84 POPULAR LECTURES AND ADDRESSES. 



of conductors, in absolute electro-magnetic units ; l 

 and after advocating the general use of the 

 absolute system, both for scientific investigation 

 and for telegraph work, for ten years, I obtained 

 in 1 86 1 the appointment of a Committee 2 of the 

 British Association on Electrical Standards. 



This committee worked for nearly another ten 

 years through the whole field of electro-magnetic 

 and electro-static measurement, but chiefly on 

 standards of electric resistance, until in its final 

 report, presented to the Exeter meeting in August 

 1869, it fairly launched the absolute system for 

 general use ; with arrangements for the supply 

 of standards for resistance coils in terms of a 



1 See my papers "On the Mechanical Theory of Electrolysis," 

 and "Applications of the Principle of Mechanical Effect to the 

 Measurement of Electromotive Forces, and of Galvanic Resistances 

 in Absolute Units," both published in the Philosophical Magazine, 

 December 1851 ; now constituting Articles LIII. and LIV. of my 

 Reprint of Mathematical and Physical Papers," Vol. I., 1882. 



2 The Reports of this Committee were published at intervals from 

 1861 to 1869 in the British Association volumes of Reports for 

 the respective years. These, along with other contributions to 

 the subject, were collected and, under the editorship of Pro- 

 fessor Fleeming Jenkin, published by Spon, London and New 

 York, 1871. 



