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I folded my arms in front of me and kept them in that position, to preclude the possibility of making any signs or gestures, or of spelling any words on my fingers, and proceeded, as best I could, by the expressions of my countenance, and a few motions of the head and attitudes of the body, to convey the picture in my own mind to the mind of my pupil.

It ought to be stated, that he was already acquainted with the fact, being familiar with the leading events in Roman history. But when I began, he knew not from what portion of history, sacred or profane, ancient or modern, the fact was selected. From this wide range, my delineation on the one hand, and his ingenuity on the other, had to bring it within the division of Roman history, and, still more minutely, to the particular individual and transaction designated by Col. Trumbull. In carrying on the process, I made no use whatever of any arbitrary conventional look, motion, or attitude, before settled between us, by which to let him understand what I wished to communicate, with the exception of a single one, if, indeed, it ought to be considered such.

The usual sign, at that time, among the teachers and pupils, for a Roman was portraying an aquiline nose by placing the fore finger crooked, in front of the nose. As I was prevented from using my finger in this way, and having considerable command over the muscles of my face, I endeavored to give my nose as much of the aquiline form as possible, and succeeded well enough for my purpose.

Every thing else that I looked and did was the pure, natural language by which my mind spontaneously endeavored to convey its thoughts and feelings to his mind by the varied expressions of the countenance, some motions of the head, and attitudes of the body.

It would be difficult to give any thing like a complete analysis of the process which I pursued in making the communication. To be understood it ought to be witnessed and accompanied with the requisite explanations. The outlines of the process, however, I can give. They were the following: --

A stretching and searching gaze eastward, with an undulating motion of the head, as if looking across and beyond the Atlantic Ocean, to denote that the event happened, not on the western, but on the eastern continent. This was making a little progress, as it took the subject out of the range of American history.

A turning of the eyes upward and backward, with frequently repeated motions of the head backward, as if looking a great way back in past time, to denote that the event was one of quite ancient date. The aquiline shape of the nose already referred to, indicating that a Roman was the person concerned. It was, of course, an old Roman.

Portraying, as well as I could, by my countenance, attitude, and manner, an individual high in authority, and commanding others, as if he expected to be obeyed.

Looking and acting as if I were giving out a specific order to many persons, and threatening punishment on those who should resist my authority -- even the punishment of death.

Here was a pause in the progress of events, which I denoted by sleeping as it were during the night and awaking in the morning, and doing this several times, to signify that several days had elapsed.

Looking with deep interest and surprise, as if at a single person brought and standing before me, with an expression of countenance indicating that he had violated the order which I had given, and that I knew it. Then looking in the same way at another person near him as also guilty. Two offending persons were thus denoted.

Exhibiting serious deliberation -- then hesitation, accompanied with strong conflicting emotions, producing perturbation, as if I knew not how to feel or what to do.

Looking first at one of the persons before me and then at the other, and then at both together, as a father would look, indicating his distressful parental feelings under such affecting circumstances.

Composing my feelings, showing that a change was coming over me, and exhibiting towards the imaginary persons before me, the decided look of the inflexible commander who was determined and ready to order them away to execution. Looking and acting as if the tender feelings of the father had again got the ascendency, and as if I were about to relent and pardon them.

These alternating states of mind I portrayed several times, to make my representation the more graphic and impressive.

At length the father yields, and the stern principle of justice, as expressed in my countenance and manner, prevails. My look and action denote the passing of the sentence of death on the offenders, and the ordering them away to execution.

Before I had quite completed the process, I perceived, from the expression of his countenance, and a little of impatience in his manner, that the pupil felt satisfied that he was fully in possession of the fact which I was endeavoring to communicate. But for the sake of greater certainty, I detained his attention till I had nothing more to portray. He quickly turned round to his slate and wrote a complete and correct account of the story of Brutus and his two sons.