Polytechnic Association. 



939 



become serious when multiplied several million times to make the 

 standard. 



There seems, then, to be no other natural standard suitable, except 

 the earth's dimensions. The length of the earth's axis might be 

 better than the meridional quadrant, if we were now free to choose ; 

 but the choice has been made for us, and there is no sufficient reason 

 for making any change. 



We may make, if we please, an approach to the metric system 

 without any great change in our measures of length. We may adopt, 

 for instance, a metric foot, equal to three decimeters, and less than 

 two-tenths of an inch shorter than an English foot. 



[The speaker, in conclusion, proceeded to state, in some detail, the 

 progress which has already been made toward the adoption of the 

 metric system, of which the results may be summarily presented in 

 the following tabular view.] 



I. — Peoples adopting the Metric System in full. 



II. — Peoples adopting Metric Values. 



