042 PHILOSOPHICAL TKANS ACTIONS. [aNNO 17 4g. 



On the whole therefore, it seems sufficiently proved, that a cubic vessel, uhose 

 sides are equal to an English foot, will contain 1000 oz. Avoirdupois, or very 

 near that weight of spring-water: that weights and measures, deduced by a regular 

 geometrical progression from such a vessel, or from cubic vessels, whose sides are 

 equal to known parts of an English foot, bear an exact analogy to each other, and to 

 weights and measures raised from a pound, according to the words of our most 

 ancient assize laws. This being considered, and that the Avoirdupois weight is 

 now in common use for determining the gravity of all heavy bodies ; that this 

 weight now is, and immemorially has been, used for settling the ancient duty 

 of tonnage and poundage on all goods and merchandise taken by weight, except 

 some few drugs, which are charged in the book of rates by the ounce Troy ; and 

 that there is not the least proof, either in our ancient or modern laws, to induce 

 a belief that this duty was ever generally taken by the Troy weight, or that Troy 

 weights were ever in generai and common use in this kingdom, it must surely 

 be allowed, that the weight mentioned in our old laws, or acts of parliament, was 

 the Avoirdupois weight. 



Bishop Cumberland, in his Treatise, says, " that our English Avoirdupois oz. 

 is the same as the Roman ounce ; and was probably introduced into this king- 

 dom by the Romans, when they gave laws and planted colonies here, and has 

 thence continued unchanged to this day ; which is not commonly observed, be- 

 cause we use the Avoirdupois weights only about heavier commodities ; not in 

 weighing silver and gold, which are weighed by the Troy ounce ; which I sup- 

 pose was introduced by the Normans, because it takes its name from a French 

 town, Troyes in Champagne." Most authors have been of this opinion. This 

 leads us to compare our English foot with the Roman foot, which Mr. Greaves 

 takes as equal to 967 such parts, as ours is 1000. The Roman amphora or 

 quadrantal is generally allowed to be equal to a cubic Roman foot ; and to con- 

 tain 80lb. or 960 oz. Then the side of the amphora is equal to 986 parts of 

 the English foot , agreeing exactly with the foot deduced by Villalpandus from 

 the congius of Vespasian ; and a cubic vessel, whose sides are equal to Q67 parts 

 of the English foot, will not contain quite 904 4. ounces; which, if true, reduces 

 the Roman ounce to near 412-tV grains Troy. 



Avoirdupois, and were the weights by which the merchants used to buy. What were the lighter 

 weights by which they sold, does not appear j perhaps the pound Troy. That the former were the 

 lawfiil weights, appears by an act 24 Hen. VIII. c. 3, where they are so called ; and butchers, who 

 before that time sold their meat by hand, were thereby obliged to provide themselves with beams, 

 scales, and weights sealed, called Haberdepois (for Avoirdupois) ; and in the next reign the Avoir- 

 dupois weights, now remaining as standards in the Exchequer, were deposited there, as appears from 

 the name and inscription on them. — Orig. 



