Nicholl, driven into his last entrenchments, and not able to fight personally in the cause, resolved to fight with money. He published, therefore, in the Richmond Inquirer a series of wagers, conceived in these terms, and on an increasing scale:—
No. 1 (1000 dols.).—That the necessary funds for the experiment of the Gun Club will not be forthcoming.
No. 2 (2000 dols.).—That the operation of casting a cannon of 900 feet is impracticable, and cannot possibly succeed.
No. 3 (3000 dols.).—That it is impossible to load the Columbiad, and that the pyroxyle will take fire spontaneously under the pressure of the projectile.
No. 4 (4000 dols.).—That the Columbiad will burst at the first fire.
No. 5 (5000 dols.).—That the shot will not travel farther than six miles, and that it will fall back again a few seconds after its discharge.
It was an important sum, therefore, which the captain risked in his invincible obstinacy. He had no less than 15,000 dollars at stake.
Notwithstanding the importance of the challenge, on the 19th of May he received a sealed packet containing the following superbly laconic reply:—
"Baltimore, Oct. 19.
"Done.
"Barbicane."