Taylor.] ^^^ [Oct. 21, 



tern; to make the foot to bear a definite ratio to tlie standard penduhim rod ; 

 to reduce the dry and liquid raeasure.s to corresponding capacities by estab- 

 lishing a single gallon of 270 cubic inches, and a bushel to be eqnal to eight 

 (8) gallons, or 2,1G0 inches— that is, to one and one-fourth cubic feet; to 

 make the ounce to be the weight of one-thousandth part of a cubic foot of 

 water ; to retain the more known terms of the two kinds of weights in use, 

 reduced to one series ; and to express tlie quantity of pure silver in the dollar 

 in parts of the weight so defined. 



The second plan was to reduce " every branch to the same decimal ratio 

 already established in coins, and thus bring the calculation of the principal 

 affairs of life within the arithmetic of every man who can multiply and 

 divide plain numbers." 



Except in the length of the fundamental unit, and in the nomenclature, 

 this was essentially that of the metrical system of France. 



Tliese two plans were sharply opposed to each other, and it was to be ex- 

 pected that the desire for a decimal division, and symmetry of system on the 

 one hand, and the reluctance to make a violent change on the other, shouljl 

 elicit no little discussion. 



This report was communicated to the Senate in December of that year 

 and referred to a committee. That committee reported on the 1st of March, 

 1791, that, " as a proposition has been made to the National Assembly ,of 

 France for obtaining a standard of measure which shall be invariable, and 

 communicable to all nations and at all times; as a similar proposition has 

 been submitted to the British Parliament in their last session ; as the avowed 

 object of these is to introduce an uniformity in the measures and weights of 

 the commercial nations ; as a coincidence of regulation by the Goveinment 

 of the United States on so interesting a subject would be desirable, your 

 committee are of opinion that it would not be eligible, at present, to intro- 

 duce any alteration in the measures and weights which are now used in the 

 United States." This report was adopted. 



In 1790, Talleyrand proiwsed to the constituent Assembly of France, that 

 in view of the great diversity and confusion in the weights and measures of 

 the country, a commission should be appointed for the purpose of consulting 

 with a similar commission from the English Government, upon the subject of 

 establishing a uniform international system of metrology, founded upon a 

 single and universal standard. The proposal alluded to the only two natural 

 standards which presented themselves, viz., the measure of the earth and the 

 pendulum, and expressed a decided preference for the latter. The result of 

 this movement was the appointment of Borda, Lagrange, Laplace, Monge, 

 and Condorcet, as commissioners to examine into and report upon the sub- 

 ject. After a careful consideration of the three plans submitted, namely, the 

 pendulum, a quarter of the equator, and a quarter of the terrestrial meridian, 

 they very judiciously agreed in decidedly recommending the latter ; regard- 

 ing the pendulum as an unsuitable standard, whether taken at forty-five 

 degrees of latitude or at the equator. 



The attempt to enlist the co-operation of England proved abortive. " The 

 operation of changes of opinion there," says Mr. Adams, "is slow — the aver- 

 sion to all innovations deep. More than two hundred years had elapsed from 

 the Gregorian reformation of the calendar, before it was adopted in Eng- 

 land. "•■■• * * After a succession of more than sixty years of inquiries and 



