F is the outer part of the box; G, the first inside part;
H I
H, the second inside part; and I, the round case, made of leather, with a button on the top, and wide enough to slip on and off, half in the bottom of the box, into which put a small quantity of quicksilver, killed or amalgamated, which may be done with the shavings of pewter. In the second part, which is H, let there be six single pence: put these in the first or outermost part, then put G to H, and the box is perfect.
When you go to show this trick, desire any in the company to lend you a sixpence, saying, “you will return it safe”; requesting, withal, that none will meddle with any thing they see, unless you desire them, lest they prejudice you and themselves. Then take the cap off your box, and bid any one see it and feel it, that there be no mistrust; so likewise take the box entire, holding your fore-finger on the bottom, and your thumb on the upper part, turning it upside-down, and say,—“You see here is nothing:” then putting in the sixpence, put the cap over the box again; as the box stands covered upon the table, put your hand under the table, using some cant words; then take off the cap with your fore-finger and thumb, so as you pinch the innermost box with it and set it gently on the table; then put the dead quicksilver out of the lower part, into your hand, turning the box with the bottom upwards, and stirring it about with your fore-finger; then say, “Here you see it melted, now I will put it in again, and turn it into single pence;” suddenly take the cap as you took it off, and return it again; bid them blow on it; then take off the cap as you did before, only pinching the uppermost lid in it, and setting it upon the table; hold the box at the top and bottom, with your fore-finger and thumb; then put the six single pence, after they are viewed, and seen to be so, in again, and return the cap as before, saying, “Blow on it if you would have it in the same form you gave it me;” then taking the cap by the bottom, holding the box as before, put out the sixpence, and return the box into your pocket. This is a very good sleight, if well performed.
Trick upon the Globe-Box.
This is a trick not inferior to the best that is shown with boxes: it is a box made of four pieces, and a ball, so big as is imagined to be contained therein; the ball serves in the same way as the egg does in the egg-box, only to deceive the hand and eye of the spectators: this ball, made of wood or ivory, is thrown out of the box upon the table, for every one to see that it is substantial; then, putting the ball into the box, and letting the standers-by blow on the box, taking off the upper shell with your fore-finger and thumb, there appears another, and of another colour,—as red, blue, yellow, or any variety of colours upon each ball that is so imagined to be, which, indeed, is no more than the shell of wood, ingeniously turned and fitted for the box, as you may see in the following figures:—
N L
