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] > > >