ANDROIDES. 



on the right side by an endless screw, 

 consisting 1 of twelve threads, each placed 

 at the distance of a line and an half from the 

 other. Above this screw was fixed a piece 

 of copper, and in it a steel pivot, which, 

 tailing 1 in between the threads of the SCPCW, 

 obliged the cylinder to follow the threads, 

 and, instead of turning directly round, 

 it was continually pushed to one side. 

 Hejice, if a levur was moved, by a peg 

 placed on the cylinder, in any one revolu- 

 tion, it could not be moved by the same 

 peg in the succeeding revolution, because 

 the peg would be moved a line and a 

 half beyond it by the lateral motion of 

 the c\ linder. 



Thus, by an artificial disposition of these 

 pegs in different parts of the cylinder, the 

 statin- was made, by the successive ele- 

 vation of the proper levers, to exhibit all 

 tlie different motions of a flute-player, 

 to the admiration of every one who saw 

 it. Another figure, constructed by the 

 same artist, Vaucanson, played on the Pro- 

 vencal shepherd's pipe, held in its left 

 hand, and with the right beat upon a drum. 



The performances of Vaucanson were 

 imitated, and even exceeded, by M. de 

 Kempelin, of Presburg-, in Hungary. The 

 androides constructed by this gentleman, 

 in 1760, was capable of playing chess. It 

 was brought over to England in 1783, and 

 remained here for more than a year. It 

 is thus described : The figure is as large 

 aslife, in a Turkish dress, seated behind a 

 table, with doors 3$ feet long, 2 deep, 

 and 2$ high. The chair on which it sits 

 is fixed to the table, which is made to run 

 on four wheels. It leans its right arm on 

 the table, and in its left hand holds a pipe ; 

 with this hand it plays after the pipe is 

 removed. A chess-board of 18 inches is 

 fixed before it The table, or rather chest, 

 contains wheels, levers, cylinders, and 

 other pieces of mechanism, all of which 

 are publicly displayed. The vestments of 

 the figure were then lifted over its head, 

 and the body seen full of similar \\ In-els 

 and levers. There is a little door in its 

 thigh, which is likewise opened: and with 

 tliis, and the table also open.and the figure 

 uncovered, the whole is wheeled about 

 the room. The doors are then shut, and 

 the automaton is ready to play ; and it al- 

 ways takes the first move. At even- mo- 

 tion the wheels are heard, the image 

 moves its head, and looks over every part 

 of the chess-board. When it checks the 

 queen it shakes its head twice, and thrice 

 in giving check to the king. It likewise 

 shakes its head when afalse move ismade, 

 replaces the piece, and makes its own 

 move, by which means the adversary loses 



one. M. de Kempelin exhibited his auto, 

 maton at Petersburg-, Vienna, Paris, and 

 London, before thousands, many of whom 

 were mathematicians, and chess-players, 

 and yet the secret by which he governed 

 the motion of its arm was never discover- 

 ed. He valued himself upon the construe 

 tion of a mechanism, by wluch the arm 

 eould perform ten or twelve moves. Il 

 then needed to be wound up like a watch, 

 after which it was capable of continuing 

 the same number of motions. This auto- 

 maton could not play unless M. de Kem- 

 pelin, or his assistant, was near it, to di- 

 rect its movements. A small square box 

 was frequently consulted by the exhibitor 

 during the game, and in this consisted the 

 secret, which the inventor declared he 

 could communicate in a moment Any 

 person who could beat M. de Kempelin 

 at chess, was sure of conquering the au- 

 tomaton. 



Remark by the British Editor. \\licn 

 this piece of mechanism was exhibited in 

 London, it played a great number of moves 

 without requiring to be wound up, and it 

 was worked by a M. Anthon, who walked 

 about the room, without any apparent com- 

 munication, during the performance. The 

 chess-board was part of the top of the 

 square counter, or table, to which the 

 figure was attached in a leaning posture. 

 When the back of the figure was opened, 

 an upright iron axis was seen, with two 

 strong springs, which apparently were in- 

 tended to restore the quiescent position 

 after any move ; and when the doors of 

 the counter were opened, two compart- 

 ments were seen, formed by an upright 

 partition in the interior space. In one of 

 them was seen a brass barrel, resembling 

 that of a barrel organ, having sixteen ver- 

 ticle bars or levers, so placed as if to be 

 tripped by the barrel ; and there was also 

 some wheel-work : and in the other com- 

 partment there was little, except a brass 

 horizontal arc, or quadrant, with a brass 

 radius, most probably capable of being set 

 to different angular situations. The hand 

 of the figure lay upon a cushion, and every 

 approaching move w.is announced by the 

 discharge ol a click, and the buzzing noize 

 of u fly was beard until the move was com- 

 pleted. The fore-arm was first raised 

 about two inches by a vi-rtical motion at 

 the elbow : it was then carried horizon- 

 tally, until the hand was immediately over 

 the piece to be taken up, at which time 

 the fingers suddenly opened, the hand 

 dropped, seized the piece, rose again, 

 made the move, and dropped the piece on 

 the square to which it had arrived- But 

 in case the adversary's piece were to be 



