Hence the important recommendation given to attempt the experiment upon some point in this part of the globe, in order that the projectile may be hurled perpendicularly, and may thus more quickly escape the attraction of gravitation.

This was a condition essential to the success of the enterprise, and public opinion was much exercised thereupon.
As to the line followed by the moon in her revolution round the earth, the Observatory of Cambridge had demonstrated to the most ignorant that it is an ellipse of which the earth occupies one of the foci.

These elliptical orbits are common to all the planets as well as to all the satellites, and rational mechanism rigorously proves that it could not be otherwise.

It was clearly understood that when at her apogee the moon was farthest from the earth, and when at her perigee she was nearest to our planet.
This, therefore, was what every American knew whether he wished to or no, and what no one could decently be ignorant of.

But if these true principles rapidly made their way, certain illusive fears and many errors were with difficulty cleared away.
Some worthy people maintained, for instance, that the moon was an ancient comet, which, whilst travelling along its elongated orbit round the sun, passed near to the earth, and was retained in her circle of attraction.