398 
An Essay on the Game of Billiards. 
[Dec. 
readied Hissar, and in tlie hospitable mansion of Captain Parsons, snperintendant 
ot the Stud, I had once more the satisfaction of hearing my own language spoken. 
Note. In PlateXXIII. fig. 5, wehavegiven fac similes of the four ancient gold 
coins brought from Khorasan by Lieut, Conolly, which are alluded to in the Report of 
the Proceedings of the Asiatic Society, 7th Sept, page 295 : the characters of three of 
them are evidently Kuphic, the second is more like a Hindi inscription. There may 
be perhaps among our readers, some antiquarian or orientalist who may feel disposed 
to try his skill at deeyphering the legends,- — E d. 
IX. — An Essay on the Game of Billiards. 
[Continued from p. 369.] 
^ hen the passive ball lies directly between the active ball and a pocket, the win- 
ning hazard is most easy, and according to the deviation from that position, it, 
in like proportion, becomes difficult ; for the part to be hit cannot be chosen soac- 
cu l ately , noi seen so distinctly in this, as the former case ; and the same angular 
variation from the proper line of direction, will err further upon the passive ball’s 
sin face, than when the hitting point is less distant, and the declination consequent- 
ly not so great (see fig. 18.) But, in the above situation, the losing hazard is 
most difficult, for the walking motion (which is necessary to execute it) should be 
stiictly veitical ; and, since angular relation with a pocket varies as the distance, 
the hitting spot depending upon that interval, cannot therefore be absolutely de- 
fined ; however the manner of hitting, most favorable for that purpose, perhaps 
may , which seems to be, when they are half opposed to each other at the time of 
a ss 1 ^ssion . for thus the resistance will neither be great enough to make the active 
hall apt to twist, nor direct enough to give much efficiency over the angle to a walk, 
(the simple motions being less fallacious) while the hitting spot, not being far from 
the middle of the ball, the declination cannot be very’ considerable : at the same 
time it is evident, if the hazard made from that measure of opposition, with mode- 
rate force, be allowed the most convenient or eligible, the angle which the situation 
of the passive ball should make, is (a posteriori) relatively ascertained. 
A ball is moie reflected from another at a distance, by r a strong stroke, than a 
weak one ; because, neither the progressive motion, nor the twist which in some 
measure at first accompanies it, from the necessary elevation of the butt-end (when 
the b<ill is struck with force, and no higher than the middle) is so comjjletely over- 
come, before it hits the other ball. 
For the same reason, a hall struck with violence, if the direction be inclined to 
the cushion, will be reflected more towards the player, making the interior angle 
less, than if play T ed easily ; as also because, the form of the impression, made against 
tlu cushion, is rather the arch of an ellipsis than a circle, till the part first hit reco- 
' Cls its place ; but, in the mean time the ball is advanced, and the further part of 
the cushion (see fig. 19) embracing it exactly, will reflect it more abruptly, elas- 
ticity not returning the other with quickness enough to prevent it 1 . 
rienet? r ' co ^ e vv ^ en necessary to hit the cushion very obliquely, the inexpe- 
t . . ,i * ^ ei seldom does it soon enough to answer his purpose ; for, the more dis- 
urooTcsJ ° ,nt ,° contact e> the fulcrum) from the line of direction, and the less the 
some men! ence ’ t,ie niore operative in lateral exertion is the power, which in 
some measure thus deceives him. 
