And if cannon could be made that would send balls through the sides of any iron-clad, or through the walls of any fortification, war would probably soon cease, for no country could resist a hostile nation thus armed.
Therefore it is almost to be hoped that one of these parties—the manufacturers of great cannon or the builders of ships and forts will so far surpass the other that the trials between them in time of war will be considered useless.
But it seems very doubtful if a limit to the size and force of cannon, and the strength of iron-clads and forts will soon be found.
THE GREAT CANNON OF MALTA.
Although our cannon are so large, we hear stories of guns of the kind that were very large and yet not at all modern.
It is said that the Knights of the island of Malta had a tremendous cannon, which, when it was fired off, made everybody, even old gunners stop their ears for fear that they would be deafened by the terrific noise.
And the Chinese, who certainly invented gunpowder long before we thought of it, have a tradition that their country once possessed a most enormous cannon. It was constructed of pieces that were fastened together by great bands, like the hoops on our barrels and casks.
It is said that this enormous cannon, the bore of which was so large that you might sleep inside of it if you felt sure it was not to be used before you came out, was never fired but once, and the inhabitants of the locality where it stood (or still stands, for all I know,) believe that the ball is flying yet.
It would certainly be unpleasant if any of us happened to be taking a walk through a pleasant country, to meet this ball so suddenly that there would be no time to turn out for it.