SKETCH-LECTURES TO THE BLIND. 173 



applauded the lecturer to the echo ; they were most 

 eager with their questions as he was leaving the plat- 

 form. And no doubt they gained almost, if not quite 

 as much, amusement and instruction as if they had 

 possessed the full use of their eyes. 



The other lectures given during the month were at 

 Bristol, Weston-super-Mare (2), Highgate (2), and 

 the Birkbeck Institution ; and these were followed in 

 February by others at Tonbridge Grammar School, 

 Brighton (3, a marine course), Leamington, Harborne, 

 and two of the Upper Norwood Schools. 



March was a busy month, as usual, with seventeen 

 lectures, including two at Uppingham School, one at 

 Marlborough College, and others at Worcester, Totten- 

 ham, Tonbridge Wells, Tonbridge, and Lytham. April 

 brought one engagement only, at Malvern, besides a 

 couple of the occasional Saturday school-lectures at 

 Norwood. May brought seven two at Chislehurst, 

 three at Yarlet Hall, and two at a private school at 

 Earl's Court ; June, six, including three more at Chisle- 

 hurst, two at Earl's Court, and one at Forest School ; 

 and July, three, which brought the season to an end. 

 The total number of lectures given amounted to one 

 hundred and thirteen. 



A great change was to take place in the following 

 season. My father had, several months previously, re- 

 ceived a pressing invitation to cross the Atlantic, and 

 deliver the " Lowell " Lectures for the autumn of 1883, 

 at Boston, Mass., U.S.A. For some time he had hesi- 

 tated ; partly by reason of family ties, partly from the 



