The Enquirer

MECHANISM.

A German Mechanic, of the name of Maelzel, is now exhibiting at Paris, an automaton of a singular construction. The figure exhibits a Trumpeter in the uniform of the Band of the French Imperial Guards, and at the word of command raises the Trumpet to its mouth and plays some exquisite pieces of martial music—The whole of the mechanism is contained in the chest of the automaton—its feet rest upon a board to which castors are affixed, and the proprietor moves it from place to place, in the exhibition room, to shew that there is no communication with any other apartment. In this respect it is superior to the celebrated automaton Flute player of M. Vaucanson, which once made so much noise in Europe : this latter figure reclined against a wall, behind which some complicated machinery was supposed to be placed...

The most wonderful part of M. Maelzel's automaton, is the effect produced by the lips of the figure upon the Trumpet, which are made to exhibit all the delicacy of touch peculiar to the lips of the human body. No jarring or cracking sound of machinery is to be heard, although the ear be applied close to the body of the automaton, nor can any musical sound be emitted unless when the Trumpet is applied to the mouth.

At the conclusion of the exhibition M. Maelzel sits down to a Piano forte, and his Trumpeter performs an accompaniment to several pieces of music with all the precision of a first performer.

This artist has heretofore distinguished himself by several improvements on musical instruments.