1832.] On the Standard Weights of England and India. 445 



possible to say what is the recognized standard in either, even at the 

 presidency itself. 



The Indian system, when the English first became acquainted 

 with it, combined all the advantages of a direct connection be- 

 tween the coin and the unit of weight*. They were in fact the same 

 thing, until the regulation taking force from the 1st January, 1819, 

 changed the standard purity of the coin by an addition of copper, with- 

 out altering its value in pure contents of silver. This measure in- 

 creased the weight of the rupee by an awkward fraction of t Vlli§ P ar ts, 

 and rendered all subsequent conversions of weight into money a matter 

 of intricate calculation ; for the old rupee was still retained as the unit of 

 weight under the title of sicca zveight, in contradistinction to the new- 

 ly introduced sicca rupee : and it was allowed still to regulate the 

 Weight of the bazar maund, which was forty seer of eighty siccas each. 



Subsequent changes in the upper provinces and in the other 

 presidencies have had similar effects of introducing new weights, and 

 although the object aimed at by the home Government has been all 

 along that of equalizing the whole, yet, for want of a common basis to 

 proceed upon, and of due combination in carrying their measures 

 into effect, nothing more has been attained than mere approxi- 

 mations, as perplexing to the admirer of uniformity as the ori- 

 ginal system itself. It would lead us into lengthy observations 

 to explain the steps taken at each place, to bring about an ac- 

 cordance of the several rupees to that ordered by the Court to 

 be made the standard of India ; and as our object is to shew how 

 all may become even now amalgamated into one system, connected 

 directly with the standard of England, it will suffice to state, what our 

 materials are at the present moment : 



Appellation. Weight in troy grains. 



Calcutta sicca rupee, 191.916 gold raohur, 204.710 



sicca weight, 179,666 



Lucknow rupee, in weight, 172.101 (value in Standard 180.705) 



Furukhabad rupee, used as a weight up 

 the country, where the old weight has 

 disappeared, 180.234 



Sonat Rupee, (nominal,) 183.644 



Madras and Sagur rupee and weight, .... 180.000 (Madras raohur 180) 



Bombay Rupee, in weight, (since order- 

 ed to be made 180 as at Madras,) 179.000 but in Standard value 179.642 



* The genuine Indian weights were the jo or barleycorn, the rati, masa, and tola : 

 71 jo = 1 rati: 8 ratis=l masa=17.708 grs. 12 m;isa=:l tola=2125 grs. but 

 these are now become obsolete, and are only known to jewellers, or beyond the 

 provinces under British rule. 



