The Hymn of the Cannon-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.