Ne^u SyJ!em of Weights and Meafures of France. 197 



The cubic metre receives the name of ftere when employed to meafuvc wood for fuel, 

 in which it is fubftituted for the cord and other ancient meafures. The tenth part of the 

 ftere, or deciflere, correfponds very well with the meafure commonly called folive in the 

 commerce of wood for carpentry, 



A veflel of a cubical form, Iiaving for its fide one decimetre, or a cylindrical veflel of 

 the fame folid contents, has received the name of litre. It contains about two pounds of 

 water, or twenty-five ounces of wheat. It is aflumed as the element for meafures of ca- 

 pacity, and every other meafure of this kind is confidered as the decimal multiple or fub- 

 multiple of this. So that we have the decalitre of ten litres, containing fixteen pounds of 

 •wheat, or four-fifths, of the bufhel of Paris ; the he£tolitre, which contains near 160, or 

 two- thirds of the fetier. One thoufand litres are equal in capacity to the cubical mejre. 



With regard to weights, the original weight is taken to be equal to the quantity of dif- 

 tilled water contained in a cubical veflel, the fide of which is one-hundredth part of the 

 metre. This water weighed in vacuo, and at the temperature of meltinjr ice, is equal to 

 eighteen grains and eight hundred and forty-one thoufandth parts. The denomination 

 gramme is given to this weight, and from the gramme are deduced by multiplication or di- 

 vifion all the weights fuperior and inferior. 



So that in afcending we have the decagramme equal to 2| gros. 



The he£logramme equal to 3;*; ounces. 



The kilogramme equal to 2 pounds 5 gros 49 grains. 



The myriagramme equal to about 2ci pounds. 



And by defcending we have the decigramme, which is nearly 2 grains. 



The centigramme, -Jth of a grain nearly. 



And the milligramme, which is nearly the i-50th of a grain. 



LalUy, the divifion may be carried to the ten-thoufandth part of a gramme, which may 

 be fubftituted for the eflayer's weight of the 512th part of a grain. 



We fee therefore that the gramme is placed between two feries of like number of terms ; 

 the one, which increafes to the myriagramme, with which all heavy weights will be afcer- 

 tained; and the other, which defcends to the ten-thoufandth part of the gramme. 



It is this confideration which has caufed the radical name to be given to a weight fo 

 fmall and fo little adapted to the ordinary ufes of life. It is net pretended, that on this 

 account it ihould be confidered as the fole or even the principal unity. Like the others, 

 it is merely a term in the feries of weights ; any one of the unities of which may be taken 

 according to convenience. The word radical could not be applied to a unity of a fuperior 

 order, without facrificing much of the regularity and method of this nomenclature. 



Tiie pieces of money being adjufted to a certain number of grammes, are conneiled with 

 the general fyftem of meafures. 



Pieces of one centime will be formed of copper, weighing one gramme ; of five cen- 

 •times, or a fou, weighing five grammes ; of one decime, weighing ten grammes ; and of 

 two decimes, weighing twenty grammes. 



In filvcr there will be pieces of one franc weighing five grammes, and of five francs 

 weighing twenty-five grammes. 



LalUy, in gold, there will be pieces of ten grammes. 



This explanation is fulTicient to exhibit the fyftem in its true light, and to Ihew its 

 beauty, Cmplicity, and numerous advantages. Thofc who arc defirous of more cxtenfive 



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