incredible to the greater part of mankind.

The concurrence of teeth, palate and tongue, in the formation
of speech should seem to be indispensable, and yet men have spoken
distinctly though wanting a tongue, and to whom, therefore, teeth
and palate were superfluous. The tribe of motions requisite to
this end, are wholly latent and unknown, to those who possess that
organ.

I mean not to be more explicit. I have no reason to suppose
a peculiar conformation or activity in my own organs, or that the
power which I possess may not, with suitable directions and by
steady efforts, be obtained by others, but I will do nothing to
facilitate the acquisition. It is by far, too liable to perversion
for a good man to desire to possess it, or to teach it to another.

There remained but one thing to render this instrument as
powerful in my hands as it was capable of being. From my
childhood, I was remarkably skilful at imitation. There were few
voices whether of men or birds or beasts which I could not imitate
with success. To add my ancient, to my newly acquired skill, to
talk from a distance, and at the same time, in the accents of
another, was the object of my endeavours, and this object, after a
certain number of trials, I finally obtained.

In my present situation every thing that denoted intellectual
exertion was a crime, and exposed me to invectives if not to
stripes. This circumstance induced me to be silent to all others,
on the subject of my discovery. But, added to this, was a confused
belief, that it might be made, in some way instrumental to my