296 The Decimal System. [July, 
except by surveyors, and the hand is only used in measuring 
horses, &c. Then, too, the Admiralty knot differs from the 
geographical mile, which differs again from the ordinary 
mile. Next we have square measure, which, introducing 
the squares of the numbers used in long measure, introduces 
greater confusion. ‘This is still more the case in cubic 
measure, for here the cubes of those numbers come into 
use. Again, wine measure differs from ale and beer measure, 
and, lastly, we have dry measure. ‘This leaves out of account 
such things as the weight of a sack of flour, the size of a 
square of flooring, the different kinds of tons or loads, &c. 
We will now give an example to point out the absurdity 
of the present system :—You are asked, ‘“‘ Which weighs 
the most, a pound of gold or a pound of feathers?” At 
first you feel indignant at such an insult. ‘‘Why, of course, 
they weigh the same.” You are told ‘‘No;” and on thinking 
the matter over you remember that gold is weighed by troy 
weight and feathers by avoirdupois weight ; and then if you 
have a good memory you recollect, or if not, you find on 
reference to the tables, that the pound avoirdupois weighs 
7000 grains, while the pound troy weighs only 5760 grains, 
so that the pound of feathers weighs more than the pound 
of gold. Your questioner proceeds further, and says, 
““ Which weighs most, an ounce of gold or an ounce of 
feathers ?”” Remembering the last, you say, ‘‘ Why! the 
ounce of feathers.” But no, the pound avoirdupois is 
heavier than the pound troy, but the ounce avoirdupois 
is lighter than the ounce troy. Is it not ridiculous? Is it 
not disgraceful for the greatest commercial nation on the face 
of the globe? 
Again, a hogshead or a puncheon of beer contains less 
than a hogshead ora puncheon of wine. Such differences as 
these have no use whatever, and are extremely inconvenient. 
In speaking of the weights and measures at present in 
use in England, we have several times made use of the 
word ‘‘system.” This has been convenient, but it should 
not be understood to imply that there is any uniformity in 
any particular table of weights or measures. With a small 
exception, to be noticed presently, no such uniformity 
exists. Thus in avoirdupois weight we have— 
TO drams . .«'. « » make mounce 
TOPOUDICES ° «|. fea) is bos, ee pOUae 
A pounds: 7.09% sain, JEeStones 
2 stones, or 28 pounds. ss), LA QUIAELeR. 
4 quarters,or112 pounds ,, 1 hundredweight. 
20 hundredweights . . 4, aon. 
