432 PHILOSOPHICAL TEANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1740. 



On the Analogy between English freights and Measures of Capacity. By the 

 Rev. Mr. fVilliam Barlow of Plymouth. N° 458, p. 457. 



The analogy between ancient English weights and measures seems for many 

 ages to have been entirely forgotten and unknown. 



Our ancestors supposed, as Mr. B. thinks, a cubic foot of water (assumed as a 

 general standard for liquids) to weigh 624^1b. ; the exactness of which supposition 

 is confirmed by modern observation. From a cubic foot of water, multiplied 

 by 32, is raised a ton weight, or 2000 pounds, luckily falling into large round 

 numbers, and for that reason made choice of. 



Agreeably to this were liquid measures accommodated, viz. 8 cubic feet of 

 water made a hogshead, and 4 hogsheads a ton, in capacity and denomination, 

 as well as weight. 



Dry measures were raised on the same model. A bushel of wheat, assumed 

 as a general standard for all sorts of grain, was supposed to weigh 624. lb. equal 

 to a foot of water ; 8 of these bushels a quarter, and 4 quarters a ton weight. 



Coals were sold by the chaldron, which was supposed to weigh a ton or 2O0O 

 pounds. See Chambers's Dictionary. 



Therefore, though the measures containing a liquid ton, 4 quarters of wheat, 

 a chaldron of coals, &c. be all of different capacities ; yet the respective contents 

 are every one of the same weight. A ton in weight is the common standard 

 of all. 



Afterwards, through ignorance of this analogy, a variety of weights and mea- 

 sures were introduced, incommensurate, and not reducible to any common 

 standard, or analogous relation. Whereas, had the original analogy been kept 

 up, it would have prevented that disorder and confusion so justly complained 

 of at present, concerning the subject of weights and measures. 



From the foregoing scheme it is reasonable to suppose, that corn, and seve- 

 ral other commodities, both dry and liquid, were first sold by weight ; and that 

 measures, for convenience, were afterwards introduced, bearing some analogy 

 to the weights before made use of. 



From the modern experiment before mentioned, a cubic foot of water 

 weighing 624- lb. it appears that the measure of a foot, and the weight of a 

 pound, are the same now as they were in use many ages before the conquest. 



The foregoing scheme assigns a reason, why the word ton is applied both to 

 weight and liquid measure, viz. because the same quantity of liquor is a ton 

 both in weight and measure. Probably 4 quarters of grain had formerly the 

 same appellation, till the significancy of it was lost in the use of the avoir- 

 dupois ton. 



