of the HoJise of Commons on Weights and Measures. 433 



have been made of great importance with respect to the general 

 fi^nre of the earth, its density and internal constrnction. So 

 that vovir Committee are decidedly of opinion, that it will be highly 

 proper to extend similar observations over a still larger snrface, 

 so as to connect the measurements and astronomical observations 

 made bv the different nations of Europe, as much as possible, into 

 one whole. 



Your Committee having directed their attention to the best 

 and most practicable method of bringing the imperial measures 

 into general use, beg leave further to recommend a legislative 

 enactment, bv which it shall be declared, that all bargains and 

 sales, where nothing appears to the contrary, shall be deijmed and 

 taken t^ be made in conformity with these measures of length, 

 superficies, capacitv, and weight; but that for a time to be li- 

 mited, it shall be competent for all persons to deal by any other 

 measures, established either by local custom, or founded on spe- 

 cial agreement, that they may select ; provided always, that the 

 ratio or proportion of such local measures, to those established 

 by law, mav be a matter of common notoriety ; and that in the 

 case of a special agreement, liie ratio or proportion be therein 

 expressed. 



Your Committee subjoin in an Apjjcndix, some computations 

 and proportions, which thev think mav be of general use. 



28 May 1821. 



j4ppendix. 



The Pendulum vibrating seconds of mean solar time at London 

 in a vacuum, and reduced to the level of the sea, ;^9'1393 inches, 

 consequently the descent of a heavy body from rest in one second 

 of time in a vacuum, will be 1L>3'145 inches. The logarithm 

 2-2858S28. 



A platina metre at the temperature of 32°, supposed to be the 

 ten-millionth partof the quadrant of the meridian, 39-3708 inches. 

 The ratio to the imperial measure of three feet as 1-09363 to 1, 

 the logarithm 0-0388717. 



The five following standards have been measured, as follows: 

 Gen. Lambton's scale used in the Trigono-1 g-.g^gg^ .^^^^^^^ 



metrical Survey ot India .. .. ..J 



Sir George Shuckburgh's scale (which for allS 



purposes may be considered as identical V35 -99998 



with the imperial standard) . . . . J 



Gen. Roy's scale 36-00083 



Royal Society standard .. .. .. 36'00135 



Ramsden's bar . . . . . . . . 36-00249 



VoI.S7. No.278. JMnel821. 3 1 Weight 



