A discourse on the theory of gunnery Delivered at the anniversary meeting of the Royal Society, November 30, 1778

Delivered to a distinguished gathering of scholars in the late eighteenth century, this discourse traces the long, winding road from stone‑hurling catapults to the thunder of modern cannon. The speaker opens with vivid anecdotes of ancient war machines—balistas that showered massive arrows and catapults that flung stones weighing hundreds of pounds—showing how early engineers relied on twisted cords and sheer brute force long before gun‑powder ever whispered its explosive promise.

Turning to the present, the lecture celebrates a recent series of experiments that measured the force of fired powder and the initial speed of cannonballs, work that earned a coveted Royal Society medal. By laying out the geometry behind projectile motion, it argues that artillery, once a chaotic craft, can be guided by clear scientific principles. Listeners are invited to imagine a world where the art of war is refined not just by might, but by reason, and where careful measurement paves the way for safer, more effective use of firepower.