New Weights cmd Measures. 149 



unexpectedly, out of twelve which were cast in various modes, 

 only one proved sufficiently sound to be employed, the metal, 

 on the removal of the exterior crust, appearing full of small 

 holes, of various sizes. The attempt to conquer the difficulties 

 of this part of the work occupied the remainder of Octo- 

 ber, the whole of November, and the greater part of Decem- 

 ber. In the mean time Mr. Bate proceeded with the other 

 measures of capacity and with the weights ; but as these pre* 

 sented no difficulties, his chief attention was directed to per- 

 fecting the bushel. 



Two troy pounds were made, which I compared, on the 

 28th October, with the standard troy pound at Mr. Whittam's, 

 in Abingdon-street. These weights were intended merely as 

 the means of obtaining a near approximation to the avoirdu- 

 pois pound, and to the weight of a gallon of distilled water. 



On the 20th of December, Mr. Bate reported that he had 

 six avoirdupois pounds ready, all the troy weights, and the 

 subdivisions of the troy pound to grains. 



It had been my intention to ascertain the capacity of the 

 bushel by measurement, and I had employed myself in con- 

 structing the apparatus necessary for that purpose ; but as it 

 did not appear probable that the difficulties in casting the 

 bushel would be speedily surmounted, I proposed, at a meet- 

 ing of the Commissioners on the 21st of December, to deter- 

 mine the capacity of the bushel by the weight of distilled water 

 it should contain, as this, under existing circumstances, would 

 be the more accurate method, and would render unnecessary 

 that nice attention to figure, which would otherwise be indis- 

 pensably requisite. 



All difficulty in the construction of the bushel being thus 

 removed, Mr. Bate engaged to deliver to me, on the 1st of 

 February, the folldwing models, viz. — four bushels, four gal- 

 lons, four quarts, four joints, four troy pounds, one avoirdu- 

 pois j)ound, with sub-divisions to drams, a two-pounds, a four, 

 a seven, a fourteen, a twenty-eight, and a fifty-six pounds 

 avoirdupois ; four weights, each e(juivalent to the weight of 

 a gallon of distilled water, four to that of a (|uart of distilled 

 water, and four to that of a pint. These models arc intended 

 to serve for constant use at the Exchequer, Guildliall, Edin- 

 burgh, and Dul)lin, the set of avoirdupois weights which will 

 be ready by that time being for the Exche(]uer. Another set 

 of models, superior in point of woiknianship, though not in 

 accuracy, will be afterwards made, and kept as standards to 

 be transmitted to jjosterity. 



I am in iliJIy expectation of receiving from Mr, Bate a set 

 of weights, for the puVpo,->e ofeiuibling me to derive the avoir- 

 dupois 



