_The state of the academy of sciences at Banza._
Mangogul had scarcely quitted the recluses, among whom I left him, when
a report was spread thro' Banza, that the virgins of the congregation
of Brama's Coccyx, spoke by their Toys. This report, to which Husseim's
violent proceedings had given credit, rouzed the curiosity of the
learned. The phænomenon was thoroughly examined and allowed: and the
freethinkers began to seek in the properties of matter, the reasons
of a fact, which they had at first deemed impossible. The tattle of
the Toys gave birth to a great number of excellent works; and this
important subject swell'd the collections of the academies with
several memoirs, which may be esteemed the utmost efforts of human
understanding.
In order to model and perpetuate that of Banza, invitations with
suitable encouragement had been, and still continued to be, given to
all persons of the brightest parts in Congo, Monoémugi, Beleguanza,
and the circumjacent kingdoms. It took in, under different titles,
all those who had distinguished themselves in natural history, natural
philosophy, mathematicks, and the greatest part of those, who promised
to make a figure in them one time or other. This swarm of indefatigable
bees labour'd incessantly in the research of truth, and every year
the public reaped the fruits of their labours in a volume full of
discoveries.
It was at that time divided into two factions, the one composed
of Vorticists, and the other of Attractionists. Olibrio, an able
geometrician and great natural philosopher, founded the sect of
the Vorticists. Circino, an able natural philosopher and great
geometrician, was the first Attractionist. Both Olibrio and Circino
proposed to explain nature. Olibrio's principles have at first sight a
certain air of simplicity, which seduces: in the gross they account
for the principal phænomena, but they contradict themselves in the
detail. As for Circino, he seems to set out upon an absurdity; but 'tis
the first step alone that is expensive. The minute details, which ruin
Olibrio's system, establish his. He follows a road, dark at entrance,
but which grows more lightsome according as a person advances. On
the contrary, that of Olibrio, lightsome at entrance, grows darker
and darker. The philosophy of the latter requires less study than
understanding. One cannot be a disciple of the former, without a large
share of understanding and study. One enters without preparation into
Olibrio's school; every body has the key of it. That of Circino is
open to none but geometricians of the first class. Olibrio's Vortices
are within the reach of all capacities. Circino's central powers are
made for first rate Algebraists only. Wherefore there will always be
an hundred Vorticists for one Attractionist; and one Attractionist
will always be worth an hundred Vorticists. Such was the state of
the academy of sciences at Banza, when it handled the subject of the
indiscreet Toys.
This phænomenon was very slippery: it dodged the attraction, and the
subtile matter could not come within reach of it. In vain did the
president summon all those who had any notions, to communicate them:
a profound silence reigned in the assembly. At length Persiflo the
Vorticist, who had published treatises on many subjects, which he did
not understand, rose up and said: "The fact, gentlemen, might well
agree with the system of the world. I should suspect that it has in
general the same cause with the tides. For pray take notice, that
this day is the equinoctial full moon. But before I can depend on my
conjecture, I must wait to hear what the Toys will say next month."
The company shrug'd their shoulders: they dared not remonstrate to
him, that he reasoned like a Toy; but as he is a man of penetration he
perceived in an instant that they thought as much.
The Attractionist Reciproco opened, and said: "Gentlemen, I have tables
calculated by a theory on the highth of the tides in every port of the
kingdom. True it is, that observations somewhat bely my calculations:
but I flatter myself that this small inconvenience will be repaired
by the advantage that will result from them, if the tattle of Toys
continues to square with the phænomena of the ebb and flow."
A third person started up, went to the board, traced his figure, and
said "let a Toy be A B, and----"
Here the ignorance of the translators has deprived us of a
demonstration, which without doubt the African author had preserv'd.
After a blank of about two pages, we read: Reciproco's reasoning was
thought demonstrative; and it was unanimously agreed, from the essays
he had given on dialectics, that he would be able one day or other to
make this deduction: women have from time immemorial heard with their
ears: therefore they ought at this day to speak by their Toys.
Doctor Orcotomus, of the tribe of Anatomists, spoke next, and said:
"Gentlemen, I am of opinion, that it would be properer to drop a
phænomenon, than to seek its cause in vapory hypotheses. For my
part, I would not have open'd my mouth, if I had nought but trifling
conjectures to offer: but I have examined, studied, meditated. I
have seen Toys in the paroxysm, and I am got so far, by means of my
knowledge of the parts, and experience, as to be convinced, that that
which in Greek we call Delphys, has all the properties of the windpipe,
and that there are some who can speak as well by the Toy as by the
mouth. Yes, gentlemen, the Delphys is a string and wind instrument;
but much more a string than a wind one. The outward air, which lights
on it, properly does the office of a bow on the tendinous fibres of
the wings, which I shall call ribbons or vocal strings. The gentle
collision of this air and the vocal strings puts them into a trembling
motion; and it is by their quicker or slower vibrations, that they
utter different sounds. The person modifies these sounds at discretion,
speaks, and even might sing.
"As there are but two ribbons or vocal strings, and as they are to
the eye of equal length, it will doubtless be ask'd, how they suffice
to give the multitude of sounds, grave and acute, strong and weak, of
which the human voice is capable. I answer, in pursuing the comparison
of this organ with musical instruments, that their lengthening and
shortening are sufficient to produce these effects.
"That these parts are capable of distention and contraction, is
needless to be demonstrated in an assembly of Literati of your rank:
but that in consequence of this distention and contraction, the Delphys
can utter sounds more or less acute; in a word, all the inflexions of
the voice, and modulation of singing; is a fact, which I flatter myself
I shall put out of doubt. My appeal is to experiments. Yes, gentlemen,
I engage to make both a Delphys and a Toy reason, speak, nay, and sing
too, before ye."
Thus harangued Orcotomus, promising to himself nothing less than to
raise the Toys to the level of the windpipes of one of his learned
brethren, whose success jealousy had attack'd in vain.