256 On the Performances of different Ventriloquists. 



III. Account of the Performances of the Ventriloquist M. 

 Fitz- James. 



M. Fitz-James, a celebrated ventriloquist, who performed 

 in Paris in 1802, exhibited his art in London in 1803. Mr 

 William Nicholson, an acute and sagacious observer, has given 

 the following account of his performances. 



After a comic piece had been read by Monsieur Volange, 

 M. Fitz-James, who was sitting among the audience, went 

 forward and expressed his suspicion that the ventriloquism 

 was to be performed by the voices of persons concealed under 

 a platform, which was covered with green cloth. Replies were 

 given to his observations apparently from beneath the stage ; 

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

 person whose curiosity was strongly excited, making remarks 

 in his own voice, and answering rapidly and immediately in a 

 voice which no one would have ascribed to him. He then 

 addressed a bust, which appeared to answer his questions in 

 character ; and after conversing with another bust in the same 

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

 speech, explained the nature of the subject of our attention ; 

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

 that by long practice he had acquired the faculty of speaking 

 during the inspiration of the breath with nearly the same ar- 

 ticulation, though not so loud, nor so variously modulated, as 

 the ordinary voice formed by expiration of the air. The un- 

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

 different in effect from the other. Perhaps it may issue in a 

 great measure through the trunk of the individual. We 

 should scarcely be disposed to ascribe any definite direction to 

 it, and, consequently, are readily led to suppose it to come 

 from the place best adapted to what was said. So that when 

 he went to the door and asked, " Are you there IV to a per- 

 son supposed to be in the passage, the answer in the unusual 

 voice was immediately ascribed by the audience to a person 

 actually in the passage ; and upon shutting the door and 

 withdrawing from it, when he turned round, directing his 

 voice to the door, and said, " Stay there till I call you." The 

 answer, which was lower, and well adapted to the supposed 



