Prime Minister (12 S. ix. 446; x. 117).—Mr. John Beresford is to be congratulated greatly on his discovery of this title in the margin of Clarendon's 'Continuation, &c.,' under 1661. This date now becomes the earliest of which the phrase is used. But I still think that the earliest to write it was Reresby in 1667 (p. 14 of the 1734—the first—edition). For his 'Memoirs' are in the nature (and almost the form) of a diary, as anyone can see at a glance, and the entry I cited must have been written in or about 1667.
Now I assume (though I do not know) that the marginal notes of the 'Continuation' were written by Clarendon. The 'Continuation' was first published in 1759 (Oxford). (In the 1827 edition, Oxford, the marginal note is on p. 416, vol. i.). We know (v. 'D.N.B.,' article by Prof. Firth) how the 'Life' was written, and the 'Continuation' is actually dated "Moulins, June 8, 1672." Clarendon died in 1674. It seems pretty certain that the words "prime minister" were inserted after 1672.
Anson, whom I cited, quotes Swift's "Inquiry into the Behaviour of the Queen's last Ministry,' xvi. 19. I cannot find the phrase in the Edinburgh edition, vol. v., p. 264 (1824), nor when it was first published, but it is of little importance, for in the title it is said, " Written in June, 1715." Anson' s other reference to Swift is "Preface to the History of the last four years of Queen Anne [xvi.], p. 38." The words are "the conduct of those who are now called prime ministers" (Edinb. edition, 1824, vol. v., p. 16). But Swift begins the Preface by saying that it was written (as the title implies) about 1713: it was not published till 1758 ('D.N.B.').
The net result seems to be that the earliest year of which the term is used is 1661 (Clarendon), that the earliest writer to employ it is Reresby in 1667, and that the earliest to recognize its coming into common use is Swift (1713).
If anyone discovers a literary reference to the title earlier than 1661-7 it is greatly to be hoped that he will publish it. H. C———n.
De Kemplen's Automaton Chess-player (12 S. x. 72, 113).—There is a full account of this invention, with diagrams showing how the living player was concealed, in chap. vi. of Tomlinson's 'Chess,' published 1845. G. A. Anderson.
I remember years ago reading an account of this automaton playing chess with Napoleon, who, to test its knowledge of the game, made three false moves. On the first occasion the figure replaced the piece wrongly moved and made its own move; on the second it removed the offending piece from the board; and on the third it swept off the pieces and refused to continue the game. I am sorry that I cannot recall the source of this amusing story, still less express any opinion as to its truth. I rather think—but cannot be at all certain—that it was in a magazine for boys in the mid-seventies.
I certainly saw an automaton chess-player at the Crystal Palace a little before the date mentioned by your correspondent. It was a figure of a Turk sitting on a large ottoman, smoking a "hookah," the cord of which looked as if it might have been the means of electric communication. As far as I know the secret was never discovered. But one thing that I saw tended to support the "hidden director" theory. The figure nodded twice for "check" and three times for "mate." I saw it give check and nod twice. While its opponent was considering his move, a bystander remarked "It is mate"—as it was. The figure at once nodded a third time! Barton R. A. Millls.
I thank your correspondents for interesting replies and gladly adopt L. L. K.'s correct spelling of the name. The B.M. catalogue does not advance the study of the subject, but two illuminating notes by C. Babbage occur in a copy of a French edition of No. 1 of 'Inanimate Reason,' published at Basle "chez l'Editeur," 1783.
March 6, 1819.—I went this evening to Spring Gardens to see the automaton play chess. He won the game. The movement of his hand and arm is not elegant and not so good as many of Merlin's figures. The interior appears large enough for a boy and is lined with green baize. The man who exhibits it stands close to it, sometimes on one sometimes on the other side. Very near behind was a tent containing the figure of a trumpeter who played two marches after the chess-player had finished. The automaton played very well and had a very excellent game in the opening. He gave check-mate by Philitor's legacy.
Feb. 12, Satdy, 1820.—Played with the automaton in St. James Street. He gave pawn and the move. Automaton won in about an hour. He played very cautiously—a trap door in the floor of the room was very evident just behind the figure.
These notes are written on pp. 1 and 3 of an inserted piece of paper, on p. 2 of which is recorded one o the games played,
