10 



pounds more, the standard, strictly, would be 48 J pounds; but 60 is tliat in use, 

 because of the different weights of wheat having the same bulk. 



Mr. Woolhouse, in his excellent little work on the Aveights, measures, and 

 moneys of all nations, says: "The weights and measures of the United States 

 are precisely the same as those of Great Britian, with the exception of the 

 measures of capacity, for which the old standards are retained. Thus the unit 

 of dry capacity is the old Winchester bushel." 



Webster also says: "The AVinchester bushel is used still in the United 

 States." But our Winchester bushel of wheat is GO pounds, and as the 

 Imperial buj^hel of wheat, nominally 60 pounds also, is 10 pounds greater, it is 

 70 pounds of our standard, our weight of the gallon of wheat being heavier; 

 and eight such bushels, or 560 pounds, being equal to a quarter of a ton, the 

 Engliish quarter of wheat becomes such quarter, and not the two coombs of the 

 English measure of capacity. Hence Webster's definition that the word quarter 

 is a dry measure, the fourth part of a ton in weight, or eight bushels of grain. 



Difficulties of this kind must always be recurring, until Congress M'ill do for 

 measures and weights what it has done for the moneys of the United States — 

 sweep away the pounds of troy and avoirdupois weight, the twelve inches of the 

 foot, and make 10 or 100 the unit for these, as it has done in our currency. 

 The numeral figures are the same in all nations, and in them alone should be 

 the common standard of weights, measures, and moneys. Other nations would 

 follow our precedent, and thus common standards obtain throughout the com- 

 mercial world. 



Imports and Exports for New York. 



For the ten months of 1863, from Januaiy 1 to November 1, the imports at 



New York have been $155,000,000 



Add 40 per cent., as difference between gold and currency G2,000, 000 



Total value of imports 217,000,000 



The exports ^ox the same time were - 145, 000,000 



Balance against the United States 72,000,000 



To meet this the exports of specie have been : 



From New York $39,000,000 



From California 25,000 000 



64,000,000 



Balance due fur imports - -- 8, i)00, 000 



The exports of breadstufiFs, from September 1 to November 1 3 at New York, 

 and to November 10 at Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, and California, have 

 been as follows, in each of the following years, to Great Britain and Ireland : 



Flour. 



1863 230,734 



18G2 220,676 



1861 240,994 



1860 584,116 



To the Continent, during the same period: 



1863 22,613 



1862 37,021 



1861 340.586 



1860 13,596 



These tables show a heavy decrease of our exports in wheat and corn, and nearly the 

 game amount of flour. 



