377 

 i 



by himself, stand at different distances, and produce illusion the more 

 complete, the more perfect is his talent. No one equals Mr, Fitz-Jame 

 in the art of deceiving, in this respect, the most wary and suspicious ob- 

 server. 



He can set his organ to five or six different tones, pass rapidly from 

 one to the other, as he does when he represents a very eager discus- 

 sion, in a popular society, imitate the sound of a bell, and carry on, 

 singly, a conversation, in which one might think that several per- 

 sons of different ages and sexes were taking parts. But what completes 

 the illusion} and especially distinguishes the art of the ventriloquist from 

 that of the mimic, who can only counterfeit, consists in the power of so 

 modulating his voice, that one is deceived as to the distance of the speak- 

 er,in such sort, that one voice comes from the street, another, from a 

 neighbouring apartment^ that, from one that had clambered up the roof 

 of the house. Sec, It is easy to discern the value of such a talent in the 

 days of oracles* 



