190 



IVeights and Measures [no. 4 } new series, 



The chief objection to the Ponderary system enunciated by the 

 Government of India, is that it cannot be made to accommodate 

 itself to the Imperial Weights of Great Britain, and this, consider- 

 ing the importance of the trade between the two Countries, and the 

 fact that one is a Dependency on the other, is a serious drawback. 



The following Table shows the nearest proportions that can be 

 obtained, for converting the above system of Weights, to those of 

 Great Britain (avoirdupois). 



38-889 



Tolas 





lib. 



350 



Tolas 





9lbs. exactly. 



1 



Seer 





2-057143lbs. 



35 



Seers 





72lbs exacthj. 



1 



Mun 





82flbs. exactly: or (82-2857143 . . .) 



7 



Muns 





5761bs. exacthj. 



49 



Muns 





36 cwt. (of 112lbs.) exactly. 



27-216 



Muns 





1 ton (of 22401bs.) 



490 



Muns 





18 tons exactly. 



300 



Muns 





11 tons (strictly 11-0204.) 



It will be seen that under such a system, there will always 

 be difficulty and confusion in adjusting the weights of articles of 

 commerce to the English Table, and as the connection between the 

 two countries increases, and the European element becomes more 

 marked, the inconvenience will be more practically felt. 



Much stress has been laid upon the advantage of the i Seer' 

 and ' Mun' of the above Table, in consequence of the " Seer" being 

 exactly equivalent to 2±lbs. Troy, and the " Mun" exactly lOOlbs. 

 Troy. There is no doubt some convenience in this to the Mint, but 

 except as regards Bullion, and Medical prescriptions, Troy weight is 

 practically unknown. The Parliamentary Committee in their Re- 

 port on the 4 Restoration of Standards' in 1841, condemn it as 

 " useless ;" and the Committee in their Report of 1 854 on the 4 Con- 

 struction of the Standards,' state that " there is now a prospect of 

 " attaining the long desired simplification of the British system of 

 " Weights, by the entire suppression of Troy weight." To de- 

 fend the Seer of 80 tolas and the Mun of 40 seers, because they 

 correspond with Troy weight, may therefore be considered useless. 



