Taylor.] dU4: [Oct. 21, 



system liiis been found in the adoption of tlie nomenclature ; there is a 

 natural aversion in the mass of mankind to the adoption of words, to 

 which their lips and ears are not from their infancy accustomed. Hence 

 it is that the use of all technical language is excluded from social conver- 

 sation, and from all literary composition suited to general reading ; from 

 poetry, from oratory, from all the regions of imagination and taste in the 

 world of the human mind. The student of science in his cabinet easily 

 familiarizes to his memory and adopts without repugnance words indica- 

 tive of new discoveries or inventions, analogous to the words in the same 

 science already stored in his memory. The artist, at his work, finds no 

 difficulty to receive or use the words appropriate to his own profession. 

 But the general mass of mankind shrink from the use of unaccustomed 

 sounds, and especially from new words of many syllables. 



Should these measures be therefore introduced, we should strongl}^ urge 

 the entire abolition of the French nomenclature, and the complete natu- 

 ralization of the dift'erent scales by the substitution of more familiar terms 

 from our vernacular tongue. 



In tlie advancement of physical science no nation has taken a higher 

 position, or exhibited a more fertile activity, than France. Hence it has 

 become necessary for every English and American physicist to familiarize 

 himself with the French units and standards of scientific research and 

 discovery, if he would avail himself of their benefits or information. 

 This again has induced a considerable employment of the same scales by 

 the English and American savants, in repeating or extending the foreign 

 experiments. It is not remarkable, therefore, that the scientific world 

 generally, both in this country and in England, sliould desire to see this 

 system universally prevail. Very few scientific men have given the sub- 

 ject of popular weights and measures any special attention, and of those 

 who have, it is believed that a very small proportion will be found to ad- 

 vocate the unqualified adoption of the metric system. 



A decimal system applied to weights and measures must result in failure 

 as regards the convenience of such a system or its adaptation to popular 

 wants, and this want of adaptation arises, not from any defect in the plan 

 on which it is established, but from inherent defects in tlie decimal system 

 of numeration. 



The introduction of any new system of weights and measures, to take 

 the place of one long established and in general use, will be found a trou- 

 blesome and difficult exercise of legisUitive authority. There is indeed no 

 difficulty in enacting and promulgating the law, but the difficulties of car- 

 rying it into execution are always great. 



Of all the diffi( ulties to be overcome, however, perhaps the greatest is 

 the abandonment of old and familiar units or standards. 



" Weights and measures maybe ranked among the necessaries of life 

 to every individual of human society. They enter into the economical 

 arrangements and daily concerns of every family. They are necessary to 

 every occupation of human industry ; to the distribution and security of 



