470 REPORT — 1867. 



Sweden, Norway, Prussia, Wurtembcrg, Bavaria, Prussia, Italy, Morocco, 

 Tunis, Brazil, South America, aud the United States ; and was presided over 

 by M. Mathieu, of the Institute. The first question discussed was that of 

 Weights and Measures, and a report was read on the subject, which was pre- 

 pared by M. Jacobi, of the Imperial Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg, 

 and adopted by the organizing Committee. Starting from certain fundamental 

 propositions in favour of the Decimal system of calculation and of the Metric 

 sj'stem especially, the report showed how far that system had been extended 

 in different coinatries, specifying those which have already adopted it entirely 

 and in an obligatory manner, such as France, Belgium, the Netlierlauds, 

 Italy, the Eoman States, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Mexico, Chili, Brazil, iSTew 

 Grenada, and other Republics of South America ; those which have more or 

 less borrowed from it, such as S'^itzerland, Baden, Prussia, Bavaria, Wur- 

 temberg, Austria, Denmark ; those which have introduced the Metric system 

 in a permanent manner, as the United Kingdom, and the United States ; aud 

 those which have nothing in common with the Metric system. Alter this 

 survey, the report entered into a detailed aceoiiut of the advantages which 

 woiild result from the use of the system in different branches of labour, in 

 the teaching of arithmetic in primary schools, in scientific researches and 

 memoirs, in commercial transactions, in industry and machinery, in jiostal 

 tariffs, telegraphs, and customs duties. As regards the use of its nomen- 

 clature, the report is not in favour of any material alteration, and far 

 less of using old names for new quantities ; nor does it favour the com- 

 bination of the old and new systems, such as the iise of the foot side by 

 side with the metre even in a period of transition. In conclusion, the re- 

 port recommended the immediate teaching of the Metric System in schools, 

 and the use of the same in statistical and other public docxunents. After 

 some discussion the report was jiut to the vote, and was carried unanimously. 

 Doubts having been expressed as to the exact correspondence between 

 the standards kept at the Archives and those at the Conservatoire des 

 Ai'ts et Metiers, and some uncertainty existing respecting the method to be 

 pursued for obtaining an exact standard in other countries, the prototype 

 being in Paris, General Morin and M. Tresca, Conservator and Subcon- 

 servator of the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers, stated that on the 5th 

 October, 1863, his Excellency the Minister of Agriculture, Commerce, and 

 PubUc "Works, had appointed a Commission, composed of themselves, with 

 M. Silberman, Conservator of the collections, and M. Proment, Constructor 

 of instruments, charged to make an official comparison between the pro- 

 totype standards kept at the ^ii'chives, with those deposited at the Impe- 

 rial Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers, more particularly destined to be used 

 for compaiisons with the standards made by or for the different govern- 

 ments which might adopt the Metric System. The prototype standard 

 Metre at the Archives is of platinum, has no inscription or mark whatever, 

 and is a Metre a bout. It is in a case, having a tablet with the following 

 indication : — 



Metre 



Conforme a la loi du 18 Germinal an. III. 

 Presentc le 4 Messidor an. YII. 

 And outside the inscription the words : 



Fait par Lenoir. 

 That at the Conservatoire has precisely the same inscription, is in every way 

 identical with the other, and seems in a better state of preservation. The 



