the book seized by the baltimore police contained thirty pages, sprinkled with formulæ, multiplications, equations, and finally the general results of j. t. maston’s calculation. it was a work of the higher mechanics, appreciable only by mathematicians. one of the equations was the—

v2 - (v0)2 = 2g(r0)2(1/r - 1/r0)

of which we heard in the moon voyage.

the “general reader” could make neither head nor tail of maston’s performances; but they could understand the results as communicated to the newspapers a few days afterwards.

there was nothing wrong with j. t. maston’s working, the commission reported. the calculations had been made with such precision that the commission had no doubt as to their accuracy and consequences. if the operation was effected, the terrestrial axis would be undoubtedly changed, and then the catastrophes foreseen would be accomplished in all their plenitude.

“the object,” said the official communication to the newspapers, “of the directorate of the north polar practical association is the substitution of a new axis of rotation for the old one; and it is proposed to attain this object by means of the recoil of an apparatus fixed in some agreed upon point of the earth’s circumference. if the core of this apparatus is firmly fixed in the ground, there can be no doubt but that it would communicate its recoil to the mass of our planet.

“the apparatus adopted by the association is a monster 88cannon, which would have no effect if discharged vertically. to produce the maximum effect it must be aimed horizontally towards the north or south, and it is this latter direction which has been decided on by the association. in this way the recoil will produce a shock towards the north of the nature of that given to a billiard-ball when struck on the side.”

exactly as alcide had foreseen!

“as soon as the explosion takes place, the centre of the earth will be displaced in a direction parallel to that of the impetus, and a change will ensue in the plane of the orbit, and consequently in the length of the year; but this will be so slight as to be of no appreciable amount. at the same time the earth would take a movement of rotation around an axis, supposing that no rotation existed previous to the shock. but as the rotation in the line of the poles already exists, it will combine with the accessory rotation produced by the recoil, and result in a new axis. if the gun is fired at the moment when the equator and the ecliptic are in intersection, and if the recoil is enough to displace the pole 23° 28′, then the new axis will become perpendicular to the plane of the orbit.

“the consequences of this perpendicularity were clearly stated by impey barbicane at the meeting on the 22nd of december.

“given the mass of the earth and the amount of movement it possesses, can a gun be produced having a recoil sufficient to produce such a displacement of the pole as 23° 28′?

“undoubtedly, if a gun, or series of guns, be constructed in accordance with the laws of mechanics, or if the inventors possess an explosive of the necessary power. such 89an explosive they unfortunately possess. it was discovered by captain nicholl. its name is meli-melonite, but all that is known of it is that it is a mixture of organic substances with nitric acid. a certain number of monatomic radicles are substituted for the same number of atoms of hydrogen, and a powder is obtained, which, like fulmi-cotton, is formed by combination, and not by mechanical mixture of the principal comburents and combustibles.

“whatever this explosive may be, the force it possesses is sufficient to carry a projectile weighing 180,000 tons beyond the terrestrial attraction, and it is hoped by the association that the recoil will have the effect of displacing the pole, and forming a new axis perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic. from which would result the catastrophes at which the inhabitants of the earth have taken alarm.

“there is a chance that humanity may yet escape the consequences of an operation which would bring about such regrettable geographical and meteorological changes in the surface of the globe.

“is it possible to construct a cannon of the dimensions required?

“we are of opinion that it is very doubtful if it can be done.

“it is well known that the two chief directors of the north polar practical association have left baltimore and america, probably for the purpose of attempting the manufacture of this cannon in some distant part of the world.

“where they have gone to is unknown, and consequently it is impossible to secure the malefactors who would upset the world under pretence of opening up new coal-fields.

90“evidently the place was indicated on the last page of the note-book captured by the police from j. t. maston. but this last page had disappeared, having been swallowed by the said j. t. maston, now in prison at baltimore.

“such is the position. if impey barbicane can make his cannon and his projectile, he will change the earth’s axis, and within the next six months the earth will be subjected to his reckless assault.

“a date has been chosen for the discharge of the projectile, the date on which the shock would have its maximum of effect on the terrestrial spheroid.

“this date is the 22nd of september, twelve hours after the passage of the sun across the meridian of the place x.

“this place it is impossible from the calculations to discover.

“there is nothing in j. t. maston’s note-book to show the position of the new axis.

“it is therefore impossible to state what territories or seas will be affected by the attempt.

“the difference of level will be considerable. after the shock the surface of the sea will take the form of an ellipsoid of revolution, and the level will change nearly all over the globe.

“in fact the intersection of the level of the old sea with the level of the new sea, of two equal surfaces of revolution with the axes intersecting, will be of two curved planes, and the maxima of elevation or abasement will exceed 25,000 feet.

“it is worthy of remark that the ancient pole will be immersed under more than 9000 feet of water, so that the district acquired by the north polar practical association 91will be flooded unless there exists at the pole a plateau of more than that number of feet of elevation.

“where the maximum of alteration of land will take place is unknown. there is in the equation an unknown quantity, which no known formula can value. this unknown is the position of x, where the shock is to be applied. this x is the secret of the promoters of this deplorable affair.

“in conclusion, it is desirable to point out that all the inhabitants of the earth are interested in unravelling the secret, for all are menaced by the proceedings of the association.

“notice is therefore given to the inhabitants of all parts of the world to keep a strict watch over all operations regarding the founding of cannons, or the fabrication of powders or projectiles taking place on their territories, and to report the appearance of any stranger connected therewith to the commission of inquiry at baltimore, u.s.a.

“it is urgently necessary that the information should reach the commission before the 22nd of september next, the date on which the established order of the terrestrial system is so seriously menaced.”