At the hour appointed for exhibition, a curtain is withdrawn, or folding doors are thrown open, and the machine rolled to within about twelve feet of the nearest of the spectators, between whom and it (the machine) a rope is stretched.  A figure is seen habited as a Turk, and seated, with its legs crossed, at a large box apparently of maple wood, which serves it as a table.  The exhibiter will, if requested, roll the machine to any portion of the room, suffer it to remain altogether on any designated spot, or even shift its location repeatedly during the progress of a game.  The bottom of the box is elevated considerably above the floor by means of the castors or brazen rollers on which it moves, a clear view of the surface immediately beneath the Automaton being thus afforded to the spectators.  The chair on which the figure sits is affixed permanently to the box.  On the top of this latter is a chess-board, also permanently affixed.  The right arm of the Chess-Player is extended at full length before him, at right angles with his body, and lying, in an apparently careless position, by the side of the board.  The back of the hand is upwards.  The board itself is eighteen inches square.  The left arm of the figure is bent at the elbow, and in the left hand is a pipe.  A green drapery conceals the back of the Turk, and falls partially over the front of both shoulders.  To judge from the external appearance of the box, it is divided into five compartments—­three cupboards of equal dimensions, and two drawers occupying that portion of the chest lying beneath the cupboards.  The foregoing observations apply to the appearance of the Automaton upon its first introduction into the presence of the spectators.

Maelzel now informs the company that he will disclose to their view the mechanism of the machine.  Taking from his pocket a bunch of keys he unlocks with one of them, door marked ~ in the cut above, and throws the cupboard fully open to the inspection of all present.  Its whole interior is apparently filled with wheels, pinions, levers, and other machinery, crowded very closely together, so that the eye can penetrate but a little distance into the mass.  Leaving this door open to its full extent, he goes now round to the back of the box, and raising the drapery of the figure, opens another door situated precisely in the rear of the one first opened.  Holding a lighted candle at this door, and shifting the position of the whole machine repeatedly at the same time, a bright light is thrown entirely through the cupboard, which is now clearly seen to be full, completely full, of machinery.  The spectators being satisfied of this fact, Maelzel closes the back door, locks it, takes the key from the lock, lets fall the drapery of the figure, and comes round to the front.  The door marked I, it will be remembered, is still open.  The exhibiter now proceeds to open the drawer which lies beneath the cupboards at the bottom of the box—­for although there are apparently two drawers, there is