194 REPORT 1856. 



howmuchtheadoptionby different nations of a uniform system of measures, weights, 

 and coins would facilitate the comparative study of the statistics of different countries, 

 resolves that it is desirable to put such a uniform system into energetic practice." 



Of the extraordinary labour which attends the comparison of the statistics of 

 different countries at the present time, no better idea could be given than by a little 

 work containing only a few pages, which was prepared and published by Mr. Wool- 

 house in 1836, and which is still used by architects and contractors whose operations 

 are carried on in foreign countries. It is entitled " Tables of continental lineal and 

 square measures." Table I. contains a list of the principal lineal measures of the 

 various countries, states, and cities throughout Europe, arranged in alphabetical 

 order. The columns exhibit to 4 places of decimals the value of a unit of each 

 respective measure, when estimated in English feet, Florence bracchi, French metres, 

 Neapolitan palmi, Rhineland feet, Roman palmi, Venice feet, and Vienna feet. 

 Under each column the number of different places in which the unit of measure is 

 compared under Table I. amounts to 143, nearly all forming different proportions of 

 the English foot. In the second table is shown the comparison of square and super- 

 ficial measures for the same number of places. 



In the discussion which took place at the Institution of Civil Engineers in February 

 1854, Professor Airy stated that for every different class of objects a different unit 

 was adopted ; that the multipliers of that unit were counted by the decimal scale of 

 common arithmetic, and the subdivisions of that unit by the binary scale. Thus he 

 enumerates — 



The Acre (for land measure). 



The Mile (for itinerary measure). 



The Yard (for measure of drapery). 



The Coomb (for capacity of corn, &c.). 



The Gallon (for capacity of liquids). 



The Pound (for grocer's ware). 



The Stone of 8 pound (for butcher's meat). 



The Stone of 14 pounds (for flour, oatmeal, &c.). 

 And the learned Professor did not consider that the Government ought to enforce a 

 decimal scale except in coinage. 



Now it is evident that if so many units are to be maintained, having no connexion 

 with or relation to each other, and if they are not even to be divided decimally, and 

 if foreign nations may each have as many units equally unrelated to each other, no 

 great advantage would be gained by any change at all. If the inconvenience of an 

 alteration of system must be encountered, the one adopted should at least be of such 

 a kind, that no further change should be necessary, that the system should be decimal 

 for the convenience of calculation, that it should be distinguished by the utmost sim- 

 plicity, and that both measures and weights should be in harmony with each other. 



The author states that at the present time no system so completely fulfils these 

 conditions as the metrical system, which, beginning in France, has been since 

 established in so many countries, and from which, whatever prejudices it may have to 

 overcome, there seems no desire in any country where it has been introduced, to 

 withdraw or to substitute any old system for it. Both in weights and measures the 

 difference is so slight between some denominations of the metrical system and some 

 used in this country, that very little inconvenience would be felt in the change. 

 Thus the ton^l015*65 kilogrammes might easily be altered to 1000 kilogrammes. 

 1 pole or perch (5J yards)= 5'029 metres to 5 metres. 

 1 furlong (220 yards) = 201 -164 „ to 200 metres. 



5 furlongs =10053-22 „ to 1 kilometre. 



1 foot = 3*048 decimetres to 3 decimetres. 



On the Position of Reformatory Schools in reference to the State, and the 

 General Principles of their Management, especially as regards Female Re- 

 formatories. By Mart Carpenter {of Bristol). 

 Reformatory schools have only been brought prominently before the public during 



the last five years, and great ignorance still prevails respecting their real object and 



working. 



The old Saxon law distinctly provided that all persons who are by the "act of God " 



irresponsible, should not be punished; and that a child "pardonatur, quia infana." 



