Cook iu his second expedition as sailing-master of the "Resolution," and in 1787 was despatched to the Pacific in command of H.M.S. " Bounty," for the purpose of introducing into the West Indies the bread-fruit tree from the South Sea Islands. Bligh sailed, in 1787, from Otaheite, where he had remained about six months ; but, when near the Friendly Islands, a mutiny broke out on board the "Bounty," headed by Fletcher Christian, the master s mate, and Bligh, with eighteen others, was set adrift in the launch. This mutiny, which forms the subject of Byron s Island, did not arise so much from tyranny on the part of Bligh as from attachments contracted between the seamen and the women of Otaheite. After suffering severely from hunger, thirst, and storms, Bligh and his companions landed at Timor in the East Indies, having performed a voyage of about 40UO miles in an open boat. Bligh returned to England in 1790. and he was soon afterwards appointed to the " Providence," in which he effected the purpose of his former appointment by introducing the bread-fruit tree into the West India Islands. He showed great courage at the mutiny of the Nore in 1797, and in the same year took part in the battle of Cainperdowu, where Admiral Duncan defeated the Dutch under De Winter. In 1801 he commanded the Glatton" at the battle of Copenhagen, and received the personal commendations of Nelson. He was subsequently made governor of New South Wales, and vice-admiral of the blue. He died at London in 1817. He was an active, persevering, and courageous officer, although, perhaps,
somewhat exacting in his manner.BLIND. The blind, as a class, are limited to such narrow spheres of action that those unacquainted with the subject fail to realize how large a number of the human race are deprived of sight. In the temperate regions of the globe about 1 iu every 1000 of the population is blind, but in less favourable climates the percentage is much greater. When we consider what medical skill has already accomplished in Europe and America, not only for the relief but the positive prevention of blindness, we may readily conclude that in warmer and less civilized countries the class is more numerous and their condition more deplorable.
We rejoice that much can still be done by proper care and treatment to prevent blindness ; for instance, ophthal mia of infants is a very common cause, and ought not to terminate in loss of sight, which in most cases results from neglect and dirt. Glaucoma is also a fruitful source of blindness, invariably causing loss of sight if left to itself : but, thanks to Professor Grafe s brilliant discovery, these oases are generally curable if operated on early. Another very common cause of blindness is serious injury to one eye, which is thus lost, and if the injured organ be not at once removed, sympathetic inflammation and destruction of the other is very apt to follow, resulting in total blind ness ; whereas, if the injured eye be at once removed tho other is generally preserved.
Loss of sight from small-pox is now comparatively rare, owing to the general practice of vaccination, but much undoubtedly may still be done towards diminishing the frequency of blindness by further advances in the art of treating eye-disease, and especially by spreading among all classes a knowledge of what has already been done in this direction.
It often occurs that children become blind through the most trivial causes by parents consulting unskilful prac titioners. The improvement and increase in the number of well-regulated hospitals now makes it possible for every parent, however poor, to have the best medical advice and attendance.
In ail ages of the world the blind have been the objects of pity and commiseration, yet it has only been within the past century that Christian civilization in its grand onward march has taken them in its embrace, and shed the influ ence of its light upon their midnight darkness. During recent years leading philanthropists have given much earnest thought to the best methods of ameliorating and improving the condition of the blind. Nearly all the European Governments and the States of the American Union have made liberal provision for their education and special training. In Great Britain the work has been left thus far to charitable enterprise. Much, however, has been done, almost every large town having its asylum, workshop, or home teaching society.
The following summary, from A Guide to Institutions and Charities for the Blind, prepared by M. Turner and W. Harris in 1871, will show the state of these institutions at a recent date:—
" In the year 1800 there were only four institutions for the blind in the United Kingdom ; during the next thirty years six others were added to the list ; in the succeeding thirty years seventeen more were opened ; while within the last ten years twenty new ones have been established, making a total now of fifty-three, with out including societies for visiting the blind at their homes, and other charities.
Scotland with five institutions sold, in the last year of which we have any report, goods of the value of 21,930, while England with forty institutions only sold in the same period goods of the value of 33,598 ; and Ireland, only 454.
Scotland provides for, on an average, 76 blind in each institu tion ; while England only provides for 43, and Ireland for 60.
The donations and subscriptions in Scotland for the same year amount to more than 20 per head of the number benefited ; while in England they amount to about 21, and in Ireland to about 16.
So far as returns have reached us, it appears that Mr Moon s system of reading for the blind is adopted by 38 institutions and home-teaching societies, while only 22 use the books of other sys tems Lucas s, 7 ; Roman, 4 ; Alston s, 4 ; Frere s, 3 ; Braille, 4. l_Siuce 1871 the use of Braille has been introduced into many other institutions.]
Of the 30,000 blind in the United Kingdom, there are only about 2250 being instructed or assisted to work. The total amount re ceived per annum for the benefit of the blind, according to the answers received, is about 66,000 ; besides, there are twelve societies from which no return has been made. Of institutions for the blind generally, we may remark that in each institution nearly the same difficulties appear to exist, the principal one being the difficulty of selling the goods manufactured at such prices as will secure a ready sale and cover the cost of production, and consequently in most instances there is a large surplus stock. In cases where the stock is wholly disposed of, our observations lead us to think that sales have been secured by selling at a loss.
The principal trades practised by the blind in the United Kingdom are the making of baskets, brushes, brooms, mattresses, rugs, mats, caning of chairs, with knitting and sewing for women."
Within a few years a great impetus has been given in England to the higher education of the blind, by the for mation of the British and Foreign Blind Association, the establishment of the College for the Blind Sons of Gentle men at Worcester, and the Eoyal Normal College and Academy of Music for the Blind, Upper Norwood.
The first -mentioned association " has been formed for the purpose of promoting the education and employment of the blind, by ascertaining what has been done in these respects in this and other countries, by endeavouring to supply deficiencies where these are found to exist, arid by attempting to bring about greater harmony of action be tween the different existing schools and institutions.
" The founders of the association took as an axiom that in all questions which relate to obtaining impressions by touch the blind are the best judges ; the council of the association therefore consists entirely of gentlemen who are either blind, or so nearly so that they have to use the finger instead of the eye for the purpose of reading.
blind is the great cost of most of the appliances ; this the council have endeavoured to meet by the manufacture of
cheaper and better apparatus than any hitherto in use.