# Urbi et Orbi explained — From the Earth to the Moon

> Chapter companion for From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne.

## What happens

President Barbicane launches a global subscription to fund the moon projectile, appealing to all nations. The response is overwhelmingly positive, with contributions from around the world, though England refuses to participate. The chapter details the sums raised and the contract signed with the Goldspring Manufactory to cast the Columbiad.

## Themes in this chapter

### Public Enthusiasm and Media Hype

The chapter describes the widespread public interest and the successful global subscription, driven by Barbicane's manifesto and media coverage.

### Nationalism and American Exceptionalism

Despite the international scope, the enterprise is framed as American, with the Gun Club leading the effort and the United States contributing the largest sum.

### Human Ambition and Exploration

The global subscription demonstrates humanity's collective ambition to reach the moon, transcending national boundaries.

## Character check-ins

### Impey Barbicane

President Barbicane issues a manifesto and orchestrates the global subscription, signing the contract with the Goldspring Manufactory.

### Captain Nicholl

His theories are cited by the Greenwich Observatory in their dismissal of Barbicane's proposition.

### J. T. Maston

As a member of the Gun Club, he is implicitly involved in the subscription efforts.

### Murchison

The engineer Murchison is mentioned as the manager of the Goldspring Manufactory, signing the contract with Barbicane.

## Key lines

> President Barbicane had resolved—although the enterprise was American—to make it a business of universal interest, and to ask every nation for its financial cooperation.

Barbicane decided to turn the American project into a global fundraising effort, seeking contributions from all countries.

_Highlights the international scope of the subscription._

> England alone remained. The contemptuous antipathy with which she received Barbicane’s proposition is known.

England was the only nation that refused to contribute, showing disdain for the project.

_Emphasizes England's opposition and the national rivalry._

> On the 20th of October a contract was made with the Goldspring Manufactory, New York, which during the war had furnished Parrott with his best cast-iron guns.

A contract was signed on October 20 with the Goldspring Manufactory, known for supplying Parrott's cast-iron guns during the war.

_Details the practical step of contracting the cannon's construction._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/from_the_earth_to_the_moon_se/chapters/urbi-et-orbi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/from_the_earth_to_the_moon_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/from_the_earth_to_the_moon_se/chapters