OF THE GREAT PYRAMID. 693 



gallon of water = 10 lbs. ; and that is accompanied by the draw-back, that in a 

 British Imperial Weight system, there is no 10 lb. weight there. 



With the Pyramid capacity system on the contrary, every single step of the 

 capacity can be tested, by one or more weights v/hich will be found as a matter 

 of course wherever Pyramid weights are kept. The system restores moreover 

 that ancient hereditary maxim of Great Britain, 



A pint's a pound 

 All the world round, 



which was only abrogated by unfortunate legislation so late as George IV.'s reign ; 

 and finally, the Pyramid capacity system extends from the greatest bulks ever 

 dealt with by commerce, to the smallest that are required by science ; while the 

 British Imperial, stops half way ; and makes exceeding anomalies when apothe- 

 caries, bound by law to use nothing but Troy weight, find themselves compelled 

 to prepare a small capacity measure for themselves founded on avoirdupois 

 weight. 



In Weight measure, similarly, the Pyramid ton, which is the coffer full of 

 water, is scientifically connected with the most important and unalterable of all 

 the physical qualities of the earth, viz., its weight, which is more than can be said 

 of any human devised weights whatever ; it is, moreover, a standard of large size, 

 admirabl}'^ constructed, and wonderfully preserved ; and the unit for small pur- 

 poses is a grain ; correctly defined by a Pyramidal proportion to its standard ; and 

 approximately defined and possible to every man, by an ordinary grain of wheat. 

 In bringing up now this well-known seed as a hasty, working unit of weight for 

 the poor, the Pyramid system only brings up again what was the original grain- 

 weight of this country, until an apparently needless law declared that 32 of these 

 real grains, should henceforward be divided into 24 artificial grains ; and that 

 these enlarged grains, which no poor man could test very readily, should be, 

 from that time forward, the grain of weight measure. Furthermore, it will be 

 observed how readily the Pyramid weights may be tested by water-measure ; and 

 how complete the whole system is from tons to grains without any break or 

 inconvenient divisions. 



In Linear measure, it is almost needless to point out the inimitable scientific 

 reference of the Pyramid's chief standard ; the lasting nature of that great struc- 

 ture, the Pyramid itself, with the prepared surface of solid rock on which it 

 stands, showing its ancient fiducial marks existing still ; and the convenience 

 of the small unit, the inch ; correctly defined by reference to its standard on the 

 earth ; and approximately in every one's hand, literally as well as figuratively, in 

 a thumb-breadth ; by which any workman may at a moment's notice, ensure 

 ' within some limits, the truth of his work. There is, however, a further advan- 

 tage which the Pyramid Linear system has, in making the length of the side of an 

 acre, that all-important land measure, evenly commensurable with linear mea- 



