1853.] OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. 295 
should be something very superior, indeed, to induce us to depart 
from the ordinary alphabet, and nothing of that kind has yet come 
to the notice of the Lecturer, although he has examined many sys- 
tems and heard many able advocates of them, but without altering 
his own opinion, which every day’s experience tends to strengthen. 
One great mistake in considering which is the best system for the 
blind is, that the blind themselves are not sufficiently consulted, for 
they are the best judges after all; and in the end, when they have 
had a fair chance, will decide the question better than the seeing can 
for them. 
The Arithmetic boards were also exhibited and explained. They 
consisted of holes into which little pegs were put to represent the 
different figures. One had pentagonal holes, and pegs with a single 
projection at one end to represent the five odd numbers, and two 
projections at the other end to denote the five even numbers. The 
other board had saw-cuts across it so as to divide it into squares of 
about + of an inch each, in the centre of which was a hole of 1 of an 
inch square into which square pegs were put; but as these would 
represent only eight numerals, other pegs were added with differently 
formed ends which served for the other two numerals, and for 
algebra ; into the saw-cuts bits of tin were placed to divide fractions, 
serve as vincula, denote roots, powers, &c. 
When at the Blind School in Berlin, the Lecturer put the fol- 
lowing question in arithmetic to the pupils, which was very soon 
solved mentally. If 10 men can dig a trench 70 yds. long, 3 wide, 
and 2 deep in 36 days of 9 hours each; how many men will it 
require to dig one 60 yds. long, 4 wide, and 5 deep, in 40 days of 10 
hours each ? The Lecturer also worked out the sum with his pencil : 
but the answers did not agree, one being 234 and the other 232. 
One boy contended that he was right, and on going over the work 
again he proved to be correct. Many similar questions were often 
put to the York pupils at their public examinations, and were 
readily answered by means of the board and pegs, even by boys of 
eleven or twelve years old. 
A young man who had learned basketmaking in the York school, 
was also employed by the Mechanics’ Institute to attend there certain 
nights in the week to instruct a class in algebra and geometry, a know- 
ledge of which he had acquired partly in the school, and partly after 
he left. In his trade he employed a blind companion as a journey- 
man to whom he paid from eleven to fourteen shillings a week. 
The Lecturer then explained a simple but ingenious portable 
printing machine by which the blind can communicate with one 
another or with the seeing. He said it was the cleverest, most 
easily learnt, least liable to get out of order, quickest in operation, 
and cheapest he had ever seen. It was invented by Mr. Littledale 
of York. One of its great advantages is that it embosses upwards, so 
that what has been done may be readily examined by the finger 
without moving the paper, and any alphabet may be used in it. 
