1831.] 
An Essay on the Game of Billiards. 
403 
before explained : the elevation of the hand should therefore accord with the 
design. 
The habit of applying the hand or finger to the top of a cue during play, is a 
bad one ; for the moisture exuding through the pores, being somewhat oleaginous, 
makes it slippery ; yet a smooth-pointed cue, though of less compass than a rough 
one, is often more certain in effect, if by striking the ball centrally it does not slip 
upon the surface. 
The rule, which requires the marker to hold the cannon hall in his hand, till 
another which occupies its place he removed, is slovenly, ill chosen, and should be 
altered : to give it a corresponding situation at the other end, or (should that also 
happen to be engaged,) to place it in the middle between the two side pockets, 
would be a much better one. 
A stone foundation upon a ground floor is the best for a billiard table, because 
it cannot lose its level, or be affected by walking or stamping around it : whereas, 
if it be placed upon a joisted floor, supported only at the ends, it often lequiies 
adjusting, and the balls are more likely to be influenced by any violence that takes 
place on the boards with which it is connected. 
Whether the geneial tendency of such causes be to retard motion, or accelerate 
it, is perhaps scarcely to be ascertained by- any practical obseivation . hut as in 
particular cases the effect (however small) may sometimes be material, it falls 
within the tenor of this treatise to seek the issue theoretically. 
In favour of retardation it may be said, because the motion communicated pio- 
ceeds from a pressure of one kind or other directly upon the floor, the agitation 
excited is necessarily perpendicular; and the surface of the table which lies parallel 
to it, will vibrate in like manner, till the action of their elastic force subsides : con- 
sequently, this tendency of up and down motion impaited to the hall, imut he a 
corresponding incurvation of the right lines in which it was moving, and therefore a 
contraction of the distance; but (it may be objected) this incurvation bem B t e 
effect of attraction, operating uniformly without inciease, or vaiiationo irection, 
over the ball as it moves, cannot therefore be the means of contracting the is- 
tance, by any extraordinary influence: on the contrary, should this power, which is 
the principal impediment to its motion, be opposed directly by any force or cause 
(as in the present instance) it must for the time be equivalently diminished, am, 
unless the ball be entirely detached from the table, (by wine 1 t ie mo ive \ 
will be consumed in simple revolution (that is) without advancing it) » sing e 
elevation, which does not deprive it of the advantage arising from attrition , will 
add energy to the momentum, and the result be acceleiation esi ’ horizon- 
er acting in a line perpendicular to the centre t of a tbaU ““ afterwar ds, 
tal motion 9 , and that some effect of that natur 
9 This is in the presumption that the centre of the 
same : otherwise, if the ball be raised above th , ? d ? ectl(jn where in the centre 
it will incline to turn from the perpendicular, tovvai 
of gravity (which takes the shortest way downwards) happens • 
gravity (which takes the shortest way u a ud afterwards without any 
When a ball is said to rest upon the edge of a _ P° ^ effect as a kind of 
apparent cause falls into it, the present lawa ^ ~ L 
. e adversary should suffer, through the 
chance-medley; and since it would he arc ‘ or invisible, the senteuce dismisses 
impertinent interference of such an agent, v isi ) e vvkat j t may, is certainly a 
the claim as of no account . Tins chance, e l eg difficulties by wholesale ; 
very wonderful and convenient menstui um, ° • 1 ^ 0 r the narrowness of human 
and were it only as comprehensible aS 11 18 e . * m i oh t make its way beyond 
understanding somewhat enlarged, perhaps its tep ° 
