UNIFORMITY OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 469 



ference with deputies from the Chambers of Commerce in the United King- 

 dom, and the Consular authorities in London. The conference was hekl at 

 the Society of Arts, imder the presidency of Sir John Bowring, and the fol- 

 ing resolutions were unanimously passed : — 



That the permissive use of Metric Weights and Measures in the United 

 Kingdom, without corresponding powers for legalizing authorized standards 

 of the same, and the stamping of Metric Weights and Measures in use, is 

 calculated to cause much inconvenience in trade, and to frustrate the prac- 

 tical adoption of the system ; and that it is therefore desirable that the 

 Department of the Board of Trade charged with the custody of Imperial 

 Weights and Measures, be also authorized to provide and maintain the stan- 

 dards of Metric Weights and Measures, and to stamp and verify those in 

 general use. 



That in order to J^acilitate the use of the ^letric System, it is desirable 

 that the same be introduced into the public departments, especially in the 

 Post-office and the Customs, by the official preparation of the Tariff in 

 Metric eqiiivalents, with aiithority to levy duty according to the same ; and 

 the publication of the principal results of the statistics of the Board of Trade 

 in Metric and Imperial values. 



That this Conference recommend the Chambers of Commerce of the 

 United Kingdom to use means for promoting the volimtary use of the Metric 

 System among merchants, mauTifacturers, and tradesmen, such as the pre- 

 paration of special tables, available in the various trades, for converting 

 prices and quantities from the Metric into the Imperial System, and vice 

 versa ; and the exhibition of Mural Standards of the Metro in public places 

 in the principal ports and market-towns. 



That in the opinion of this Meeting, the International Monetary Con- 

 vention lately entered into by France, Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland, for 

 the puqDOse of giving a common weight, fineness, and currency to their stan- 

 dard Coins, is deserving approbation as a measure calculated to facilitate 

 and extend the commercial, banking, and exchange operations between 

 those nations themselves, and foreign countries having dealings with them. 



And this Meeting is further of opinion that the conditions of the Inter- 

 national Monetary Convention, so far as they may be foimd applicable to 

 the Metallic Currency System of the United Kingdom, are well worthy of 

 the attentive consideration and siipport of all who are interested in the j)ro- 

 gress of and intercommunication between nations. 



That it is desirable that the Chambers of Commerce should be repre- 

 sented at the Conference to be held in Paris in connexion with the special 

 Exhibition of Weights, Measures, and Coius, at the approaching Universal 

 Exhibition. 



The most important event, however, which is likely to exercise considerable 

 influence in the future discussion of the question, is the Conference held in 

 Paris at the suggestion of your Committee and of the Council of the Inter- 

 national Decimal Association. The Conference having been hold at a time 

 when Parliament was sitting and the Courts of Law were open, no large 

 representation could attend from this country, yet Mr. Samiicl Brown and 

 Professor Leone Levi attended on behalf of your Committee and they had the 

 advantage of having v^ith them Mr. Louis P. Casella, the constructor of the 

 Mural Standard, Mr. Muspratt and Mr. Blood, representing the Liverpool 

 Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. Joseph Wrigley, representing the Hudders- 

 field Chamber of Commerce. The Conference was attended by represent- 

 atives from many countries, including Austria, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, 



