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In 1841 he writes to Mr. A. Penniman, (5) superintendent of the School for Blind, of Columbus, Ohio:

"I believe it will be found in every case where more than one child in a family is born blind or becomes so by disease, that there has been blindness or strong tendency to it in the immediate or remote predecessors.

"It is amazing however to witness the ignorance of people on this subject, and the obstinate self-delusion of others. Not long ago a blind child was brought to me by his father and mother. I asked the usual question, whether there had been any blindness in the family, and both parents exclaimed lifting up both their hands in marvel, 'Oh, no! never!' 'But,' said I, 'has there been no imperfection of vision, no partial blindness?' -- 'Oh, no! mercy no!' said the mother, who squinted most horribly all the time; and 'Oh, no!' said the father, who opened his single eye in wide amazement at the question.

"My object is to get at the truth, which is always valuable, and I would not spare any pains or expense to come at it. It will not do, however, to conclude because the children or parents say they are ignorant of any cases of blindness in their families, that therefore there are none, because often they will think of cases among their cousins, aunts or uncles, upon their being pushed with questions, which otherwise would not occur to them."

In 1841, writing to the secretary of the American Bible Society, he says:

"I have often applications from this country and from the old world for the Old Testament. Sometimes they are from persons who having had both our books and those of Glasgow, prefer to send here to get ours. I have this moment an earnest request from a lady in Holland for the Old Testament, for she had read the New in our print.

"Many of the applications are attended by circumstances truly touching. One blind old English soldier in Hindustan had learned to read some sheets of ours, on which was the Lord's Prayer in large print, and sent out for the Testament. He found however that the print was too small for his hard fingers to decipher, and that while he had his hands upon the holy word, the light could not reach his mind. But he was not to be daunted. He put blisters upon his fingers, and found the new skin which formed was more sensitive. He renewed the blisters, and soon was enabled to read easily."

In writing to a young man whom he has just engaged as a teacher, he says:

"I need not impress upon you the importance of considering that the labour you would undertake would be one of love: that you could not do the duties unless you so considered it; and that unless your heart were in the work, your head and your hands could do but little. I have tried the head and hand system enough: I must henceforth have more aid from the hearts of my collaborateurs (to use a French word) or must give up myself."

The following letter relates to printing:

BOSTON, APRIL 8, 1845.

Hamilton Murray, New York.

MY DEAR SIR: -- I am indebted to you for your communication of the 6th instant.

Your Board has acted wisely and well by resolving to undertake printing for the blind and I trust they will carry out the resolution with efficient and persevering action. I must confess however that I was a little disappointed by the communication of your Corresponding Secretary dated April 5th. . . . For my own part I should not hesitate to order at least ten copies and probably twenty of any useful book of moderate cost, for aid to the publication of which this Institution might be called upon to subscribe. Such a book certainly is the work on Natural Philosophy which I purpose to publish by subscription. It is a book the like of which your Institution will certainly need; and to print one hundred copies will cost you at least $500. As there can be no sale, except to Institutions (and perhaps a dozen blind persons in the country who are in easy circumstances), I looked round to the friends of the cause to take copies at what would be the actual cost, -- if five hundred copies were sold, but of which not one hundred will be sold, -- and your Institution comes forward and subscribes for one copy at $2.

... As for the Cyclopaedia, I did not expect any Institution would take more than two or three copies. However, I have carried almost the whole weight of the printing for the blind in this country on my own shoulders heretofore, and though I may stagger under the Natural Philosophy and the twenty volumes of the Cyclopaedia, I shall make a desperate effort to carry them through to completion, though I shall have to beg very hard. Moreover I am determined that my own pupils shall have the advantage of access to every book that may be printed in raised characters anywhere; and I hereby authorize you to send me ten copies of any books which you may print, at the ordinary prices, or an equal quantity of printed matter in books from our press to be selected by you; provided always that you do not reprint anything which has already been printed in raised characters. I limit the order to a year solely because I do not wish to tie up my successor if death or other cause should remove me from my post.