376 report — 1865. 



In furtherance of the object remitted to it, the Committee met and passed 

 resolutions recommending the preparation of a small book for elementary 

 instruction in the metric system, and the appointment of a Deputation to 

 the President of the Board of Trade, for tbe purpose of representing to Her 

 Majesty's Government the advantages of reducing the Tariff in the terms of 

 the metric system, allowing importers of goods from countries using that 

 system to pay duties calculated by the same ; and also a Deputation to the 

 President of the Committee of Council on Education, recommending the 

 teaching of the metric system in schools supported by the State. It has been 

 suggested, however, that tbe Committee had no power to do more than to 

 report again on the subject to the Association, since the report of its Com- 

 mittee was only discussed and adopted in Section F, and not by the General 

 Committee, and therefore it was deemed best to seek from the Association 

 more definite power on the subject. 



The Committee has pleasure in reporting that the necessity of introduc- 

 ing uniformity in weights and measures throughout the country is generally 

 admitted, and that there is little or no difference of opinion as to the superior 

 merits of the metric system, in the choice of which lies the only method 

 for obtaining not only a thorough reform in our weights and measures, but 

 also the great desideratum of international uniformity. By the Act of Par- 

 liament passed in 18(34, the rise of the metric system in this country was 

 legalized, and thenceforth a contract has become equally enforceable whether 

 in the terms of the metric system or in the terms of the imperial standards. 

 Since, however, the use of the same is at present optional only, and not 

 compulsory, much remains to be done, not only in recommending the prac- 

 tical use of the metric system in the different branches of business and 

 industry, but also in disseminating the necessary teaching of the same, espe- 

 cially in schools and colleges, with a view to its more general adoption. 



The Committee has learnt that the metric system is already in use in 

 many great establishments. Those especially which supply macbinery to the 

 Continent of Europe are under the necessity of using the metric measurement 

 ill fulfilling their orders, and it does not appear that the workmen in such 

 establishments have any difficulty in understanding the system, and in using 

 it with as much readiness as the imperial scale. Since the last Meeting of 

 the British Association, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at their 

 meeting in Birmingham, had a favourable opportunity for discussing the 

 question, a paper having been prepared for them by Mr. John Femic, a member, 

 on the relative advantages of the inch and the metre as the unit of a decimal 

 line or measure. On that occasion, Sir "William Armstrong, Mr. C. "W. Siemens, 

 F.H.S., and Mr. Eobinson of the Atlas Works, all practically acquainted 

 with both systems, recorded their opinion decidedly in favour to the metre ; 

 and though in accordance with the rules of that Institution no resolution 

 was passed, there is reason to believe that a large number of members were 

 of opinion that the metric system was in every way preferable. Another 

 important testimony in favour of that system was also given by a Committee 

 of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, especially appointed on the decima- 

 lization of coins, weights, and measures. That Chamber, in common with 

 many other Chambers of Commerce, petitioned Parliament in favour of the Bill 

 since passed into law ; and now, after mature inquiry, we find a Committee 

 of that Chamber recommending the ultimate adoption, and at no distant 

 period, of the metric system of weights and measures as the sole legal systt m 

 in tJiis country. The teachers are also moving. At a meeting of Professors, 

 Teachers, and others interested in education held in Birmingham, on Wed- 



