what is not, Richardson-Gardner never wastes the time of the House of Commons by needlessly catching the Speaker's eye. But given any question, either of National or of local interest to his constituency, both his voice and his vote may be depended upon. As we were informed by an enthusiastic Berkshire yeoman, "Mr. Richardson-Gardner had little time to waste on 'desert-theories.' When he was wanted the Royal Borough was well represented at Westminster."

Referring to the social and philanthropic work of Colonel Richardson-Gardner we may here state that in the year 1854, he married Marie-Louise, only child and heiress of the late Henry Gardner, Esq. (whose name he adopted). Mr. Gardner died in 1879, and by his will, after leaving a considerable fortune to the subject of this memoir and his daughter, Mrs. Richardson-Gardner, he bequeathed three sums of £10,000 each to three different blind institutions in the metropolis, and also a further sum of £300,000 to be administered by trustees (of whom Mrs. RichardsonGardner is one) for the benefit of the blind in England and Wales. The following is the extract from the will of Henry Gardner, dated 15th May, 1877, which refers to the £300,000.

"And to retain and set apart the further legacy or sum of £300,000 sterling-free of legacy duty to be held upon the trusts hereinafter declared.

"And with respect to the said legacy of £300,000, I declare that it is my intention that such legacy and the income thereof (after payment of all necessary expenses of management) shall be applied for the benefit of blind persons in England and Wales in the manner hereinafter mentioned. And in order to carry out that intention I direct my trustees to invest such legacy, and to execute and do all such acts, and things, as shall be necessary for vesting the same, and the securities in which the same shall be invested in the Committee hereinafter named, or in any three or more of the members thereof upon trust for the Committee aforesaid."

"And I declare that the members of the Committee for the time being, who are hereinafter referred to as 'The Committee,' shall stand possessed of the property so to be transferred, to or upon trust for them as aforesaid, and the income thereof, for the purpose of benefiting blind persons in England and Wales, by all, or any of the means hereinafter mentioned (that is to say), by instructing poor blind

persons residing in England or Wales in suitable trades, handicrafts, and professions, especially in the profession of music, by providing pensions for poor and deserving blind persons residing as aforesaid, who may be incapable of earning their livelihood, and generally in such other manner as the said Committee shall from time to time think best."

Prior to the death of this eminent philanthropist he informed both his daughter and Colonel Richardson-Gardner of what he proposed doing by his will, and asked them whether they would feel satisfied at their fortune being reduced by the amount mentioned; in other words whether they objected at his so dealing with such a vast proportion of his property. They at once acquiesced in the testator's intentions; and, moreover, gave a sacred promise that all should be done to carry out both the spirit and the letter of his wishes. The legacy duty alone was £32,000. Since that date the Richardson-Gardners have travelled throughout the length and breadth of Europe, visiting France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and other places, for the purpose of witnessing the working and management of the different Continental institutes. With a similar object they have visited all the institutions in England. Feeling, however, that such a vast trust could scarcely be left in the hands of a body of private trustees with their differing ideas of what would be the best way of administration, the Court of Chancery was applied to for directions. It has, in consequence, since issued a scheme for the guidance of the trustees, which will now shortly be carried into execution. The High Court's scheme is that the interest on the money shall be practically divided into three parts. One part is to be appropriated for the promotion of the musical education of the blind; a second is for teaching them trades and handicrafts; and the third and remaining part is to be given as pensions to the indigent blind. Had Mr. Richardson-Gardner had the matter left exclusively in his hands the whole principal would have been invested for one purpose, namely, the furthering of their musical educationin consideration of the fact that almost all the blind institutions in England are organised especially for industrial purposes, such as the making of mats, baskets, &c., and that there are scores of highly intelligent and talented blind children to whom a superior education-especially in music -would be a solace in their affliction, calculated to elevate their minds, both temporally and spiritually, and affording

them the best means honourably and effectually to earn their own livelihood. He, therefore, proposed founding The Gardner Musical Institute for the Blind." Regarding the proportion set apart for the relief of the indigent blind, Mr. Richardson-Gardner thinks that it practically takes effect in removing the burden of so doing from the guardians, and numbers of the indigent blind will now be maintained out of the "Gardner Fund" who have hitherto been the recipients of Local Charity under Local Supervision, thus unhappily releasing LOCAL VOLUNTARY efforts-and as a natural sequence absolutely doing no good to the blind themselves, but simply relieving the pockets of those who have hitherto taken an interest in them-whereas it would be a far greater boon to those so sadly afflicted if the money were appropriated in developing the well-known musical faculties of the youthful blind.

Devoting themselves to the furtherance of the interests of the blind, as so solemnly promised to Mr. Gardner, during the travels of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson-Gardner in Europe, they found two institutions which had attained great celebrity for education, and more particularly for music. The first was "L'Institution Nationale des Jeunes Avengles" at Paris; and the other, "The Institute for the Blind at Milan." These are the two leading establishments for the education of the blind in Europe. For the purpose of giving an impetus to the blind institutions of our own country, the Richardson-Gardners obtained the permission of the Ministre de l'Interieur et des Cultes to bring over to London (at their own expense) eighty blind pupils from "L'Institution Nationale des Jeunes Avengles" (previously referred to), and ten blind professors, in order to give concerts, and ten sighted servants.

The great concert of the season was given at St. James' Hall when Mr. and Mrs. Richardson-Gardner received 1,200 guests and 400 blind people from different London institutions. They were honoured by the presence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the King of the Hellenes. It was universally admitted by the vast number who were present, as well as by the Press, that it was hardly credible that the blind could have attained such proficiency, and both the Prince and Princess of Wales said (to use their exact words) that "it was really and truly wonderful." On the return home of the French visitors, M. Constans, Minister of the Interior, wrote an autograph letter to Mr.

The

Richardson-Gardner expressing his obligations. difficulty and responsibility of carrying out this wish may be perhaps realised when we state that prior to the French pupils being entrusted to the subject of our sketch and his wife the consent had to be got of (1) the Minister; of (2) the blind-professors; and of (3) the pupils themselves (individually). One would have supposed that here the matter would have ended; but, the consent of each parent of each child had also to be obtained. Had it not been that Colonel Richardson-Gardner was a well-known public man besides being a Member of Parliament, of course the French Minister would not have entertained the scheme in the first instance, but this fact, coupled with his being so intimately associated with the Gardner bequests inspired him with confidence, and the interesting visitors were allowed to cross the channel. It was on the distinct understanding, however, that they should be under the personal charge of the Richardson-Gardners during the whole time of their sojourn.

In 1881, Mr. and Mrs. Richardson-Gardner visited Milan expressly for the purpose of gaining the consent of the Syndicate of Milan for a similar visit of the blind pupils of the Milanese Institute to the metropolis. This was specially granted to them, when some twenty blind violinists visited London. They gave seances musicales at the residence of Colonel and Mrs. Richardson-Gardner in Grosvenor Square; at Windsor; at the Normal College for the Blind at Norwood; and at the School for the Blind at St. John's Wood, thus practically disseminating the knowledge of what the blind can do. Mr. Richardson-Gardner is an enthusiast on the subject, and no more fitting trustee (for that is practically what he is) could have been found for such a bequest as that of Henry Gardner. On the 13th ult. the annual prize festival of the Royal Normal College for the Blind at Norwood took place, His Grace the Duke of Westminster, K.G., being in the chair. Among the numerous company present were the Duke of Grafton, the Earl of Cavan, the Marchioness of Ormonde, the Right Hon. H. Fawcett, M.P. (Postmaster General), Sir Peter Coats, Mr. RichardsonGardner, M.P., and Mrs. Richardson-Gardner, Mr. James A. Campbell, M.P., Mr. Sydney Buxton, Mr. F. D. Mocatta, Major C. C. Fitz Roy (hon. secretary), Captain Ramsay and Mr. J. M. Cook. The pupils (girls and boys) sang a madrigal by John Benet, underwent a brief examination in

geography, anatomy, and French, and gave proof of the admirable physical training they receive in the way of drill and gymnastics; after which one of the girls sang very sweetly the serenade "Tirée de Ruy Blas."

The Postmaster-General delivered the annual address. He said it was very necessary in considering the best way of benefiting the blind to remember that some were born blind, while others lost their sight later on in life. There were thus two distinct problems set before them, viz., how to train and educate the young, and how to enable adults who had lost their sight to spend the remainder of their days in comfort and happiness. One of the greatest services that could possibly be rendered to the young blind was to render them independent and self-reliant, and providing them with means of earning their own living to enable them to get through life without having recourse to charity. With regard to the college, there was yet much work for it to do, and it required substantial support. The noble bequest by the father of Mrs. Richardson-Gardner had enabled them to do a great deal, but it required to be supplemented, in order that they might adequately carry out the educating and training of the young, and the providing for the comforts of adults. He wished there was more organisation in the form of local committees, not merely for obtaining subscriptions, but for rendering personal help and comfort to the blind; and he felt sure that anyone with an hour to spare, could not employ it with greater advantage than by reading to, or walking with, or otherwise entertaining a person who, although deprived of sight, was yet capable of receiving a great amount of enjoyment. The school prizes were then distributed by Mrs. Richardson-Gardner, and a glee having been sung, the Marchioness of Ormonde (daughter of the Duke of Westminster) presented several diplomas and certificates. A vote of thanks to the Duke of Westminster, the Postmaster-General, and Mrs. Richardson-Gardner, was proposed by Mr. J. A. Campbell, M.P., seconded by Mr. W. Shean, and carried with acclamation. Professor Fawcett briefly responded for the Duke and himself, and Mr. Richardson-Gardner, M.P., in a genial, hearty, and characteristic speech, returned thanks for his wife.

We cannot dwell further on the details of the work accomplished by the Richardson-Gardners-not only for those so sadly afflicted with the loss of sight, but almost in