148 New Weights and Measures. 



the construction of the new bushel measure, I am further di- 

 rected to submit to you, for the consideration of the Lords 

 Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, the propriety of 

 bringing in a Bill, immediately after the meeting of Parlia- 

 ment, to extend the time fixed by the Act of last Session for 

 carrying the provisions of the said Act into execution. 



As Capt. Kater now confidently hopes that the models will 

 be completed and deposited at the Exchequer in the course of 

 the month of February, the Commissioners are of opinion, 

 that if the period at which the new weights and measures are 

 to be declared to be the only standards was postponed from 

 the 1st of May 1825 (the day fixed by the Act of last Session), 

 to the Isl of January 1826, sufficient time would be aiforded 

 for providing th :: ^nodels of the standard weights and measures 

 requii'ed for the sp' eral counties and corporations of the United 

 Kingdom, and for carrying into effect such of the enactments 

 of the said Act as are preliminai'y to the general establishment 

 of the new standards. 



I have the honour to be, 



Your obedient humble servant, 



(Signed) George Clerk. 



Having been requested to superintend the construction of 

 the new models of weights and measures, (and very unexpected 

 delays having taken place in their execution,) I beg to offer 

 a short report of the progress which has been made, and of 

 the impediments which have occurred. 



On the 16th August, the making of the models of weight 

 and capacity was confided to Mr. Bate, Mr. Troughton, in 

 consequence of his advanced age, having declined the under- 

 taking. Brass being a metal peculiarly liable to injury from 

 the atmosphere of London, I directed Mr. Bate to make ex- 

 periments on the best combination of tin and copper, which 

 might serve as a substitute. These experiments occupied the 

 remainder of the month of August. 



In the beginning of September I left London, having pre- 

 viously given Mr. Bate ample and detailed instructions re- 

 specting every particular necessary for the construction of the 

 models. 



On my return, early in October, I learned from Mr. Bate 

 that he had applied to Mr. Doiikin the beginning of Septem- 

 ber, and that Mr. Donkin had then undertaken to turn the 

 models for the bushel ; but on the 5th of October, and not 

 befoi-e, he informed Mr. Bate that he declined the execution 

 of his engagement. Mr. Bate then proceeded to have models 

 for the bushel cast by the best founders in London ; but most 



unexpectedly 



