a 



364' REPORT— 1866. 



the addition of foreign members to be nominated by the Exhibition Commis- 

 sioners in different countries, each nation contributing to bear a proportional 

 share of any expense, which, ho-\vever, coukl not be great. 



In accordance, therefore, with the suggestion jn'omulgated by the Metric 

 Committee and the International Association, and with the resolutions 

 adopted by the Conferences held at the Palais de I'Industrie, an ordinance on 

 the subject was issued by the President of the Imperial Commission on the 

 2nd of June last, which appropriated a space in the Palace for tke exhi- 

 bition of measures, weights, and coins of all countries, and appointed a 

 Special Committee from the Scientific Commission to preside over this par- 

 ticular Exhibition. 



The Committee thus formed, of which I have the honour of being a mem- 

 ber, held its first meeting during my stay in Paris, when, after organizing 

 oiirselves by nominating our senior member, M. Mathieu, of the Bureau 

 des Longitudes, President, and Messrs. Baudrillart and Becquerel, Secretaries, 

 we prepared a circular to be sent to the Commissioners appointed in all 

 countries for the Universal Exhibition, communicating to them a copy of 

 the ordinance of the Minister of State and the minutes of the Conferences 

 held in the Palais de I'Industrie, and inviting their cooi)eration on the 

 subject. An important step has thus been taken which will, I trust, greatly 

 stimulate the object we have at heart, viz. the adoption of the same system 

 of measures, weights, and coins in all countries. 



Permit me now to add that, having regard to the part taken by the 

 Metric Committee of the British Association and the International Decimal 

 Association in suggesting such an Exhibition, it is much to be desired that 

 we should do our utmost in assisting the International Committee in the 

 attainment of the object. The Poyal Commissioners for the Exhibition of 

 1867, of which His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales is Chairman, T\dU 

 be invited to send to that Exhibition a copy of all the weights and measures 

 legal in this country, and two collections of the current coins of the realm. 

 I trust the Metric Committee of the British Association and the Council of the 

 International Association wiU commend the subject to the attention of the 

 British Commission, and so secure their compliance with the request. 



In the name of the International Decimal Association, I have promised 

 that the collection of weights and measures made for the International Ex- 

 hibition of 1862, and deposited in the Kensington Museum, shall be placed 

 at the disposal of the International Committee for the purpose, and upon 

 this also it will be necessary to communicate with the authorities of the 

 Kensington Museum. 



Still more important, however, is the nomination of delegates to take part 

 in the great Conference ^^'hich will be held at the time of the Exhibition. 

 This Conference should consist of men able to study the objects and docu- 

 ments there exhibited from a scientific and practical point of view ; and it 

 is most important that the two scientific Associations, to whom I have the 

 honour to address myself, should communicate with Her Majesty's Govern- 

 ment, soliciting them to appoint official representatives to the same Confer- 

 ence from the Mint and the Board of Trade, and that you should also write 

 to the Chambers of Commerce in the United Kingdom, showing the prac- 

 tical advantage of their responding in due time to the invitation of the 

 International Committee by appointing delegates to the same Conference. 

 The Council of the International Decimal Association may also appeal to its 

 Y ice-Presidents in all countries, soliciting their good offices with their 

 respective Governments, with a view to secure their cooperation in pro- 



