] But if these machines were ingenious, what shall we think
] of the calculating machine of Mr. Babbage? What shall we
] think of an engine of wood and metal which can not only
] compute astronomical and navigation tables to any given
] extent, but render the exactitude of its operations
] mathematically certain through its power of correcting
] its possible errors? What shall we think of a machine
] which can not only accomplish all this, but actually
] print off its elaborate results, when obtained, without
] the slightest intervention of the intellect of man? It
] will, perhaps, be said, in reply, that a machine such as
] we have described is altogether above comparison with the
] Chess-Player of Maelzel.

Poe talks about the Mechanical Turk when it was demoed in Virgina. It's pretty cool to hear him extrapolate the abilities of Babbage's calculating machines from the abilities of the Turk. For some reason my mental impression of Babbage was kind of a 1800's version of Dr. Emmet Brown from Back to the Future. Smart, but generally viewed as a crank and crackpot by his peers. I am surprised that Poe knows of him, and his work.

Edgar Allen Poe's Account of the Mechanical Turk