18 On Indian Weights and Measures. [No. 9, new series. 



does not hold the same important position in respect to the great 

 majority of the people, that the common commercial measures of 

 weight and capacity do. Where the convenience, if nothing 

 more, of every unit of the people would be more or less affected 

 by any change in these latter, perhaps not one in a thousand would 

 care a straw about the introduction of a new system of superficial 

 account. 



Mr. Bayley next treats of Weights, (vide p. 186 of No. IV. New 

 Series.) 



He first considers an arrangement on the Tola unit, and gives 

 the Calcutta and Madras Tables of weights calculated upon that 

 in accordance with Act VII of 1833, which made the Tola of 180 

 grains " the unit of a general system of weights in all Government 

 transactions." To both of these Tables, Mr. Bayley objects chiefly 

 because they do not conveniently accommodate themselves to the 

 Imperial Weights of Great Britain. And it is here, to remedy this 

 inconvenience that he casually refers to a plan, of which we de- 

 sire to say a word in support. 



That it is absolutely necessary to have some standard cannot be 

 questioned ; for the magnitude or weight of a body can only be un- 

 derstood by comparing it with some other and well known body. 

 Neither can it be questioned, but that it is very desirable to fix 

 upon some standard which is generally accessible and easy of 

 comprehension. 



In India, weights have always borne some relation in each 

 district to some coin in circulation there, generally to the one most 

 in repute. In Bengal, Bombay and most parts of the Deccan 

 they conformed to the Rupee. In Madras to the Star Pagoda 

 In Malwa and other States, otherwise. The Rupee, however 

 may be said to have been generally the chief standard coin 

 throughout India, and almost everywhere is considered by the Na 

 tive the standard unit, of which all his weights are certain multiples 

 and by which all are to be regulated and tested. The Rupee in 

 fact is the Indian traditionary standard unit of weight. And this 

 point is important when we consider that, by the revised Assay 

 Table lately published by the Bombay Government, every conceiv- 

 able variety of Rupee in regard to weight has been put into cir- 



