SCIENTIFIC NEWS, 203 



difpofed to think that the delufions with regard to the fup- Account of ven 

 pofed direction of the voice in fuch cafes are not phyfical but trilo^uifm. 

 moral ; that is to fay, they have arifen from fomething in the 

 ^nature of the fubject, or the pofition and action of the fpeaker, 

 with the character, tone, and manner of fpeaking. On the 

 prefent occafion I have the fatisfaction to give fome account of 

 the performance of M. Fitz. James, one of the firfl matters of 

 this art ; who in addition to his very ftriking powers as a 

 fpeaker and actor has the candour and liberality to explain the 

 nature of his performance to his auditors. I was prefent a 

 few evenings ago at a public exhibition, which continues to 

 be repeated at Dulau's in Soho-fquare ; and though my ac- 

 count of what I faw and heard cannot but be very imperfect, 

 and far from exciting the furprize which the actual perform- 

 ance produces, it may neverthelefs be of utility to eftablifh a 

 few principles, and remove fome errors refpecting this art. 



After a comic piece had been read by Monf. Volange, M. 

 Fitz- Tames, who was fitting among the audience, went for- 

 ward and exprefled his fufpicion, that the ventriloquifm was 

 to be performed by the voices of perfons concealed under a 

 platform which was covered with green cloth. Replies were 

 given to his obfervations apparently from beneath that ftage ; 

 and he followed the voices with the action and manner of a 

 perfon whofe curiofity was much excited, making remarks in 

 his own voice, and anfwering rapidly and immediately in a 

 voice which no one w T ould have afcribed to him. He then 

 addrefled a buft which appeared to anfwer his queftions in 

 character, and after converting with another buft in the fame 

 manner, he turned round, and in a neat and perfpicuous 

 fpeech explained the nature of the fubject of our attention : 

 and from what he flaled and exhibited before us, it appeared 

 that by long practice he had acquired the faculty of fpeaking 

 during the infpiration of the breath with nearly the fame arti- 

 culation, though not fo loud nor fo varioufly modulated as the 

 ordinary voice formed by expiration of the air. The unufual 

 voice being formed in the cavity of the lungs is very different 

 in effect from the other. Perhaps it may ifTue in a great mea- 

 fure through the trunk of the individual. We mould fcarcely 

 be difpofed to afcribe any definite direction to it ; and confe- 

 quently are readily led to fuppofe it to come from the place 

 beft adapted to what was faid. 80 that when he went to the 



door 



