114 Proposal for a new Regulation of freights and Measures. 



other, as being on a larger scale. But the objection to it is the 

 inequality of the earth's surface; for it has been found that the 

 degrees of the meridian vary in different longitudes even in the 

 same latitude. The mathematicians who established this system 

 objected to that of the pendulum, as depending on gravitation and 

 time. But gravitation is uniform in the same latitude; and with 

 regard to time, it is universally so, as it solely depends on the 

 earth's diurnal revolution round its axis, which has never been 

 found to vary. Thus, therefore, a superiority cannot be ascribed 

 to the meridian system ; and as that of the pendulum is more 

 easily performed with accuracy, it must enjoy a higher approval. 

 Another plan that has been proposed, is the space through 

 which a heavy substance will fall in a second of time, which has 

 been proved in the latitude of London to be IG-VV f'^^t: this is, 

 however, obviously too difficult to be performed with the requi- 

 site accuracy. 



The pendulum system is that approved of and taken as the 

 standard by the committee of the House of Commons, the length 

 of which in the latitude of London has been found to be 39* 13047 

 inches, of which 36 are established as the legal standard for the 

 yard, and 12 such inches a foot. These subdivisions are cer- 

 tainly far from deserving any great approbation ; but the com- 

 mittee are not desirous of completely altering the present system, 

 and therefore still retain its subdivisions. From this measure that 

 of liquid and the weights are effluent. And as the subdivisions 

 and multiples of our present system are too well known to re- 

 quire a recapitulation here, I shall proceed to give a scale that 

 might be adopted in establishing an uniformity of weights and 

 measures. It will be easily seen that it is founded on the system 

 established by the French Republic. The latter, as I have before 

 remarked, is calculated from the arc of the meridian, and which, 

 by order of the French Government, was measured between the 

 •parallels of Dunkirk and ]?arcelona. But as that of the pendu- 

 lum is chosen by our Govenmient, I shall make it the source of 

 the plan: — the system of the penduluu) is evidently more correct 

 than the other, and that is more approvable. 



The length of a pendulum oscillating seconds in the latitude 

 of Lojidon is, as I have before stated, according to the committee 

 of the House of Commons, 39* 13047 inches, of which 36 were 

 to make the standard yard. Now it would be better to make the 

 pendulum itself the unit for measures retaining that name, and 

 so increasing and decreasing by decimals, dividing the pendu- 

 lum hito decimal parts progressively by 10, and multiplying it 

 after the same manner. Then shall we have : 

 1 Kilopendulum =1000 pendulums 



1 Hecto = 100 do. 



1 Deca 



