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It was not till 1879 that Congress appropriated $250,000 for printing books in raised type. The income of this sum is spent in the publication of books which are distributed among the Institutions for the Blind throughout the country.

The following letter outlines the plan for a third visit to Washington.

BOSTON, March 7, 1846.

William Chapin, Esq., Supt. Inst. for the Blind, Columbus, O.

DEAR SIR: -- I have after various inquiries come to the conclusion that it is expedient to make an attempt to obtain from the Congress a grant of land or money for the purpose of obtaining a National Library for the Blind.

I believe there is a reasonable prospect of success in this attempt, if all the Institutions for the blind in the country and all their friends will co-operate.

It is reasonable to hope that Congress will do as much for the whole of the blind of the United States as it did for the deaf-mutes of one State: and we need not ask for more than that.

I propose therefore the following plan. Each of the seven Institutions shall send a select class of five or six pupils to Washington. All the classes to be formed into one: to practise together a few days in order to form a choir and a band, and to have their different parts assigned for an exhibition to be given in the Hall of the House of Representatives. Private exhibitions should also be given; and the feelings of members of Congress should be enlisted by a personal intercourse with the pupils at the boarding houses, and in as many ways as possible.

Each Institution should endeavour to procure the strongest recommendations from home (and from their respective Legislatures if possible) to their Senators and Representatives in favour of the plan. All due preparations having been made, a grant of money should be asked for, say $50,000 or $100,000 which, if obtained, should be appropriated as follows:

The Institutions should furnish a list of books, agreed upon among themselves, to be printed under the direction of the Committee on the Library of the States. An edition of -- copies to be printed; fifty to be sent to the Executive of each State in which there is a school for the blind; and the remainder to be retained at Washington for future disposal.

Such are the outlines of my plan, of which, doubtless, many modifications would be suggested afterwards.

For myself, I make no stipulations whatsoever: I am willing to perform my part, even the humblest. One of the dearest objects that remains to me in life is the final accomplishment of the plan upon which I have so long laboured, -- the creation of a Library for the blind; and I shall hail it with pleasure, by whatever honourable means and through whatsoever agency it may be brought about. I ask one thing, however, most earnestly: that no apprehension of failure may discourage us from the attempt at Washington. I once gave an exhibition there, under favourable circumstances, and such was its effect that I am confident that if I could have followed it up, and especially if I could have had the cooperation of other Institutions, I could have obtained a grant, even then. Some Members of Congress who had frankly told me they could not consistently vote for a grant from the National Treasury, came up after the exhibition, with tears in their eyes, and declared their readiness to vote for anything which would give light and happiness to the blind.

The greatest difficulties are not in Washington, but in the preparation, in the cooperation, in the submission of all individual feeling and all local interest or prejudice to the one grand object, the creation of a National Library for the blind. Let this be overcome and we will carry Congress by such an appeal to the hearts of the members as will cause them to forget that they are politicians.

Will you do me the favour to lay this communication before the proper authorities of your Institution, and to give it all the countenance and support that you can? If the plan finds favour, I should like to know immediately whether your deputation could be in Washington by the first of May, because, although I am fearful that we cannot make the attempt this session, still it is possible that we may; and these are good reasons for immediate action.

I am with great respect Very truly yours, S. G. HOWE.

Another important part of my father's work almost from the first was visiting other States, with the object of rousing interest in the blind and promoting efforts in their behalf. Sometimes alone, sometimes with two or three of his pupils, he went north, south or west, wherever the need might be; appeared before the. Legislature of the State, told his story, showed his proofs, made his plea, and departed.

"The world would thank the service done, He cannot stay for gold or praise."

But in most, if not all cases, the visit was followed by the founding of a State school for the blind.

"I went over the United States," he says briefly, "addressing seventeen Legislatures in order to induce them to provide for the education of the blind."