1832.] On the Standard Weights of England and India. 447 



J . At first view, it is obvious, that the Calcutta sicca weight, so 

 called, (179.666 grs.) and the several rupees (or weights) of the 

 upper provinces, and of the Madras and Bombay presidencies, 

 though not identical (varying from 180.7 to 179 grs.) may be made 

 to coincide, without the slightest effect upon commercial proceed- 

 ings and a number of small perplexing difficulties may thus be 

 avoided. 



2. The advantage of assuming in even numbers 180 grains for the 

 sicca weight of all India would be equally obvious in dealings with 

 England, both in coin and in goods ; for the bazar maund, being 40 seers 

 of 80 siccas each, would be equal to 576000 grains, or precisely 100 

 of the standard troy pound of Great Britain. The difference from its 

 present weight would be a little short of ten sicca weight, or two chitaks, 

 a quantity far too small to be influential; and if a number of weights 

 were at once adjusted on such a system, they might be dispers- 

 ed throughout the country, and introduced at once, without disturbing 

 the public mind by any talk of innovation. The seer weight would 

 be exactly equal to 1\ pounds ; the pound troy would equal 32 

 sicca weight ; 2£ British Indian rupees would weigh^l oz.; and 1 rupee 

 would weigh 1\ dwt. 



With regard to the connection of the maund with the avoirdupois 

 weight, of course a simple relation could not be formed : in practice it 

 would remain nearly in statu quo ; in theory it will be at any more 

 simply connected than atpresentin the ratioof 82y to 82 7 » 5 y 5 a 5 , or 82 lbs. 

 2 oz. 2.055 drs. ; the maund would represent 82J lbs. aver, within 

 a trifling fraction. 



3. Should it be necessary to retain the Calcutta sicca rupee, which 

 has, at present, by law, the weight of 191.916 grs. troy, this fraction 

 might with great convenience be made at once 192 grs. or exactly T Viu 

 excess of the proposed sicca weight, so that the up-country rupee 

 would be precisely equal to 15 annas, instead of having a small frac- 

 tional difference as at present. Thirty sicca rupees would then weigh 

 1 lb. troy, and, if the standard were the same, would be equivalent in 

 value to 66 shillings, the rupee being = 2 T ^ shillings. 



Regarding the difference of standard alluded to, we would fain say 

 a few words, although the subject may prove too technical for general 

 readers to follow. The Indian standard of silver contains -jL of alloy : 

 English standard silver has contained by law ever since the time of 

 William the Conqueror 18 dwts. in the pound, or T ^ 8 g , being T yoth 

 purer thau that of India. Until the last year, however, on account 

 of an error in the ancient Parliamentary standard plates of England, 



