第1章

CHAPTERI

THEGUNCLUB

DuringtheWaroftheRebellion，anewandinfluentialclubwasestablishedinthecityofBaltimoreintheStateofMaryland。

Itiswellknownwithwhatenergythetasteformilitarymattersbecamedevelopedamongthatnationofship-owners，shopkeepers，andmechanics。Simpletradesmenjumpedtheircounterstobecomeextemporizedcaptains，colonels，andgenerals，withouthavingeverpassedtheSchoolofInstructionatWestPoint；

nevertheless；theyquicklyrivaledtheircompeersoftheoldcontinent，and，likethem，carriedoffvictoriesbydintoflavishexpenditureinammunition，money，andmen。

ButthepointinwhichtheAmericanssingularlydistancedtheEuropeanswasinthescienceofgunnery。Not，indeed，thattheirweaponsretainedahigherdegreeofperfectionthantheirs，butthattheyexhibitedunheard-ofdimensions，andconsequentlyattainedhithertounheard-ofranges。Inpointofgrazing，plunging，oblique，orenfilading，orpoint-blankfiring，theEnglish，French，andPrussianshavenothingtolearn；buttheircannon，howitzers，andmortarsaremerepocket-pistolscomparedwiththeformidableenginesoftheAmericanartillery。

Thisfactneedsurprisenoone。TheYankees，thefirstmechaniciansintheworld，areengineers——justastheItaliansaremusiciansandtheGermansmetaphysicians——byrightofbirth。

Nothingismorenatural，therefore，thantoperceivethemapplyingtheiraudaciousingenuitytothescienceofgunnery。

WitnessthemarvelsofParrott，Dahlgren，andRodman。

TheArmstrong，Palliser，andBeaulieugunswerecompelledtobowbeforetheirtransatlanticrivals。

NowwhenanAmericanhasanidea，hedirectlyseeksasecondAmericantoshareit。Iftherebethree，theyelectapresidentandtwosecretaries。Givenfour，theynameakeeperofrecords，andtheofficeisreadyforwork；five，theyconveneageneralmeeting，andtheclubisfullyconstituted。SothingsweremanagedinBaltimore。Theinventorofanewcannonassociatedhimselfwiththecasterandtheborer。Thuswasformedthenucleusofthe"GunClub。"Inasinglemonthafteritsformationitnumbered1，833effectivemembersand30，565correspondingmembers。

Oneconditionwasimposedasa_sinequanon_uponeverycandidateforadmissionintotheassociation，andthatwastheconditionofhavingdesigned，or(moreorless)perfectedacannon；or，indefaultofacannon，atleastafirearmofsomedescription。Itmay，however，bementionedthatmereinventorsofrevolvers，fire-shootingcarbines，andsimilarsmallarms，metwithlittleconsideration。Artilleristsalwayscommandedthechiefplaceoffavor。

Theestimationinwhichthesegentlemenwereheld，accordingtooneofthemostscientificexponentsoftheGunClub，was"proportionaltothemassesoftheirguns，andinthedirectratioofthesquareofthedistancesattainedbytheirprojectiles。"

TheGunCluboncefounded，itiseasytoconceivetheresultoftheinventivegeniusoftheAmericans。Theirmilitaryweaponsattainedcolossalproportions，andtheirprojectiles，exceedingtheprescribedlimits，unfortunatelyoccasionallycutintwosomeunoffendingpedestrians。Theseinventions，infact，leftfarintherearthetimidinstrumentsofEuropeanartillery。

ItisbutfairtoaddthattheseYankees，braveastheyhaveeverprovedthemselvestobe，didnotconfinethemselvestotheoriesandformulae，butthattheypaidheavily，_inpropriapersona_，fortheirinventions。Amongthemweretobecountedofficersofallranks，fromlieutenantstogenerals；militarymenofeveryage，fromthosewhowerejustmakingtheir_debut_

intheprofessionofarmsuptothosewhohadgrownoldinthegun-carriage。Manyhadfoundtheirrestonthefieldofbattlewhosenamesfiguredinthe"BookofHonor"oftheGunClub；andofthosewhomadegoodtheirreturnthegreaterproportionborethemarksoftheirindisputablevalor。Crutches，woodenlegs，artificialarms，steelhooks，caoutchoucjaws，silvercraniums，platinumnoses，werealltobefoundinthecollection；anditwascalculatedbythegreatstatisticianPitcairnthatthroughouttheGunClubtherewasnotquiteonearmbetweenfourpersonsandtwolegsbetweensix。

Nevertheless，thesevaliantartilleriststooknoparticularaccountoftheselittlefacts，andfeltjustlyproudwhenthedespatchesofabattlereturnedthenumberofvictimsatten-foldthequantityofprojectilesexpended。

Oneday，however——sadandmelancholyday！——peacewassignedbetweenthesurvivorsofthewar；thethunderofthegunsgraduallyceased，themortarsweresilent，thehowitzersweremuzzledforanindefiniteperiod，thecannon，withmuzzlesdepressed，werereturnedintothearsenal，theshotwererepiled，allbloodyreminiscenceswereeffaced；thecotton-plantsgrewluxuriantlyinthewell-manuredfields，allmourninggarmentswerelaidaside，togetherwithgrief；andtheGunClubwasrelegatedtoprofoundinactivity。

Somefewofthemoreadvancedandinveteratetheoristssetthemselvesagaintoworkuponcalculationsregardingthelawsofprojectiles。Theyrevertedinvariablytogiganticshellsandhowitzersofunparalleledcaliber。Stillindefaultofpracticalexperiencewhatwasthevalueofmeretheories？

Consequently，theclubroomsbecamedeserted，theservantsdozedintheantechambers，thenewspapersgrewmouldyonthetables，soundsofsnoringcamefromdarkcorners，andthemembersoftheGunClub，erstwhilesonoisyintheirseances，werereducedtosilencebythisdisastrouspeaceandgavethemselvesupwhollytodreamsofaPlatonickindofartillery。

"Thisishorrible！"saidTomHunteroneevening，whilerapidlycarbonizinghiswoodenlegsinthefireplaceofthesmoking-room；"nothingtodo！nothingtolookforwardto！whataloathsomeexistence！Whenagainshallthegunsarouseusinthemorningwiththeirdelightfulreports？"

"Thosedaysaregoneby，"saidjollyBilsby，tryingtoextendhismissingarms。"Itwasdelightfulonceuponatime！

Oneinventedagun，andhardlywasitcast，whenonehastenedtotryitinthefaceoftheenemy！ThenonereturnedtocampwithawordofencouragementfromShermanorafriendlyshakeofthehandfromMcClellan。Butnowthegeneralsaregonebacktotheircounters；andinplaceofprojectiles，theydespatchbalesofcotton。ByJove，thefutureofgunneryinAmericaislost！"

"Ay！andnowarinprospect！"continuedthefamousJamesT。

Maston，scratchingwithhissteelhookhisgutta-perchacranium。

"Notacloudonthehorizon！andthattooatsuchacriticalperiodintheprogressofthescienceofartillery！Yes，gentlemen！

Iwhoaddressyouhavemyselfthisverymorningperfectedamodel(plan，section，elevation，etc。)ofamortardestinedtochangealltheconditionsofwarfare！"

"No！isitpossible？"repliedTomHunter，histhoughtsrevertinginvoluntarilytoaformerinventionoftheHon。J。T。Maston，bywhich，atitsfirsttrial，hehadsucceededinkillingthreehundredandthirty-sevenpeople。

"Fact！"repliedhe。"Still，whatistheuseofsomanystudiesworkedout，somanydifficultiesvanquished？It\'smerewasteoftime！TheNewWorldseemstohavemadeupitsmindtoliveinpeace；andourbellicose_Tribune_predictssomeapproachingcatastrophesarisingoutofthisscandalousincreaseofpopulation。"

"Nevertheless，"repliedColonelBlomsberry，"theyarealwaysstrugglinginEuropetomaintaintheprincipleofnationalities。"

"Well？"

"Well，theremightbesomefieldforenterprisedownthere；andiftheywouldacceptourservices——"

"Whatareyoudreamingof？"screamedBilsby；"workatgunneryforthebenefitofforeigners？"

"Thatwouldbebetterthandoingnothinghere，"returnedthecolonel。

"Quiteso，"saidJ。T。Matson；"butstillweneednotdreamofthatexpedient。"

"Andwhynot？"demandedthecolonel。

"BecausetheirideasofprogressintheOldWorldarecontrarytoourAmericanhabitsofthought。Thosefellowsbelievethatonecan\'tbecomeageneralwithouthavingservedfirstasanensign；whichisasmuchastosaythatonecan\'tpointagunwithouthavingfirstcastitoneself！"

"Ridiculous！"repliedTomHunter，whittlingwithhisbowie-knifethearmsofhiseasychair；"butifthatbethecasethere，allthatisleftforusistoplanttobaccoanddistillwhale-oil。"

"What！"roaredJ。T。Maston，"shallwenotemploytheseremainingyearsofourlifeinperfectingfirearms？Shallthereneverbeafreshopportunityoftryingtherangesofprojectiles？

Shalltheairneveragainbelightedwiththeglareofourguns？

Nointernationaldifficultyeverarisetoenableustodeclarewaragainstsometransatlanticpower？ShallnottheFrenchsinkoneofoursteamers，ortheEnglish，indefianceoftherightsofnations，hangafewofourcountrymen？"

"Nosuchluck，"repliedColonelBlomsberry；"nothingofthekindislikelytohappen；andevenifitdid，weshouldnotprofitbyit。

Americansusceptibilityisfastdeclining，andweareallgoingtothedogs。"

"Itistootrue，"repliedJ。T。Maston，withfreshviolence；

"thereareathousandgroundsforfighting，andyetwedon\'tfight。

Wesaveupourarmsandlegsforthebenefitofnationswhodon\'tknowwhattodowiththem！Butstop——withoutgoingoutofone\'swaytofindacauseforwar——didnotNorthAmericaoncebelongtotheEnglish？"

"Undoubtedly，"repliedTomHunter，stampinghiscrutchwithfury。

"Well，then，"repliedJ。T。Maston，"whyshouldnotEnglandinherturnbelongtotheAmericans？"

"Itwouldbebutjustandfair，"returnedColonelBlomsberry。

"GoandproposeittothePresidentoftheUnitedStates，"criedJ。T。Maston，"andseehowhewillreceiveyou。"

"Bah！"growledBilsbybetweenthefourteethwhichthewarhadlefthim；"thatwillneverdo！"

"ByJove！"criedJ。T。Maston，"hemustn\'tcountonmyvoteatthenextelection！"

"Noronours，"repliedunanimouslyallthebellicoseinvalids。

"Meanwhile，"repliedJ。T。Maston，"allowmetosaythat，ifI

cannotgetanopportunitytotrymynewmortarsonarealfieldofbattle，Ishallsaygood-bytothemembersoftheGunClub，andgoandburymyselfintheprairiesofArkansas！"

"Inthatcasewewillaccompanyyou，"criedtheothers。

Matterswereinthisunfortunatecondition，andtheclubwasthreatenedwithapproachingdissolution，whenanunexpectedcircumstanceoccurredtopreventsodeplorableacatastrophe。

Onthemorrowafterthisconversationeverymemberoftheassociationreceivedasealedcircularcouchedinthefollowingterms:

BALTIMORE，October3。

ThepresidentoftheGunClubhasthehonortoinformhiscolleaguesthat，atthemeetingofthe5thinstant，hewillbringbeforethemacommunicationofanextremelyinterestingnature。Herequests，therefore，thattheywillmakeitconvenienttoattendinaccordancewiththepresentinvitation。Verycordially，IMPEYBARBICANE，P。G。C。

CHAPTERII

PRESIDENTBARBICANE\'SCOMMUNICATION

Onthe5thofOctober，ateightp。m。，adensecrowdpressedtowardthesaloonsoftheGunClubatNo。21UnionSquare。

AllthemembersoftheassociationresidentinBaltimoreattendedtheinvitationoftheirpresident。Asregardsthecorrespondingmembers，noticesweredeliveredbyhundredsthroughoutthestreetsofthecity，and，largeaswasthegreathall，itwasquiteinadequatetoaccommodatethecrowdof_savants_。Theyoverflowedintotheadjoiningrooms，downthenarrowpassages，intotheoutercourtyards。Theretheyranagainstthevulgarherdwhopresseduptothedoors，eachstrugglingtoreachthefrontranks，alleagertolearnthenatureoftheimportantcommunicationofPresidentBarbicane；allpushing，squeezing，crushingwiththatperfectfreedomofactionwhichissopeculiartothemasseswheneducatedinideasof"self-government。"

OnthateveningastrangerwhomighthavechancedtobeinBaltimorecouldnothavegainedadmissionforloveormoneyintothegreathall。Thatwasreservedexclusivelyforresidentorcorrespondingmembers；nooneelsecouldpossiblyhaveobtainedaplace；andthecitymagnates，municipalcouncilors，and"selectmen"werecompelledtominglewiththemeretownspeopleinordertocatchstraybitsofnewsfromtheinterior。

Neverthelessthevasthallpresentedacuriousspectacle。

Itsimmenseareawassingularlyadaptedtothepurpose。

Loftypillarsformedofcannon，superposeduponhugemortarsasabase，supportedthefineironworkofthearches，aperfectpieceofcast-ironlacework。Trophiesofblunderbuses，matchlocks，arquebuses，carbines，allkindsoffirearms，ancientandmodern，werepicturesquelyinterlacedagainstthewalls。Thegaslitupinfullglaremyriadsofrevolversgroupedintheformoflustres，whilegroupsofpistols，andcandelabraformedofmusketsboundtogether，completedthismagnificentdisplayofbrilliance。Modelsofcannon，bronzecastings，sightscoveredwithdents，platesbatteredbytheshotsoftheGunClub，assortmentsoframmersandsponges，chapletsofshells，wreathsofprojectiles，garlandsofhowitzers——inshort，alltheapparatusoftheartillerist，enchantedtheeyebythiswonderfularrangementandinducedakindofbeliefthattheirrealpurposewasornamentalratherthandeadly。

Atthefurtherendofthesaloonthepresident，assistedbyfoursecretaries，occupiedalargeplatform。Hischair，supportedbyacarvedgun-carriage，wasmodeledupontheponderousproportionsofa32-inchmortar。Itwaspointedatanangleofninetydegrees，andsuspendedupontruncheons，sothatthepresidentcouldbalancehimselfuponitasuponarocking-chair，averyagreeablefactintheveryhotweather。Uponthetable(ahugeironplatesupporteduponsixcarronades)stoodaninkstandofexquisiteelegance，madeofabeautifullychasedSpanishpiece，andasonnette，which，whenrequired，couldgiveforthareportequaltothatofarevolver。

Duringviolentdebatesthisnovelkindofbellscarcelysufficedtodrowntheclamoroftheseexcitableartillerists。

Infrontofthetablebenchesarrangedinzigzagform，likethecircumvallationsofaretrenchment，formedasuccessionofbastionsandcurtainssetapartfortheuseofthemembersoftheclub；andonthisespecialeveningonemightsay，"Alltheworldwasontheramparts。"Thepresidentwassufficientlywellknown，however，foralltobeassuredthathewouldnotputhiscolleaguestodiscomfortwithoutsomeverystrongmotive。

ImpeyBarbicanewasamanoffortyyearsofage，calm，cold，austere；ofasingularlyseriousandself-containeddemeanor，punctualasachronometer，ofimperturbabletemperandimmovablecharacter；bynomeanschivalrous，yetadventurouswithal，andalwaysbringingpracticalideastobearupontheveryrashestenterprises；anessentiallyNewEnglander，aNortherncolonist，adescendantoftheoldanti-StuartRoundheads，andtheimplacableenemyofthegentlemenoftheSouth，thoseancientcavaliersofthemothercountry。Inaword，hewasaYankeetothebackbone。

Barbicanehadmadealargefortuneasatimbermerchant。

Beingnominateddirectorofartilleryduringthewar，heprovedhimselffertileininvention。Boldinhisconceptions，hecontributedpowerfullytotheprogressofthatarmandgaveanimmenseimpetustoexperimentalresearches。

Hewaspersonageofthemiddleheight，having，byarareexceptionintheGunClub，allhislimbscomplete。Hisstronglymarkedfeaturesseemeddrawnbysquareandrule；andifitbetruethat，inordertojudgeaman\'scharacteronemustlookathisprofile，Barbicane，soexamined，exhibitedthemostcertainindicationsofenergy，audacity，and_sang-froid_。

Atthismomenthewassittinginhisarmchair，silent，absorbed，lostinreflection，shelteredunderhishigh-crownedhat——akindofblackcylinderwhichalwaysseemsfirmlyscrewedupontheheadofanAmerican。

Justwhenthedeep-tonedclockinthegreathallstruckeight，Barbicane，asifhehadbeensetinmotionbyaspring，raisedhimselfup。Aprofoundsilenceensued，andthespeaker，inasomewhatemphatictoneofvoice，commencedasfollows:

"Mybrave，colleagues，toolongalreadyaparalyzingpeacehasplungedthemembersoftheGunClubindeplorableinactivity。

Afteraperiodofyearsfullofincidentswehavebeencompelledtoabandonourlabors，andtostopshortontheroadofprogress。

Idonothesitatetostate，baldly，thatanywarwhichwouldrecallustoarmswouldbewelcome！"(Tremendousapplause！)

"Butwar，gentlemen，isimpossibleunderexistingcircumstances；

and，howeverwemaydesireit，manyyearsmayelapsebeforeourcannonshallagainthunderinthefieldofbattle。Wemustmakeupourminds，then，toseekinanothertrainofideassomefieldfortheactivitywhichweallpinefor。"

Themeetingfeltthatthepresidentwasnowapproachingthecriticalpoint，andredoubledtheirattentionaccordingly。

"Forsomemonthspast，mybravecolleagues，"continuedBarbicane，"Ihavebeenaskingmyselfwhether，whileconfiningourselvestoourownparticularobjects，wecouldnotenteruponsomegrandexperimentworthyofthenineteenthcentury；andwhethertheprogressofartillerysciencewouldnotenableustocarryitouttoasuccessfulissue。Ihavebeenconsidering，working，calculating；andtheresultofmystudiesistheconvictionthatwearesafetosucceedinanenterprisewhichtoanyothercountrywouldappearwhollyimpracticable。Thisproject，theresultoflongelaboration，istheobjectofmypresentcommunication。

Itisworthyofyourselves，worthyoftheantecedentsoftheGunClub；anditcannotfailtomakesomenoiseintheworld。"

Athrillofexcitementranthroughthemeeting。

Barbicane，havingbyarapidmovementfirmlyfixedhishatuponhishead，calmlycontinuedhisharangue:

"Thereisnooneamongyou，mybravecolleagues，whohasnotseentheMoon，or，atleast，heardspeakofit。Don\'tbesurprisedifIamabouttodiscoursetoyouregardingtheQueenoftheNight。ItisperhapsreservedforustobecometheColumbusesofthisunknownworld。Onlyenterintomyplans，andsecondmewithallyourpower，andIwillleadyoutoitsconquest，anditsnameshallbeaddedtothoseofthethirty-sixstateswhichcomposethisGreatUnion。"

"ThreecheersfortheMoon！"roaredtheGunClub，withonevoice。

"Themoon，gentlemen，hasbeencarefullystudied，"continuedBarbicane；"hermass，density，andweight；herconstitution，motions，distance，aswellasherplaceinthesolarsystem，haveallbeenexactlydetermined。Selenographicchartshavebeenconstructedwithaperfectionwhichequals，ifitdoesnotevensurpass，thatofourterrestrialmaps。Photographyhasgivenusproofsoftheincomparablebeautyofoursatellite；allisknownregardingthemoonwhichmathematicalscience，astronomy，geology，andopticscanlearnabouther。Butuptothepresentmomentnodirectcommunicationhasbeenestablishedwithher。"

Aviolentmovementofinterestandsurpriseheregreetedthisremarkofthespeaker。

"Permitme，"hecontinued，"torecounttoyoubrieflyhowcertainardentspirits，startingonimaginaryjourneys，havepenetratedthesecretsofoursatellite。IntheseventeenthcenturyacertainDavidFabriciusboastedofhavingseenwithhisowneyestheinhabitantsofthemoon。In1649aFrenchman，oneJeanBaudoin，publisheda`JourneyperformedfromtheEarthtotheMoonbyDomingoGonzalez，\'aSpanishadventurer。AtthesameperiodCyranodeBergeracpublishedthatcelebrated`JourneysintheMoon\'whichmetwithsuchsuccessinFrance。

SomewhatlateranotherFrenchman，namedFontenelle，wrote`ThePluralityofWorlds，\'a_chef-d\'oeuvre_ofitstime。About1835

asmalltreatise，translatedfromtheNewYork_American_，relatedhowSirJohnHerschel，havingbeendespatchedtotheCapeofGoodHopeforthepurposeofmakingtheresomeastronomicalcalculations，had，bymeansofatelescopebroughttoperfectionbymeansofinternallighting，reducedtheapparentdistanceofthemoontoeightyyards！Hethendistinctlyperceivedcavernsfrequentedbyhippopotami，greenmountainsborderedbygoldenlace-work，sheepwithhornsofivory，awhitespeciesofdeerandinhabitantswithmembranouswings，likebats。This_brochure_，theworkofanAmericannamedLocke，hadagreatsale。But，tobringthisrapidsketchtoaclose，IwillonlyaddthatacertainHansPfaal，ofRotterdam，launchinghimselfinaballoonfilledwithagasextractedfromnitrogen，thirty-seventimeslighterthanhydrogen，reachedthemoonafterapassageofnineteenhours。Thisjourney，likeallpreviousones，waspurelyimaginary；still，itwastheworkofapopularAmericanauthor——

ImeanEdgarPoe！"

"CheersforEdgarPoe！"roaredtheassemblage，electrifiedbytheirpresident\'swords。

"Ihavenowenumerated，"saidBarbicane，"theexperimentswhichIcallpurelypaperones，andwhollyinsufficienttoestablishseriousrelationswiththeQueenoftheNight。Nevertheless，I

amboundtoaddthatsomepracticalgeniuseshaveattemptedtoestablishactualcommunicationwithher。Thus，afewdaysago，aGermangeometricianproposedtosendascientificexpeditiontothesteppesofSiberia。There，onthosevastplains，theyweretodescribeenormousgeometricfigures，drawnincharactersofreflectingluminosity，amongwhichwasthepropositionregardingthe`squareofthehypothenuse，\'commonlycalledthe`Ass\'sBridge\'bytheFrench。`Everyintelligentbeing，\'saidthegeometrician，`mustunderstandthescientificmeaningofthatfigure。TheSelenites，dotheyexist，willrespondbyasimilarfigure；and，acommunicationbeingthusonceestablished，itwillbeeasytoformanalphabetwhichshallenableustoconversewiththeinhabitantsofthemoon。\'SospoketheGermangeometrician；buthisprojectwasneverputintopractice，anduptothepresentdaythereisnobondinexistencebetweentheEarthandhersatellite。ItisreservedforthepracticalgeniusofAmericanstoestablishacommunicationwiththesiderealworld。Themeansofarrivingthitheraresimple，easy，certain，infallible——andthatisthepurposeofmypresentproposal。"

Astormofacclamationsgreetedthesewords。Therewasnotasinglepersoninthewholeaudiencewhowasnotovercome，carriedaway，liftedoutofhimselfbythespeaker\'swords！

Long-continuedapplauseresoundedfromallsides。

Assoonastheexcitementhadpartiallysubsided，Barbicaneresumedhisspeechinasomewhatgravervoice。

"Youknow，"saidhe，"whatprogressartillerysciencehasmadeduringthelastfewyears，andwhatadegreeofperfectionfirearmsofeverykindhavereached。Moreover，youarewellawarethat，ingeneralterms，theresistingpowerofcannonandtheexpansiveforceofgunpowderarepracticallyunlimited。

Well！startingfromthisprinciple，Iaskmyselfwhether，supposingsufficientapparatuscouldbeobtainedconstructedupontheconditionsofascertainedresistance，itmightnotbepossibletoprojectashotuptothemoon？"

Atthesewordsamurmurofamazementescapedfromathousandpantingchests；thensucceededamomentofperfectsilence，resemblingthatprofoundstillnesswhichprecedestheburstingofathunderstorm。Inpointoffact，athunderstormdidpealforth，butitwasthethunderofapplause，orcries，andofuproarwhichmadetheveryhalltremble。Thepresidentattemptedtospeak，butcouldnot。Itwasfullytenminutesbeforehecouldmakehimselfheard。

"Suffermetofinish，"hecalmlycontinued。"Ihavelookedatthequestioninallitsbearings，Ihaveresolutelyattackedit，andbyincontrovertiblecalculationsIfindthataprojectileendowedwithaninitialvelocityof12，000yardspersecond，andaimedatthemoon，mustnecessarilyreachit。Ihavethehonor，mybravecolleagues，toproposeatrialofthislittleexperiment。"

CHAPTERIII

EFFECTOFTHEPRESIDENT\'SCOMMUNICATION

Itisimpossibletodescribetheeffectproducedbythelastwordsofthehonorablepresident——thecries，theshouts，thesuccessionofroars，hurrahs，andallthevariedvociferationswhichtheAmericanlanguageiscapableofsupplying。Itwasasceneofindescribableconfusionanduproar。Theyshouted，theyclapped，theystampedonthefloorofthehall。Alltheweaponsinthemuseumdischargedatoncecouldnothavemoreviolentlysetinmotionthewavesofsound。Oneneednotbesurprisedatthis。

Therearesomecannoneersnearlyasnoisyastheirownguns。

Barbicaneremainedcalminthemidstofthisenthusiasticclamor；perhapshewasdesirousofaddressingafewmorewordstohiscolleagues，forbyhisgestureshedemandedsilence，andhispowerfulalarumwaswornoutbyitsviolentreports。

Noattention，however，waspaidtohisrequest。Hewaspresentlytornfromhisseatandpassedfromthehandsofhisfaithfulcolleaguesintothearmsofanolessexcitedcrowd。

NothingcanastoundanAmerican。Ithasoftenbeenassertedthattheword"impossible"innotaFrenchone。Peoplehaveevidentlybeendeceivedbythedictionary。InAmerica，alliseasy，allissimple；andasformechanicaldifficulties，theyareovercomebeforetheyarise。BetweenBarbicane\'spropositionanditsrealizationnotrueYankeewouldhaveallowedeventhesemblanceofadifficultytobepossible。Athingwiththemisnosoonersaidthandone。

Thetriumphalprogressofthepresidentcontinuedthroughouttheevening。Itwasaregulartorchlightprocession。Irish，Germans，French，Scotch，alltheheterogeneousunitswhichmakeupthepopulationofMarylandshoutedintheirrespectivevernaculars；

andthe"vivas，""hurrahs，"and"bravos"wereintermingledininexpressibleenthusiasm。

Justatthiscrisis，asthoughshecomprehendedallthisagitationregardingherself，themoonshoneforthwithserenesplendor，eclipsingbyherintenseilluminationallthesurroundinglights。TheYankeesallturnedtheirgazetowardherresplendentorb，kissedtheirhands，calledherbyallkindsofendearingnames。Betweeneighto\'clockandmidnightoneopticianinJones\'-FallStreetmadehisfortunebythesaleofopera-glasses。

Midnightarrived，andtheenthusiasmshowednosignsofdiminution。

Itspreadequallyamongallclassesofcitizens——menofscience，shopkeepers，merchants，porters，chair-men，aswellas"greenhorns，"

werestirredintheirinnermostfibres。Anationalenterprisewasatstake。Thewholecity，highandlow，thequaysborderingthePatapsco，theshipslyinginthebasins，disgorgedacrowddrunkwithjoy，gin，andwhisky。Everyonechattered，argued，discussed，disputed，applauded，fromthegentlemanlounginguponthebarroomsetteewithhistumblerofsherry-cobblerbeforehimdowntothewatermanwhogotdrunkuponhis"knock-me-down"inthedingytavernsofFellPoint。

AbouttwoA。M。，however，theexcitementbegantosubside。

PresidentBarbicanereachedhishouse，bruised，crushed，andsqueezedalmosttoamummy。Herculescouldnothaveresistedasimilaroutbreakofenthusiasm。Thecrowdgraduallydesertedthesquaresandstreets。ThefourrailwaysfromPhiladelphiaandWashington，HarrisburgandWheeling，whichconvergeatBaltimore，whirledawaytheheterogeneouspopulationtothefourcornersoftheUnitedStates，andthecitysubsidedintocomparativetranquility。

Onthefollowingday，thankstothetelegraphicwires，fivehundrednewspapersandjournals，daily，weekly，monthly，orbi-monthly，alltookupthequestion。Theyexamineditunderallitsdifferentaspects，physical，meteorological，economical，ormoral，uptoitsbearingsonpoliticsorcivilization。

Theydebatedwhetherthemoonwasafinishedworld，orwhetheritwasdestinedtoundergoanyfurthertransformation。Diditresembletheearthattheperiodwhenthelatterwasdestituteasyetofanatmosphere？Whatkindofspectaclewoulditshiddenhemispherepresenttoourterrestrialspheroid？Grantingthatthequestionatpresentwassimplythatofsendingaprojectileuptothemoon，everyonemustseethatthatinvolvedthecommencementofaseriesofexperiments。AllmusthopethatsomedayAmericawouldpenetratethedeepestsecretsofthatmysteriousorb；andsomeevenseemedtofearlestitsconquestshouldnotsensiblyderangetheequilibriumofEurope。

Theprojectonceunderdiscussion，notasingleparagraphsuggestedadoubtofitsrealization。Allthepapers，pamphlets，reports——allthejournalspublishedbythescientific，literary，andreligioussocietiesenlargeduponitsadvantages；andtheSocietyofNaturalHistoryofBoston，theSocietyofScienceandArtofAlbany，theGeographicalandStatisticalSocietyofNewYork，thePhilosophicalSocietyofPhiladelphia，andtheSmithsonianofWashingtonsentinnumerablelettersofcongratulationtotheGunClub，togetherwithoffersofimmediateassistanceandmoney。

FromthatdayforwardImpeyBarbicanebecameoneofthegreatestcitizensoftheUnitedStates，akindofWashingtonofscience。

Asingletraitoffeeling，takenfrommanyothers，willservetoshowthepointwhichthishomageofawholepeopletoasingleindividualattained。

SomefewdaysafterthismemorablemeetingoftheGunClub，themanagerofanEnglishcompanyannounced，attheBaltimoretheatre，theproductionof"MuchadoaboutNothing。"Butthepopulace，seeinginthattitleanallusiondamagingtoBarbicane\'sproject，brokeintotheauditorium，smashedthebenches，andcompelledtheunluckydirectortoalterhisplaybill。

Beingasensibleman，hebowedtothepublicwillandreplacedtheoffendingcomedyby"Asyoulikeit"；andformanyweeksherealizedfabulousprofits。

CHAPTERIV

REPLYFROMTHEOBSERVATORYOFCAMBRIDGE

Barbicane，however，lostnotonemomentamidalltheenthusiasmofwhichhehadbecometheobject。Hisfirstcarewastoreassemblehiscolleaguesintheboard-roomoftheGunClub。

There，aftersomediscussion，itwasagreedtoconsulttheastronomersregardingtheastronomicalpartoftheenterprise。

Theirreplyonceascertained，theycouldthendiscussthemechanicalmeans，andnothingshouldbewantingtoensurethesuccessofthisgreatexperiment。

Anotecouchedinpreciseterms，containingspecialinterrogatories，wasthendrawnupandaddressedtotheObservatoryofCambridgeinMassachusetts。Thiscity，wherethefirstuniversityoftheUnitedStateswasfounded，isjustlycelebratedforitsastronomicalstaff。Therearetobefoundassembledallthemosteminentmenofscience。HereistobeseenatworkthatpowerfultelescopewhichenabledBondtoresolvethenebulaofAndromeda，andClarketodiscoverthesatelliteofSirius。ThiscelebratedinstitutionfullyjustifiedonallpointstheconfidencereposedinitbytheGunClub。

So，aftertwodays，thereplysoimpatientlyawaitedwasplacedinthehandsofPresidentBarbicane。

Itwascouchedinthefollowingterms:

_TheDirectoroftheCambridgeObservatorytothePresidentoftheGunClubatBaltimore。_

CAMBRIDGE，October7。

Onthereceiptofyourfavorofthe6thinstant，addressedtotheObservatoryofCambridgeinthenameofthemembersoftheBaltimoreGunClub，ourstaffwasimmediatelycalledtogether，anditwasjudgedexpedienttoreplyasfollows:

Thequestionswhichhavebeenproposedtoitarethese——

"1。Isitpossibletotransmitaprojectileuptothemoon？

"2。Whatistheexactdistancewhichseparatestheearthfromitssatellite？

"3。Whatwillbetheperiodoftransitoftheprojectilewhenendowedwithsufficientinitialvelocity？and，consequently，atwhatmomentoughtittobedischargedinorderthatitmaytouchthemoonataparticularpoint？

"4。Atwhatprecisemomentwillthemoonpresentherselfinthemostfavorablepositiontobereachedbytheprojectile？

"5。Whatpointintheheavensoughtthecannontobeaimedatwhichisintendedtodischargetheprojectile？

"6。Whatplacewillthemoonoccupyintheheavensatthemomentoftheprojectile\'sdeparture？"

Regardingthe_first_question，"Isitpossibletotransmitaprojectileuptothemoon？"

_Answer。_——Yes；provideditpossessaninitialvelocityof1，200yardspersecond；calculationsprovethattobesufficient。

Inproportionaswerecedefromtheearththeactionofgravitationdiminishesintheinverseratioofthesquareofthedistance；

thatistosay，_atthreetimesagivendistancetheactionisninetimesless。_Consequently，theweightofashotwilldecrease，andwillbecomereducedto_zero_attheinstantthattheattractionofthemoonexactlycounterpoisesthatoftheearth；thatistosayat47/52ofitspassage。Atthatinstanttheprojectilewillhavenoweightwhatever；and，ifitpassesthatpoint，itwillfallintothemoonbythesoleeffectofthelunarattraction。

The_theoreticalpossibility_oftheexperimentisthereforeabsolutelydemonstrated；its_success_mustdependuponthepoweroftheengineemployed。

Astothe_second_question，"Whatistheexactdistancewhichseparatestheearthfromitssatellite？"

_Answer。_——Themoondoesnotdescribea_circle_roundtheearth，butratheran_ellipse_，ofwhichourearthoccupiesoneofthe_foci_；theconsequence，therefore，is，thatatcertaintimesitapproachesnearerto，andatothersitrecedesfartherfrom，theearth；inastronomicallanguage，itisatonetimein_apogee_，atanotherin_perigee_。Nowthedifferencebetweenitsgreatestanditsleastdistanceistooconsiderabletobeleftoutofconsideration。Inpointoffact，initsapogeethemoonis247，552miles，andinitsperigee，218，657milesonlydistant；afactwhichmakesadifferenceof28，895miles，ormorethanone-ninthoftheentiredistance。Theperigeedistance，therefore，isthatwhichoughttoserveasthebasisofallcalculations。

Tothe_third_question。

_Answer。_——Iftheshotshouldpreservecontinuouslyitsinitialvelocityof12，000yardspersecond，itwouldrequirelittlemorethanninehourstoreachitsdestination；but，inasmuchasthatinitialvelocitywillbecontinuallydecreasing，itwilloccupy300，000seconds，thatis83hrs。20m。inreachingthepointwheretheattractionoftheearthandmoonwillbe_inequilibrio_。Fromthispointitwillfallintothemoonin50，000seconds，or13hrs。53m。20sec。Itwillbedesirable，therefore，todischargeit97hrs。13m。20sec。beforethearrivalofthemoonatthepointaimedat。

Regardingquestion_four_，"Atwhatprecisemomentwillthemoonpresentherselfinthemostfavorableposition，etc。？"

_Answer。_——Afterwhathasbeensaidabove，itwillbenecessary，firstofall，tochoosetheperiodwhenthemoonwillbeinperigee，and_also_themomentwhenshewillbecrossingthezenith，whichlattereventwillfurtherdiminishtheentiredistancebyalengthequaltotheradiusoftheearth，_i。e。_

3，919miles；theresultofwhichwillbethatthefinalpassageremainingtobeaccomplishedwillbe214，976miles。Butalthoughthemoonpassesherperigeeeverymonth，shedoesnotreachthezenithalways_atexactlythesamemoment_。Shedoesnotappearunderthesetwoconditionssimultaneously，exceptatlongintervalsoftime。Itwillbenecessary，therefore，towaitforthemomentwhenherpassageinperigeeshallcoincidewiththatinthezenith。Now，byafortunatecircumstance，onthe4thofDecemberintheensuingyearthemoon_will_presentthesetwoconditions。Atmidnightshewillbeinperigee，thatis，athershortestdistancefromtheearth，andatthesamemomentshewillbecrossingthezenith。

Onthe_fifth_question，"Atwhatpointintheheavensoughtthecannontobeaimed？"

_Answer。_——Theprecedingremarksbeingadmitted，thecannonoughttobepointedtothezenithoftheplace。Itsfire，therefore，willbeperpendiculartotheplaneofthehorizon；

andtheprojectilewillsoonestpassbeyondtherangeoftheterrestrialattraction。But，inorderthatthemoonshouldreachthezenithofagivenplace，itisnecessarythattheplaceshouldnotexceedinlatitudethedeclinationoftheluminary；inotherwords，itmustbecomprisedwithinthedegrees0@and28@oflat。N。orS。Ineveryotherspotthefiremustnecessarilybeoblique，whichwouldseriouslymilitateagainstthesuccessoftheexperiment。

Astothe_sixth_question，"Whatplacewillthemoonoccupyintheheavensatthemomentoftheprojectile\'sdeparture？"

_Answer。_——Atthemomentwhentheprojectileshallbedischargedintospace，themoon，whichtravelsdailyforward13@10\'35\'\'，willbedistantfromthezenithpointbyfourtimesthatquantity，_i。e。_by52@41\'20\'\'，aspacewhichcorrespondstothepathwhichshewilldescribeduringtheentirejourneyoftheprojectile。

But，inasmuchasitisequallynecessarytotakeintoaccountthedeviationwhichtherotarymotionoftheearthwillimparttotheshot，andastheshotcannotreachthemoonuntilafteradeviationequalto16radiioftheearth，which，calculateduponthemoon\'sorbit，areequaltoaboutelevendegrees，itbecomesnecessarytoaddtheseelevendegreestothosewhichexpresstheretardationofthemoonjustmentioned:thatistosay，inroundnumbers，aboutsixty-fourdegrees。Consequently，atthemomentoffiringthevisualradiusappliedtothemoonwilldescribe，withtheverticallineoftheplace，anangleofsixty-fourdegrees。

TheseareouranswerstothequestionsproposedtotheObservatoryofCambridgebythemembersoftheGunClub:

Tosumup——

1st。Thecannonoughttobeplantedinacountrysituatedbetween0@and28@ofN。orS。lat。

2nd。Itoughttobepointeddirectlytowardthezenithoftheplace。

3rd。Theprojectileoughttobepropelledwithaninitialvelocityof12，000yardspersecond。

4th。Itoughttobedischargedat10hrs。46m。40sec。ofthe1stofDecemberoftheensuingyear。

5th。Itwillmeetthemoonfourdaysafteritsdischarge，preciselyatmidnightonthe4thofDecember，atthemomentofitstransitacrossthezenith。

ThemembersoftheGunClubought，therefore，withoutdelay，tocommencetheworksnecessaryforsuchanexperiment，andtobepreparedtosettoworkatthemomentdeterminedupon；for，iftheyshouldsufferthis4thofDecembertogoby，theywillnotfindthemoonagainunderthesameconditionsofperigeeandofzenithuntileighteenyearsandelevendaysafterward。

ThestaffoftheCambridgeObservatoryplacethemselvesentirelyattheirdisposalinrespectofallquestionsoftheoreticalastronomy；andherewithaddtheircongratulationstothoseofalltherestofAmerica。

FortheAstronomicalStaff，J。M。BELFAST，DirectoroftheObservatoryofCambridge。

CHAPTERV

THEROMANCEOFTHEMOON

Anobserverenduedwithaninfiniterangeofvision，andplacedinthatunknowncenteraroundwhichtheentireworldrevolves，mighthavebeheldmyriadsofatomsfillingallspaceduringthechaoticepochoftheuniverse。Littlebylittle，asageswenton，achangetookplace；agenerallawofattractionmanifesteditself，towhichthehithertoerrantatomsbecameobedient:

theseatomscombinedtogetherchemicallyaccordingtotheiraffinities，formedthemselvesintomolecules，andcomposedthosenebulousmasseswithwhichthedepthsoftheheavensarestrewed。

Thesemassesbecameimmediatelyenduedwitharotarymotionaroundtheirowncentralpoint。Thiscenter，formedofindefinitemolecules，begantorevolvearounditsownaxisduringitsgradualcondensation；then，followingtheimmutablelawsofmechanics，inproportionasitsbulkdiminishedbycondensation，itsrotarymotionbecameaccelerated，andthesetwoeffectscontinuing，theresultwastheformationofoneprincipalstar，thecenterofthenebulousmass。

Byattentivelywatching，theobserverwouldthenhaveperceivedtheothermoleculesofthemass，followingtheexampleofthiscentralstar，becomelikewisecondensedbygraduallyacceleratedrotation，andgravitatingrounditintheshapeofinnumerablestars。

Thuswasformedthe_Nebulae_，ofwhichastronomershavereckonedupnearly5，000。

Amongthese5，000nebulaethereisonewhichhasreceivedthenameoftheMilkyWay，andwhichcontainseighteenmillionsofstars，eachofwhichhasbecomethecenterofasolarworld。

Iftheobserverhadthenspeciallydirectedhisattentiontooneofthemorehumbleandlessbrilliantofthesestellarbodies，astarofthefourthclass，thatwhichisarrogantlycalledtheSun，allthephenomenatowhichtheformationoftheUniverseistobeascribedwouldhavebeensuccessivelyfulfilledbeforehiseyes。

Infact，hewouldhaveperceivedthissun，asyetinthegaseousstate，andcomposedofmovingmolecules，revolvingrounditsaxisinordertoaccomplishitsworkofconcentration。Thismotion，faithfultothelawsofmechanics，wouldhavebeenacceleratedwiththediminutionofitsvolume；andamomentwouldhavearrivedwhenthecentrifugalforcewouldhaveoverpoweredthecentripetal，whichcausesthemoleculesalltotendtowardthecenter。

Anotherphenomenonwouldnowhavepassedbeforetheobserver\'seye，andthemoleculessituatedontheplaneoftheequator，escapinglikeastonefromaslingofwhichthecordhadsuddenlysnapped，wouldhaveformedaroundthesunsundryconcentricringsresemblingthatofSaturn。Intheirturn，again，theseringsofcosmicalmatter，excitedbyarotarymotionaboutthecentralmass，wouldhavebeenbrokenupanddecomposedintosecondarynebulosities，thatistosay，intoplanets。Similarlyhewouldhaveobservedtheseplanetsthrowoffoneormoreringseach，whichbecametheoriginofthesecondarybodieswhichwecallsatellites。

Thus，then，advancingfromatomtomolecule，frommoleculetonebulousmass，fromthattoprincipalstar，fromstartosun，fromsuntoplanet，andhencetosatellite，wehavethewholeseriesoftransformationsundergonebytheheavenlybodiesduringthefirstdaysoftheworld。

Now，ofthoseattendantbodieswhichthesunmaintainsintheirellipticalorbitsbythegreatlawofgravitation，somefewinturnpossesssatellites。Uranushaseight，Saturneight，Jupiterfour，Neptunepossiblythree，andtheEarthone。Thislast，oneoftheleastimportantoftheentiresolarsystem，wecalltheMoon；anditisshewhomthedaringgeniusoftheAmericansprofessedtheirintentionofconquering。

Themoon，byhercomparativeproximity，andtheconstantlyvaryingappearancesproducedbyherseveralphases，hasalwaysoccupiedaconsiderableshareoftheattentionoftheinhabitantsoftheearth。

FromthetimeofThalesofMiletus，inthefifthcenturyB。C。，downtothatofCopernicusinthefifteenthandTychoBraheinthesixteenthcenturyA。D。，observationshavebeenfromtimetotimecarriedonwithmoreorlesscorrectness，untilinthepresentdaythealtitudesofthelunarmountainshavebeendeterminedwithexactitude。Galileoexplainedthephenomenaofthelunarlightproducedduringcertainofherphasesbytheexistenceofmountains，towhichheassignedameanaltitudeof27，000feet。AfterhimHevelius，anastronomerofDantzic，reducedthehighestelevationsto15，000feet；butthecalculationsofRicciolibroughtthemupagainto21，000feet。

AtthecloseoftheeighteenthcenturyHerschel，armedwithapowerfultelescope，considerablyreducedtheprecedingmeasurements。

Heassignedaheightof11，400feettothemaximumelevations，andreducedthemeanofthedifferentaltitudestolittlemorethan2，400feet。ButHerschel\'scalculationswereintheirturncorrectedbytheobservationsofHalley，Nasmyth，Bianchini，Gruithuysen，andothers；butitwasreservedforthelaborsofBoeerandMaedlerfinallytosolvethequestion。Theysucceededinmeasuring1，905differentelevations，ofwhichsixexceed15，000feet，andtwenty-twoexceed14，400feet。Thehighestsummitofalltowerstoaheightof22，606feetabovethesurfaceofthelunardisc。Atthesameperiodtheexaminationofthemoonwascompleted。Sheappearedcompletelyriddledwithcraters，andheressentiallyvolcaniccharacterwasapparentateachobservation。

Bytheabsenceofrefractionintheraysoftheplanetsoccultedbyherweconcludethatsheisabsolutelydevoidofanatmosphere。

Theabsenceofairentailstheabsenceofwater。Itbecame，therefore，manifestthattheSelenites，tosupportlifeundersuchconditions，mustpossessaspecialorganizationoftheirown，mustdifferremarkablyfromtheinhabitantsoftheearth。

Atlength，thankstomodernart，instrumentsofstillhigherperfectionsearchedthemoonwithoutintermission，notleavingasinglepointofhersurfaceunexplored；andnotwithstandingthatherdiametermeasures2，150miles，hersurfaceequalstheone-fifteenthpartofthatofourglobe，andherbulktheone-forty-ninthpartofthatoftheterrestrialspheroid——notoneofhersecretswasabletoescapetheeyesoftheastronomers；andtheseskillfulmenofsciencecarriedtoanevengreaterdegreetheirprodigiousobservations。

Thustheyremarkedthat，duringfullmoon，thediscappearedscoredincertainpartswithwhitelines；and，duringthephases，withblack。Onprosecutingthestudyofthesewithstillgreaterprecision，theysucceededinobtaininganexactaccountofthenatureoftheselines。Theywerelongandnarrowfurrowssunkbetweenparallelridges，borderinggenerallyupontheedgesofthecraters。Theirlengthvariedbetweentenand100

miles，andtheirwidthwasabout1，600yards。Astronomerscalledthemchasms，buttheycouldnotgetanyfurther。Whetherthesechasmswerethedried-upbedsofancientriversornottheywereunablethoroughlytoascertain。

TheAmericans，amongothers，hopedonedayorothertodeterminethisgeologicalquestion。Theyalsoundertooktoexaminethetruenatureofthatsystemofparallelrampartsdiscoveredonthemoon\'ssurfacebyGruithuysen，alearnedprofessorofMunich，whoconsideredthemtobe"asystemoffortificationsthrownupbytheSeleniticengineers。"Thesetwopoints，yetobscure，aswellasothers，nodoubt，couldnotbedefinitelysettledexceptbydirectcommunicationwiththemoon。

Regardingthedegreeofintensityofitslight，therewasnothingmoretolearnonthispoint。Itwasknownthatitis300，000timesweakerthanthatofthesun，andthatitsheathasnoappreciableeffectuponthethermometer。Astothephenomenonknownasthe"ashylight，"itisexplainednaturallybytheeffectofthetransmissionofthesolarraysfromtheearthtothemoon，whichgivetheappearanceofcompletenesstothelunardisc，whileitpresentsitselfunderthecrescentformduringitsfirstandlastphases。

Suchwasthestateofknowledgeacquiredregardingtheearth\'ssatellite，whichtheGunClubundertooktoperfectinallitsaspects，cosmographic，geological，political，andmoral。

CHAPTERVI

PERMISSIVELIMITSOFIGNORANCEANDBELIEFINTHEUNITEDSTATES

TheimmediateresultofBarbicane\'spropositionwastoplaceupontheordersofthedayalltheastronomicalfactsrelativetotheQueenoftheNight。Everybodysettoworktostudyassiduously。

Onewouldhavethoughtthatthemoonhadjustappearedforthefirsttime，andthatnoonehadeverbeforecaughtaglimpseofherintheheavens。Thepapersrevivedalltheoldanecdotesinwhichthe"sunofthewolves"playedapart；theyrecalledtheinfluenceswhichtheignoranceofpastagesascribedtoher；inshort，allAmericawasseizedwithselenomania，orhadbecomemoon-mad。

Thescientificjournals，fortheirpart，dealtmoreespeciallywiththequestionswhichtouchedupontheenterpriseoftheGunClub。

TheletteroftheObservatoryofCambridgewaspublishedbythem，andcommenteduponwithunreservedapproval。

Untilthattimemostpeoplehadbeenignorantofthemodeinwhichthedistancewhichseparatesthemoonfromtheearthiscalculated。

Theytookadvantageofthisfacttoexplaintothemthatthisdistancewasobtainedbymeasuringtheparallaxofthemoon。

Thetermparallaxproving"caviaretothegeneral，"theyfurtherexplainedthatitmeanttheangleformedbytheinclinationoftwostraightlinesdrawnfromeitherextremityoftheearth\'sradiustothemoon。Ondoubtsbeingexpressedastothecorrectnessofthismethod，theyimmediatelyprovedthatnotonlywasthemeandistance234，347miles，butthatastronomerscouldnotpossiblybeinerrorintheirestimatebymorethanseventymileseitherway。

Tothosewhowerenotfamiliarwiththemotionsofthemoon，theydemonstratedthatshepossessestwodistinctmotions，thefirstbeingthatofrotationuponheraxis，thesecondbeingthatofrevolutionroundtheearth，accomplishingbothtogetherinanequalperiodoftime，thatistosay，intwenty-sevenandone-thirddays。

Themotionofrotationisthatwhichproducesdayandnightonthesurfaceofthemoon；savethatthereisonlyonedayandonenightinthelunarmonth，eachlastingthreehundredandfifty-fourandone-thirdhours。But，happilyforher，thefaceturnedtowardtheterrestrialglobeisilluminatedbyitwithanintensityequaltothatoffourteenmoons。Astotheotherface，alwaysinvisibletous，ithasofnecessitythreehundredandfifty-fourhoursofabsolutenight，temperedonlybythat"paleglimmerwhichfallsuponitfromthestars。"

Somewell-intentioned，butratherobstinatepersons，couldnotatfirstcomprehendhow，ifthemoondisplaysinvariablythesamefacetotheearthduringherrevolution，shecandescribeoneturnroundherself。Tosuchtheyanswered，"Gointoyourdining-room，andwalkroundthetableinsuchawayastoalwayskeepyourfaceturnedtowardthecenter；bythetimeyouwillhaveachievedonecompleteroundyouwillhavecompletedoneturnaroundyourself，sinceyoureyewillhavetraversedsuccessivelyeverypointoftheroom。Well，then，theroomistheheavens，thetableistheearth，andthemoonisyourself。"

Andtheywouldgoawaydelighted。

So，thenthemoondisplaysinvariablythesamefacetotheearth；nevertheless，tobequiteexact，itisnecessarytoaddthat，inconsequenceofcertainfluctuationsofnorthandsouth，andofwestandeast，termedherlibration，shepermitsrathermorethanhalf，thatistosay，five-sevenths，tobeseen。

Assoonastheignoramusescametounderstandasmuchasthedirectoroftheobservatoryhimselfknew，theybegantoworrythemselvesregardingherrevolutionroundtheearth，whereupontwentyscientificreviewsimmediatelycametotherescue。

Theypointedouttothemthatthefirmament，withitsinfinitudeofstars，maybeconsideredasonevastdial-plate，uponwhichthemoontravels，indicatingthetruetimetoalltheinhabitantsoftheearth；thatitisduringthismovementthattheQueenofNightexhibitsherdifferentphases；thatthemoonis_full_

whensheisin_opposition_withthesun，thatiswhenthethreebodiesareonthesamestraightline，theearthoccupyingthecenter；thatsheis_new_whensheisin_conjunction_withthesun，thatis，whensheisbetweenitandtheearth；and，lastlythatsheisinher_first_or_last_quarter，whenshemakeswiththesunandtheearthanangleofwhichsheherselfoccupiestheapex。

Regardingthealtitudewhichthemoonattainsabovethehorizon，theletteroftheCambridgeObservatoryhadsaidallthatwastobesaidinthisrespect。Everyoneknewthatthisaltitudevariesaccordingtothelatitudeoftheobserver。Buttheonlyzonesoftheglobeinwhichthemoonpassesthezenith，thatis，thepointdirectlyovertheheadofthespectator，areofnecessitycomprisedbetweenthetwenty-eighthparallelsandtheequator。Hencetheimportanceoftheadvicetotrytheexperimentuponsomepointofthatpartoftheglobe，inorderthattheprojectilemightbedischargedperpendicularly，andsothesoonestescapetheactionofgravitation。Thiswasanessentialconditiontothesuccessoftheenterprise，andcontinuedactivelytoengagethepublicattention。

Regardingthepathdescribedbythemooninherrevolutionroundtheearth，theCambridgeObservatoryhaddemonstratedthatthispathisare-enteringcurve，notaperfectcircle，butanellipse，ofwhichtheearthoccupiesoneofthe_foci_。Itwasalsowellunderstoodthatitisfarthestremovedfromtheearthduringits_apogee_，andapproachesmostnearlytoitatits_perigee_。

SuchwasthentheextentofknowledgepossessedbyeveryAmericanonthesubject，andofwhichnoonecoulddecentlyprofessignorance。Still，whiletheseprincipleswerebeingrapidlydisseminatedmanyerrorsandillusoryfearsprovedlesseasytoeradicate。

Forinstance，someworthypersonsmaintainedthatthemoonwasanancientcometwhich，indescribingitselongatedorbitroundthesun，happenedtopassneartheearth，andbecameconfinedwithinhercircleofattraction。Thesedrawing-roomastronomersprofessedtoexplainthecharredaspectofthemoon——adisasterwhichtheyattributedtotheintensityofthesolarheat；only，onbeingremindedthatcometshaveanatmosphere，andthatthemoonhaslittleornone，theywerefairlyatalossforareply。

Othersagain，belongingtothedoubtingclass，expressedcertainfearsastothepositionofthemoon。Theyhadhearditsaidthat，accordingtoobservationsmadeinthetimeoftheCaliphs，herrevolutionhadbecomeacceleratedinacertaindegree。

Hencetheyconcluded，logicallyenough，thatanaccelerationofmotionoughttobeaccompaniedbyacorrespondingdiminutioninthedistanceseparatingthetwobodies；andthat，supposingthedoubleeffecttobecontinuedtoinfinity，themoonwouldendbyonedayfallingintotheearth。However，theybecamereassuredastothefateoffuturegenerationsonbeingapprisedthat，accordingtothecalculationsofLaplace，thisaccelerationofmotionisconfinedwithinveryrestrictedlimits，andthataproportionaldiminutionofspeedwillbecertaintosucceedit。

So，then，thestabilityofthesolarsystemwouldnotbederangedinagestocome。

Thereremainsbutthethirdclass，thesuperstitious。

Theseworthieswerenotcontentmerelytorestinignorance；

theymustknowallaboutthingswhichhadnoexistencewhatever，andastothemoon，theyhadlongknownallabouther。Onesetregardedherdiscasapolishedmirror，bymeansofwhichpeoplecouldseeeachotherfromdifferentpointsoftheearthandinterchangetheirthoughts。Anothersetpretendedthatoutofonethousandnewmoonsthathadbeenobserved，ninehundredandfiftyhadbeenattendedwithremarkabledisturbances，suchascataclysms，revolutions，earthquakes，thedeluge，etc。Thentheybelievedinsomemysteriousinfluenceexercisedbyheroverhumandestinies——thateverySelenitewasattachedtosomeinhabitantoftheearthbyatieofsympathy；theymaintainedthattheentirevitalsystemissubjecttohercontrol，etc。Butintimethemajorityrenouncedthesevulgarerrors，andespousedthetruesideofthequestion。AsfortheYankees，theyhadnootherambitionthantotakepossessionofthisnewcontinentofthesky，andtoplantuponthesummitofitshighestelevationthestar-

spangledbanneroftheUnitedStatesofAmerica。

CHAPTERVII

THEHYMNOFTHECANNON-BALL

TheObservatoryofCambridgeinitsmemorableletterhadtreatedthequestionfromapurelyastronomicalpointofview。Themechanicalpartstillremained。

PresidentBarbicanehad，withoutlossoftime，nominatedaworkingcommitteeoftheGunClub。Thedutyofthiscommitteewastoresolvethethreegrandquestionsofthecannon，theprojectile，andthepowder。Itwascomposedoffourmembersofgreattechnicalknowledge，Barbicane(withacastingvoteincaseofequality)，GeneralMorgan，MajorElphinstone，andJ。T。

Maston，towhomwereconfidedthefunctionsofsecretary。Onthe8thofOctoberthecommitteemetatthehouseofPresidentBarbicane，3RepublicanStreet。Themeetingwasopenedbythepresidenthimself。

"Gentlemen，"saidhe，"wehavetoresolveoneofthemostimportantproblemsinthewholeofthenoblescienceofgunnery。

Itmightappear，perhaps，themostlogicalcoursetodevoteourfirstmeetingtothediscussionoftheenginetobeemployed。

Nevertheless，aftermatureconsideration，ithasappearedtomethatthequestionoftheprojectilemusttakeprecedenceofthatofthecannon，andthatthedimensionsofthelattermustnecessarilydependonthoseoftheformer。"

"Suffermetosayaword，"herebrokeinJ。T。Maston。

Permissionhavingbeengranted，"Gentlemen，"saidhewithaninspiredaccent，"ourpresidentisrightinplacingthequestionoftheprojectileaboveallothers。Theballweareabouttodischargeatthemoonisourambassadortoher，andIwishtoconsideritfromamoralpointofview。Thecannon-ball，gentlemen，tomymind，isthemostmagnificentmanifestationofhumanpower。IfProvidencehascreatedthestarsandtheplanets，manhascalledthecannon-ballintoexistence。LetProvidenceclaimtheswiftnessofelectricityandoflight，ofthestars，thecomets，andtheplanets，ofwindandsound——weclaimtohaveinventedtheswiftnessofthecannon-ball，ahundredtimessuperiortothatoftheswiftesthorsesorrailwaytrain。

Howgloriouswillbethemomentwhen，infinitelyexceedingallhithertoattainedvelocities，weshalllaunchournewprojectilewiththerapidityofsevenmilesasecond！Shallitnot，gentlemen——shallitnotbereceiveduptherewiththehonorsduetoaterrestrialambassador？"

Overcomewithemotiontheoratorsatdownandappliedhimselftoahugeplateofsandwichesbeforehim。

"Andnow，"saidBarbicane，"letusquitthedomainofpoetryandcomedirecttothequestion。"

"Byallmeans，"repliedthemembers，eachwithhismouthfullofsandwich。

"Theproblembeforeus，"continuedthepresident，"ishowtocommunicatetoaprojectileavelocityof12，000yardspersecond。

Letusatpresentexaminethevelocitieshithertoattained。

GeneralMorganwillbeabletoenlightenusonthispoint。"

"Andthemoreeasily，"repliedthegeneral，"thatduringthewarIwasamemberofthecommitteeofexperiments。Imaysay，then，thatthe100-pounderDahlgrens，whichcarriedadistanceof5，000yards，impressedupontheirprojectileaninitialvelocityof500yardsasecond。TheRodmanColumbiadthrewashotweighinghalfatonadistanceofsixmiles，withavelocityof800yardspersecond——aresultwhichArmstrongandPalisserhaveneverobtainedinEngland。"

"This，"repliedBarbicane，"is，Ibelieve，themaximumvelocityeverattained？"

"Itisso，"repliedthegeneral。

"Ah！"groanedJ。T。Maston，"ifmymortarhadnotburst——"

"Yes，"quietlyrepliedBarbicane，"butitdidburst。Wemusttake，then，forourstartingpoint，thisvelocityof800yards。

Wemustincreaseittwenty-fold。Now，reservingforanotherdiscussionthemeansofproducingthisvelocity，Iwillcallyourattentiontothedimensionswhichitwillbepropertoassigntotheshot。Youunderstandthatwehavenothingtodoherewithprojectilesweighingatmostbuthalfaton。"

"Whynot？"demandedthemajor。

"Becausetheshot，"quicklyrepliedJ。T。Maston，"mustbebigenoughtoattracttheattentionoftheinhabitantsofthemoon，ifthereareany？"

"Yes，"repliedBarbicane，"andforanotherreasonmoreimportantstill。"

"Whatmeanyou？"askedthemajor。

"Imeanthatitisnotenoughtodischargeaprojectile，andthentakenofurthernoticeofit；wemustfollowitthroughoutitscourse，uptothemomentwhenitshallreachitsgoal。"

"What？"shoutedthegeneralandthemajoringreatsurprise。

"Undoubtedly，"repliedBarbicanecomposedly，"orourexperimentwouldproducenoresult。"

"Butthen，"repliedthemajor，"youwillhavetogivethisprojectileenormousdimensions。"

"No！Besogoodastolisten。Youknowthatopticalinstrumentshaveacquiredgreatperfection；withcertaininstrumentswehavesucceededinobtainingenlargementsof6，000

timesandreducingthemoontowithinfortymiles\'distance。

Now，atthisdistance，anyobjectssixtyfeetsquarewouldbeperfectlyvisible。

"If，then，thepenetrativepoweroftelescopeshasnotbeenfurtherincreased，itisbecausethatpowerdetractsfromtheirlight；andthemoon，whichisbutareflectingmirror，doesnotgivebacksufficientlighttoenableustoperceiveobjectsoflessermagnitude。"

"Well，then，whatdoyouproposetodo？"askedthegeneral。

"Wouldyougiveyourprojectileadiameterofsixtyfeet？"

"Notso。"

"Doyouintend，then，toincreasetheluminouspowerofthemoon？"

"Exactlyso。IfIcansucceedindiminishingthedensityoftheatmospherethroughwhichthemoon\'slighthastotravelIshallhaverenderedherlightmoreintense。Toeffectthatobjectitwillbeenoughtoestablishatelescopeonsomeelevatedmountain。

Thatiswhatwewilldo。"

"Igiveitup，"answeredthemajor。"Youhavesuchawayofsimplifyingthings。Andwhatenlargementdoyouexpecttoobtaininthisway？"

"Oneof48，000times，whichshouldbringthemoonwithinanapparentdistanceoffivemiles；and，inordertobevisible，objectsneednothaveadiameterofmorethanninefeet。"

"So，then，"criedJ。T。Maston，"ourprojectileneednotbemorethanninefeetindiameter。"

"Letmeobserve，however，"interruptedMajorElphinstone，"thiswillinvolveaweightsuchas——"

"Mydearmajor，"repliedBarbicane，"beforediscussingitsweightpermitmetoenumeratesomeofthemarvelswhichourancestorshaveachievedinthisrespect。Idon\'tmeantopretendthatthescienceofgunneryhasnotadvanced，butitisaswelltobearinmindthatduringthemiddleagestheyobtainedresultsmoresurprising，Iwillventuretosay，thanours。

Forinstance，duringthesiegeofConstantinoplebyMahometII。，in1453，stoneshotof1，900poundsweightwereemployed。AtMalta，inthetimeoftheknights，therewasagunofthefortressofSt。