COMMITTEES ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT 209 



" Such a change, in my opinion, can only be, in a government like ours, the 

 work of time and through the education of the rising generation, for this purpose, 

 should the resolution now before Congress to establish a bureau of education be 

 adopted, the French metrical system might be taught under the sanction of the 

 government in all the common schools of the country. 



" The system, however, is not considered by many as well adapted to the Anglo- 

 Saxon mind as one which might be devised, and it was therefore the opinion of a 

 minority of the academy, that, could England and the United States agree upon 

 a system for adoption, it would in all probability in time become universal. 



" The argument in favor of the French metrical system is, however, that it 

 has been already adopted in whole or in part in several nations. 



" I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, 



" Joseph Henry, 

 " Vice President of the National Academy of Sciences. 

 " Hon. H. McCulloch, 



" Secretary of the Treasury." 



The recommendations of the Academy reached Congress 

 either through the President or the Secretary of the Treasury, 

 and were printed in the report of the House Committee of the 

 39th Congress on Coinage, Weights and Measures on the bills 

 relating to the metric system then pending. This report begins 

 as follows: 



" In considering the general subject of a uniform system of coinage, weights 

 and measures, your committee had before them — 



" First. That part of the message of the President and accompanying docu- 

 ments relating to these subjects. 



" Second. The report of the National Academy of Sciences, embracing their 

 resolutions approving the metric decimal system of weights and measures. 



" Third. The report of the United States commissioner to the statistical con- 

 gress at Berlin.^ 



" Fourth. V^arious memorials of universities and colleges of the United States, 

 urging a uniform system of weights and measures, also invariably commending 

 the metric decimal system. 



" Fifth. The petition of the mayor, judges, and citizens of Baltimore praying 

 for the adoption of the metric system of weights and measures. 



" Sixth. Several memorials of citizens in different parts of the United States 

 in behalf of the same object. 



" Seventh. The bill H. R. no. 252, referred to them, and proposing the com- 

 pulsory and exclusive use after a limited period, of the metric system 



' Hon. Samuel B. Ruggles. 



