34 UNIVERSAL OR COSMIC TIME. 



were first carriecl eastwarcUy from Europe to California, througli the 

 Cape of Good Hope and India (by the Jesuit Missionaries). When 

 the United States advanced westwardly, they who had taken their 

 count westwardly from Europe found one day's diff'erence. The 

 United States have gained the victory in the States. I know not 

 whether the Missions have changed. It is said that the Philippine 

 Islands are still in an anomalous position. 



2. As regards the construction of clock-faces proposed by Mr. 

 Fleming to meet the supposed difficulties, I do not believe that they 

 would ever be adopted or used. If they were exposed in shops, I do- 

 not suppose that one would be sold. 



3. I do not understand, from the terms of the Toronto Memorial, 

 what steps the memorialists wisli the Government to take, except 

 " perhaps to direct the attention of ofiicial and scientific authorities in 

 " Great Britain, and of Eoi-eign Governments, to it." I do not 

 imao'ine that Her Majesty's Government ai-e inclined, mero viotu, to 

 undertake this responsibility. 



4. As far as I can understand the usual policy of the British 

 Government in social matters, it has been, to adopt the general sense 

 of the nation in the broad features of any such arrangements, and to 

 give to them that accuracy and uniformity which only a Government 

 can give. Among other matters, I am officially cognizant of the laws 

 and regulations respecting standards of length, weight and capacity, 

 and I believe that the system secured by the policy which I mention 

 is most excellent. The same may be said in regard to Bills of Ex- 

 change, Cheques, &c., whei-e rules, suggested by usage, have been 

 adopted and legalized by the Government. 



5. I would suggest for consideration, that an answer be given 

 nearly of the following tenor : That Her Majesty's Government, 

 recognizing in some degree the inconveniences described by the 

 memorialists, are not able at present to compai'e with them the 

 possible inconvenience which might arise from the interference of 

 Government in such a matter. That it has been the custom of Her 

 Majesty's Government to abstain from interfering to introduce novel- 

 ties in any question of social usage, imtit the spontaneous rise of such 

 novelties has become so extensive as to make it desirable that regu- 

 lations should be sanctioned by superior authority. That it does not 

 appear that such extensive spontaneous call in reference to the sub- 

 jects of the Memorial, has yet arisen. That it appears desirable that 

 the question should be extensively ventilated by the memorialists, 

 and should be submitted by them to the principal Geographical and 

 Hydrographical bodies, including (perhaps with others) the Royal 

 Geographical Society, and the Dock Trustees or other commerciaL 

 bodies, at London, Liverpool and Glasgow. 



I have, &c., 



G. B. AIRY. 

 The Right Hon. The Secretary of State for the Colonies, &c. 



