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，ormoreorlessperfectedacannon；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！
Iwhoaddressyouhavemyselfthisverymorningperfectedamodelplan，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。Uponthetableahugeironplatesupporteduponsixcarronadesstoodaninkstandofexquisiteelegance，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，Barbicanewithacastingvoteincaseofequality，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。