1831.] 
An Essay on the Game of Billiards. 
79 
and periodical increase of wealth, be permitted, either avowedly, or by implication, 
to hold its ground, it is quite out of the question to look for ought but false con- 
clusions in the sequel; for this science can only be prosecuted with success by the 
determination of a vast number of consecutive truths, to the establishment of the 
more remote of which in particular, the correctness of every preceding proposition 
is absolutely essential. 
III. — An Essay on the Game of Billiards. 
The following essay on the popular game of billiards, taken from a printed work, 
scarce in India, will, we doubt not, be acceptable to many of our subscribers, who 
may be pleased to see the theory of the game, and may find amusement in tracing 
their own play to first principles. Notwithstanding its quaint style, it appears to 
be worthy of the attentive reader’s study. It will be found to treat pretty largely on 
a supposed new method of play, which it thus appears is not so new, for our book 
was published at Bath 25 years ago. A work like ours must study variety, but even 
were it otherwise, the present essay would demand admission, as a branch of 
practical science, not the less entitled to the term “ utility,” because its more im- 
mediate object is recreation only. 
Introduction. 
It is not supposed, that a perusal of the following pages can be of any use to a 
good player ; for, to play well, practice is indispensibly requisite ; and experience, 
the most infallible test of theoretical opinions, serves to point out the means ; 
therefore, the information necessary to that purpose is already acquired, from 
documents that blend the greatest simplicity with the strongest proofs. Neither 
is it expected, that a novice in the game will derive much advantage from it ; as 
that course of instruction, which affords the most entertainment, having always a 
predilection in its favour, is generally preferred. Yet, whether at the instance of 
some friends, or prompted by a desire to find out intermediate affinities between 
causes and effects, now viewed in proximity ; so that, by shortening the stages, 
and promoting the intercourse, the “ Inquisitive Traveller” may be better accom- 
modated on the road to Science ; or whatever else may have urged an examination 
of the present subject ; if a few hours thus employed, should elicit a further inves- 
tigation of Nature’s Laws, by which her works may be subdivided more mi- 
nutely, or shown collectively with better success, this attempt cannot be charged 
as altogether useless. 
The Theory of the Game of Billiards. 
Ihe motion of a ball struck 1 by a cue 2 , depends not only on the direction in 
which it is impelled, but, very considerably, on the manner of striking it ; and 
it is lesolvable into two or more divisions; which, together with their efficient causes, 
ere now separately brought into view, and should be carried in the mind, as re- 
spectively distinguished, that their effects in composition may afterwards be ren- 
dered the more explicit. 
1 The word strike and its inflections, whenever they occur, refer immediately to the 
CDE ; but hit and its inflections, to a ball, cushion, &c. 
2 This is the proper instrument to play with ; the other (not worth naming) is no 
better than a trifling contemptible toy. 
