166 REPORT — 1855. 



consequently increase the proportion to the same extent. The proportion, there- 

 fore, between the Irish and the statute acre is as 121 to 196, whilst that between 

 the Irish and the proposed imperial acre is only as 25 to 49; and in the same 

 manner the Cunningham bears to the statute acre the ratio of 121 to 144, and to 

 the imperial that of 25 to 36, and the Chester acre to the statute acre the ratio 

 of 121 to 256, and to the imperial acre that of 25 to 64. The Scotch acre admits 

 of a still greater reduction, for it may be taken at the ratio of 484 to 615 to the 

 statute acre, and to the imperial acre only that of 80 to 123. The proposed 

 imperial acre is capable of scientific division, as well as of general application. 



The second change proposed is the substitution of a mile of 2000 yards for 1760, 

 an improvement borne out by the recommendation in their report of the Commis- 

 sioners in 1842. The term mile is derived from mille, thousand; or one thousand 

 military paces constituted the ancient Roman mile, each pace therein consisting of 

 two steps. If, therefore, we put fathoms for paces, and yards for steps, we come 

 at the same constituent members as the original mile. A fathom is defined as that 

 portion of the sounding-line which a man can extend between his outstretched arms. 

 This mile might then be popularly described as measured by 1000 men standing 

 in a straight line, with hands joined, and arms extended in a horizontal position. 

 This mile also will admit of a decimal division into furlongs. A fact of very great 

 importance is, that by this arrangement we acquire all the advantages of a strict 

 decimal scale, without its recognized defects, namely, not permitting of subdivision 

 into quarters or eighths without fractional parts. For though it is true that 2^ 

 furlongs is not a convenient division for a quarter of a mile, yet this defect is com- 

 pensated by the fact that 100 perches, or 500 yards, represent the same quantity. 

 The effect of this second change upon the proposed acreable arrangement may now 

 be stated. A square mile, either English or geographical, is the basis on which all 

 our statistical calculations are founded. The English square mile makes 640 English 

 acres. The proposed imperial square mile will make precisely 1000 acres, and every 

 1000 square miles one million of acres. The adoption of such a system would place 

 our land measures at least on a scale commensurate with our civilization and the 

 scientific requirements of the age. 



The author gives examples of the advantage to statistics of these arrangements, 

 and finally discusses the question of the increased scale upon which it is proposed 

 to conduct the Ordnance Survey of Scotland, under the Treasury Minute of the 18th 

 of May 1855, as presenting a favourable opportunity for such a change. The scale 

 proposed, 25,344 inches, does not admit of subdivision in our existing measures. 

 By enlarging this scale l-25th, and adopting the proposed imperial measure, this 

 practical inconvenience would be obviated, and a decimal proportion maintained. 



On the Laws of the Currency in Scotlatid. By J. W. Gilbart, F.R.S. 



The author commenced by observing, that by the " currency of Scotland," he 

 means the notes issued by the banks in Scotland, and by the " laws of the currency," 

 he means the uniform operations of those circumstances which regulate the amount 

 of notes kept in circulation. 



In this paper he proposed to consider, — first, the constitution of the banks by whom 

 the notes are issued ; secondly, the banking operations by which the notes are put 

 into circulation; thirdly, the laws which regulate the fluctuations in the amount; 

 and fourthly, the effects of the Act of Parliament passed in the year 1845, for regulating 

 the currency in Scotland. 



Under the first head he observed, that all the banks of issue in Scotland are Joint 

 Stock Banks ; that they have numerous partners ; that they have large paid-up 

 capitals ; that they are few in number ; and that they have many branches. 



Under the second head, he noticed the operations on current accounts, on deposit 

 receipts, on cash credits, and the system of exchanges between the banks. 



Under the third head, he stated it to be one law of the currency in Scotland that 

 the amount is not the same every year, but varies in amount from year to year, from 

 causes which are specified ; another law is that the amount is not the same in every 

 month during any year, but varies in each month ; and a further law, which is uni- 

 formly exhibited every year, is that the amount is the lowest in the months oi 

 March and the highest in November : another law is that the amount of notes in 



