124 



might have a direct and simple relation to the measures. In all the 

 English methods this principle has been disregarded. 



Let us now see how the application of the same principle will facilitate 

 the loading of vessels. First, with respect to the ballast and then to 

 the cargo. 



Supposing water to be used as ballast, either wholly or in part, the 

 weight of water used as balla'st and estimated in tons will be exactly 

 the same as the number of cubic metres which it will occupy. If 

 gravel, stone, iron, lead, or any other material is employed, its specific 

 gravity being known, the space occupied by it will be inversely as its 

 specific gravity. 



The cai-go may be adjusted on the same principle. The specific 

 gravity of all kinds of merchandize may be ascertained with any degree 

 of exactness which is considered necessary, and the stowage may be 

 regulated accordingly ; for not only will the tonnage of the vessel, 

 after the ballast has been deducted, express the precise weight of 

 cargo, crew, and provisions which the ship will carry, but every portion 

 of the cai-go may be placed higher or lower, fore or aft, so as to pro- 

 duce the greatest buoyancy and the most pei'fect equiUbrium. 



Before concluding these remai'ks, I wish to observe that the adoption 

 of the metrical ton, in the manner proposed, would naturally lead to 

 its adoption in weighing merchandize. And, not only would foreign 

 merchants adopt this system from its economy of time and labour, but 

 the lower metrical weights would also come gradually into common use. 



Already these weights are making progress in Great Britain. More 

 especially the smallest weights, from the gramme to the millogramme, 

 are employed by all the rising chymists of the present day in Britain, 

 as well as in other countries. It appears, therefore, not unreasonable 

 to hope that the adoption of the metrical ton in shipping may be 

 another secure step towards the realization of the wish expressed in 

 the old distich, 



Una fides, pondus, mensura, luoneta sit una, 

 Et status illtesus totius orbis erit. 



The Chairman laid before the meeting a paper which had been 

 received from Thomas Joseph Hutchinson, Esq., her Majesty's Consul 

 for the Bight of Biafra and the island of Fernando Po, Corresponding 

 Member of the Society, entitled — 



FACTS ABOUT FERNANDO PO, 



Which he proceeded to read. Among the passages read were the 

 following : — 



