'Tki

HXPCSITER

PIG

of

KNOWLEDGE

PROPERTY OF TH

"

\^%i^

11/.

TPIE

EXPOSITOROR

MANY MYSTERIES UNRAVELLED.

DELINEATED
in a Series of Letters, between a Frrend and his Correfpondent.

COMPRISING

THE LE^ARNED pig,invisible LADY ANI>

temple,-PHILOSOPHICAL ACOUSTIC SWAN,PENETRATING SPY GLASSES^ OPTICAL AND MAGNETIC,

Various other Curiofities on fimilar Principles

;:

ALSO,

A few

of the mofl wonderful Feats as performed by the Art of Legerdemain :

WITH
Spina ;Re|!edtions on Ventriloquifm.

B:y

WLLLIAM.S'REDp.RidK* fl^OtimCK^

*wwn*

w-mame^^pASsa^^^^ss&s

Bofton

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR,

1803.

Dtfiria of MaJfaehufdtSi to wit.

BE

that on the fixteenth day of Jy.nthe twenty-ninth year of the Independence of the United .States of i\merica, William Frederick Pinchbeck, of the faid Dii1ri(5i, hath depofited in this office the title of a Book, the right wheieof he claims as Author, in the words following, to ivitj ^'*The Espofitor, or Many Myfteries Unravelled. Delineated in a feries of Letters, between a Friend and his Correfpondent. Comprifing the Invifible Lady and Acouftic Temple, .Learned Pig, Philofophical Penetrating Spy Glaffes, optical and magnetic, and various Sv/an^ oth.er Curiofities on fimiiar Principles Alfo, a few of the moft 'ftonderful Feats as performed by the Art of Legerdemain With feme Refleftions on Ventriloquiim. By Frederick William
tjary, in

IT

REMEMBERER,

PiNCEBECK."
In Conformity to the A<fc of the Congrcfs of the United States, " An Adt for the Encouragement of Learning, by fecuring tlie Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of fuch Copies, during the Times therein mentioned ;" and aifo to an A61, entitled, " An A&. fupplementary to an Ad, entitled, An A<51 for the Eneouragement of Learning, by fecuring the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of fuch Copies, during the Times therein mentioned ; and extending the Benefits thereof to the Arts of Defigning, Engraving, and Etching,
entitled,

Hiftorical

and other Prints."

N.

GOODALE,
of Record.

Clerk of the DiJhiSi of Majfaihufeitu

:

A true

Copy

Atteft

N. GooDALE, CUrk*

%o
1

tije

|^tttjlic

HE
-to

intention

of

this

work was

not only to amufe

and

inJiruB^ but alfo to

convincefuperjlition of her tnany ridiculous

errors^

fhew

the difadvantages arifing

to fociety

from a vague as well as irra-tional belief of man s intimacy with familiar

fpirits^

of fupernatural agency in any produ5tion of man and

to oppofe the idea

how dangerous fuch a belief is to fociety^ how defruBive to the improvejnent "n capacity and how totally ru-of the l
Iq/ily^
^

inous to i^e

common
to

interefls

of mankijid.

To

eJfeB this defign^ as well as thoroughly

and pleafingly

expound

thofe once-thought'
it

myjleries the book contains^

has ever ap^

to.

peared ta me no form was fo adequate

the purpofe as aferies

of

letters^.

As a
merits.^

writer y I pretend

to

no pai^ticular

nor can I clothe myfentiments in the

luxuriant robes of a difinguifhedfancy ^ but

only in unvarnifdcd na'rrative unfold dexterities

(merely
^

the e^e5ls

of human

in--

gcfiuityj
2

genulty) which have fo long qftonifhed the world.

The fiats of which thefe letters give aii account^ are faBs^ and the dejinition of them implicitly corredl ; and on this the Author has founded the value of his book.

what is given by the inventor of fome^ and who has had ocular demonfra-^
Surely

of the other feats^ compri/ing the contents of thefe foeets^ mujl admit of fomt
tion

certainty

and I

pofitively
to

affirm^
is

that

whatever I profefs
honefly^

defne

done with

and

as accurately as praiice
'^.

experience has determined to be

and On
of

this principle y the efimation anu. fuccefs

the

work

is

fubmitted

to

the candor of a

liberal

and

enlightened public^
their

By As

humble Servant^

The
Kj"

AUTHOR,

the public curiofity

at the fupprejjion

of the whence my friend wrote his

may be excited dates and places

the concealment

fay that

thefe

of his name^ I would only omijjions were confdered as

work.

letters^

as alfo

uneffcntial to the

INDEX.
1.

Method
to IX.
to

of teaching the

Pigfrom

Letter

See alfo

Letter V. Appendix.

2.

Principles of the Acouftic

Templefrom Letter IX.

II.

XIV.

See alfo Letter

Appendix.

3.

A Demonftration of
ter

the philofophical

Swan
a

Letis

XV. how

4.

Demonftration of the Manner

Gun

to be difcharged at

a Perfon previoufly loaded

with Powder and Ball, the Perfon catching the

Ball on the Point of a
alfo Letter II.

Dagger

Letter XV.

See

5.

A
A

Appendix. Demonftration how a Card fattened to a Table with a Fork changes Its fituation^ Letter XVII.
Demonftration how Knives and Forks are fwal-

6.

lowed
7.

ditto.

Demonftration of the Manner of breaking a Watch and reftoring it to its former State ditto.

8.

A Demonftration

how Eggs

are transformed into

Pan-Cakes Letter XVIII.

9.

How Dollars apparently fmk through a Tableditto.

on Ventriloquifm

10. Reflecftions

ditto.

11. Abilities neceffary to a

Performer of the Art

of

Legerdemain
12.

;Letter XX.

Further Opinions on Ventriloquifm Letter XXII.

13.

How

to take

a Number of Eggs from a Bag apthe

parently
14.

empty

How to

make

of Clubs, and

'vice

Letter XXIV. Ace of Hearts

verfa
ditto.

become the Ace

15.

How


15.

How
How

to

burn a Card to Afhes, and

reftore

former State
16.

it

to

its-

ditto.

to light a

Candle with the Point of a Sword

ditto.

17.

How How

to transfer.

Money from one Handkerchief

to

another ditto.
18.
to fire a Lady's Ring from a Gun in fuch a Manner, that the fame fhall Be found confined under Lock and Key, one of the Company tak-

ing the
19.

How to
the

Key Letter XXV. make a Handkerchief belonging to one of Company follow the Exhibitor out of the

20.
21.

22.

XXIX. do. XXIX. Penetrating optical do. XXIX. do. Phyfiognotrace, s Obfervations. on the Situation of an AuthorLet?
ter

an Egg Magnetic optical Spy-GlafsLetter

RoomLetter XXVHL How to convey a Card into

ditto.

IV. Appendix.

33. Reflexions

on the dangerous Tendency of Super--

flitionLetter V. Appendix..

EXP OS

T O

R.

LETTER
From A, B.
Sir,
to

I.

W.

F.

P.

Xn
fition

my
;

lafl

I informed

but, thank
:

my indifpoProvidence, I am now peryou of

of

fedly recovered
air

The journey and change

has no doubt facilitated that recovery.

I

Wherever
the

flop

on

my

tour,

am

fure to

hear of the fame of your celebrated Pig, and

many different opinions prevailing relative mode of his tuition, makes him a fubjedt of general fpeculation. Some contend it is
to the

witchcraft

and

others,

like

the

ancient

Pythagoreans, believing in the tranfmigration

of

fouls,

conclude- that the

fpirit

of

the

grunting philofopher might once have ani-

mated a man.

An

.|o

THE EXPOSITOR.
An
evening or two fince, flopping at an

inn, your Pig being the topic of converfation,

I

could not but

liften

to a grave old gentle-

man^ who, putting on

like look, declared his

a very aiFed:ed, fage-

performances were the

;

effeds of the Black Art

to be burnt,

that the Pig

as

ought
he had

and the

Man banifhed,
!

no doubt but you

with the devil.

familiarly correfponded

monflrous

will

time and

experience never remove fuch credulity from

the earth
?

Muft ingenuity, the parent of

.manufactories, the progreiEVe pillar to wif-

dom and

the arts, whofe fummit fupports a

mirror where fuperlLition

may

fee

her

own

gorgon image, be thus broken and overturned by the rude hands of ignorance and
pride
?

We

rejoice that

we

live in

an en-

lightened part of the world, where liberty

extends her choicelt bleffings> and where the

Prefiding Magiftrate
is

philofopher,

and

under

his
J

patronage.

men

of talents dare to

be fuch
the

and

thefe abfurd opinions are but

folly.

dogmas of devotees and

This-

THE EXPOSITOR.

ii

This grave old gentleman^ had you and he

been refidents in Spain, would have fummon-

ed you before the

Inquifition.

Your

efforts

in demonftrating to the world, that the

moft

ftupid and ftubborn of

all

animals,

by patience

and perfeverance, might be made the moft

learned and docile, would no doubt have coft

you your

life.

As
either

very well
all

defining
to

fu^h matters to
inftruQiion

know your me

liberality in

as

may

tend

my

or amufement, a
this

Iketch of the

method by which

animal

could be taught to perform fuch wonders

will

very

much

edify and oblige

Your

(incere friend,

A. B.

i?i

THE EXPOSiTORr

LETTER
[In anfwer.J

II.

W.RP.ioA.B.
Sir,

IT
that

gives

me

inexpreflible pleafure to hear

you

have fo fpeedily returned to the

flate

enjoyment of your ufual

of

health*

You requeft

information relative to the teach-

ing of animals.

As

have ever confidered

it

an incumbent duty

to

withhold nothing from

my

friend, that

may

tend to his information,

;

the refolving of your queflion becomes an

additional pleafure.

Thofe who

ftyle

them-

felves friends, fhould regard

nothing as an

exclufive privilege, that might tend either to

the inftrudion or happinefs of each other.

But

alas

lation

how univerfally is the facred appelof Friend proftituted Amongft man!

!

kind they currently palm the term upon each I have known thofe who ftyle themother.
felves friends,

and have been well experienced

in the art of fhaking hands, whofe fouls never

knew

the focial

tie,

or

felt

the foft effufions

of

THE EXPOSITOR.
of a benevolent heart
fliould
;

i^

on the contrary,
to fee

as foon expect

an automaton

fhed tears from the violent emotion of an

adamantine heart,
his

at the fatal

deftrudion of

fellow automaton, as to fee fuch

men,

willingly,

and from no motive whatever but

with a fingle five

abfolute humanity, part

dollar
bill,

to relieve the diflrelTes of a

man,

whom juft before they flyled friend, and from whom perhaps they had received unbounded
favours.

However, leaving

this digreffion, I

haflen to comply with your requeft.

as
it

And,

refpeds the Pig of Knowledge, you fhall

be

fully acquainted

with the myftery, which

I fhall

exhibit in Leflbns.

Lesson

i.

Take

a Pig, feven or eight weeks old, let

free accefs to the inferior part of
fhall

him have

your houfe, until he

meafure domefticated.

become

in

fome

When

familiar,

you

may
to

enter

upon

his in{lrulion.

Take him

an apartment for the purpofe of teaching,

fequeftered

from any interruption, and three

B
times

14

THE EXPOSITOR.
him
as follows
it
:

times a day inflrut

Put a

card into his mouth, and hold

fhut, giving
it

him
you
will

to underftand

he
it

is

not to drop

until

pleafe to take

from him.

At

firft,

he

throw

it

from

his

mouth every moment,

him

which you

mud

immediately pick up and

in a loud tone of

replace, reprimanding
voice.

In a fhort time, he will underftand

are difpleafed, and confequently will

when you

hold the fame patiently.

You muft
is

give

him

a fmall piece of white bread, or a piece of an

apple, &c. whatever he

moft fond

of.

Be

very obferving not to

fufFer
is

any perfon to feed

a food the moft

him but

yourfelf.

Swill

natural and healthy you can give him.

You

need not ftarve the Pig,

fented by a

as has

been repre;

number of

perfons

for that

would make him

fel

fo eager to obtain the

mor-

you give him by way of encouragement, that in his natural cravings for food, he would
not be willing to hold the card a moment that neither muft you violently beat him, as

would confound

his

inftind,

and make him

afraid

THE
would do with
ing learnt
card, he
is

E3CP0SIT0R.

15

afraid to perforin that,

eafe,

which otherwife he
fear.

and without
fland
flill,

Hav-

him

to

and hold the

mailer of the

firft

Leflbn.

A gentleman has jufl

hafte for a pair

called

on me

in great
I

of looking-glaffes, which

have promifed to deliver in a time which will

demand every
ftrudion.

attention.

In

my

next

will

relate the fecond LelTon neceffary for

his in-

And

while

clap

my hand

to

my
my-

heart, I feel
felf

no inconvenience

in ftyling

Your

fincere friend,

And

very humble fervant,

W.

F.P.

LETTER
A.^.
Sir,
to

III.

W.F.F.

WHILE
my

exprefs

my
I

fincere

thanks at

your manifefting the pleafure you receive on

reftoratian to health,

congratulate you
in

26

THE EXPOSITOR.
hope no event in the

in the enjoyment of that ineftimable bleffing,

which
will

womb

of fate

be fulfered to impair.
as I read

Soon

your friendly

letter, I felt
;

very zealous to become a fchool-mafter

and,

anxious to convince

my

acquaintances of the

faculty I poiTeffed, I have undertaken to teach

a Pig.
your's,
I

Immediately

upon the
little

receipt
:

of

purchafed a nice

Shoat

have

taught him to hold a card, and believe he will

prove a very apt fcholar, though a very noify

one:

He

fqueals

and makes fuch a

terrible
I

outcry, that ftrangers pafling by fuppofe

feverely chaftifing

am

him

when

all I

did,

was

holding him, and infilling on his taking the

card.

am
;

anxious for information

taik

how

to proI

ceed

and although the

myfelfl
all

be arduous,

flatter

Ihall

be able to prove to the

is

world that
regular

the witchcraft neceflary

method of which you was the

project-

or, fupported

by patience and perfeverance.

I

need

THE EXPOSITOR.
I

17

need not importune other neceflary direc-

tions
fail

by return of pod

for as the pupil

mud
flyle

without the in(lru6:ion of the preceptor,

I

fo

mufl

without your affiitance

who

Hiyfelf,

without blufhing,

Your

fincere friend

A. B,

LETTER
[In anfwer.]

IV.

W.
Sir,

F. P. to

A, By

UPON
me,
for I

the perufal of your letter, forgive

was obliged

to fmile at

your

late

novel

undertaking, and the earneil delire you feem

to exprefs for
its

fuccefs

fay, fmile ;

but,

my

friend,

not that fmile of envy and conit

tempt, which, while

expands the mufcles

of the face, contradls the heart with felf-conceit

and malice

fuch grimaces

abhor

they

are the fmiles of ignorance, and want almoft

invariably the capacity they ridicule,

B2

But

i8

THE EXPOSITOR.
But rather than
fill

up

my
I

letter in

anfwer

to

what your obfervation has remarked and

proceed to the

your good fenfe defpifed,

fecond LelTon, relative to the inftrution of

your four-footed fcholar.

Lesson
If

2.

you have taught him

to hold the card,

as defcribed in
floor,

my

laft,

you may

lay it
;

on the
then
it

with one corner bent upwards

forcing his
in his

head down to the card, put

it

mouth, and hold

up with the
it
;

card,
re-

not fuifering him to drop

peatedly.
for his

and

fo

Do

not forget to encourage

;

him
will

good performances

and when he

pick the card off the floor without your

affifl-

apce he

is

mafter of the fecond LeiTon.

ihould have told you at this time to accuflom

him
ing.

to your fnuffing the nofe, for purpofes

that will appear as he progrelTes in his learn

Lesson

3.

You

mufl now lay down three cards.

He
moft
is

will naturally try to take the

one

the.

convenient for him

and your bufmefs

to

check

THE EXPOSITOR.
check him, not fnufEng your nofe
taking
it
;

19

and,

from him

in

an angry tone of
to take

voice, replace the fame,

and force him

the one next to him, or the third, fnuffing

your nofe.

By

perfevering in this

manner a

few days, he

will foon

underfland he muft

not take hold, until you give him the fignal,

which

is

breathing from your nofe.

learnt

When

you have

him
;

this,

you may continue

increafmg the cards

and that animal, who

in his rude flate appears the mofl ftupid, with

the leaft

fhare

of tradability amongft

all

other
docile,

quadrupeds, will

be

found fapient,

and gentle,
refpeft,

am, with ufual

'

and unfeigned

lincerity of heart,

Your

well-wifher.

And

very humble fervant,

W,

F. P.

20

THE EXPOSITOR.

LETTER
From A. B.
Sir,
to

V.

W.

P.

YOUR*s

came
I

fafe

to hand.

Early the

next morning
LeiTon, which

proceeded to give the fecond

found him very unwilling to

I

perform

and

confefs,

that

had not the

in

information come
veracity
I

from

man,

whofe

could confide, and whofe patience

and pradice had been the means of perfeding

jfix, I

fhould have given up the bufmefs, con-

cluding this was not the method, and that

there was another

more

practicable.

From
fail

fuch fufpicions the brightefl geniufes

in
;

many

of their moft valuable undertakings

and thus from want of patience and

verance
fail

perfe-

of the termination of a defign,

whofe accomplifhment might infure themfelves profit

and refped, and prove a benefit

at large.

to the

community
j

Hov;ever,
I

perfe-

vered

and

it

is

with fatisfadion

inform
you,

THE EXPOSITOR.
you, he will
three cards
I

21

now

pick and fetch either of the

choofe.

In concluding this Letter,

get to mention to you
cards
to
fix.
I

would not

for-

intend to increafe the

In

the

mean
his

while, further

information relative to
greatly oblige,

inilrudion will

and ever meet acknowledg-

ment, from

Your fmcere

friend.

And

very humble fervantj

A. B.

LETTER
[In anfwer.3

VI.

W.
Sir,
I

F.

P. ta A, B.

THINK
I

your fcholar makes afloniihing

almoft feel afraid of your workfatiguing
yourfelf.

progrefs.

ing

him too hard, and

At

this period

you ought not

:

to exceed three
the;

LefTons in a day

You muft remember

play,

old adage,

"All work and no

makes
Jack

22

THE EXPOSITOR.
Should you, in your anxa proficient, give

Jack a dull boy.**

iety to

make him become

him too many

means proceed

LelTons a day, and by thefe

fafter

than inftind has faculty

tired

to retain he will

become

and confufed
laft

and, in endeavouring to learn the

Leflbn,
firfl
;

he may entirely or in part forget the

Such a miilake would be no

ftrulor.

credit to the in-

As he has made

fo

good progrefs,

would

not urge the bulinefs too rapidly.

Do

not enlarge the number

of cards oftener than

well acquainted

once a day

and

let

him be

with the object of your intention, before you

take the ftep
Leffon.
I

am

about to advife in the next

Lesson

4.
floor, in
j

Spread twelve cards on the

lar

a circu-

direction, four inches apart

within this

circle

keep the Pig, and ftand yourfelf.

We
mud
ob-

wilMuppofe you before an AiTembly

purpofe of an exhibition
;

for the

therefore

you

give up fitting, as that poflure

would be very

fmguiar as well

as

impolite.

The Pig

ferving

THE EXPOSITOR.
ferving

23

you

in this unufual pofition, will

;

be

much

embarraffed

and not knowing the

meaning, wiH feek

to

amufe himfelf by run-

ning in every diredion about the room.

are not to beat

You

him

into

the knowledge of
to
it,

your defign, but coax him

If this will

if poffible.

not keep him by your

fide, tie

firing about his neck,

and when he would ex-

ceed the bounds of the circle, check him^

ufing a foft or loud tone of voice as occafion

may
At

require

for every brute has inftinO:

to

decide betwixt approbation and difpleafure.

the length of the ftring, he will learn to
circle

walk the

with his nofe to the

fignal before

card.s

and when he hears the

ed,
will
:

mentionthen be
will

fnatch at the card he

fiiall

oppofite

Immediately

ftep back,

and he

follow

with the fame.

Give him a fmali

piece of bread as his reward, and

by your
right

approbation
for

let

him know he has done

one mifunderflanding

at this critical

junc-

ture will
trouble.

be a great fource of unneceffary

He

will

foon readily run for the

cards.

24
cards,

THE EXPOSITOR.
making many miftakes, which you muft
he takes the wrong card,

have the patience to endure and correct with

good nature.
place
It

If

re^

immediately, and fhew him the one

you wanted.
and
five

Much
may
neck

is

to be

done by

railing

falling the tone of the voice.

In four or

days you

venture to take the re;

ftraint

from

his

and whenever he exon.

ceeds his limits, put

this

it

By pradifmg

in

manner, he

will

foon perfectly under-

{land his bufmefs.

In my' next
hints,
wiflies,
title

will

give you a few

more

which

will

no doubt complete your

will

and your pupil

foon merit the

of the Pig of Knowledge.

I

am,

in reality,

what men

call

a Friend,
F. P.

W.
p. s.

You

muft not exped him to underftand

lefs

this

Lellbn in

than a fortnight.

THE EXPOSITOR.
L E
From
Sir,

25

XT
A. B.

E-R
to

VII.
F. P.

W.

THE
a

fortnight has expired,

I

and the Pig

is

completed.

have already exhibited him to

perfons,

number of

men

of ingenuity and
I

talents, in

whofe judgment

can confide

:_

They

are aftonifhed

beyond

defcription.

None

can account for the

poffeiTes,

knowledge he apparently

or difcover the fecret communica-

tion betwixt myfelf

and the Pig.

I

In fad,

amongfl the learned,

am

thought a

man

of

talents, whilft others lefs

informed accufe
as a
?

me

of the Black Art, and

ard.
I

condemn me

wizShall

Shall

remonftrate with bigots

patiently

fit

down, and earneftly

?

detail to

them the caufe

They would not

to the

believe me.

No

leave

them

enjoyment of their

different refledions,

and for

my
to

fecurity

and

reward look
probation
is

to

men

of knov/iedge, whofe ap-

more congenial

my

feelings

than the unbounded eclat of a barren multitude.

With

every fentiment of refped,

I

am, &c.

A. B.

26

THE EXPOSITOR.

LETTER
[In anfwer to the

VIIL
laft.]

From W.
Sir,

P.

to

J, B.

YOU inform me that your Pig

and
that
his
I

is

complete,

performances have aftonilhed

confefs
I

numbers.

am

aftonifhed myfelf

at his fo early completion.

covery taken place

fecret

has no difHath none deteded the

And

communication by which he is actuated ? What will you conclude, when I inform you that even that communication is unneceffary
?

You may
is

rehnquifh

it

by degrees

for

the animal
to read

fo fagacious, that

he will appear

The pofition you meaning any fiipulated place, or certain geflure, but what will naturally arife from your anxiety, will determine the
your thoughts.
fland in, not

card to your pupil.

will only add, that I

at

have been
ance of
this

as

much amazed

the perforai-

animal, as the fpedators before

whom
ent,

exhibited him.

Of

all

other quadru-

peds, the Pig in

my opinion is the moft fapi-rthough writers on Natural Hiftory fay to''

Pope has bequeathed
this

the contrary, giving preference to the Ele-

phant.

animal
half

THE EXPOSITOR.
half the reafon of
this

27

euloglum,
this
I

man How am not able

:

far

he merits
determine
;

to

but of

am

convuiced, that the race of

of indind thaa

Swine claim
I

a greater fliare

belongs to the

Dog

or the Horfe.

am, w^th the greateft refped. Yours fmcerely,

W.
N. B.
fee

F. P.

For further obfervations on the Appendix, Letter V.

this fubjectj

LETTER
From A. B.
Sir,
to

IX.
F. P.

W.

AFTER perufing your letter feveral times, and attentively confidering its contents, I have with cafe and obfervation taken the (teps you advifed.
I

find the Pig really the animal

I

you

defcrib-

ed him.

have entirely omitted the fignal

;

IJ^vhich he was^ taught

ing nature,
readily conceives

and his penetratomiffion,

I

notwithflanding this

my'meaning.
?

How am

to
al-

account for this miracle

What you

have

ready

28

THE EXPOSITOR.

ready exprefled upon the fubjed I fliall not attempt to elucidate, but perfedly acquiefce with you in the eilimation of his abilities.

But the Pig no longer excites admiration. There is a certain Philofophical Machine lately arrived

from France, which engroiTes uni-

verfal attention.

The admittance
cents
it.
j

to vifit this

curiofity

is fifty

and people throng in

Proprietors
Acoitftk

crouds to view

The

name

it

The and
this

Inviftbk
as
I

Lady
it

and

Temple;

think

a fubjed worthy your at-

tention, fhali attempt to give a defcription of

wonder.

In the middle of a
centre of this

room

Is

feen a railing in
:

the form of an odagon, painted red

is

In the

fufpended a fquare chefl,

whofe circumference contains about twentyfour inches

:

Apparently ifolated on
globe,
filvered,

this, is
:

dome
fmall

fupported by four fmall columns

glafs

ornaments and
this

caps the extreme convexity of

dome.

From

each corner of
:

this

cheft proceeds a

trumpet

To

the concavity of either of thefe

a queflion,

you may put

and a rational anw

fwer, in an effeminate tone of voice, will be

immediately returned.
Aflonifhed,

THE EXPOSITOR.
Aftonifhed,
the walls,
I

29

placed

my

ear to the floor, to

to the ceiling
I

and even clambered

to difcover the agent to

anfv/ers
:

whom
but

attributed the

liftened,

diflinguifhed

no

found.

Is it poffible

that the

mod
No,

ingenious

of mankind could contrive a machine capable

of giving rational anfwers

vinced to the contrary
:

am

con-

Neither has the profpirit.

prietor any <:onnexion with a familiar

But on what
unriddle.

principle thefe opaques are enais

bled to difcourfe,

the myftery

wiih

you to

The Lady
which
I

faculty of feeing,

not only difcourfes, but has the frnging and breathing 5 alf
Prefenting a

proved to be true.
value,

piece of filver to the ball, the

Lady

directly

by informing the company the gentleman might pocket his fourits

determined

pence-half- penay.

the agent fo difpofed, that he has the opportunity to fee as

is

Pray, Sir, explain where

well as to hear, yet not to be feen by any of

the

company, and heard from the

I

cheii:

only.
lefs

The more
I

ponder on

this

fubjed, the

am

enabled to explain the wonder.

able to trace c 2
its

You,
cies.

Sir,

may be

hidden dependen-

JO
cles,

THE EXPOSITOR.
and penetrate
I
its

myfterious princi-

ple.

am

fenfible of

your knowledge, both

mechanic and a philofopher. And your Writing Automaton, Magician, Speaking Figas a

ure,

Penetrating Spy-Glafs,, Tumbling and

Vaulting Figures^ the refult of your affiduous

labours, have been the greateft ornaments to

the Wafhington

Mufeum.

And now,
myfterious
edify

dear Sir, your expofition of this

will

Temple

very

much

profit,

and greatly amufe one in whom you one that will ; never recede a ftep from a man, whofe fincere friendfliip and unwearied efforts to oblige has

may

place entire confidence

been the making

of.

Yours, kc.

A. B.

L E T T E R

X.

[In anfwer to Letter IX.]

From W.
Sir,

F. P.

to

A. B.

THE
ceipt of

Temple of which you fpeak

is

no

longer a myftery to

me

have feen the fame,

chief ftudy

and heard

its

refponfes, previous to the re-

your ninth.

My

is

how
to

THE EXPOSITOR.
to
ere^Tt

31

one on the bed principles

for the

Proprietor of the

Wafhington Mufeum.

The

propofals to obtain fo great an acquifition,

you may
of
that
I

readily conceive ought to be very

advantageous to myfelf.

The proportions
truly
to
flattering
;

gentleman
have

are

and
write

undertaken

in the courfe of a fortnight.

complete one You need not

me

in the interim,

unlefs

fomething
have made

particular

Ihould happen.

As

no agreement with him relative to a concealment of the fecret, my next will contain a general view of the plan ; and that it may
prove beneficial to you,
is

the fmcere wilh of

friend, &c.

Your

W. F.R

LETTER
From W. F. P.
to

XL
A. B.

[Explaining the Principles of the Acouftic Temple.]

Sir,

THE
is

Invifible

now added
I

to the

Lady and Acouftic Temple Wafhington Mufeum,

as

and, as

underftand, anfwers the moft fan\

guine expeftations of the proprietor

men
of

THE EXPOSITOR.
who have
vifited

of talents,
arrived

the one lately

from France, give

this decidedly the

preference.

is

The eftecl of this Acouillc^s performance much greater, and more pleafmg than the
Figures, of which there
fo

common Speaking
are two.

This Acouftic

much

efleemed,

and v/hofe performances have aflonifhed all Europe, refponds by the afTiftance of tubes
through which the founds are conveyed. To fimplify this The form of the railing, you no doubt recoiled, has been mentioned as
:

being

octagonal,

containing

eight

polls,

connected by bars from pod to pod: (See

Plate, Fig.
cally
i

.)

Four of

thefe

pods diametri-

oppofite each other are excavated, as

alfo their four

conneding bars

vated pods contain tin

Thefe excatubes, running to the

: :

middle of their refpedive conneding bars

The

tubes in the bars communicate the found,

fide

on that

of the bar next the Temple, by

an incidon made in the tube.

Have

fpecial

care that the ends of thefe tubes be clofed,

and the
incifion,

fide

of the bar

at

the incifionin the

tube cut wafer thin, about the bignefs of the

and there perforated

a needle.

full

of fmall

holes

made with

At

the bottom of

the

THE EXPOSITOR.

S3

the four excavated pods are four tin elbows, conneded with the tubes in the pofts ; to
thefe

add a length of pipes continued to a to prevent the Agent's fufficient diftance

natural voice being heard by the

company

making diredions of the four tubes, between the floor and ceiling, by the help of elbows Here is a to where the agent is concealed pipes four which the into tconcavity of tin enter, made in the form of a common tin tunnel, its outward circumference about two
:

feet

From

this

concave the Agent receives

the queflion put to the Temple, and returns

the anfwer by fpeaking in the fame.

This
four

prepared, fufpend the

folid pofts,

Temple

to the

with the four trumpets towards

the four mouths of the tubes in the perforat-

ed bars.

Then

a queftion put to

either

of

thefe. trumpets will appear as

proceeding from
the ex-

the cheft of the Temple, and will be diftindlly

underftood by the perfon fecreted

tremity of thefe tubes.
at the orifice

at

He

putting his ear

of the concave to which the four

tubes join, and

by fpeaking

in the fame, the

anfwer
cheft.

will

appear as proceeding from the

Yoii

34

THE EXPOSITOR.
You may
afk

why we

are not able to hear

the words as they proceed from the tubes in

ttie rails, as

well as
?

when
anfwer,
to

they proceed from

the
will

trumpets

Air

comprelTed
j

convey founds
this
is

an unlimited diftance

and

nothing more than a continued

;

comprefiion

for the

found proceeding from

is

the incifion in the tube

imm.ediately col-

leded in the concavity of the trumpet, and

being thus compreiTed cannot be heard, until

by

virtue of this concavity

air.
"

it

is

refle6led to

the open

The fmging and breathing

felt

are heard and

through the fame medium.

next will explain the optical deception

My

relative to this

Lady.

Your

friend, &c.

V/. F. P.

LETTER
From A. B.
Sir,
to

XIL

JV.

P.

>
couched in terms
fo

THE
ing the

information your's contains rdpediIn^'ifible is

eafy

and

THE EXPOSITOR.
and
diftind:,

35

that

am

encouraged to under-

take the conilrudion of one myfelf.

To

you, Sir,

candidly confels the

many
grate-

favours' received, and acknowledge the great

benefits refuiting

therefrom

and

my

ful heart will ever rejoice at

the opportunity

of proving to

my

friend, that a

man

has been

found with a fpark of gratitude.

Yours with

fincerity,

A. B.

LETTER
JV, F.

XIII.

P.

to

A. B,

Sir,

YOU
of thofe

inform

me you
I

intend ereding one

Invifibles.

advife

you
it

to

be very

induflrious, and
curioiity for

aim

at

fmifhing

before the

viewing the Acouflic declines.

Nothing fliali be wanting on my part to forward the principles on which it is confirud-ed \ and nothing but the diflance which deftiny has
tual

thrown betv/een us prevents my acin ereding the fame. However, your intrepid energy will no doubt
affirtance

render that alliftance unneceifary.

The

36

THE EXPOSITOR.
The
faculty of the Lady's apparently feeing
that no\v remains

is all
it is

unexplained.

This
;

that evades the refearches of philofophy

is

for whiift the fight

confidei^ed as the facul-

ty of the fame object

from whence proceeds

it

a voice fo loud and diflind:,

elude

all

pofitive

decifion.

has and will For inftance

:

Suppofe the perfon,

that the fight

who

afks

and

refolves the

queftions, was difpofed in fuch a

manner

as

might be made pradicable

to

him,
his
this

his nearnefs to the

AlTembly would caufe

natural

voice to be heard.
therefore,

To
is

perfect

deception,
;

two perfons are

prefent-

neceffary

the one to fee whatever

ed to the globe on the top of the

dome

of the
pur-

Temple, the other

pofe,
tv^o

to inform.

For

this

Girandoles with lattice-work are

placed in the Exhibition

Room

oppofite each

other

or Tranfparent Paintings will anfwer

:

the fame purpofe

Thefe Girandoles or Paint-

ings are confidered by the

as

Company merely
thefe there
is

ornaments.

Behind one of

a fmall aperture, through

the partition to an

adjoining room, where the perfon appointed

to fee whatever
his flation.
is

prefented to the ball takes

is

His bufmefs
of what

to

communicate,
is

in a whifper, to the perfon

who

to

inform
or

the

Company

is

prefented to the ball,

THE EXPOSITOR.
the top of the dome.

37

or inc^nprehenfible mirror, fo termed, oh

To

effedfc this,

there

is

a pipe for the purpofe of conveying this in-

formation leading from the apartment of the

fpe^lator to the perfon clofeted for fpeaking,

finging, &c.

who, when aiked what

is

held to

the ball, claps an ear to the communicating

pipe.

The one behind

Then

the Girandole whifto

pers, a Gold Ring,

or whatever happens

be held.

the Invifible anfwers, a Gold

Ring, to the aftonifhment of the Company.

Thus
I fhall

is

the foregoing myftery unriddled

it

and fhould
value
is

prove any benefit to you. Sir,

gift,

always blefs nature for that

whofe

enhanced by putting

it

in

my power

to ferve

my

friend.

Believe

me

to

be

Yours, &c,

W.F.P.

LETTER
From A. B.
Sir,
I
to

XIV.

W.

p.

RECEIVED
:

your friendly
at

letter in

due
that

feafon

It

happened

the

moment when

38

THE EXPOSITOR.

Temple which conveys the founds was juft completed. I was ruminat,ing whether fome alteration requifite to acthat part of the

complifh the fight v/ould not be neceifary,

and expected that would be the

laft

refult of your

Letter.
;

On

perufal

found to the confight in the

trary

and by adding the

it is

manele-

ner you defcribed,

finifhed,

and for

gance as well

as

myftery equals any thing,

of the kind ever exhibited.

Accept
reiling

my

acknowledgments

for this fa-

vour, amongft numberlefs others equally inte;

and be aifured that though

it is

have

been
this

feveral

times taken for the inventor of

a greature pleafure to

machine J

me

to point out the real Projector, than take the

merit to myfelf.

More wonders!

Tea^ tnore wonders

! 1

A
the

Gentleman has

lately arrived here

by

name oi Ranie : performed by the Art of Legerdemain. The eafe and dexterity with which he manages his bufmefs, and the pleafmg manner he has of
His wonderful feats are

accompHfhing

his defigns,
fkilful

is

not

lefs to

be ad-

mired than the

imitable Brifloe.

performances of the inift.

He

THE
lift.

F.XPOSITOR.
artificial

5f

Swan, about the fize of an humming-bird, which he places in a bafon of water, on the brim of Any w4iich bafon is depided a pack of cards Lady or Gentleman may draw a card from a
will

He

produce an

pack,

and

the

little

inanimate will

make
to a

known

the card drawn, by

fwimming

fimilar card

on the rim of the bafon.

fufFers a

2d.

'

He

gun

to

be difcharged

at

himj previoully loaded with powder and

ball,

and catches the

niagnetifm*

on the point of a dagger ; declaring that he does it by the power of

ball

Any Gentleman may pin a card to a with a fork, and Mr. R. will caufe the table
3d.
calrd fo

faftened to change place with various

cards of the pack, without releafmg the fame,

from

its

confinement.

4th.
5th.

He
He

fwallows knives and

forks..

breaks a Gentleman's watch (previoully put into a bag) or fuifers it to be

broken, and afterwards reflores

it

to

its

for-

mer

flate.

6th.

He

breaks any number of eggs into

a hat, and by ftirring'them with his metempf^choJUcal

40

THE EXPOSITOR.
them
to pan-cakes,
fire,

fychoftkal Jiick^ transforms

without the aid of

fullied.

leaving the hat un-

7th.
plate,

He

places a

number of

dollars

on a

one on the other, which he covers with

a card, the plate he places on a table, and putting his hand under the table, they fall
into
it,

apparently finking through the plate

and table, and becoming a ball, and in this manner returning to the plate, and fo alternately.

He has alfo the gift of

Ventriloquifm,

which he performs with

great effedt.

much judgment an4

Thefe, together with a number of deceptions

of the like nature, render his exhibitions

only marvellous but amufmg.
If

not^

you fhould fee Mr. R* perform, you would be as highly gratified as he who ftyles himfelf A. B. Your friend, ^c.

LETTER
From W.
Sir,
F. P. to

XV.
A. B.

IT

gives

me
is

great pleafure to hear that

your Acouftic

found equal to your expectations.

fy
tions.

THE EXPOSITOR.
All that
is

'

41

now wanting

is

the patron^

age of the Public : This may or may not be the reward of jour, great expenfe and labour*

have feen and converfed with Mr. R. The feats he performs fully equal your deand as you feem very much furfcription prized, and appear to be unacquainted with
I
;

the Art of Legerdemain, I will detail to

you

how

fuch deceptions are performed..

in

The Philofophical Swan.- The bafon. which the Swan is exhibited mud be made of tin, with a rim projedling two or three
id.
:

inches beyond the circumference

This rim^

(the cards being painted thereon) muft have

two

rabbits

underneath,

forming a frame,
it,

capable of receiving a brafs hoop within

made

to
:

turn perfedly eafy in

its

refpeclive

rabbits

To

this

hoop

dove-tail a

magnet,

with the attracting point

inwards.

To

this

magnet

fix a brafs pin, projecting

over the face

of the frame underneath, fa that you

eafily turn the

may

magnetto
require..

that part of the ba-

ion occailon

may

The

choice of the

card being made, turn the hoop, by the help

of the projeding pin, with your

linger,
lar

thumb or

which muft fhift the magnet to a fmiione painted on the rim. To avail your-

felf

41
felf

THE EXPOSITOR.
of a feafonable opportunity, expoftulate
great curiofity

on the
hibit
;

you

are about to

ex-

you are diverting the attention of the company, fliift The Swan being placed on the the magnet. water, whofe body may be cork, and whofe bill mufl be fteel, will immediately fwim to the point of attralion, which the Exhibitor
at ,this

and

inflant, while

has thus contrived to be under the card contemplated.

2d.

How

to

catch a Ball dif charged

Gun

en the point of a Dagger,

Let
:

fram a

there be a

fmall femicircuiaT iron tube, about three inches in length, firmly fecured

on the

infide the

barrel next to the j^ouch-hole

This tube you

mufl charge witb a fmall quantity of powder At this previous to the performance : breech have a door to turn fimilar to the covering of a key-hole This door mufl be faw:

ed out of the breech, and fhut with a fpring

Through

this

aperture, opening the door,

there mufl be free accefs for the ball to that

part of the flock oppofite the lock.

The brafs

ornament, through which the fcrews pafs to

fecure the lock, mufl be detached from the
fcrews, and open and fhut with a fpring.

Let
ball
;

the Audience

examine and mark the

any

THE EXPOSITOR.

%3

any one may put the fame into the barrel'^ the Performer holding the gun in fuch a portion as to favour the defcent of the ball to

the breech.
fure of
its

Then

with your ram-rod

make

pafTmg the tube, fecretly opening

it

the door in the breech to give

into the ilock.

free paiTage
I

Bot

tell

need you to ram in a piece of paper under

This done,
all is fecure.

pretence of fecuring the ball.

the b^ll from the ilock which
into your hand,

Now

taking

will readily fall

by

fecretly

opening the brafs

ornament,

retire in order to fetch the dagger.

Your dagger mufl alfo be prepared for the bufmefs The blade mufl have two points The handle muil be hsJf the exadly fimllar
:

length of the blade

On

the one point fix

ball being prefTed
is

your
into

ball,

which point and

handle,

the

the other half

forced

through the handle, being hollow, both ends of which (to carry on the deception) are

Then you retire to the one end of the room, and the gentleman who difcharges the gun to the other. It is well enough to hold the candle in one hand, under pretence of feeing the ball, as the bottom
exaftly fimilar.

of the candleflick
flrike the

is

a convenient

place

tc^

dagger againft, in order to force

is

that

end from the handle which

already

furnifhed

44

THE EXPOSITOR.
;

furnlfhed with the ball

turning your hand

towards the gun the inftant of the report. Then, with an air of felf-approbation, fhew
the ball on the dagger.
after lliewlng,
It
it

is

well enough,

to take
table,

from the point and

throw
they

it

on the

telHng the
;

Company
then retire

may

look for their mark

taking the

gun and dagger

to prevent further

examination.

The
fifth

explanation of the third, fourth and

fubjei5i:s

Deceptions, will be the

Till

of

my

next.

when, with cordial efteem, Yours, &c.

W.

F. P.

LETTER
Fmn
Sir,

XVI.

A. B.

to

W,

P,.

receipt of yours gave me great pleaand contained as ufual much philofophkal information the knowledge of which am continually fearching after, and which
lure,
; I'

THE

has become

my

chief iludy.

The
is

difinterefl-

ed friendfhip which on every occafion you ap-

pear to have imbibed for me,

a circumflance

peculiar

THE EXPOSITOR.
peculiar only to

45

good men.

It is

a happlnefs

to reflei: that nature beftowed a genius, and blended in the fame compofition thofe gene*

rous feelings that

ornament her work, and

ftamp the man.

I

am, with due fentiments of efteem. Yours, kc, A. B.

LETTER
Frm
Sir,
I

XVII.
to

W' Fy P.

A. B.

AM afraid you
me.

have undertaken to
intimates

flat-

ter

Your

letter

more

in

my

praife than

any inflances of
Flattery
is

my
all

Kfe admit of
delufions the

recollecting.

of

moft detrimental to the human underflanding

;

it

retards that

improvement which

is

be made by the moft meritorious of mankind, by implanting in the breaft fentiments of pride and felf-fufEciency ; poifons
ever to
the

mental

faculties

and many valuable

its

perfons have fallen ridiculous vi6lims to

fafcinating

power

therefore the perfon

who
;

ufes flattery

with a bad intention, not meanis

ing as he fpeaks,

a dangerous

companion

but

46

THE EXPOSITOR.
who
is
I

but he
another

ingenuoufly gives due credit to

a well-wiilier, and a candid

man

fuch

am

convinced

is

my

friend

do not

accufe you of fueh infinuations, but confider

niy condu6l as approved, and the overplus of

praife to

be merely the
friendly heart.
to

overflovi^ings

of a

warm and

According
Deceptions.
3d.
table

my

promife,

I will

now

profifth

ceed to explain the third, fourth and

changes

The manner Idow a Card fajlened its ftt nation, Let any of

to

the.

Company
fort,

choofe a card from a

number you
all

prefent them.

Be
:

careful they are

of onq

remembering
fuitable

that fpotted cards are the

for inftance, fuppofmg, the

mod

As

cards prefented be the five of hearts, requefl

the perfon

who draws from

:

thefe to return

the card drawn to you

Inflantly fubftitute

another, which you

mud have handily in

is

your

pocket, with falfe fpots^ refembling

hearts,

and which

in reality

only the

five

of clubs*

Then

take a pack of cards, and, giving

them

to the perfon

who drew
look for the

the five of hearts,,

five

requeft

him

to

of clubs which

mufl not be
a.

in the pack.

You

then fhew

him
you^

card which refembles the

five

of clubs on

THE EXPOSITOR.
your fork, but which in
hearts.
reality
is

47
the five of

Now

requefl the gentleman to perfive

mit you to replace the fubitituted

hearts,

of

which in
pack

reality is the

five

of clubs,

fecretly Ihifting off the falfe fpots as

it

he receives

into the
five

confequently he has inftead

five

of the
to

of hearts the

of clubs, and you

on your fork in place of the five of hearts, as

appearance, have the five of clubs, the
fpots of

which muft be

fliifted as

may feem

to

you moil convenient to deceive the Company. Recoiled that the face of the card pinned to the table mufl be downwards, as will naturally
be the cafe
after

you have fhewn

it.

4th. The manner how he /wallows knives and forks. Produce a knife and fork for the

examination of the Company,' fecured to the handle ; and after they have examined and
returned the fame to you, under fome pre-

may retire, and return with another knife and fork appearing like the former, but
tence you

conftruaed

as follows

The handles mufl be

made of a
and
tines,

fufficient

length to admit the blades, then prefTing the blade or tine a-

g^nfl your teeth with your right hand before your lips it will appear to go into your mouth when it is only returning to the handle.

This

)i0

THE EXPOSITOR.
fleeve,

This done, convey your handle to your

bofom, or pocket, as may be moft convenient, and it will feetti as though you aflually fwallowed the fame, making grimaces and geftures fuitable for fwallowing and digefling
fuch delicate food.
5 th.

The manner

ho'W he breaks a

Watch

and re/iores it to its former Jiate% The bag mufl be made in the form of a pillow-cafe, with both ends entirely clofed, one end of

which being entered into the other, renders it a bag and double ; then from its being fo formed, he may feemingly turn the infide outward, yet the real infide remain undifcovered.

In this aperture there

is

flit,

leading

to a pocket fituated near the middle of the bag in this pocket a watch is already difpofed,
-,

for the purpofe of being broken.

to favour

He

then

him with a requefts the Company watch, under pretence of breaking it. Thus
accommodated, he
fecretly pjaces
it

in the

pocket above mentioned, and removes the one before depofited, letting it fall to the bottom

'

of the bag within the real infide fo inflantaneoufly that it appears as though it were, the borrowed watch. He then takes the bag, and
placing the watch

intended to be broken at

one

t'HE EXPOSITOR.
cne corner,
in
fuffers the

49
to break this

Company

any manner they pleafe, whilft the watch borrowed one remains fafe in the pocket in the centre of the bag. Succeeding thus far,
he then turns the bag infide out, and
the
fliews

Company

there are
;

watch to be found
his

no pieces of the broken and at this time clapping

hand into the pocket mentioned, turns the borrowed watch into the feeming bag, whihl; the pieces of the broken watch remain unobferved between the infide and outfide the bag.

The

fixth

and feventh Deceptions, with

my

opinion

concerning Ventriloquifm, will be

fubjeds for

my

next

till

when.
Yours, &c.

W.

F. P,

LETTER
[On
Fro;ji

XVIIL

the fubjecl of the laft Letter.]

W.

P.

to

A. B.

Sir,

IN my
fourth and

laft I

explained to you the th>d,

fifth

Deceptions, with a promife to

explain the fixth and feventh, and give

you

my

so

THE EXPOSITOR.
my
next.
I

my^opinion on Ventriloquifm in

now

proceed, agreeably to

my

promife.

6th.

How

Eggs are transformed mto Fanthe

^^to.Take
preferring the

to transform, and diveft

fliell

number of eggs you mean them of their yolks,

as entire as poffible
;

then

make

as

many

fmall pan-cakes.
:

Thefe pre-

pared, proceed as follows

to transform fix,

Admit you mean

prefent nine to the

Com-

pany,

fix

of thefe divelled of their yolks, and

After borrowing t^o hats,

three unblown.

requeft fome perfon to hold one of thefe hats

upon his head with the bowl upwards, into which you mufl break the empty eggs, making
it

appear as though they were real ones.

eafily flipped in

The

pan-cakes mentioned at the time of bor-

rowing one of thefe hats are

gether in a fmall compafs.

to the hat, as previoully they are wrapped to^

With
it

the other

hat cover this, the two rims touching each

other.

Then
it

fhaking the hats,

will

appear

were the yolks of the eggs that as were fnaking, when at the fame time it is only
though
the pan-cakes.

After fhaking, feparate them

;

wath your meiempfychojiical Jlick

the

three

eggs with their yolks remaining by you untouched, in order that if any of the Company
fhould

THE EXPOSITOR.
fhould willi to examine the eggs, you

51

may

have found ones to prefent them.

7th.

How

Dollars apparently fink through a

Plate and Table^ change into a Ball^ and re-

and folder them well together, then excavate them, leaving the bottom dollar ; this turned upwards has the
furn.
fix dollars

Take

appearance of fix
place thefe
;

folid
:

dollars.

Keep

this

concealed at prefent
lars
;

Then produce
plate,

fix dol-

on a

one on the top

ta-

of the other
ble,

then place the plate on the

keeping the excavated dollars ready to

in

take the place of the real ones, having a fmall

ball

the excavation.

Now

addrefs

the

Company on
letting

the importance of your feat, at

the fame time taking up the real dollars, and

them drop one by one on

the

the plate.

When
on

Company

are fuiiiciently fatisfied as

to the reality of the dollars

the plate, place

which you drop the dollars on each other.

excavated dollars under

Now, having your

your right fleeve, take the real ones, chinking them in your right hand, dexteroufly throw

them

into the left, at the

fame

inflant Hiding

your excavated dollars, with the ball in the fame, from under your fleeve into your hand,
placing
it

on the

plate

on the

table,

bottom

upwards^

52

THE EXPOSITOR.

upwards, with a ball under the fame. Then produce a ball fimilar to that under the feeming dollars on the table, ihew it to the Company, obferving to them, this ball which
I

now

hold under the table (at the fame time

I

putting your hand underneath the table)

will caufe to take the place of the dollars

on
In

the table, whilft the dollars at the fame time

ftiall

fmk into my hand through

this,

the table.

order to do

fown together

in the

have a card with the edges form of a tube, and

;

with this tube cover the feeming dollars

then, repeating the objed of the trick, take

up the

tube, at the fame time pinching the

fame, the excavated dollars naturally follow unfeen, and the ball appears to view : Thus
far has the ball

taken the place of the dollars.

dollars take the place

Now

to

make the

of the

ball, replace

the tube with thofe that are ex-

<:avated over the ball, and,

by taking up the
the dollars appear,

fame without pinching

it,

and the ball

that the

is

concealed.

At

the fame time

Company fuppofes the dollars are defcending, you may chink the real ones underneath the table, as this will make the efFed
appear the greater.

remove the excavated dollars, and place the real ones and the ball, is an important quellion in the fame
to
feat
:

How

THE EXPOSITOR.
feat
:

53

This
it

is

no more than pinching the tube,

taking

up, letting the excavated dollars pri-

vately fall into your hand, at the fame time

throwing the tube and real ones on the table

for examination.

Thus having
fped
to

fulfilled

my

promife with re-

Mr. R.'s deceptions, I now proceed give my opinion on Ventriloquifm.

to
fo m^uch-

This performance,

edeemed and

which has excited univerfal admiration, is confidered by the learned to be a fingular gift of nature, peculiar to a very few, they fuppofmg the ventricle of thefe men, to be of a different
formation from that of mankind in general
whilft bigotry viev/s
ical
it
;

as the efEed of diabolthis^

agency.

To

attribute the effect to

caufe, or to the agency of a fupernatural

er,

powI

has ever been contrary to

my

opinion.

by practice may become a in fome and, as far as he is mimick degree poiTeffed of this faculty, fo far he may avail
believe any perfon
;

himfelf of the art of Ventriloquifm.

fy this,

To

veri-

admit a perfon's ventricle fhall be formed by nature fo as to afford the power

will

we

of fpeaking inwardly
relied

will this

give him the

faculty of comprefling air, in fuch a

as to

manner
to

words or founds imperceptibly

E 2

54

THE EXPOSITOR.
and in various directions
?

to certain diftances, to

be heard from particular placeSj he appar-

ently remaining filent

Or

is it

pofTible that

he, the pretended Ventriloquift, has any com-

word or found after efcaping his lips or flomach, more than any other man to whom nature has not given the power of
the

mand upon

fpeaking inwardly
avail

anfwer.

No
this

All the

advantage to be derived from

artificial

gift is to

himfelf of becoming a mimick.

voice acquired

The
of

by the

practice
as

mimickry and imitating of founds,

ed by any particular objects, has

though

they were at different dillances, or interceptthis effed;.

For
iips,

thi-s

purpofe,

let

a perfon afTiduoully flrive

to imitate the voice of a child, fhutting his

fuffering the

found only to efcape from

to

the corner of his mouth, according to the direction he

means

have

it

appear iffuing

from, which by practice will become familiar,

^d

more and more

diftind.
is

This performance
the following

generally carried on in
:

manner

vides himfelf with a doll, which he calls

The performer proTomon

his

my, from
proceed.

whom

the feigned voice appears to

Placing

Tommy
in

knee,

converfation apparently takes place between

him and Tommy,

which the Exhibitor

contrives

THE EXPOSITOR.
contrives to

55
:

make corredioa

neceflary

Then

punifhes

him by placing him under

his coat,

where Tommy is heard fpeaking in

a fmother-

ed tone of voice. This is done to attrad the attention of the Audience to that particular
tone of voice which he the Performer intends
counterfeiting as the voice of a child.
all

Now

the attention being directed to

that
at

Tommy,

whatever corner of the room he places the puppet, the Company with anxious expedation w^ait to hear the feigned voice. At
fo
tirfl

he places him

at a fmall diftance.

The

Performer then queflioning in his natural

tone of voice, afks. Where are you now^

Tommy f

Mimicking a
as

and diredly articulating the pretended converfation was held, when

child,
It

he replies, Here^ Papa,

place

will

now do

to

before,
it

him at a greater diftance, queftioning as and giving-^ the fame anfwer, making
if at

appear as

a great diftance

and

fo pro-

ceed queftioning and anfwering, accarding to

the diftance.

T]ie imagination of the

rivetted, yoti

Com-

pany being thus

place

may

venture to

him without the room, ftiutting the door, mimicking exactly that kind of found which would be the cafe if a child actually fpake
;

without doors
articulation

being careful to preferve that

tion

which took place in the converfa-

5^
tion

THE EXPOSITOR.
before the

Company,

whilil the puppet

was under the coat, fuch

will

be the'effed if

he fpoke fuppofing him fmothered. The faculty of attrading the attention to the objed contemplated as though fpeaking, with the
art

of mimicking a feigned voice,

at certain diftances,
is

either

fmothered or
ion
I

the opin-

have of Ventriloquifm.. am, with due fentiments of efteem.

Yours, &c.

W.
p. s.

F.

After

cloii-ng this Letter,

a circum-

fiance occurred to

my mind
his

refpe^ling a Far-

mer who

w^as

on

road to
is

London with a
:

load of hay.

The

(lory

thus told

Being

overtaken by one of thofe perfons, fryled Ventriloquifts, who by the fuppofed art of his Ventriloquifm meant to attrad the Farmer's,

attention,

and fhow

his faculty in imitating

a.

fuppofed voice, after travelling familiarly together for fome diflance, the mimick, as if
furprized, obferves,

"

My

frfend, there

is

perfon confined in your hay.'*

difbelieving
it,

The Farmer,
attention to his
little

gave but

little

obfervation.

After travelling a
to the objed, with

further,
earneft-

and turning
lieve this

much

nefs he exclaims,

" For compaflion's fake, re^ perfon from his embarrafTment.'*

The

THE EXPOSITOR.
The manner The mimick
from him
of his fpeaking, immediately

57
at-

traded the attention of the Farmer to

to the

his load.

obferving his attention turned

hay,
fell

to imitating the
;

voice of a perfon, as if fmothered in the hay

which occafioned the Farmer to exert his utmoft efforts in unloading his hay, to relieve In a fimilar manthe imagined unfortunate. ner founds are produced from chairs, tables, and other fubflances. Such is thy power, oh Minakkry.
Adieu.

W.

F. P.

LETTER XIX. From A. B^ W. P.

F.

Sir,

r*

YOUR two lad Letters came fafe to hand. Your explanation of the Deceptions contained in them and a former Letter, induces me to
attempt a trial*of

my

(kill,

both to become a
:

^Conjurer and Ventriloquift

fhail
fail

But fearing

muft once more trouble you with my folicitations, and requeft you to favour me with your opinion of the
attempts,
I

in

my

abilicies necelTary to conftitute a

I

performer.

remain with fmcere attachment.

Your

obliged friend,

A. B,

58

THE EXPOSITOR.
L E T T E R
From W.
Sir,

XX.
A, B.

P.

to

Art of Legerdemain requires great dexterity, and abundance of confidence in the

performer

THE

There are but few who are equal to the talk. Mr. R. before mentioned, is competent to the bufmefs, and the only one I have known, except the famous Brijloe, Any man who would exhibit thefe deceptions to
:

fatisfaclion,

mufl have thefe feveral

mail be nimble with
his

qualifica-

tions

He

hands and

fingers, poffefs
lubility, aided

an extraordinary Ihare of vofuit-

by a prepoifeiling carriage,
:

able to

command re^te:

His
:

left

hand mufl

be

as

capable as his Tight

He

mufl have ac-

quired the faculty of dividing his thoiights,

fo as to accomplifh feveral objels at the

fame
:

moment, and

that,

with certainty and eafe

The

flafhes

of his wit mufl attradl the eyes of

is

the fpelators from the feat he

as occafion

performing,

may

require, although

he mufl

Thefe properties in conjun^lion, may make what is vulgarly called a Conjurer fo that you may
not have
this

appear his intention.

readily infer

that

it is

not altogether the in-

ventor

THE EXPOSITOR.
ventor of a deception, but the performer,

59

who

eaims the principal merit.

You

fay likewife,

you have an idea of becoming a VentriloLearn to be a mimick, and you may quift. As you likewife eafily effect your purpofe. appear fo defirous of becoming what is commonly called a Conjurer, any thing within the compafs of~ my abilities you may com.

mand.
Yours, &c.

W.

F. P.

LETTER
From A, B.
Sir,
to

XXL
F. P.

W,

NOTWITHSTANDING
faid

what you have

I

on the fubjed of Ventriloquifm,

its

cannot

yet convince myfelf of

being acquirable.
are thefe
:

The

objedlions arifing in

my mind
is

Provided a man's ventricle

as to give
ly,

fo

conflruded

him the power of fpeaking inwardis

which

perhaps not

common amongft

mankind^ and from this fingular circumflance he avails himfelf of becoming a greater mimick, than any orher who profelfes himfelf to be fuch by a mere imitation of founds, what is
this

but a gift of nature

Yours, &c.

A. B.

THE EXPOSITOR.

LETTER
From W.
Sir,
I

XXIL
to

F.

F.

A. B.

PRESUME
to

every

mimick

has not a
;

propenfity

become a

Ventriloqui'ft

and
ac-

for this reafon every great

mimick ha not

quired the faculty of imitating founds confined and at certain diftances ; fo that being uncommon it is inconfiderately accounted a
gift

of nature.

What

is

there a

man

cannot

acquire by pbfervation, aflifted by good rules

and proper application ? And not capable of improvement ?

with refpeQ: to

vi^hat

pofleffion

our

faculties are
is

none Our fenfes and all nature. To have a good ear gifts.
I anfv^^er,
;

for mufic

a gift

y^t thofe

who have

not

that ear, have

ficients

been known

Id be greater pro-

in the fcience of mufic than

one fo

favoured.

You may

fay, fpeech is a gift

of
by

nature, and attribute elocution to the fingular

formation of the tongue

a perfon's propenfity to

but in

my mind,

become an

orator, the

memory becomes improved and fupplied with a feledion of the bed chofen words ; the imagination
is

brightened and enlarged

the

tongue, by ufe, fmooth and eafy in its lation ; and confidence, the refult of experience,

articu-

THE EXPOSITOR.
erice, gives perfection to

6i

the whole.

cidate this

my

opinion,
?
5

What
!

To

elu-

had nature Demofthe-

done

for

Demoflhenes
for himfelf

Nothing

nes did

all

and, furmounting the

impediment (lie threw in the way of his purfuit, became one of the greatefl orators of his
age.

Thus

conclude,

if

man

can become

a diftinguifhed orator
fity to

from the mere propen-

be fuch, where the imagination,

memit

ory, eyes, hands

and tongue are concerned,

is

appeals to

me much

eafier to acquire the art

of Ventriloquifm, which
imitation of founds.
to

nothing but the

this fentiment

Leaving

your better judgment, in

my

next

I fliall

inform ^ou

how you may,

made
I

b) pradlice and pet-

feverance, be

able to perform a
practicable

number of
by the Art
differ in

other Deceptions

of Legerdemain,
opinion,

Hov/ever we

may

am

your friend,

W.

F. P.

LETTER
From A. B.
Sir,
to

XXIIL
F. P.

W.

AFTER

properly confidering the fenti*

ments on Ventriloquifm, contained in your^

F

Letter,

62

THE EXPOSITOR.
you on the

Letter, I perfed'Iy acquiefce with

fubjel.

in your them, with your explanations on the fame, you will confer additional favours on
poffeffion,

If

you have any more Deceptions

and
will fend

Your

friend and well-wiflier,

A.B.

LETTER
Fro7n

XXIV.
A, B.

W.

F. F. to

Sir,
I

AM happy that you have become a profemy

opinion on Ventriloquifm.
I

lyte to

now

proceed, agreeably to your wifhes, in further

explaining the Art of Legerdemain, by mak-

ing you acquainted with the merits of the

fol-

lowing Deceptions.
I ft.

How

to

take a number tf Eggs^

from a
form

Bag

apparently empty.

This bag, apparently

to the

empty, muft be made according

of the one for breaking a watch, mentioned

in letter feventeenth, with this addition only,

obferving that as one pocket only

in the former experiment,

is

neceifary

you muft increafe

the

THE EXPOSITOR.
the

6^^

number of pockets according to the number of eggs you mean to take from the bag. The eggs being buttoned in the pockets, turning the bag inlide out, convince the
it

Company
this,

is

the fam.e as empty.

When

you do

keep towards you the aperture by which you

have accefs
intend
to the

pockets.

Now

w^hen you

taking an egg, turn this bag, Vs^hich

;

naturally brings this aperture theinfide

then,

putting your hand within the faid aperture,

take an tgg from a pocket,

the

fbewing

it

to

Company, and fo proceed according number of eggs you intend fhewing.

2d.

to the

Hgw to

make

the

Ace of Hearts

hecoine the

Take tw^o Ace of Clubs, and vice verfa. cards, on v/hich are reprefented the Acq of
Hearts, ftripping the leaves of both about twothirds of the cards, then painting

on

a thin

piece of pafl:e-board the

Ace of Clubs and

the

Ace of Hearts,
leaves
for the
to

pafte

down

the cards,
fo

two edges of the thereby forming a cafe

painted eafily to
flide.

two Aces

The

original

Aces being nicely taken from the

you may by eafily moving the Hides on which thefe two Aces are depictured, caufe either of them to appear confequently, you
leaves,
;

can

eafily

make them

take the place of each

3d.

other.

How

f4
3d.
Jiore

THE EXPOSITOR.
How
to

burn a Card

to ajhes^

and

re-

it to its

former Jlate^ the Company detaining

to

a piece of the Card in order

prove

its

being the

fame propofed
this

to

be burnt,'

To

accomplifh

tin box made in fuch a manner as to open one half its depth, the top after opening appearing like the bottom j

experiment, have a

underneath the infide of the top have a

plate, the exaft fize of the

tin

box,

appearing like

no other but the

the cover
;

infide of that
this,

which forms

within

previous to exhibiting

the feat,

place a card with the one corner

torn

off,

of the fame fort with thofe you

to prefent the

mean Company, from which they are

:

to choofe

one to be burnt The choice of one being made, inform them they may tear off the
corner, and keep
it

m their poffefTion,

until

you

be ready to reflore the card going to be burnt ; then, placing it in the box, ihut
Ihall

dov/n the cover, and the tin plate with the

fubftituted card there concealed will fall
it,

upon
the

appearing hke the bottom.

this

Open

box, and burn

card

the corner being

is

torn off'appears like the one drawn, which

now

at the

plate.

bottom of the box under the tin Now, while flirring the afhes which
dexteroujQy and unfeen, turn the

were placed in the box, with your metempfychoflicalflick ^

box

THE EXPOSITOR.
l)ox
;

6$

.confeg^uently the afbes. are fecreted un-

der the tin plate, and the card drawn appears

to view*

y>4th.

How

to light

a Candle with the point of

a Sword,
bing

^To perforna this,, dip the point

of the Sword into Phofphorus, and by rubit, it

will

not be

til you touch it which rauft be previoufly prepared with Spirits of Wine.

unto the candle, the wick of

^qqii

to poffefs fire,

5th.

How
to

to

transfer

Money fro?n
In

one

Hand*
this>.

kerchief

another,

performing

provide yourfelf with an Handkerchief, in one

which muft be fewn whatever you mean to transfer. Requeft the favour offome one of the Company to tend you an HandkerNow fhew them two pieces of money chief of the fame denomination with that conceal(Corner of
:

ed, putting

one piece into one Handkerchief

at

and the other piece into the other placing the

Handkerchiefs
adiilance, pretending ta fold

one of thefe pieces of money in your own Handkerchief, conceal it in your hand or ileeve,,

wrapping up the Handkerchief, with that corner in the middle in which the piece of
ey
is

monNow,,

fewn, telling them to convince themfelves

is

by feeling that the money

there.

E 2

prefenting

THE EXPOSITOR.

prefentmg the other piece of money, fold that, up, with the other piece you have in your
hand, and the feat
is

done.

'

All you have to

do
fall

is,

taking up the Handkerchief in which the

piece of

money
y

is

fewn, ihaking

it, it

will not

out

whiift the other

Handkerchief con-

tains the

two

pieces.
will

Concluding thefe
further information
felf, as

be fufHcient for your

I I

prefent pralice, in rny next

j

will give

you

till

then

fubfcribe
friend,

my-

formerly.

Your

W.F.R

LETTER
W.F.
Sir,
P.
to

XXV.

[In Continuation.]

A. B.

you to continue in the fame mind as when you firfl wiihed to become a Conjurer, I will fend you a few more Deceptions.

SUPPOSH^G

6th.
in

How

to fire

a Lady's Ring from a Gun

fuch a manner^ that the fame Jhall he found confined under lock and key^ one of the Company
taking the ^ey,
^To

perform

this feat,

agen-

cy

THE EXPOSITOR.
cy
is

$7

Eteceflary

but not diabolical

In fome

part of your Exhibition

Room
have a

Iiave a table,,
dravv^er placed

in which table

you

innft

contiguous to a partition, through which partition there muft be an opening to another apartment fufficient for the drawer to Aide
through.: In this apartment your Agent- mufl Within the drawer difpofe take his Ration.

The a boxi, in which the ring is to be found. is to ring be fired mufl gun from which the
be made fimilar to the one for performing Deception 2, (which you will find in Letter

XV.)
ed.

with the tube charged as there mention.*

Lady having
it

lent

you

a ring for that

purpofe, drop

into the barrel

it paffes.
it.

of the gun^

making

fure that

the tube, opening

i

the breech, which gives

accefs to the flock

Take

it

from thence

as

foon

as

poilible.

you have the ring m your poiTeflionj. give fome of the Company the gun to .put in a. wadding, telling them to be fure to ram it tight ; and w^hile thus diverting their atten

When

tion, Hide the ring into the drawer,

and your

Agent's bufmefs
box, locking
got, take the
it.

is

to put the fame into the^ Then, under pretence of go-

ing to the draw for fomething

yoa have

foron<

box therefrom, and place

it

table.

Finally,

fhew the Company the box,;

telling

68
telling

THE EXPOSITOR.
them your intention ; then give them gun to be fired ; after

the key, ordering the

box, and the defign

which any of the Company may unlock the is anfwered by finding the ring. Or, by having your box made fimi.

lar to the

one in Deception

3, Letter

XXIV.

you may conceal the ring and fhew an empty box, and by turning it as is done to re-eftablifh

the card, unlocking the

fame you

may

produce the ring.

No more

at prefent,

from
fervant,

Your humble

W.

F. P.

LETTER
From A. E.
Sir,
I
to

XXVL
F.

W.

F.

RECEIVED

your two

lafl:,

containing a

number of Deceptions, with their demonftrations, and it occurs to my mind that a build*
ing of a fize convenient for containing a variety

of Mechanical and Philofophical Curierected in fome eligible fituation,

:

ofities,

would
collec--

be found profitable
tioh
fliali

mean

that the

be greater than has ever been yet ex-.

hibited in the

United States*

For inftance

la

THE EXPOSITOR.
ed, fuch
as

69

In addition to what you have already exhibit-

your Writing Figure, Invifible

Lady, Magician, Tumbling Figure, Miraculous Barrel, Whifpering Figure, and Penetrat-

ing Spy-Glafs, you

may

introduce the Little

Conjurer, Filherman, Flute Player, Cupid's

Feats, Vanifhing Figure, and
riofities

many

other eu-

you have the

a

faculty of

making, and

which
render

if
it

thus colleded, would in

my
to

opinion
In

Mufeum

of refpedable refort.
I

fuch an undertaking
aiTociate.

would wiih

be your

From your

earneft inquirer

and

friend,

A. B,

LETTER
From W,
Sir,

XXVIL
to

K P.

A. B.

RELATIVE
clude
it

to the place mentioned, I conprofitable.

would be found
I

objedion

have to

it is

the

The only fum of money

neceiTary to complete a building in a ftyle fufficiently elegant

and convenient to
if

command
and of

fuccefs.

What

we fpend
certain to

the lad dollar, be?

fore the place

completed

How
?

vyhom

fhall

we be

borrow

Where
are

70

THE EXPOSITOR.
enable us to carry the
?

are the refources to

plan into defired effed

Will not our pre-

tended friends,

who promife and hover around

us in the feafon of profperity, turn their backs and forfake us in the hour of neceffity ? If we
tell

them we have drained our

?

purfes,
If

will

they not inform our creditors

we impor-

tune them to lend, will they not catechife us, with a ilupid harangue of what we ought to

have done

or,

more hkely, condemn the

?

whole undertaking, in order

cufe for their non-affiflance

form an exThey may, v/ith a

to

countenance of feeming concern, declare they

are heartily forry
that
;

and

that

is all

the comfort

may be expected from

profeffed friends
this,

of the prefent age.

it

While fpeaking of

occurs to

my
is

mind, the reafon

I

why
it

the

man

of ingenuity

poor.

have heard

dated, as

almofl an infallible rule, that to be ingenious

is

to be

poor

and

this is

thus accounted for

One

abruptly but modeilly affirms,

" He
is

is

too lazy.''

Another's opinion

is,

" He

too

unfteady, and by that means forfeits the for-

tune he might

acquire by a fteady adher-

ence to one purfuit.*'

too

third fays,

" He

is

extravagant."
confuted.

All thefe

opinions

are

eafily

The

truly ingenious
is

man
:

cannot be lazy, for ingenuity

the refult of induftry

THE EXPOSITOR,
induftry
:

71

Yet I admit ihe ingenious man may not be found fo ambitious at fome kind of 4 bour as he whofe mind is confined to one ob;

jed:

yet his intelle(5lual faculties are always

If walking,
is

employed.
{landing, he
fing
:

he
:

is

ruminating

If

thinking

If fitting,
is

he

is

mu-

If lying

down, he

meditating.

And

fhould long-defired fleep imperceptibly fleal

upon

his pillow,

even then his flumbers are

a fpecies of

interrupted by intruding dreams relative to

the objed of his purfuit.
Is this

inanimation fimilar to that attached to the lazy

man

Or,

is

he the fole heir to

inftability

No

We

fee others,
as

whom, we

are fenfible
as

have no ingenuity,
ering as he
;

changeable and

wav-

and
to

as

many more
Yet

extravagant,
all

without their generofity.

a certain

thefe find

way

accumulate.
;

It is

not merit wins the golden pile

But partial fortune's

inconfiftent fmile.

Poverty and ingenuity are too often born twins. Fortune feldom affifts the perfon
favoured by nature.

fool
:

faculty of accumulating

wife

may have the man may

want

it.

Let us then fuppofe an ingenious

man

poor : He has juft finifhed a very valuable.niachine,and has exhaufied his finances :

Of whom

iliall

he borrow.'^

None

are willing
to

y^

THE EXPOSITOR.
:

to lend
tin it

He

has not the bold effrontery to ob*

is

by falfehood, nor

he polTeffed of the

language of perfuafion.

Now

what
:

is

to be

done
all

Creditors are clamorous

He

has a

family to fupport.

In fad, he muft

facrifice

future advantages to the prefent neceiTity.

alternative,

Thus, finding no
value.

he

is

obliged to

part witii the fruits

its

of his ingenuity for half

;

The

purchafer becomes rich

tjie

inventor remains- poor.

fons

And
is

then thofe per-

who

refufed their affillance, feeing the

to the purchafer,

advantage the acquifition

will

be feeling enough

to

compliment the

In-

ventor with the appellation of fimpleton, for parting with his machine. This fi mile may be
applied to us
:

If

we
but

fucceed,

we

fliall

be ac-

counted

induftrious.,

cunning, fpeculative, enif

terprizing

men

we

fail

for the

want

of cafh or credit, or any misfortune, no matcalcukr ter what, then we are ilupid, void of conclude, tion ; the fcheme a\^s mad ; and, to

we

fhall

be indifcriminately branded with the

of fools.

faicailic appellation

Thefe

at prefent are

my. fentiments on the

In

fubjea of ingenuity.
Deceptions.

my

next

I ihall

pro-

more ceed with the further demonftration of

With

due fentitnents of efteem,

Yours, &c.

W.F.P.

THE EXPOSITOR.

73

LETTER
From W. F. P.
Sir,
to

XXVIIL
A. B.

AGREEABLY
I

to the promife in

my

laft,

now proceed

to explain
I fhall

two more Decepclofe the

tions,

with which

fubjed of

Legerdemain.
7th.
ing
to

How to

make an Handkerchief

belong-

one of the Company follow the Exhibitor out

of the room*

Having borrowed an handkerto the

chief, obferve

Company

the intention

Take the hairs of an horfe's tail, tying feveral of them end to end, until you
of the
feat.

have a
of

fufficient

length

then faflen one end

this firing to

the fold of your coat, the

other end faflen to a bunch of paper in your

pocket

then dexteroufly convey this paper

under the borrowed handkerchief, folding the fame ; by your walking out, the handkerchief will follow ; the firing, by reafon of its finenefs, will not

be feen by the Company.

;1 8 th, How to convey a Card into an Egg. Prepare yourfelf with three eggs, and before

you exhibit depofit a <!ard in each, of the fame kind you mean fhould be drawn ; this is done c by

74

THE EXPOSITOR.
to fuch a compafs as

by contraling the card

to be entered through a fmall opening in one

the egg

end of the ggy which muft be clofed fo as that fliali have the appearance of being

perfectly found. Take care that the cards you prefent the Company are like thofe in the

eggs.

You may have

three different kinds of

cards to prefent, being fure they feled from

the

parcel

correfponding to your purpofe.

This done, inform the

xcite admiration, you

Company
may
tell

that either of

the three eggs fhall contain their card.

To

the perfon to

burn it ; then taking the afhes, and ftrewing the fame over the egg^ requeft him to break
the cggj and to his aftonifhment the card will
appeal.

With my bed
I

wiflies for

your welfare^

am

yours, &c.

W.

F. P

LETTER
From W,
Sir,
I

XXIX.
A. B.

F. P. to

NOW

proceed to explain to you the

ef-

feds produced by Optical Delufions. ftyled PenI have two Deceptions : Both are
etrating Telefcopes,

Of thefe

and are rendered

curiofities

THE EXPOSITOR.
ties

75

in the following

of the magnet

in ft. The Magnetic Spy-Glafs is tprs. its effeds very aftonifhing, and in its conftruc-

manner One by the other by that of

:

virtue
refiec-

tion very fimple.

To accommodate

yourfelf

with one of thefe Telefcopes, procure a tube fimilar to that of a common Spy-Glafs ; within
this^

tube,

and near

to the

end prefented
it

to

the objed, fix a magnetic needle, Gaufing

traverfe perfectly eafy
Plate, Fig. 2.)
fent to the

to

on a

brafs fwlvel.

(See

Then Company for

the fub (lance you pre-

conceahnent, in or-

der to your difcovery, muft be pofTefled of magnetic qualities^ Being polfelTed of thefequalities,

wherever the matter

is

concealed

you are fure of difcovering the fame. The Gentleman fixed upon for this purpofe, you muft feemingly view with your glafs, whilft
all

your attention

is

fixed

on

th-e

needle con-

cealed within the tybe, the motion of which

will determijie

where

th-e

objed of your

re-

fearch is fituated.
Gefs

In order to fecure the fuc-

of your experiment, previoufly borrow of the before-mentioned gentleman,, his knife,

keys, or any attraQive fubftance that you fup-

pofe he
feigning

may

probably have in his polTeffion,

fome pretence.

2d.

The

Pene-in
its

trating Spy-Glafs claims

more merit

princi^jles,.

76
principles,

THE EXPOSITOR.
and has an eiFed equally
as
flrik-

Ing as the Magnetic.

The

curiofity

depends

The

on the form of the frame. (See Plate, Fig. 3.) tubes on the top of the frame contain each of them two glaifes : Thefe glaifes may be made of common window-glafs, the exteon the infide. The frame mud be excavated, and mirrors placed in each of the angles. Within
the middle of both tubes
llkewife
;

rior ones clear, the interior ones obfcufed

is

placed a mirror
as that the
fhall

thefe

mud

be fo placed

mirror of the tube prefented to the objed

reiled: the

image of the fame to the mirror

a direft line to another,
;

placed in one of the angles of the frame be-

low

this reileds it in

placed in the-oppofite angle

fleds
it

this

mirror re-

upwards

to another contained in the

is

tube, where the eye of the obferver

placed

Confequently, by thus contriving to bend the

rays of light around the frame,
it

makes no

difference to the obferver whatever

may be
;

placed between the two interior glaffes

and

the adonifliment arifes from the fuppofition

that the frame
is folid,
is

as

an idea

is

conveyed

that the effed

produced by the fmgular con-

ftrudion of the glaffes within the tubes.

While writing this, I thought I would give you an idea of a modern invention called the
Phyfiognotrace,

THE
taking profiles.

EXPOSITOR..
its

7.7

Fhyfiognotrace, famed for

correctnefs in
this

Th^ author

of

invention

was a Mr. Hawkini^ but it has been greatly improved. I fhall defcribe it in its prefent

improved
'

you mufl provide yourfelf with a Pentagraph ; this

flate.^

To accomplifh

this,

muft be ferewed
gle
ally traverfes

to a partition^, at the.fcale anfaft,

commonly made
;

and on which

it

ufu^

the tracing point downwards,

in the. partition

and oppofite to a hole cut

eighteen inches fquare
:

glazed with plare

glafs,
filk

This hole mufl be which mufl be coverpaper,

fir ained

ed with a piece of

tight

on

that fide place, the perfon

whofe

profile

you

Have a fquare trunk one end fourteen inches about five feet long, in width, the other fix ; place the wide end oppofite the paper, your trunk being in an
are about to trace.

horizontal direQion, only leaving convenient

the trunk and the paper for a The ufe of this trunk is perfon to be feated.

room between

to confine

and reffedt the- rays of light to the paper, which light mufl proceed from a lamp
placed at the fmall end.
the perfon to be feated
;-

This done, dired

and, lighting the lamp, retire wrthinfide of the partition, and

there you will fee a very flrong. and correct
liken efs,
I

through the G 2.

glafs,

of the perfon,
whofe:

78

THE EXPOSITOR.

whofe fhadow appears on the paper. Now, you muft obferve to have your paper well pillowed and fecured, under the iketching point, by means of a fmall frame, which muft
es.

be contrived either to Aide or open with hingThis altogether Aiding in its place, as oc-

cafion

may

require, with the tracing point of

the Pentagraph follow the outlines of your

fhadow, and the pencil

will

at the Sketching

angle

perform the fame revolution, reducing the profile to any fize you pleafe to fix your fcale.
I fhould

have told you

it

W^s, neceffary to
a ring at the

have a fmall iron rod

for the perfon
gainft.
Of,

made with

end, fcrewed under the hole in the partition,

who fits to fleady his head aYou may cover this with green baize.

ed.

any thing agreeable to the perfon fo featRemember that the room muft be perdark, excepting the light proceeding

feflly

from the lamp.

have to obferve, that many trials neceffary before you take a complete
I

will

be

profile.

Much depends on

placing the perfon in a prop-

er attitude, or perhaps

you

will fuffer the tra-

cing point to err from the line of the face.

Cutting
nicety
is

it

out

is

a material point, and great

j

required

to

execute which with

precifion,

'

THE EXPOSITOR.
precifion, have a fquare piece of block-tin,

79

on
a

which place your

lancet
:

profile

provide yourfelf
fimilar to

with a fharp-pointed tool^

In
all

made

thefe particulars
as

you muft be
of the

extremely

accurate,

Che beauty

whole depends on the fullconfent of the parts. Imitating the hair witji light touchy of Indian
ink, well executed, has: a great

e^d.

This

improvement
Doyle^

believe originated: with

Mr.
>

who

am

well perfuaded tafeS\them

:

in a fuperior ftyle*
If the

above infarmation proves of afty advantage to you^ the pleaiing circumftance will
fufficiently

reward

Your

jfincere friend,

W.F.

Acvujlic Temple.
Fig.
I.

the perfon ftatloncd to heac and folve queftions.what is prefented, and communicates in a whifper to Ai CCCC. The tubes by -which the found* are fecretly conveyed to the trumpets*
Is

A
B

ohfer ves

Magnetic Penetrating Spy-Glafi.

Fig. 2.

Optical Penetrat-^
ing Spy-Glafs.

Fig. a^

AAAA. The
B*

refleftors in the

The board

frame of the glafs. or other fubftance placed to obllruft the ilg^bti

APPENDIX:
Cantainingjive Letters Explanatory offome Parts

of the foregoing Work.

LETTER
From A. B,
Sir,
to

L
F.

W.

F.

Meditating
fully

one evening on
I

the fubjeds of our corref|>ondence,

became

convinced that to derive advantages thereourfelves, concealment

from to

would be indifit

penfably important,

Notwithftanding, as

quifitive, I fbould

and gratify the iayou to publifh the fame to the world, knowing that it will be acceptable to all clalTes of people ; and although
will undeceive the ignorant,

advife

fatisfied myfelf, that in

teaching the Pig, paelTential

tience

and perfeverance are the two

that Acouftics

and Optics, as pro5 ceeding from the Invilible Lady, are the effeds of human agency ; that the performance of the Deceptions principally depends on the
requifites

adroitnefs of the Performer

that Ventrilo-

quifm

is

not ftridly a gift of nature, nor the

wonder

82

APPENDIX.
it
;

wonder
agency
trating
at the

produces depending on diabolical

that the

eonftruclion Of your Peneplainly

GlalTes

is

reprefented

yet

fame time, fhould it meet with your approbation to undertake the publication, I think

would increafe the fale of the book, if you would explain more fully, bow the Pig underit

meaning after the omiflion of his fignal ; and make fome further remarks on the Temple, and on fome of the demonflraftands your
lions,

explanatory of the Deceptions..

The

obfervations on the conflruftion of the other

machines, as well as the demonflraiion o a principal part of the Deceptions, are fully and
familiarly explained.

Pleafe foon to convey by Letter

how

far

my

ideas correfpond with yours, refpe6i:ing the

publication of your correfpondence.

From your

long abfent friend, A. B.

LETTER
From Wi.F.P,
Sir,
I
to

13L

A. B.

RECEIVED

your friendly

letter,

andaf-

ter

maturely deliberating on its contents, I muft inform

APPENDIX*

^5

inform you that I am totally averfe to becoming an Author. This Authorfhip places a man
in a critical Situation
;

for the writer of

fo great

any
lit-

Avork, kt
tle

it

be of ever
the

import, or

confequence,
inftrud

moment he
his

ventures

to

or iimufe

fellow-creatures,

places his reputation in the hands of a cruel

and unfeeling world.

ambition to rifque

candidly confefs

I feel

no fame and fortune, on the event of a mere bubble, liable to be difperfed by every blaft of wind. Should there be any merit in the work, this will certainly be overlooked, and all
faults^

my

pains and labours,

(which the beft of performances nat-

urally poflefs,) pointed out

Nor

will

and exaggerated. the unravelled myileries of which you

fpeak^ gratify

him who may have

flrangely

he

imbibed an idea that by purchafmg this book is to be made acquainted with moral imOthers will as inconfiderately

poflibilities.

fuppofe, they have nothing

to perufe the contents,

more than barely and without farther

application, or giving themfelves time to practife

according to the rules there fuggefted, will

inconfiflently

exped to become Ranles.

Such
any
:

unreafonabie perfons,

(and there are fuch)

to the fale of

would be of material injury

pubKcation,

mush more, one

of this nature
encounter

And

thefe are not the only obftacles I have to

:

.4

APPENDIX.
:

encounter

have another to furmount

;

ftiU

greater than thefe

and that

is,

thofe perfons

in the pradice of Legerdemain, and others

exhibiting

the curiofities, whofe principles

obliged to unfoM, will, no dpubt,

my

book

is

together with their friends, exert their {Irongdt eflforts in endeavouring to perfuade man-

kind that the demonflrations, mine "COrntains are incorred ; and fome, for the want 0;f ractual pradice, or proper calculation, be led to

and thus one perfon brought, to Cpnthis'beliefmight perfuade many others. fequently, I fhould have my books, lay ^pon
believe
it ^
.

my

'

hands, as a reward for

my
to

great expenfe

and labour^ and that perhaps

reputation.

at the coft of

my
for

This

is

much

be feared

as a plagiarift

has the faculty of new clothing

the fentiments of other men, and thus pafs them on the world for his own, fa are all thefe

Deceptions liable to be effeded by a train of different appearances, notwithftanding the

principle in itfelf remains

flill

the fame

As

for inflance, the experiment of the ball, being

fired

from a gun, and caught on l:he point of a dagger. The Performer, in order to confute that demonftration, and deftroy the credit of the book, might occafionally perform
in tbe^oiiowing

it

manner; Not having a gun

with


APPENDIX.
8S

with any extra preparations, excepting his ram-rod, which may be prepared as follows,

a hollow

at

the

ramming end,

fufficient

to

conceal a ball, Vvithin which hollow he may have a iharp-pointed inflrument, and pretending to ram down the ball, by this means take
it

out again

all

which would be

eafily efFed-

ed, by reafon of the fpedators expeding to fee it done in the manner I have explained in the

book, which demonftration one, and the one pradifed.

is

the only fafe

In this attempt

he might
rifque
its

alfo

have a

common

dagger, and

ftriking a ball already concealed un-

Now, notwithftanding der the candleftick. this is a very uncertain way, the performer,
might poffibly fucceed, and the book be condemned* So it is with the Invifible Lady I feel convinced there is one now exhibiting,

where but one agent

principle
is

is
;

employed
the agent

but this
obliged

not perfed

is

to be fo clofe in order to
ticable, that

make

the fight prac-

fuppoling the anfwers fhould be

obliged to fmoth-

returned from even a brick clofet, the perfon

afraid of being overheard
is

er the voice,

by prefEng his head in the con-

cave

confequently the fame kind of fmoth-

ered voice proceeds from the trumpet, and

the auditors are obliged to repeat their queftion feveral times, before they can underfland

the

?6

APPENDIX.
;

the aiifwer

whereas the method

have ex.
without

plained enables the

fear,
is

Agent
he
is

to fpeak

and

as diflindlly as

capable.
:

There
bars

another thing to be obferved

The

mentioned, in which the holes are pricked in order to communicate the found to the trumpet,

may be covered with green

baize or

bound round with your handkerchief, as this will not prevent the found iffuing from the
bar
the found between the threads of the baize or handker^ Now, this experiment being fliewn a chief. perfon who is unacquainted witL the fcience
:

The compreifed

air will force

of Acouftics, he might be led to think

demonftration'
falfe,

my
no
but

and thus ruin the repu^

Alfo, there might be Paintings,

tation of the book.

Girandoles, or Tranfparent

fomething fimilar mufl be fubflituted through which the object prefented to the globe is
to

be feen.

There
tion true

is

one w^ay

to

prove

my

demonftra-

: Take the blade

eight polls,

of a knife, and go
floor

round the

between the

and

the pods, and ycu will certainly find four of If the the pofts are connected to the floor.

Lady fpeaks from

all

four of the trumpets,

and the polls are thofe that contain the tubes in order to convey the found, when the Lady
is

APPENDIX.
is

87

requeued

to breathe or

blow, inflead of put-

ting your

hand

in the trumpet, as will be the

advice of the Proprietor, hold the infide of

your hand
trumpet,

to the infide of the bar, oppofite the

at

the diPLance of two inches, and

you
the

will feel the breath or

;

the bar

or you

may

clap

wind ilTuing from one hand around

the

centre of the fame, putting

in the trumpet,

other

hand from
foot

and the Lady's breaih

that trumpet will not be felt.

To

ob-

flrud the light, hold an handkerchief about a

from rhe Incompreh^nfible Mirror,

within
this

(fo

called)

handkerchief hold the

things to be defined,
the Mirror,
thing.

moving the fame around

fail,

every time Ihewing a different

The Lady mud

though perhaps
becaufe the

not on the nrft or fecond

trials,

handkerchief

may not come

oppofite, fo as to

intercept the fight of the perfon fecreted.

I will

conclude

this Letter

with a few tragic

I

fentiments on the Death of a Moufe^ which

drew from

reality

comprifed in the following

LINES.
WHAT
To
vail misfortunes

men

are born to bear

tear
j

Here trouble calls a figh, there drops a At every turn, afHiction new appears,
goad our
feelings,

and awake our

cares.

No common lofs invokes the tragic mufe, To fnare my grief, and mitigate mv woes
5

APPENDIX.
merchant's tales of
(liips

No

o'erv/helinM by feas

Jnfpires the

Mufe hke
morn

lofs of

bread and cheefe.

Happy

the

that gave

my

forrows eafe

And

bieit the
all

chance

my

vengeance -d4d appeafe

;

Plague on

mice that have for food defire

Thanks

to the

man who

firft

invented wire.
I lay

rcguiih moufe to
I
!

whom

my

grief;^
:

In trap fecur'd,

thus addrefsM the thief

Hard 'tis to live yet thy abandon'd mob Our cupboards plunder, and our pantries rob.

Thou

little

monfter, cloth'd in jacket grizzle^

Why

did

Drink up
Invade

fteal my bread, and fugar nibble ; my milk, and trample on my butter j my cheefe, and interrupt my fupper ?

you

>.

Now

round the

trap, the captive

feems

to fly.
;

And now fagacious beams his brilliant eye To pant and beg is vain, you muft not live^ And Pufs (hall puniih what I can't forgive.

The Cat, poffeiTmg not the tendereft heart. Soon made the little quaking captive fmart He's now releas'd, and now again confin'd, I'fow is he fhook, and now his life's refign'd.
:

With frowning

heart I view'd the

little flain.
:

And, quick relenting, thus I fpoke in vain Poor little Grizzle, thou haft dearly paid For being thyfelfy and juft what Nature made.

What

has thy cravings altogether ta'en

;

No

matter what

Mankind
1

are

all,

in grain,
;

Chiirlifh

and cruel

Abandon'd human kind

firft

For they are not what Nature

defign'd.

APPENDIX.
But Moufe thou
iirt
!

89

'where was

my
let

fenfe of feel;

No way
This

haft thou t^obtaln thy food but ftealing

[ing,
;

fliould

have

movM my
fav'ii

heart to

thee go

This thought have

thee from the purring foe.

;

Revenge
Save

revolts

quick fetch primeval flame

me

the deed, and hide

;

me from

the fhame

It will

not be

and

I in

future tim.es

May

find this added to

!

my
I

page of crimes.

Condemn my hade
All trefpafles in future

would
forgive

that thou
-,

could' ft

Pd

Dive,

Free to

my

cupboard e'en to what might pleafe.

To

eat with

me my

bread, and

ftiare

my

cheefe.

With

fentiments of efieeni and refpect.

Your

friend, he.

W,

F. P.

LETTER
From A. B,
to

IIL

JV. F.

P.

RECEIVED
as

yours, and coincide

with

your fentiments
Author.

they relate to becomii^^g an

Notwithftanding your furmifes, I There is nothing to advife you to venture be done without making a trial. Believe me,
:

am

[o

well convinced of the fuccefs of this

publication, that

no argument

will perfuade

me

to the contrary.

Remember you
2

are not

a flranger

99

APPENDIX.
;

a ftranger to the people of America

they are

already convinced that you poffefs a variety

of talents, and their good opinion

ard fays in the play,

is,

as

Rich-

" a tower of
will, I

flrength."

A
And
the

work of
I fhall
is

this

kind

am

purfuaded,
fale.

be acceptable, and meet with a rapid

expet to hear in your next that

in the prefs.

work
I

am

with cordial fentiments,

Yours, &c.

A. B.

LETTER
FromW.
Sir,
F. P.
to

IV.

A, B.

you would not knowingly injure me, and relying on your

convinced
that

BEING

former profeiiions of friendfhip,

dence in your found judgment.
gratify you,
curiofity, I

place confi-

In order to

and

(as

you fay)

fatisfy the

public

fubmit our correfpondence to their

;

inveftigation

taking into confideration that

unravelling the feeming myfteries contained

in the Letters
difperfe

fome meafure help to the clouds of fuperftition, which is in

in
all evils

may

my

opinion of
it

the moll dangerous to

fociety, as

not only cramps but tramples on

the


APPENDIX.
the faculties of
91

men, who, upon an enlightened might poflefs them to an advantage unknown and unlimited : Methinks whoever can admit the unaccountable abfurand
liberal fcale,

that effeds have not an adequate caufe, and that the ingenious productions of human wifdom are the confequence of diabolical
dity,

agency, not only deceives himfelf but carries

with him a

veil

of darknefs, which he fpreads

;

over the eyes of his deluded followers

in that nation

and

where fuperftition waves her bloody banners, Philofophy and the arts muft hide their heads, or retire, whilft tyranny and
and unreftrained.

opprefTion difFufe their baneful influence uninveftigated

Was

there

ever a perfon
"belief

known

to cheriih this unnatural

who became

confpicuoufly ingenious, or
?

fmgularly enterprizing

On

the contrary, be-

ing of this opinion, his ideas are contraded j and whatever great end Nature might have defigned for him, be is clouded and overwhelmed in this falfe and fatal belief. Was it fuperftition gave the world a Newton ? I anBut rather philofophy inquiring fwer. No
:

into elementary bodies, the co-operation of

fubflances,

and the calculation of the efFeds

naturally refulting from their adequate caufes.

Was

it

fuperftition difcovered

America

No

Bold enterpize aided by

fnnilar calculations.

Was

92

APPENDIX.
it

Was

fuperrdtion difcovered the art of printall

ing, the preferver of

ftition

arts

No

Super-

would have burnt the. ingenious inventor, had he not, in order to favehis life, difcovered the fecret,Here then is the picture of fuperflition, tyranny and oppreiTion,

hand

in hand.

What

if

Richard Fanji^ the

art,

ingenious inventor of this valuable

afferted
his

had

natural right, and dared to die,

rather than thus be forced by the hand of ig-

norance to divulge the

this inconfiftent

fecret

then, from

and arbitrary

ftep, the art

of

printing might have been forfeited even to

the prefent hour

But

it

has and

Vv'ill

diffufe

unbounded

benefits to this

and future ages.

To

ftrengthen the argument further, fuffer

the following comparifon
:

me to make

We
liv-

will fuppofe that Flavio de Gioia v/as

now

ing, and had lately difcovered the wonderful

properties of the magnet,

and found that a

This difcovery he

needle touched with the fame will invariably

point to the North Pole
advertizes for exhibition
:

it is

fingular, but
;

thought of

little

or no confequence

yet

by
fup-

proper improvement,
it

how much

benefit has

produced.

On

the other hand,

is

we

vvill

pofe Flavio de Gioia

fummoned

before a body
j

of menTimilar to an inquifition

here he

is

examined,


APPEK^DIX.
examined, and
all
93:

he can fay in his behalf

its

is,

he has difcovered

properties, but cannot:

account for the caufe.

Mull

this

man,

who
that

difcovered the inefliniable ufes of the magnet,,

the prefer ver of fo

many

mariners' lives
v^^hich

provided the means by

failor.

the long-loft

amidft the wide ocean, furrounded

iky,
>

by

fea

and

might obtain the knowledge o

and which has fafeiy condu(i^ed: the manufaftories of one nation to another^
his courfe

and extended the

parts of

benefits of navigation to

all1^

the

globe Monftrous

thought

Muft

this

man

be condemned for a wizard

it

Once more^

Was

fuperftition conferred
?

the glorious gift of Liberty

No

Refolute
privileges^

wifdom, with a fenfe of the natural

man

has an undoubted right to enjoy.

Leaving any further comparifon, we may

rationally conclude that fuperftition's banefut
effects are thefe,
ity,

retarding
I

the

human

capac-

operating dangeroufly on fociety, and de-

ftru<^ive to the

common

intereft

of mankinds

remain yours, &g.

W.

F.

94

APPENDIX.

LETTER
From W,
Sir,
F. P. to

V.

A. B.

BEING

about to publifh the work, agreeaI fhall

bly to your requeil,

clofe

our correfpon-

dence with the following remarks, relating to

the Pig of Knowledge.
I

obferved, in a for*

mer Letter on this fubjed,

comprehending
nal.

that I

was unable to
fig-

difcover the caufe of his fmgular fagacity in

my meaning
1 will

without the

Notwithifanding,

now

further elu-

cidate the fubjed.

You

recoiled that the cards are laid

down
(land,

in a circular diredtion, within

which you

keeping the Pig by your

fuppofe yo
I

fide.

wifli

him

to fetch

Now we will A Step the

:

oppofite fide of the circle,

and the Pig,

will fetch

ac-

cording to the nature of fwine, being oppofed

to proceed in a dired courfe,

you

the letter

moment he

takes

you obferving to ftep back, the it in his mouth, and he will

naturally follow.

But

fliould

he chance to
to

take a letter to the right, keep your llation,

and by inclining your body

right,

little

the

drop the card he has then got, and take the one you intend. Proceed in this manner.

he

will

APPENDIX.

gs

manner, being careful that whatever direcllon you intend the Pig to take, your courfe and

motion mull be oppofite.

By what

inaimer the Pig

the card drawn."

-Take

is

thought

to

know
;

a pack of cards

place the clubs and hearts, and fpades and dia-

monds

according- to their feveral fuits

;

This
that

done, begin with the eight of clubs

on

place the king of hearts, on the king iDf hearts

the tray of clubs, on the tray of clubs the ten

of hearts, on the ten of hearts the deuce of

clubs,ori the deuce of clubs the feven of hearts,

on the feven of hearts the nine of clubs, on the nine of clubs the five of hearts, on the five of hearts the queen of clubs, on the queen of clubs the four of hearts, on the four of hearts the ace of clubs, on the ace of clubs the fix of hearts, on the fix of hearts the jack of clubs. So much for the firll aiTortment. Then take
the eight of hearts, and

on

that place the

king
af-

of clubs

and

fo

proceed with the fecond

fortment.

-Then

take the eight of fpades,

and on
fo

that place the king of

diamonds

and

proceed with the third aiTortment.

-Then

take the eight of diamonds, and on that place the king of hearts ; and thus proceed with

the fourth aiTortment.

This being done, put

them together, and the cards are prepared.

Commit


'96

APPENDIX.
the manner in which the cards are

Commit
words
:

placed, to

memory, by learning the following

Eight Kings tried iofave nine fine Ladies for

^ne fick Jack.

Which
eight
'

are thus explained

is ight-,

Kings are Kings,

tried is tray.

ten

remember

as

to IS deuce.

coming between the {j^^y ^^^ deuce*

even* Jam \^f

nine
is nine^

fine

is

five^

Ladies are ^leem*

for

is
is

four.
ace*

me
Jick

is fix.

yak

is

Jack or Knave.

Now
hearts

recoiled that clubs and hearts, and

and clubs are together ; likewife that fpades and diamonds, and diamonds and fpades In the fame order, now prefent are together
:

them thus packed

a card
:

to the

Company
is

to choofe
fhift

When

a choice

thus made,

the cards above the one drawn, with a flight, to the bottom, and by looking at this, the

cards

APPENDIX.
card drawn
is eafily

97

difcovered,

by a

ftri6t
;

adas,

herence to the remarks before nientioned

for inftance, fuppofe the
at to

bottom card you look

be the eight of clubs, then of confequence the card drawn muft be the King of
hearts
5

and

fo

for

any other in the pack.

Then proceed with the Pig in the fame manner as when he fetches a letter.
I

hope

this explanation will

meet your ap-

probation.

Your

fincere friend,

W. F.R

LETTER
From A. B.
Sir,
to

VL

W.

P.

IN
tion,

confideration of the

derived through the

I

many advantages medium of your informa-

tender you
as
I

ments,
nfefuL

my fmcere acknowledgthey have been both amufing and

refledions

was much pleafed with your poetic on the Death of a Moufe. Prefumnot the
firft

ing that

is

nor only one your

mufe

is

capable of producing, any other will

be gratefully received^ and much oblige

Your's, he,
I

A. B.

$S

APPENDIX.

LETTER
From W.
Sir,
F. F. fa

VII.

A. B.

AS
mufes
lines

I*have but
at prefent,

little

time to dedicate to the

llill

and
I

wifhing to comply

with your requeft,

can only fend you a few

I did'
;

written on refcuing a Fly, which

with

my own hands, a few years fince. together with my thoughts on Philanthropy,

IN
that gay feafon of the Spring,

When

Ceres fmiles, and birds do fing.

And plenty crowns our joy ; Of bufmefs tir'd, and bent on eafe, The mufe alone my mind could pleafcsv The vacant hour employ.
Mifs laughrng- Pert or
fifter

Tears*

In various images appears,

ShapM by
Will

their votaries'

pens
to

But Nature view, from men

worms,.

furnifli fubjels in their turns.

And

fpeculative themes.

giddy Fly, juft wak'd to day.

fleep to

From Winter's

Summer's
and that
:

play.

Would

light

on

this

He

equal feem'd to tafte the Spring,

flight,

Joy mark'd his

and bent his wing

To where I

penfive fat^

Bufy
* The Ccmk and Tragic Mufe,

APPENDIX,
Bufy around the room he flew,
Bafk'd in the fun, and wanton grewj

9^

Nor feem'd
But ah
!

a foe to dread
filly

thou heedlefs

Fly,

Would

inllin61:

fay that danger's nrgh.

Beware of yonder web.

Qu.ick as the thought embraced

my mind

The fliiy fool, (fo fate defign'd) Had fwept the fubtle fnare The fapient Spider feiz'd his prey | The Fly with ftruggling feeble lay, To end his Summer there.
Elate, the monftei' mantles round,

In glill'ning cords the Fly

is
!

bound

And bound,
Avaunt
!

alas, to die

thou wreteh,

my

patience

tir'd

|,

Twas

pity mov*d,

and vengeance

fir'd.

To

hear the harmlefs cry.

Swift as

my hand

could feize the web.

The Fly was

freed, the Spider fled

;

To
The The

hole prepared hard by

long-legg'd favage drove away.

fly

unhurt

gave to play

Methinks 'twas charity^

PHILANTHROPY,
DEAREST pofleflbr of the
Chief ornament of

man

human heart. Nor gold, nor title.

fliare

Wit, valour, wifdom, nought can

thy triumph.

Greater

100

APPENDIX.
all,

Greater than
Terreftrial in

above
I

all,

earthly angel

form

in godlike

deeds

ccleftial

The widow and

maim'd Within thy balmy arms, fweeten life's bitter cup Behold the mind by difappointment worn. Loft to all hope, and yielding to defpair
I
!

the orphan, the aged and the

Anon, thy

voice, as if

an angel fpoke,

Difpels the gloom.

The

bitter fign of

woe

falls

from the cheek.

!

Now
The

drench'd in tears of gratitude

breaking heart ceafes to ache^
fmiles with joy.
tir'd fenfes,

And
The

worn by conftant thought.

Retire to

reft.

Happy

refult of

human
;

friendfliip.

Methinks

I fee heaven's fcrutinizing fpirit,

Mark

the fair deed

in hafte afcending
!

To

the realms above

Great news,
!

Acceptable to heaven

Oh

glorious tidings

The

recording angel joyfully gives credit,

failings,

And, turning to the page of human

Balances accounts.

Adieu

W.

F. P.

FFNIS.