Mr. Needham--Thank you for your comment on my language skills. Please see
Miriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, tenth edition, where the plural is
*usually* cannon, but where "cannons" is also acceptable (and indeed is
listed before "cannon").

As for your recounting of Balaclava (see below), I believe "cannnon" is
incorrect since I can't find it anywhere in a dictionary. I would tend
toward "cannon" with a double consonant as opposed to a triple one, but I
respectfully leave this to your own good judgment.

Cordially,
Doug

........................................
Doug Lantry
The Ohio Historical Society
Statehouse Education and Visitors Center
Columbus, Ohio
[log in to unmask]

On Fri, 10 Jul 1998, Harry Needham wrote:

> The plural of "cannon" is "cannon"; as in
>
> "Cannon to left of them,
> Cannon to right of them,
> Cannnon in front of them
> Volleyed and thundered"
>
> I can assure you that the poet was describing BATTERIES opposing the charge
> of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, not individual guns.
>
> Harry Needham
> Special Advisor - Program Development
> Canadian War Museum
> 330 Sussex Drive,
>   Ottawa, Canada
> K1A 0M8
> Voice: (819) 776-8612  Fax (819) 776-8623
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
> > ----------
> > From:         Doug Lantry[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> > Reply To:     Museum discussion list
> > Sent:         Thursday, July 09, 1998 5:35 PM
> > To:   [log in to unmask]
> > Subject:      cannons
> >
> > Hello all. Does anyone out there have bronze American Civil War-era
> > cannons (outdoor or indoors) in their care? If so, how do you take care of
> > them (cleaning, polishing, waxes, coatings, etc.)? I'm interested to see
> > what the standard is on this.
> >
> > Your input is most appreciated.
> >
> > -Doug
> >
> > ........................................
> > Doug Lantry
> > The Ohio Historical Society
> > Statehouse Education and Visitors Center
> > Columbus, Ohio
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
>