1831.] 
An Essay on the Game of Billiards. 
401 
quish a cannon beside, for as much attention should be paid to the consequences 6 , 
as to the immediate object of the stroke. 
Players of the old school (as they call themselves) bigotted to former habits, 
have but little relish for this game : they think it so much under the dominion of 
chance, that experience, judgment, and execution, have not their meet rewards ; 
and that Tyros carry off a larger share than their merits give just claim to : but 
they do not place the game in its proper light ; for, though it be allowed absolutely 
a game of more chance than the winning only, and of much more than the white 
game, still that conclusion may be disputed ; for, suppose in this the chance be as 
two to twelve, which is the sum total of the game, while in the other it be as six to 
twenty-four : though it may be said, there is three times the chance, that is six to two ; 
their respective proportions are only one-fourth and one-sixth ; but, if the winning 
and losing game were extended to thirty-six, (which perhaps would take up no more 
time in playing than the white game,) they might then he viewed correlatively also, 
and chance being overpowered by numbers, would lose that extraordinary influence 
which now forms the objection : however, for obvious reasons, an alteration to this 
effect, at public tables, is not likely to take place. 
Besides the white and cannon games here mentioned, there are others ; and 
upon the same principle of variety (which is merely numerical) there may be many 
more; but additional balls, without diversifying the manner or effect, by increasing 
still further the predominancy of chance, abridge the exercise of those faculties 
which chiefly render a game entertaining, and enhance this objection unprofitably. 
To enumerate the several games at Billiards, with their rules and laws, &c. not 
being within the scope of this essay, they are only transiently alluded to. 
A cue should be chosen with a degree of stiffness, or otherwise, according to the 
force which the player is capable of using ; for if it be too weak, it will be over- 
come by too small a measure of resistance ; and its reaction, upon which 
the ball’s velocity depends 6 , must be feeble in the like proportion ; and, if it 
be too stiff, the power cannot make it bend effectually, to excite a sufficient quan 
tity of elastic force ; but it is best adapted, when moderate power produces 
ike greatest comparative violence; for violence of aggression does not alto- 
gether depend upon the degree of power, but also upon the closeness of the bounds 
wherein it is exerted • this will be more manifest, by supposing the impelling power 
to consist of ten parts in arithmetical progression, as 1, 2, 3, &c. beginning u i i 
unity; and, the elastic force capable of being excited, divided into the like num- 
ber/; the violence of effect upon the ball, will be directly as the power, but inversely 
, i i „„„ mn L-» mni'p voluntary misses than bad ones, 
5 This is the reason why good players make moie y 
and few perhaps give so many as they ought, the game emg 
from the advantage gained by ill-timed frugality. , w .]i no a can- 
On the same account, if a player think he can make an hazard, as well asa c. 
n ,lie same accouut ’ * . . fi-pQ neutly better to take them separately, 
non, or even more, byonest.oke, it is fiequea y , by contracting his views, 
not only because be will then be more certain of mar kit g, y advantage 
but also enabled to provide for those which follow, with more exactness 
in the end. . bu tt-end as the point, 
* This will be evident if by reversing the cue, and™. " ' J' jirht the 8alnej 
the effects of both be compared: for the power, ma j 1 ° 
the difference can be ascribed to nothing else. , be comprised within the 
- The power, when eicited .o the utmost, can scarcely he com, ^ |# ^ 
limits of ten inches, but the elastic foice lesu in-, stroke* can scarcely 
length Of the cue, before and after it has been constramed by the st.ohe, 
exceed one-fortieth part of that distance. 
