114 Professor Renwick on the 



nation ? It is, besides, to be remarked, as has been before 

 stated, that it is now well known that the length of the seconds 

 pendulum does not depend upon the latitude merely, but is 

 affected by the geological and mineral structure of the place 

 where the experiment is performed, and its vicinity*. 

 Neither is the pendulum of 45°, even were the earth a sphere 

 and the density of its surface uniform, the mean pendulum, for 

 that would be found in the latitude of 35° 16'. For these 

 reasons I cannot see any important advantage to be gained from 

 naming the pendulum of 45*" in the revision of the statutes re- 

 lating to this subject. 



For all immediate purposes, the inference drawn from the 

 experiments of Sabine in this institution may be received as 

 sufficient, and the liberal spirit of the trustees guarantees that 

 the place of experiment will be accessible for the purpose of 

 the first investigations, and the construction of the standards to 

 be deposited in the proper public office. But it cannot be too 

 strongly urged, that this measure should be transferred to a 

 building, the property of the state, as early as possible, and 

 that in it the instruments and documents connected with this 

 investigation should be deposited. For this purpose, a location 

 near the present seat of government, or perhaps one more 

 central, in relation to the ultimate population of the state, 

 should be chosen ; and a preliminary law should provide for this 

 important object. 



(7.) The legislative provisions necessary to attain the objects 

 of a well-regulated system of measures, and its recovery, in 

 case of loss, would be most advantageously comprised in two 

 different acts ; one to become a permanent part of the revised 

 laws — the other to be preliminary and temporary. The pro- 

 visions of the first should be : — 



1. That there shall be but one standard of measure of 

 length and surface, one of weight, and one of measures of 

 capacity, in this state. 



2. That the unit of lineal measure shall be the yard, as 

 used in this State at the date of the declaration of its indepen- 

 dence, and that for its more precise definition, and in order to 



* Sabine. Experiments on the Pendulum, 



