74 M. TONDINI on the 



On the unification in the measure of time, with special 

 reference to the contest on the initial meridian. 

 By C. Tondini de Quarenghi. Communicated by 

 F. J. Faraday, F.L.S. 



(Received December zytJi, iS88.) 



I. 



As early as the year 1862, the International Statistical 

 Congress held at Berlin, impressed by the many inconveni- 

 ences and delays resulting from the simultaneous existence 

 of different calendars, approached the Imperial Government 

 of Russia with the following representations : — 



" The International Statistical Congress professing that 

 "the principal object of its meeting is the improvement of 

 " statistical publications undertaken by the several States, as 

 "well as the unification of the same, in order that their 

 " results may be actually compared ; 



" Considering that uniformity and unification in the 

 " measure of time is a desideratum of the highest importance 

 " for many weighty points of science, such, for instance, as 

 "the assessment of births and deaths for every month of 

 ' the year ; meteorological observations ; the date of the 

 " appearance of epidemics, and their exact duration ; many 

 " and various medical observations, and the like ; 



" Considering also that the importance of that measure 

 "is equally evident for every kind of international relations; 

 " for commerce and the several branches of industry ; for 

 " railways, and the simplification of many computations ; 



" Most respectfully expresses a wish that the Govern- 

 " ment of His Majesty the Emperor of Russia, and, in 

 "general, all Christians belonging to the Greek rite, may 



