Stones Hill

           WhenthedecisionwasarrivedatbytheGunClub,tothedisparagementofTexas,everyoneinAmerica,wherereadingisauniversalacquirement,settoworktostudythegeographyofFlorida.Neverbeforehadtherebeensuchasaleforworkslike"Bertram’sTravelsinFlorida,""Roman’sNaturalHistoryofEastandWestFlorida,""William’sTerritoryofFlorida,"and"ClelandontheCultivationoftheSugar-CaneinFlorida."Itbecamenecessarytoissuefresheditionsoftheseworks.

           Barbicanehadsomethingbettertodothantoread.Hedesiredtoseethingswithhisowneyes,andtomarktheexactpositionoftheproposedgun.So,withoutamoment’slossoftime,heplacedatthedisposaloftheCambridgeObservatorythefundsnecessaryfortheconstructionofatelescope,andenteredintonegotiationswiththehouseofBreadwillandCo.,ofAlbany,fortheconstructionofanaluminumprojectileoftherequiredsize.HethenquittedBaltimore,accompaniedbyJ.T.Maston,MajorElphinstone,andthemanageroftheColdspringfactory.

           Onthefollowingday,thefourfellow-travelersarrivedatNewOrleans.TheretheyimmediatelyembarkedonboardtheTampico,adespatch-boatbelongingtotheFederalnavy,whichthegovernmenthadplacedattheirdisposal;and,gettingupsteam,thebanksofLouisianaspeedilydisappearedfromsight.

           Thepassagewasnotlong.Twodaysafterstarting,theTampico,havingmadefourhundredandeightymiles,cameinsightofthecoastofFlorida.