152 REPORT—1868. 
company to collect news for themselves. On the whole, there seems reason to 
hope that this great experiment may be tried in the course of next year, and that 
no fresh agreement with the companies, which would be still more costly, will be 
rendered necessary by delay. 
Conference on Weights and Measures.—During the past year there have been 
several important Congresses in which the British Association has been either 
interested or represented. The Metric Committee, which was reappointed in 
1866, united its efforts to those of the International Decimal Association, to obtain 
a special exhibition of the weights, measures, and coins of all countries in the 
Paris Universal Exhibition. The Imperial Commission applied to all the Govern- 
ments of Europe and America to send copies of their standards, and to appoint 
delegates to take part in a conference to be called for a full discussion as to the 
best means of obtaining a uniform system for all nations. The exhibition, which 
appeared to excite great interest, was held in the pavilion, in the central garden. 
It had the great advantage of showing, by contrast, the singular simplicity and 
beauty of the metric system of weights and measures as compared with all others. 
The Conference, at which delegates officially appointed by the governments of all 
the leading countries attended, was presided over with great ability, first, by M. 
Mathieu, Member of the Institute of France, and afterwards by His Imperial 
Highness Prince Napoleon ; and after a full discussion on an able report prepared 
by Dr. Jacobi, Niaes Wen of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersbureh, 
it was decided to recommend the universal and sole adoption of the metric system, 
—not a single voice being given against it, nor a single word said in favour of any 
other system. Strong resolutions were unanimously passed also at the International 
Statistical Congress, held at Florence in October last, recommending its universal 
adoption, advising that Assoviations should be formed in all countries where it is 
not yet introduced, to prepare the way for it and make its advantages known, and 
that it should be taught in governmental schools, and used in all post offices, 
custom houses, and public establishments. 
In this country, where the Metric Weights and Measures Act, 1864, renders the 
use of the system legal, the singular anomaly still exists that no provision is made 
for stamping and verification by the standards, and consequently parties may be 
liable by one Act to the usual penalties for using such weights and measures, 
although by another contracts made by them therein are lawful. The Act indeed 
is so defective, and the progress of the system so great, that another Act was intro- 
duced in the session just closed, to make it compulsory, within some given period 
to be fixed in committee. Mr, Ewart, together with Mr. Bazley, Mr. Baines, Mr. 
J. B. Smith, and Mr. Graves took charge of the Bill, and after an animated debate, 
the second reading was carried by the large majority of 217 to 65. It was set 
down for committee on Ist July, but the state of public business prevented its 
being proceeded with. It will be one of the questions of great, if not pressing, im- 
portance for early consideration by the new Parliament. 
The first report of the Standards Commission which has just been presented, shows 
the necessity of the establishment of the Standards’ Department, which carried 
out one of the recommendations of Mr. Ewart’s Committee. Several indications 
are given of progress in the decimal system. The metre also has been laid down 
from the authentic metre in the possession of the Royal Society, and the kilogram 
verified by Professor Miller, transferred from the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, 
and steps have been taken to procure a complete series of the weights and capa- 
city measures of the metric system. But as to the probable effect of its introduc- 
tion into this country, the Commission have not yet had time to examine the 
numerous papers which have been collected, but admitting its importance, will 
give it their early and best attention. 
In the meantime the confusion and intricacy of the weights and measures in our 
vast dominions in India have led to the appointment of Commissions to introduce a 
thorough reform. The metric system has been recommended by Colonel Strachey, 
I.R.S., President of the Indian Committee, as the best system for entire and exclusive 
adoption throughout India, and this view has been supported by two Commissions, 
Mr. Charles F. Gover, in a very able paper on uniform metrology for India, proves 
that formerly not only was the decimal system universal in India, but that the 
. ay 
