Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 75 



the Royal Society ? — I cannot say that it was formally objected to, 

 but it was little used ten or twelve years ago. 



678. Now, on the other hand, is it recommended by the Royal 

 Society to be used in papers read before them ? — Not formally ; but 

 I believe the English system would not form a recommendation to a 

 chemical paper. 



681. Have you travelled in France? — Yes. 



682. Have you ever had occasion to observe whether English 

 people have great difficulty in acquiring the French metric system in 

 France ? — I think not ; in fact I was rather struck with the facility 

 with which English ladies made use of it in keeping their ac- 

 counts. 



683-4. Do you confirm the opinion of many other witnesses before 

 this Committee, that the adoption of the metric system would be a 

 great international advantage, as well as an advantage for scientific 

 men? — Yes. 



685. From your position, and the amount of your scientific pur- 

 suits, have you had opportunities of observing its progress, and 

 knowing its value ? — Certainly. 



686. Generally, if you were introducing a new system, what unit 

 of weight would you recommend ? — The gramme. 



687. You would not recommend any of the old systems of weights ? 

 —No. 



688. If you made any change at all, it would be desirable, would 

 it not, to make such a change as would be a uniform change all over 

 the world ? — Yes. 



The following questions and answers occur in the evidence of 

 Professor Miller of Cambridge : — 



1489. Do you find in your learned pursuits that our present 

 system of weights and measures interferes with scientific investiga- 

 tion in any way ? — Not in the least ; they are so complicated that it 

 is quite impossible to use them. The balance-makers provide balances 

 made for accurate purposes with decimal weights of some kind. 

 Mr. Robinson used to provide balances with weights of a grain and 

 its decimal subdivisions and multiples. M. CErtling, one of our 

 best balance-makers at present, also supplies his balances with 

 weights on the metric system, with their decimal subdivisions and 

 multiples. 



1490. How long has it been the case that the decimal metric 

 system has been introduced in scientific operations ? — As long as I 

 can remember : I should think that since 1830 no chemist ever made 

 use of any weights which were not decimally divided. 



1493. So far as scientific investigations are concerned, our present 

 system is useless ? — Entirely. I believe I do not know the value of 

 any of the ordinary subdivisions, the scruple, and the drachm for 

 instance. 



1495. Do you think the metric system is extending in this coun- 



