ON A SIMPLE DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR ENGLAND. 
257 
ON A SIMPLE DECIMAL SYSTEM FOE ENGLAND. 
By BOYSTON-PIGOTT, M.A., M.D., Cantab., M.E.CP., F.C.P.S., 
F.R.A.S., late Fellow of St. Pet. Coll. Cambridge. 
I N attempting to revolutionise our national standards, we 
must not forget that history is apt to repeat itself. The * 
consequences, therefore, of the arbitrary introduction of the 
French metrical system are not unworthy of attention. 
In 1795 a provisional measure of the ten-millionth part of 
the earth’s quadrant, reaching from the equator to the pole, 
and embracing 90 degrees of latitude, was adopted as the 
French unit of length. 
In 1799 two parallels of latitude between Dunkirk and 
Barcelona having been carefully selected for measurement, 
the unit was fixed at 
39-37079, 
Or rather 39-37078980 English feet; 
And the litre at 1*760773 English pints ; 
And the gramme at 15*43234874 English grains troy. 
Seventeen years later the new Government standards still 
met with such violent opposition on the part of the great 
mass of the French people that, on March 12, 1812, the 
Government authorities, embarrassed with the intensity of the 
popular discontent, tardily conceded the use of the ancient 
u Systeme Usuel.” 
By this concession the people regained the use of 
The toise. 
The French foot. 
The inch, the — of the foot. 
The line, „ „ inch. 
And the point, „ „ line. 
The double boisseau, boisseau, the half, quarter, third, 
sixth, eighth, and twelfth of a boisseau. The pound, or livre, 
of 16 onces, each once containing 8 gros, and each gros 72 
grains. 
How could it be possible for the illiterate classes to master 
VOL. ix. — no. xxxvi. s 
