232 REPORT— 1870. 



siderably below that of water, but almost exactly the same, the mean of all 

 my results giving the coeflScient of the specific heat of blood as 1'02. A 

 knowledge of this was essential to the further progress of the research of 

 which I hope on a future occasion to publish the definite results. 



Edinburgh, September 19, 1870. 



Report on the best means of providing for a uniformity of Weights and 

 Measures, with reference to the Interests of Science. By a Com- 

 mittee, consisting of Sir John Bowring, F.R.S., The Right Hon. 

 C. B. Adderley, M.P., Samuel Brot^^n, F.S.S., Dr. Farr, F.R.S., 

 Frank P. Fellowes^ Professor Frankland, F.R.S., Professor Hen- 

 NESSY, F.R.S., James Heywood, F.R.S., Sir Robert Kane^ F.R.S., 

 Professor Leone Levi^ F.S.A., F.S.S., Professor W. A. Miller, 

 F.R.S., Professor Rankine, LL.D., F.R.S., C. W. Siemens, F.R.S., 

 Colonel Sykes, FR.S., M.P., Professor A. W. Williamson, F.R.S., 

 James YATEs,i^.i?.S., Dr. George Glover, Sir Joseph Whitworth, 

 Bart., F.R.S., J. R. Napier, H. Dircks, J. V. N. Bazalgette, 

 W. Smith, Sir- W. Fairbairn, Bart., F.R.S., and John Robinson : — 

 Professor Leone Levi, Secretary. 



ALTnoTJon war has for a time unfortunately interrupted the progress of 

 economic reforms on the Continent of Europe and may yet retard the realiza- 

 tion of the desired uniformity in the weights, measiires, and coins of aU 

 countries, your Committee have much pleasure in reporting that the prospects 

 of the early attainment of such an object were never more satisfactory. 

 Believing that in the interest of Science, and with a view to the progress of 

 education, the universal adoption of the Metric System is by far the most 

 preferable method for arriving at such uniformity, your Committee are glad 

 to find that the lloyal Standard Commissioners have repoited that the time 

 has now arrived when the law shoidd provide, and facilities be afforded by 

 the Government for the introduction and use of Metric Weights and Measures 

 in the United Kingdom. For that purpose the Warden of the Standard has 

 obtained a complete set of official standards of such weights and measures pro- 

 perly verified, and arrangements are in progress for laying down public stan- 

 dards of the imperial and Metric measure of length. The Metric Act of 1864 

 has not yet been amended, but the Board of Trade is only waiting the final 

 report of the Commissioners, in order to introduce a complete measure on 

 the subject of Weights and Measures early next Session. In accordance 

 with the desire expressed by your Committee, the Board of Trade has pub- 

 lished the first statistical paper showing the British Customs Tariff, and the 

 Statistics of the Customs revenue and foreign Commerce of the United King- 

 dom, from 1S4U to 18G9, in the terms of the Imperial and Metric System, 

 and also in pounds sterling and in francs. Your Committee have communi- 

 cated with Her Majesty's Postmaster General with reference to the Postal 

 Treaty concluded with France, and urged that the opportunity should be seized 

 for introducing into this country a ten-gram weight. It is, however, with 

 much regi'et and disappointment that they have learnt that, disregarding even 



