11.  The box behind which the Automaton is placed, is precisely three feet six inches long, two feet four inches deep, and two feet six inches high.  These dimensions are fully sufficient for the accommodation of a man very much above the common size—­and the main compartment alone is capable of holding any ordinary man in the position we have mentioned as assumed by the person concealed.  As these are facts, which any one who doubts them may prove by actual calculation, we deem it unnecessary to dwell upon them.  We will only suggest that, although the top of the box is apparently a board of about three inches in thickness, the spectator may satisfy himself by stooping and looking up at it when the main compartment is open, that it is in reality very thin.  The height of the drawer also will be misconceived by those who examine it in a cursory manner.  There is a space of about three inches between the top of the drawer as seen from the exterior, and the bottom of the cupboard—­a space which must be included in the height of the drawer.  These contrivances to make the room within the box appear less than it actually is, are referrible to a design on the part of the inventor, to impress the company again with a false idea, viz. that no human being can be accommodated within the box.

12.  The interior of the main compartment is lined throughout with cloth. This cloth we suppose to have a twofold object.  A portion of it may form, when tightly stretched, the only partitions which there is anv necessity for removing during the changes of the man’s position, viz:  the partition between the rear of the main compartment and the rear of the cupboard No. 1, and the partition between the main compartment, and the space behind the drawer when open.  If we imagine this to be the case, the difficulty of shifting the partitions vanishes at once, if indeed any such difficulty could be supposed under any circumstances to exist.  The second object of the cloth is to deaden and render indistinct all sounds occasioned by the movements of the person within.

13.  The antagonist (as we have before observed) is not suffered to play at the board of the Automaton, but is seated at some distance from the machine.  The reason which, most probably, would be assigned for this circumstance, if the question were demanded, is, that were the antagonist otherwise situated, his person would intervene between the machine and the spectators, and preclude the latter from a distinct view.  But this difficulty might be easily obviated, either by elevating the seats of the company, or by turning the end of the box towards them during the game.  The true cause of the restriction is, perhaps, very different.  Were the antagonist seated in contact with the box, the secret would be liable to discovery, by his detecting, with the aid of a quick car, the breathings of the man concealed.