_-ments and fromthe most accurate comparisons. 
a eS 
NATURE 
. 197 
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1873 
THE INTERNATIONAL METRIC COMMIS- 
SION 
HE methodical statement of the resolutions passed 
by the International Metric Commission at their 
meeting in Paris last October, has already been given in 
NATURE, vol. vi. p. 544. From this statement, a general 
idea may be formed of the extent and importance of the 
operations to be carried out under the superintendence 
and direction of so many eminent men of science, for the 
construction and verification of new international stan- 
dards of metric weight and measure. We may thus hope 
eventually to see a real and practical uniformity esta- 
blished in the weights and measures regulating all trans- 
actions of trade and commerce between the several] 
countries of the world, as well as in those used for all con- 
structive works and technical instruments of various de- 
scriptions, and in scientific investigations and researches. 
Such a result of the labours of the Commission will be 
one of the greatest triumphs of modern civilisation. We 
may better estimate its value and importance, if we con- 
sider that it will create a universal language, so far as 
regards expressing any required quantity of material 
things capable of being measured or weighed, and this 
in terms at once intelligible to every one; and it must 
afford the means of immensely extending and diffusing 
useful knowledge, and facilitating its acquirement. 
The statement before referred to contains the text of 
the formal decisions of the Commission upon the several 
points involved in the immediate duties which have been 
entrusted to them; thatistosay, theconstruction of the new 
international metric standards, and the establishment of 
their identity or their equation by the most perfect instru- 
In the 
accomplishment of these objects, all the best appliances 
of modern science will be employed. It will be seen, 
also, that the Commission further propose to adopt the 
most effectual means for maintaining inviolate the uni- 
formity of the new standards of weights and measures, 
through the agency of an International Metric Institu- 
tion to be permanently established at Paris. This insti- 
tution is to be placed under the direction of a permanent 
committee, which has been already chosen by the Com- 
mission from among their own body. Among the 
members so elected are the chief officers of weights and 
measures in the principal countries of Europe, and in the 
United States of North America. To this International 
Metric Institution it is proposed to entrust the custody of 
the new prototypes of metric weight and measure, and to 
furnish to its officers the means, and impose upon them 
the duty, of making all such further comparisons of the 
several international standards with the prototypes and 
with each other as may be required. Regulations are 
also to be laid down by the Commission for guarantee- 
ing continued uniformity and invariability of these inter- 
national standards. 
But probably many persons in this country will say— 
Of what use to us will be the making of all these new 
metric standards, and the creation of this new Interna- 
tional Metric Institution? We have our own Imperial 
No, 168—VoL. VII. 
system of weights and measures, as well as national 
standards, and are quite satisfied with them ; why should 
we want any metric weights and measures? Now, in the 
first place, without discussing the disputed question of 
the introduction of the metric system, with its uniform 
decimal scale, into this country, it may be pointed out that 
any notion of forcing the extensive adoption of the metric 
system upon the English people in opposition to public 
opinion, has been altogether disclaimed by the authori- 
ties. In the late annual address to the Royal Society by 
its president, the Astronomer Royal, printed in the So- 
ciety’s Proceedings on Nov. 30, 1872, he said, with 
reference to the International Commission for the esta- 
blishment of new and uniform S/andards of the Metric 
System :—“I think it imperative on me to state that the 
British Government gave their assent only on the express 
understanding that they could take no part in the Com- 
mission if it displayed any propagandist intention. Speak- 
ing as the representative of the body who had best con- 
sidered this subject, namely, the Standards Commission 
now dormant, I can say as their unanimous opinion that 
they deprecate the slightest interference with national 
usages ; but they recognise the great importance of an 
accurate international system which, like the Latin of the 
Middle Ages, enables men of science to speak the same 
language; and for this international character they think 
the metric system singularly well adapted.” But, in 
point of fact, whether we adopt the metric system toa 
greater or less extent, and sooner or later, in this coun- 
try, or not, it is quite evident that as it has been adopted 
by almost every country on the Continent of Europe, 
and that all the necessary steps have been taken for its 
adoption in the United States of North America, in 
Canada, and in British India, thus establishing its inter- 
national character, it must be of the greatest advantage 
to us in all commercial transactions with countries 
abroad, including the computation of Customs duties, to 
be able to deal with their commodities when weighed or 
measured, everywhere by one uniform standard. This 
advantage must, at any rate, be allowed, even if we con- 
tinue to stick to our imperial weights and measures. In 
dealing also with technical and scientific instruments, 
and with computations of quantities in technical and 
scientific investigations, it must be of great importance 
to us here in England to find quantities of measure or 
weight everywhere else expressed in the same terms. 
These considerations tend to show, even to the upholders 
of our imperial system of weights and measures, the 
great benefits that must result to this country from 
the adoption everywhere abroad of uniform weights and 
measures ; based on standards the identity of which, and 
its maintenance, will be guaranteed by the International 
Metric Commission and their permanent institution. They 
also show how impossible it must be for this great com- 
mercial country to remain in a position of isolation with 
regard to this large international question, and the neces- 
sity of our adopting this uniform system of weights and 
measures, at least for all purposes of an international 
character, 
There are other important advantages proposed to be 
obtained by establishing the new International Metric 
Institution, the benefits of which will extend to this 
country as well as to other countries. Many scientific 
M 
