he movements of his machine will be
affected or disturbed by it. He also withdraws to any
distance you please, and lets the figure play four or five
moves successively without approaching it. It is unnecessary
to remark, that the marvellous in this Automaton consists
chiefly in this, that it has not (as in others, the most
celebrated machines of this sort) one determined series of
movements, but that it always moves in consequence of the
manner in which its opponent moves; which produces an
amazing multitude of different combinations in its
movements. M. de Kempett winds up from time to time the
springs of the arm of this Automaton, in order to renew its
MOVING FORCE, but this, you will observe, has no relation to
its guiding FORCE or power of direction, which makes the
great merit of this machine. In general I am of opinion,
that the contriver influences the direction of almost every
stroke played by the Automaton, although, as I have said, I
have sometimes seen him leave it to itself for many moves
together; which, in my opinion, is the most-difficult
circumstance of all to comprehend in what regards this
machine. M. de Kempett has the more merit in this invention,
as he complains that his designs have not always been
seconded by workmen so skilful as was requisite to the exact
precision of a work of this nature; and he hopes he shall,
ere long, produce to the world performances still more
surprising than this. Indeed one may expect every thing from
his knowledge and skill, which are exceedingly enhanced by
his uncommon modesty. Never did genius triumph with less
ostentation."

~~302~~~ "London is a rare place for sights,--always something
new;--where the spirits need never flag through want of amusement. Let
me recapitulate,--there is the automaton chess-player and the automaton
trumpeter,--the family compact, alias amicable society of cat, birds,
and mice,--the military canaries, and an hundred phenomena besides, of
which we shall make the round in due time. In the meanwhile, let us
set out, like the knight of La Mancha, in search of adventures, without
running the risk of mistaking windmills for giants: one of the former
would, indeed, be a high treat to the insatiable curiosity of the
inhabitants of this metropolis; and as to giants, there are none on
shew since Bartholom