250 Mr Dugald Stewart on Ventriloquism. 



appearance have achieved an impossibility. " Deception," (says 

 Sir Joshua Reynolds) " which is so often recommended by 

 writers on the theory of painting, instead of advancing the art, 

 is, in reality, carrying it back to its infant state *." Diderot 

 plainly entertained the same idea, and has expressed it still 

 more explicitly, and with much greater precision. " Les arts 

 d'imitation sont toujours fondes sur une hypothese; ce n'est 

 pas le vrai qui nous charme, e'est le mensonge approchant de 

 la verite le plus pres possible -f\" In these few words, Diderot 

 has conveyed completely my notion of the source of the plea- 

 sure afforded by the imitations of the ventriloquist. 



From the very interesting and intelligent narrative of Cap- 

 tain Lyon, it appears that the art of ventriloquism is not un- 

 known among the Esquimaux, and that it is employed by 

 them for the same purposes to which it was so often made 

 subservient in the ancient world. The following passage ap- 

 pears to me so curious, that I shall transcribe the whole of it. 



f* Amongst our Igloolik acquaintances, were two female and 

 a few male wizards, of whom the principal was Toolemak. 

 This personage was cunning aud intelligent, and, whether 

 professionally, or from his skill in the chase, but perhaps from 

 both reasons, was considered by all the tribe as a man of im- 

 portance. As I invariably paid great deference to his opi- 

 nion on all subjects connected with his calling, he freely com- 

 municated to me his superior knowledge, and did not scruple 

 to allow of my being present at his interview with Tornga, or 

 his patron spirit. In consequence of this, I took an early op- 

 portunity of requesting my friend to exhibit his skill in my 

 cabin. His old wife was with him, and by much flattery, and 

 an accidental display of a glittering knife and some beads, 

 she assisted me in obtaining my request. All light excluded, 

 our sorcerer began chanting to his wife with great vehemence, 

 and she, in return, answered by singing the Amna-aya, which 

 was not discontinued during the whole ceremony. As far as 

 I could hear, he afterwards began turning himself rapidly 



• Reynold's Works, vol. iii. p. 176. Third edition. 



t Diderot, Observations sur un ouvrage intitule, »' Garrick et les Acteurs 

 Anglois." Memoircs Historiques, &c., par M. le Baron de Grimro, torn. i. 

 p. 100. Londres, chez Colburn, 1814. 



