672 



PROF. C. P. SMYTH ON THE REPUTED METROLOGICAL SYSTEM 



one as constituting the intention of the Pyramid ; with the exception, however, 

 of one very old statement, treated with much favour by Sir John Herschel in the 

 Athenaeum, April 1860 ; and asserting, that the area of each of the four inclined 

 sides of the Pyramid equals the square inscribed on its height. Now to do this, 

 the angle at the foot of the Pyramid, requires to be, as he states, 51° 49' 46"; and 

 that is an angle which Sir John Herschel declares to be " practically indistin- 

 guishable" from the angle required by the ch'cular analogy of Mr Taylor, or 

 51° 51' 14*3"; and, as Herodotus says that the Egyptian priests told him, that 

 the area of the side to the square of the height was the intention of the Pyramid, 

 — Sir John accepts such explanation, and repudiates Mr Taylor's idea. 



Answer may be made however, \st, That the two angles are by no means 

 practically indistinguishable ; and that the measures already given, point clearly 

 to the larger angle ; 2d, That the Egyptian priests and people, even if inclined to 

 instruct Herodotus, were ignorant of the full contents and objects of the Great : 

 Pyramid ; and ^d, That the area analogy can rank merely as an isolated feat, 

 while the circular one is the most essential foundation in all that higher metro- 

 logy, for which it may presently appear the Pyramid was actually erected. 



(2.) Standard of Lengtlt. 



Having in the last section determined only the pi^oportion 'existing between ' 

 the height and base-breadth of the Great Pyramid, let us now endeavour to 

 ascertain their values in linear measure. The following are actual observations, 

 overlooking some comparatively small differences of French and English feet, re- 

 ported to have been taken by different travellers at the dates specified : — 



Name. 



Date A.D. 



Present 

 Height in feet. 



Northern Side of 

 Base in feet. 



Jean Palerme, 



1581 



600 



660 



J. Greaves, . 



1638 



499 



« . , 



D. Monconys, 



1647 



520 



682 



M. Thevenot, 



1655 



520 



682 



Mr Melton, . . . 



1661 



520 



682 



M. Vausleb 



1664 



662 



720 



M. Lebrun, . 



1674 



676 



704 



De Careri, . . . . 



1693 



520 



682 



Egraont, . . . . 



1709 



500 



693 



DrShaw, . . . . 



1721 



500 



670 



Dr Perry, . . . . 



1743 



687 



789 



M. Niebulir, . . . . 



1761 



440 



710 



Mr Davison, , 



1763 



461 



746 



M. Denon, . . • . 



1799 



448 



728 



French Savans, 



1799 





763-62 



M. Caviglia, . 



1817 





756 



Howard Vyse, 



1839 



• .- 



764 



The list is interesting, as showing how little mere agreement amongst dif- 

 ferent reporters, as in 1647, 1655, 1661, and 1693, can be taken as proving that 

 the truth has been arrived at. On the whole, the height has been exaggerated 



