apparently large proportion of commit- 

 tals is equalled in London, where in 1836 every 1 in 24; of the inha- 

 bitants, or 4*09 per cent were committed. 



Statistical Notices of the Asylum for the Blind lately established at 

 Newcastle-upon-Tyne. By Rev. J. M'Alister. 



Some tables were presented to the meeting, showing the relative 

 proportion of the blind and seeing in a particular district of the town, 

 from which it appeared that the proportion of blind was greater than in 

 any of the late continental returns. 



The author of the paper stated, that the great number of wandering 

 blind which frequented some parts of the suburbs, had induced a few 

 benevolent individuals, during the last year, to direct their attention to 

 some means for improving the condition of tiiis neglected portion of 

 the population. An asylum had been opened for a small number of 

 blind at first, to test the various modes of instruction. A. competent 

 master and matron having been appointed, the inmates were soon en- 

 gaged in learning various branches of manufacture suitable to their 

 capacities. After the trial of different alphabets, they were now taught 

 to I'ead in books from the press of Mr. Alston of Glasgow, the alphabet 

 employed being the raised Roman character. This system was on 

 many accounts considered preferable to an arbitrary system of typo- 

 graphy. 



In the course of his attention to the internal economy of institutions, 

 the author has found, that although it is very practicable to teach those 

 born blind to read, yet it is a truly difficult task to teach them to think 

 accurately. In every passage where a visible image is introduced to 

 them, the meaning is more or less vitiated ; and the integrity of the 

 intellect, by indulging a habit of receiving what it cannot understand, 

 is sadly endangered, unless a careful and peculiar mental culture ac- 

 company all literary instruction. 



On the State of Agriculture and the Condition of the AricuUural La- 

 bourers of the Northern Division of Northumberland. By Mr. Hind- 

 marsh. 



In this paper the author gave an interesting account of the mode of 

 employing labourers, in the north of Northumberland, by the system 

 of bondagers, who are employed by the hinds, and the hinds are them- 

 selves in the employment of the farmers. 



(See Statistical Journal, Nov. 1838.) 



Dr. Taylor read a paper, communieated by Saxe Bannester, Esq., 

 on the population of New Zealand. It described the state and condition 

 of the natives, the white residents, the white visitors, and the mixed 



