British, French, and Dutch Weights. 69 



scales and weights used in his time could hardly possess that 

 accuracy and sensibility which are required at present. 



Differences amounting to such an enormous extent are 

 truly appalling, and some secret cause must exist why all the 

 comparative values of the two weights, as found by calculation, 

 are so widely different from what they are found by actual 

 ponderation. 



Next, all the kilogrammes, which were actually weighed, 

 differ amongst each other, and also from that standard which 

 was made under the immediate inspection of the contrivers of 

 the metrical system. Of all these, the platina kilogramme 

 used by Dr. Weber is the lightest ; then follows the brass stan- 

 dard of Mr. Van Swinden, and all the rest are considerably 

 heavier. It might be argued that those made in this country 

 were adjusted with no great nicety ; but what are we to say or 

 to think of the differences between those made by Fortin and 

 by Monsieur Gandolfi, balancier de la Monnaie de Paris? 

 Some gross error must undoubtedly lay concealed in some 

 parts of the operations, and strange suspicions as to the source 

 of these errors must arise in the minds of any one who looks 

 into the matter ; perhaps it is not irrational to suppose that 

 errors lurk, where the least light is thrown in. 



We are in full possession of the facts, on which the deter- 

 mination of the metre rests, but we are far from having such 



