Mr. Edison presented his phonograph to the Académie des Sciences through me, March 11, 1878, and when his agent, M. Puskas, caused the wonderful instrument to speak, a murmur of admiration was heard from all parts of the hall--a murmur succeeded by repeated applause. A letter appeared in the newspapers from one of the persons present, in which he said that ‘the learned Academy, generally so cold, had never before abandoned itself to such enthusiasm. Yet some members of a sceptical turn of mind, instead of examining the physical fact, ascribed it to moral causes, and a report soon ran through the room which seemed to accuse the Academy of having been mystified by a clever ventriloquist. Certainly the spirit of ancient Gaul is still to be found among the French, and even in the Academy. One said that the sounds emitted by the instrument were precisely those of a ventriloquist. Another asked if the movements of M. Puskas’ face and lips as he turned the instrument did not resemble the grimaces of a ventriloquist. A third admitted that the phonograph might emit sounds, but believed that it was much helped by the manipulator. Finally, the Academy requested M. du Moncel to try the experiment, and as he was not accustomed to speak into the instrument, it was unsuccessful, to the great joy of the incredulous. Some members of the Academy, however, desiring to ascertain the real nature of the effects, begged M. Puskas to repeat the experiments before them in the secretary’s office under such conditions as they should lay down. M. Puskas complied with this request, and they were absolutely satisfied with the result. Yet others remained incredulous, and it was necessary that they should make the experiment for themselves before they accepted the fact that speech could be reproduced in so simple a way.’ The anecdote I have just related cannot be interpreted to the discredit of the Académie des Sciences, since it is especially bound to preserve the true principles of science intact, and only to accept startling facts after a careful examination. Owing to this attitude, all which emanates from the Academy can be received with complete confidence; and we cannot approve too highly of reserve which does not give way to the first impulse of enthusiasm and admiration.