16.  While the Chess-Player was in possession of Baron Kempelen, it was more than once observed, first, that an Italian in the suite of the Baron was never visible during the playing of a game at chess by the Turk, and, secondly, that the Italian being taken seriously ill, the exhibition was suspended until his recovery.  This Italian professed a total ignorance of the game of chess, although all others of the suite played well.  Similar observations have been made since the Automaton has been purchased by Maelzel.  There is a man, Schlumber0er, who attends him wherever he goes, but who has no ostensible occupation other than that of assisting in the packing and unpacking of the automata.  This man is about the medium size, and has a remarkable stoop in the shoulders.  Whether he professes to play chess or not, we are not informed.  It is quite certain, however, that he is never to be seen during the exhibition of the Chess-Player, although frequently visible just before and just after the exhibition.  Moreover, some years ago Maelzel visited Richmond with his automata, and exhibited them, we believe, in the house now occupied by M. Bossieux as a Dancing Academy. Schlumberger was suddenly taken ill, and during his illness there was no exhibition of the Chess-Player.  These facts are well known to many of our citizens.  The reason assigned for the suspension of the Chess-Player’s performances, was not the illness of Schlumberger. The inferences from all this we leave, without farther comment, to the reader.

17.  The Turk plays with his left arm.  A circumstance so remarkable cannot be accidental.  Brewster takes no notice of it whatever beyond a mere statement, we believe, that such is the fact.  The early writers of treatises on the Automaton, seem not to have observed the matter at all, and have no reference to it.  The author of the pamphlet alluded to by Brewster, mentions it, but acknowledges his inability to account for it.  Yet it is obviously from such prominent discrepancies or incongruities as this that deductions are to be made (if made at all) which shall lead us to the truth.

The circumstance of the Automaton’s playing with his left hand cannot have connexion with the operations of the machine, considered merely as such.  Any mechanical arrangement which would cause the figure to move, in any given manner, the left arm—­could, if reversed, cause it to move, in the same manner, the right.  But these principles cannot be extended to the human organization, wherein there is a marked and radical difference in the construction, and, at all events, in the powers, of the right and left arms.  Reflecting upon this latter fact, we naturally refer the incongruity noticeable in the Chess-Player to this peculiarity in the human organization.  If so, we must imagine some reversion—­for the Chess-Player plays precisely as a man would not. These ideas, once entertained, are sufficient