Wo1.] 
ftru€ting them in fuch employments as 
might be eafily exercifed by perfons in their 
unfortunate fituation. ‘The experiment 
was at firft tried upon a fmall fcale 3 and, 
notwithftanding the difficulties which muft 
always attend a new project, and fome 
embarraffments of a purely accidental 
nature, the practicability of’ the fcheme 
was amply dtmonitrated. ‘The infant in- 
ftitution, which, until this period, had 
been fupported principally by the exer- 
tions of a few individuals, now attracted 
more general notice; a liberal fubfcription 
was raifed, and a large portion. of time 
and attention was devoted to perfeét the 
arrangement of its internal economy. As 
the number of pupils increafed, it was 
found neceflary to provide them with more 
{pacious apartments ; and accordingly an 
elegant and commodious building was 
erected, which was opened in March,1800. 
The inftitution, is conducted by a com- 
mittee, chofen from among the fub{cribers, 
and coniifting of a prefident, vice- prefident, 
treafurer, two auditors, four vifitors, and 
twenty-four other gentlemen. The com- 
mittee meet once a month, for the purpofe 
of tranfaéting general bufinefs ; whilft the 
internal management of the houfe devolves 
upon the vifitors, each of whom takes a 
peculiar department under lis more imme- 
diate dire&tion. A part of the building 
is fitted up for the refidence of the governor 
and matron, whofe provinee it is to fuper- 
intend the domeftic concerns, to attend 
upon the fhop, and infpeét the conduct of 
the pupils, The objects which the conduc- 
tors of the School for the Blind propofe to 
themfelves are, not only to zford to thofe 
unfortunate perfons, who are labouring 
under the complicated evils of poverty 
and blindnefs, an afylum where they may 
have their minds cheared by fociety, and 
the wearifomenefs of their fituation re- 
lieved by employment, but the {till more 
important end of inftruéting them in fome 
occupation by which they may be enabled 
to procure an honeft livelihood from the 
exertions of their own induftry. The fe- 
lection of thofe employments which are the 
beft adapted for promoting this purpofe, 
is an object on which the fuccefs of fuchan 
inftitution muft materially depend. ft is 
requifite that the employments beas mecha- 
nical as pofhidle, at the {ame time, that it 
be not incumbered with complicated and 
expenfive machinery ; that the materials 
be cheap, and eafily procured; and that 
the goods manufactured have a quick and 
regular fale.. Thetrade which appears to 
unite thele advantages in the greatet de. 
ochool for the Blind at Liverpool. 
( 
\ 
gree is bafket-making: befides this, the ma- 
nufaéturing of hemp mats from old ropes; 
the weaving coarfe floor-cloths,and plaiting 
lines for-curtains, windows, &c. are found 
to be ufeful and productive branches of 
the eftablifliment. Moft of the females are 
engaged folely in {pinning ; fome of them 
have, however, lately begun bafket-making 
with fuccefs, and the committee hope that 
they fhall be able to procure for the re- 
mainder fome occupation which may be 
both more profitable, and more conducive 
to health, than their prefent {edentary em- 
ployment. Mufic is an art which will na- 
turally fuggeft itfelf as particularly ap. 
propriate to the blind; the pupils there- 
fore, who manifeft any peculiar tafte for it, 
receive infirtiétion upon the harpfichord or 
organ. Onaccount, however, of the great 
difficulty which the committee have expe- 
rienced in procuring fituations for thofe 
pupils who have been inftruéted folely in 
mufic, it has been found neceffary to make 
a regulation, by which, excepting in pecu- 
liar circumftances, no {fcholar can be ad- 
mitted as a mufical pupil, who does not. 
alfo learn bafket-making, or fome other of 
the manual trades which are taught in the 
{chool. 
In order to prevent the admiffion of per- 
fons, whofe characters or fituation in life 
might render them improper objects of 
fuch an inftitution, a number of queries 
are printed which the committee require to 
be anfwered in writing, before any pupil 
can be admitted. The building which is 
now erected confifts of working-rooms, 
apartments for the governor’s family, anda 
fhop for the fale of the goods; but the com- 
mittee propole at a future and, it is hoped, 
not diftant period, to add a range of 
rooms in which the pupils may be lodged 
and boarded. At prefent, they are pro- 
vided with accommodations in the neigh= 
bourhood, and receive an allowance from 
the inftitution, which is confidered as fufa 
ficient to provide them with the neceffary 
comforts of life. As a partial compenfa- 
tion for this allowance, it is required, that, ~ 
previoufly to admiffion, the friends of the 
applicant, or, in cafe of their inability, 
the parith to which he belongs, engage to 
pay two fhillings per week towards hig 
fupport’; in addition to which the goods 
manufaétured by the pupil become the pros 
perty of the eftablifhment.’ The income 
of the charity may therefore be confi- 
dered as arifing from three fources. ft, 
From annual {ubfcriptions and benefac- 
tions; 2d. from the weekly allowances 
made by the friends or parifhes ef the pu- 
i er Pee 
Y 295 p 
ne ee Le 
