156 Transactions.— Miscellaneous. 
unit of length, although it is a determinate part of the circumference of the 
earth, bears no simple proportion to a degree of latitude. The English 
system is a complete chaos, but in fixing the imperial gallon a slight move- 
ment in this direction was made, as it was fixed as a vessel which would 
just contain ten pounds weight of water. 
The next point for consideration is that the units shall be of convenient 
value. All the European nations have adopted a measure of length not 
very different from the English foot. This may be taken, therefore, as a 
measure which has been proved by experience to be sufficiently convenient. 
Considerable latitude is, however, permissible in this matter, and no 
inconvenience has followed the adoption of the metre which is more than 
three times as long as the English foot. Whatever value be adopted for 
the unit it should be as far as possible dependent on some measure given 
by nature and not liable to change. 
The last point and one of the most important of all is, that the radix of 
measures shall be the same as the radix of counting. This latter all over 
the world is the number 10. Unfortunately this number is not well suited for 
the radix of measures, and as long as it is maintained as the radix of 
counting, we cannot have a perfect system of weights and measures. 
We cannot alter the properties of the number 10, but we can depose it 
from its undeserved eminence as our counting radix, and adopt a more 
suitable number. If our primitive forefathers had only turned in their 
umbs, when using their hands to help them in the difficult process of 
counting, and had used their eight fingers instead of their ten fingers and 
thumbs, we should have had 8 for our counting radix—a nearly perfect 
number, as it is a power of two. They did not do so; but there is no reason 
why we should be bound by their mistake for ever. We should clearly 
change the faulty radix we have inherited from them. 
The difficulty of changing the counting radix has, however, always been 
looked upon as too great to attempt, and the scientific world is quietly 
adopting the French system, knowing it to be imperfect and inconvenient, 
although less so than any other in use, having nearly all the requirements 
of a perfect system, except that of having for its radix some power of two. 
This exception is, however, of sufficient importance to condemn the system. 
The inherent unsuitability of ten as a radix will become more and more 
number. We are, therefore, only putting off the evil day by adopting 
the French system, and would much better change the radix at once. 
I cannot but think that the difficulty of making the change is very much 
exaggerated. We have some experience of the ease with which a radix 
