It must now be determined, how we are to reckon these walls. If ‘s e stand in a room with our back to the windows, the first wall is on our left, the second before us, the third on our right, and the fourth behind us. We shall, however, commence with the floor, and divide it into nine pSrts, in the same manner as the walls. Where are 10, 20, 30. Stc. to be placed? Every decade begins a new se ries, and the decimal is placed on the ceiling of the room over its proper Avail ; thus the first decimal, or 10, will be over the first wall ; the second decimal, or 20, over the second wall, Ste.; and the fifth decimal, or 50, as its tenth-pat t exceeds the number of walls, will he assigned to the ceiling of the room, and will conse quently be the highest number in the first room, form ing the connecting link between this room and the se cond. When a second room is taken, the floor of it is denominated the fifth wall, time wall on the left the sixth, Ste., and as the number 50 was upon the ceiling of the lirst, so the number 100 will be upon the ceiling of the second room.
In order to remember a series of words, they are put in the several squares or places, and the recollection of them is assisted by associating some idea of relation be tween the objects and their situation ; and, as we find by experience, that whatever is ludicrous is calculated to make a strong impression upon the mind, the more ridiculous the association the better. To illustrate this idea, Mr. Feinaigle places the names of certain sensi ble objects in the different compartments, and connects the ideas of their images by some story, so as to make it almost impossible to forget the order in which they are arranged.
Another part of Alr. Feinaigle's system is the con verting figures into letters,—a branch of the mnemonic art which has been adverted to, we believe, by almost every writer on the subject. AIr. Feinaigle uses the consonants only, one or more of which are attached to the series of figures, each figure having its appropriate consonant. The letters appropriated to the figures are selected on account of some real or supposed resem blance. These letters, and the figures which they are intended to represent, should be strongly impressed up on the memory, as the letters must be converted into words by the introduction of vowels. The two conso nants representing two figures must be converted into a word, to which should be affixed some striking idea; and the images represented connected together. The objects, when selected, each being a word, must be ar ranged in the different places, beginning with the floor, and proceeding to the first, second, and third walls, Scc. In making these words, it is necessary that the two consonants required should be the two first in the word; if there be more than two, it is of no importance, as the two first only will be needful. The converting of figures into letters, and making sense by the introduc tion of vowels, will be found applicable to many of the purposes of common life.
Mr. Feinaigle proceeds to observe, that if the reader has practised the instructions already given in a room in which he is accustomed to spend the greater part of his time, and this room should have been hung with pictures, engravings, Etc., he will have been very mate rially assisted in the remembrance of his places or loca lilies. The transition is slight, but the impression is permanent. Let us, says he, fill the squares or places with some pictures or our own drawing; the two rooms will be then furnished, and it will be as easy to remem ber the symbols or hierogly pines, as to remember the situation or place of any picture, or article of furniture, in a room. Mr. Feinaigle has, accordingly, illustrated
this part of his system by some tables of symbols, and some diagrams, for which we must refer the reader to the book itself; as it has been our object rather to give an outline of his principles than a full exposition of his method. For the same reason, we deem it unnecessary to accompany the learned professor in his application of these principles to the various sciences.
We have already admitted the possibility of giving great assistance to the memory by means of arrange ment and association. It appears to us, however, that the apparatus of most of the systems hitherto proposed with that view is a great deal too complicated; and that a method might be devised much more simple in its elements, more easy of acquisition, and equally well adapted to all purposes of real utility.
The following are the principal works which have been written on the subject of mnemonics: The Castel of Memorie,Scc. made by Gulielmus Gratarolus ; Eng lyshed by William Fulluood. (Black letter.) Gratar oli's treatise on the Memory was also translated into French by Stephen Cope ; Lyons, 1586. Jordan() Bruno, De Imaginum et idearum compositione ad osmium inven tionem, et Memorie genera trcs libri; Franc. 1591, 8vo. Ars Reminiscendi Joan. Baptiste Porte Xeapolitani ; Naples, 1602, 4to. Lambert Schenckel, Illethodus de Latina Lingua intra 6 mensis docenda, St•Asburgh, 1609, 8vo. Ejusd. Gazophylacium Anis Memorise. Ste. Ibid. 1610, 8vo. Various other works were published in illustration of Schenckel's method. Simonides redi vivus, Scc. ?zahore Adam Bruxio ; Leipsic, 1610. 4to. F. DL Ravellini Ars Memorie, Stc. Franc. 1617. 8vo. John Willis, Mnenzonica. Sec. London, 1618. This book was translated into English by one Sowersby, Lon don, 1661. Ars Memorie b ealis, &c. Leipsie, 1620, 8vo. Adrian le Cuirot, Magazin des Sciences, ou vray Part de Memoire ; Paris. 1623, 12mo. Henry Herdson, Ars Mnemonica. Stc. in Latin, and Ars Memorise; The Art of Memory made plaint., in English ; bout tracts published at London, 1651, 8vo. Jean Belot, L'Oeuvre des Oeuvres, &c. Lyons, 1654, 8vo. Athanasius Kircher, Ars Magna Sciendi, Scc. Amsterdam, 1969, fol. The Divine Art of Memory, Ste. from the Latin of the Rev. John Shaw, by Simon Waste!, Lo'nd 1683, 12mo. Butner, le Pere, Pratique de la Memorie Ara &c. Paris, 1719-1723, 3 vols 8vo. Menzoria Technica, Sze. by Richard Grey, D D. London 1730, 8vo. Solomon Lowe, Mnemonics Delineated in a small compass. Stc. London, 1737, 8v0. This tract was re printed in a late edition of Grey's Memoria Technica, D G. Morhof Polyhistor,Scc. edit. quart. Lubeck. 1747, 2 vols. 4to. Fr. B. J. Feyjoo, Cartas eruditas y Curl osas ; Madrid, 1781, 5 \VS. 4to. D. J. L. Klip)er ; Compendium der Mnemonik ; Palm. 1804, 4to. Gra ffe, Katechetisches Magazin ; GAtingen, 1801, J C. von Arctin, Denksch•ift fiber den wahren Begriff and Arzazen der Mnemonik,Sce. Munich, 1804 8%,,.
Systematische 4nleitung zur Theoric and Praxis der Mrzemonik, Scc Sultzbach, 1810, 8vo. C. A. L IlIncinonik; oder System der Geddclaniss—Kunst der Altcn, Sec. Leipsic, 1804, 8vo. Ejusd. Leitfaden zu