53 
and cumbrous variety of tables by which articles of different 
classes were bought and sold should have been retained ; 
that, even in our preparation of a national system intended 
for practical use, neither the decimalization of the weights 
and measures, nor the simplicity of one weight of one name, 
should have been adopted. The influence of great names 
ean alone probably explain this, without justifying it. 
The Committee laid out an extended scheme of reports 
by their members on the weights and measures of the prin- 
cipal countries of the world, a part of which have been 
already received, and are, for the present, retained in the 
archives of the Committee. 
The discussions in the body of this.Committee were very 
strongly in favor of the adoption of the French metrical 
system, but more strongly, in fact unanimously, in favor 
of the effort to arrive at a thorough international system, — 
a universal system of weights, measures, and coins, available 
for the general acceptance of all nations. 
The Committee has received, through oral communica- 
tions from the Hon. S. B. Ruggles, delegate appointed by 
the government of the United States to the International 
Statistical Congress at Berlin, authentic information as to 
the propositions made or adopted in that body in regard 
to weights, measures, and coins. 
A communication, marked C, was received from the 
Hon. Secretary of State, and the following resolution was 
adopted by the Academy in regard to it: — 
“ Resolved, That the letter of the Secretary of State be 
referred to the Committee on Weights and Measures, with 
power to take such order as may in their judgment be 
nec 
This Committee had several meetings during the recesses 
of the Academy, and finally the following report, marked 
5* 
