Part 14 (1/2)

On 6th May 1858 she writes in the diary:

Joined for the first ti at the Repository [the association was known by this name] This hat I had often wished to do Saw Mr Dale, asked for his schoolrooave leave

Told hi about the _Ti, and think they are getting on Saw Mr Bourke for the first ti talk with hi out the blind and looking into their condition Saw Levy Esqre [not thedone by Mestre at Lausanne, who is blind, deaf, and du, on the 18th Talked with Levy [ to be introduced before Walker's life-belt iscarpenter as the next trade taught, also about e it

_8th May_--Looked over, corrected, and altered proof of report

Dictated a note to Levy about it Wrote to Mr Cureton, asking if he could lend his church for Dr Thompson to preach in, in July, if not earlier Wrote to Mrs Jones asking about Dr Thorpe's chapel, also to Mr Eyre, asking hiyuinea subscription Entered letters of yesterday and to-day Dictated soreat pleasure to get soives them, as it were, a shape and a body, besides, I can never do what I ithout this, as I should never have the necessary materials Saw Mary Haines Wrote to Miss Repton Read a letter in two systems

This allusion to ”what she wishes” refers to her desire to write a book upon the condition of the blind She had this object before her forstatistics and information from every available source She read the lives of blind men, books written by blind men, took copious notes, or had theer brother, soht out” every stateard to the blind Her book would have been singularly valuable Her sound judg at all sides of a question, would have saved her froh there are 30,000 blind in the United Kingdoht

The book was never written, but her preparation for it made her a storehouse of inforht, not only for the blind, but for all those who are afflicted and suffering

17th May Saw Sir W Reid, heard from him that a brush, with the Repository stalad of this Received from hiht I rong in using and teaching T M L

system I talked to Sir W Reid of the different systems, also asked him for the names of books upon the blind mentioned to hiet St

Michael's, Pimlico, lent

Afternoon--Went to Miss ---- Very little done there for the association Saw Dr Jelf there; heard he would co next day

The list of letters written and embossed and duly recorded in the Journal will be oery of such a work as she was now engaged in Explanations, petitions, acknowledgments, inquiries, information, requests for the loan of pulpits froed, of schoolroos were part of her daily work The sisters tell that Bessie could at this time emboss a letter upon her Foucault frame and dictate two others at the same time; alithout mistake or omission

On the 18th May 1858 the Annual association Meeting was held, and the First Annual Report presented

We learn fro this, the first year of accurate and forement, had been 1784:3:11

Of this, subscriptions and donations amounted to 648 1 2 Balance in hand 25th April 1857 215 9 3 Sale of goods, etc 920 13 6 ----------- 1784 3 11

There was a balance in hand at the end of the year of 118:15:1 The nu the year at the Institution, or in their own homes, was forty-three

The sum required for payes to the blind, amounted to 744:10:4 The annual subscription paid by Bessie was at this time 75, and in addition there is a donation of 10 for broo But the sum that appears in the subscription list is only the smallest part of that which she devoted to the service of the blind Her private charity a and unstinted She had many pensioners in London, and pleasant stories of them abound There was a poor blind woman called Mary H, elderly and very lonely, whose wonderful trust and patience called forth Bessie's ad of Mary's name on the list of recipients of the Queen's Gate Money, she taught her to read, and allowed her ar

One day when she ca lesson Mary said:

”Oh, ht!”

”Well, Mary, as it?”

”Why, miss, I dreamt you were dead”