1831 .] 
An Essay on the Game of Billiards. 
405 
Thus, all the motions which can be given to a Billiard hall, and the different 
ways of producing them, have been set forth, simply, as well as in composition ; 
with every other circumstance that occured, as connected with the game, or dis- 
tantly relating to it ; and however extraardinary some effects may at first appear, 
they will be found on examination to be the genuine result of principles long known, 
and well established on the basis of unerring laws 11 . 
There are few games (if any) where the united efforts of judgment and execu- 
tion are so indispensably occupied in such a diversity of situations, as that of 
Billiards ; no wonder, therefore, it be a fund of so much entertainment : neither 
perhaps any, which affords at all times more temperate, and salutary exercise, or 
diffuses it so equally, with less danger of excess. Surely then, while health claims 
concern, the game before us is entitled to some regard ; and these two characters, 
which comprise so much of the utile dulci, should be sufficient not only to pre- 
serve it in estimation, and to those unengaged in avocations of greater moment, to 
make it a favorite, and give it a prior place to other games not possessed of 
those advantages. 
Perhaps at the same time, no game admits of more deception ; for, execution 
being the chief department, and success depending upon the concurring excellence 
of so many agents directly under influence from the nerves, it is often extremely 
uncertain, whether an effect proceeds from previous intention, or unavoidable 
control ; here opens a large field for feints also, whereby determined pui poses may 
be made to pass for accidents, and the highest degree of executive excellence, for 
the lowest of inferiority; but here indifferent players (excepting those whose 
perspicacity sees design in every casualty) though generally most suspicious, are 
much more apt to be deceived. 
Games of judgment and execution are the proper souices of amusement for 
man, as they may be creditable to his talents or ingenuity ; but those merely ot 
chance, never can : where all pretensions to superiority are relinquished, his 
exalted nature becomes inactive, or nugatory, and the most insignificant animal of 
the creation, may have an equal claim with its votaries, to the favours ot that 
capricious deity who presides. . 
The eye being the organ first ^ 
mealing medium for the judgment to act [ dear] ^ unconfused( that 
imperfection ; and the objects conveyed to ^ But> thougll the sjght ,„ust 
the judgment may give its orders with p necessary t0 play well, 
not be defective, extraordinary acuteness is y .. 
neither does a superior degree of excellence, turn upon presents them 
The visual rays darting in right “ to fim scnsoHum in a proper 
distinctly, that the perception may be ti be made further account- 
dress, it does its duty, can do no more, and ^"uiay be used to the best 
able. To place it in a station w iere i s p djfferent affair , and belongs to the 
advantage, by choosing proper healing , enabled by practice to recover 
mental faculty : when this also is done, an i } 
- i i„ ndducincf eases, would lead to a 
11 To enter into the practice more particu ar y d . bes i de s, a knowledge of 
detail irksome to the last degree, and unavailing 1 ^ ^ yery defective while in- 
tbe minutiae in this department, like all othei aits, mi^ shown is chiefly elemen- 
struction depends merely upon precept. The practice ^ ^ on i y verbal. To complete 
tary, and although otherwise somewhat copious a so, s 1 e d— to turn it into use by 
the player, the greatest difficulty yet remains to e ^ 
making that practice actual— “ hie labor hoc opus est. 
