TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 133 



about ragged children. According to the census of 1851, there were 132 Ragged 

 Schools, with 23,643 scholars. Only nine of these schools were connected with par- 

 ticular denominations. The politician and philanthropist need not fear religious 

 scruples here. Those who, as a rule, object to all religious teaching except what is 

 formal and technical, are found to merge their scruples in the paramount necessity 

 for converting the dangerous classes into new constituents of social strength. Here, 

 at least, is a work in which the attractive element of philanthropy and pity is stronger 

 than the repelling element of sectarianism. Nor will the advocates of national eco- 

 nomy object either. They know that a million spent upon moral and industrial 

 training will save ten millions in county rates. The simple state of the case is that 

 two millions are neither at work nor school. The question is, how shall we obtain hold 

 of them? We answer, refuse to feed by out-door relief those who attend no school. 

 This would reduce the two millions by one-half. A fourth below those who receive 

 out-door relief might still remain untouched, and another fourth above. But the 

 lower fourth might be thinned by the provisions of Reformatories, and the fourth 

 above them, who are the children of parents able but unwilling to educate them, 

 would be stimulated by the improvement of those who are below them, and who are 

 threatening to supplant them in the walks of life and industry. In Cheltenham there 

 is a population of 35,000, of which number there are 867 children under 16 years of 

 age receiving out-door relief. The parents are either hopelessly poor, or culpably 

 unthrifty, and the majority of the children, as might be expected, are left to chance 

 and ignorance. This is the point on which to put the screw. More compulsory 

 measures may indeed be needed, but is the country prepared to adopt them ? 



On the Advantages to Statistical Science of a Uniform Decimal System of 



Measures, Weights, and Coins throughout the World. By Samuel Bkown, 



F.S.S., and Vice-President of the Institute of Actuaries. 



There are few facts relating to material objects in which weight and measure do 

 not form principal points in the comparison ; and if the comparison be made for 

 commercial purposes, value also becomes a prominent consideration. 



Whoever has undertaken for statistical purposes to reduce a collection of facts to 

 one measure for comparison, will recall the immense labour which the system of 

 measures, weights, and coins prevalent even in this country has caused him. If, in 

 addition to this, it be desired to make the comparison of the results with similar 

 tables of other countries, how much additional labour is thrown upon him ! 



This difficulty has of late been felt so strongly since the frequent assemblages of 

 men interested in science or commerce, that scarcely any meeting of consequence 

 has been held without an expression of opinion on the incongruities of existing 

 systems, and the importance of preparing the way for a change. At the Statistical 

 Congress at Brussels in 1853, a resolution was carried, recommending that in the 

 Statistical Tables of counties not possessing the metrical system, a column should 

 be added indicating the metrical reductions of weights and measures. Previous to 

 this, however, the great difficulty of comparing the measure, weight and value of 

 articles from so many different countries as were represented in the Great Exhibition 

 of 1851, had forced the subject on the attention of the Jurors. In every year since 

 then an addition has been made to the number and influential position of those who 

 advocate some uniform system. The resolution above quoted only partially removes 

 the difficulty. It merely suggests the advantages of reducing all measures and weights 

 to the metrical system, which is already extensively recognized; but it does not provide 

 the means of dispensing altogether with the great labour required in the reduction. 



The declaration signed by the Members of the International Jury of the Great 

 Exhibition in Paris, or Commissioners sent by their respective Governments to the 

 Exhibition, takes a more comprehensive view, and, without pledging themselves to 

 the support of any particular system, they urge " upon the consideration of their 

 respective Governments, and of enlightened individuals, friends of civilization, and 

 advocates for peace and harmony throughout the world, the adoption of a uniform 

 system of weights and measures computed decimally, both in regard to its multiples 

 and divisions, and also in regard to the elements of all the different units." 



At the Statistical Congress held in Paris last year, after a discussion originated by 

 Mr. Pent, a resolution was passed still further extending the objects to be aimed at, 

 and applying it expressly to the purposes of the Meeting : — ." The Congress, considering 



