new standards of weights and measures, g 



the Commissioners of Weights and Measures would afford 

 their assistance in directing the executive measures necessary 

 for the accomplishment of its objects. In compliance with 

 this request, I undertook to superintend the construction, and 

 to adjust the principal standards to be deposited at the 

 Exchequer, Guildhall, Dublin, and Edinburgh. 



Mr. Troughton, the first of our English artists having, 

 in consequence of his advanced age, declined undertaking to 

 make the standards, I directed Mr. Dollond to prepare those 

 of linear measure ; and employed Mr. Bate, an artist who, 

 as hydrometer maker for Revenue purposes, had been accus- 

 tomed to nice operations in weighing, to construct those of 

 weight and measure. 



Brass being peculiarly liable to decomposition in the 

 atmosphere of London, I directed Mr. Bate to make some 

 experiments, to ascertain the proportions of tin and copper 

 which might produce a metal equal in hardness, and which 

 might be worked with the same facility as hammered brass ; 

 and after some trials it was found that a mixture of 576 parts 

 of copper, 59 of tin, and 48 of brass, afforded a beautiful 

 metal, which possessed the qualities I sought. 



In order to avoid any innovation but such as might be ab- 

 solutely necessary, it was deemed expedient in constructing 

 the bushel, to adhere as nearly as possible to the form of that 

 known by the appellation of the Winchester bushel. It was 

 therefore directed to be made cylindrical, the interior dia- 

 meter being about i8|- inches, the exterior 19J inches, and the 

 depth about 8^ inches, and intended to contain eighty pounds 

 avoirdupois of distilled water. In order to give the bushel 



MDCCCXXVI. C 



