Text: Anonymous, “[Notice of Maelzel's Chess-Player],” New-York Spectator (New York, NY), vol. XXXIX, June 23, 1836, p. 3, col 4

[page 3, column 4, continued:]

The April Number of the Southern Literary Messenger has a long essay to prove that Maelzel’s automaton chess player is not a pure machine, but that its operations are regulated and performed by a man concealed inside, who sees through the gauze which covers the breast. A variety of ingenious reasons are given. As a corroborating circumstance it is also stated that Maelzel has an attendant named Schlumberger, who has no ostensible duty to perform. This man, thought to be seen at most other times with his principal, is always missing during the game, and on one occasion when he was taken sick, in Richmond, the exhibition was suspended until his recovery.

We have seen this article of the Southern Literary Messenger quoted and commented upon, as a new and brilliant discovery, about a hundred and fifty times. Now if any body will take the pains to look at the article automaton, or the article chess, in the great Edinburg Encyclopedia, or at the chapter on automata in Sir David Brewster’s letters on Natural Magic, published as No. 50 of Harper’s Family Library, he will find the whole substance of the Messenger’s article, discovery and all, with a series of engravings illustrating the reasonings and explanations. We must, however, do the Messenger the justice that its article contains some new facts and observations, strengthening the probability of the exposition given.