The Standard of Weights, Measures, and Coinage. 301 



taken. The furnishing of the department with the most per- 

 fect apparatus and scientific appliances which it is possible to 

 obtain is very properly insisted upon by the warden, for with- 

 out these and their most scrupulously careful use errors would 

 be generated and multiplied. 



It has been suggested as points of importance for the con- 

 sideration of the Standards' Commission : — 1st. The proposed 

 addition to the present number of official standards^ and, con- 

 sequently, to the number of weights and measures in common 

 use, and which may involve the serious question of the estab- 

 lishment or the continued prohibition of metric standards, and 

 weights, and measures in this country.* 2nd. The question of 

 extending the powers and functions of the Standards' Depart- 

 ment in relation to the duties performed by the numerous local 

 inspectors of weights and measures throughout the kingdom. 



As regards the first of these points, it is to be desired that 

 the commission will give it consideration, and should their 

 deliberations result in a recommendation in favour of the estab- 

 lishment of metric standards and weights throughout Great 

 Britain and Ireland, so much the better. Less importance 

 attaches itself to the custody of the standard trial-pieces of gold 

 and silver, used for determining the justness of the gold and 

 silver coins of the realm issued from the Koyal Mint, than to 

 that of the imperial standards of length, weight, and capacity. 

 The Intellectual Observe^ has demonstrated the utter inu- 

 tility of such a mode of determining the purity of gold and 

 silver coins as the standard trial-pieces furnish. When these 

 latter were transferred from the custody of the Exchequer 

 Court, their proper destination was the Royal Mint, and its 

 crucibles. Perhaps they may yet reach that destination. 



* As an instance of the confusion which now obtains as to the legality or other- 

 wise of metric weights and measures, the following is adduced. One of the inspec- 

 tors of weights and measures for the county of Surrey seized some metric weight* 

 in a tradesman's shop in Southwark last year. On his bringing the matter before 

 the magistrates, the defendants alleged that the Metric Act, 1864, 27 and 28 

 Vict. c. 117, permitted the use of metric weights, but gave no power to the inspec- 

 tor to examine them. The magistrate dismissed the summons, observing that the 

 Act was loosely drawn, and that the defendants were justified in using metric; 

 weights. The Board of Trade consulted the law officers on this case, and they 

 decided that, notwithstanding the provisions of the Metric Act, a person using 

 metric weights or measures is liable to have them seized and forfeited under the. 

 Act 5 and 6 Will. IV. c. 63. 



f Vide No. M.; p. 10, February, 1867. 



