THE METRIC SYSTEM. 
63 
comma as many ranks to tlie left as the index or exponent of 
tke power contains units ; and if tke number proposed does not 
admit of tkis^ zeros must be added to its left. For instance_, 
bad we to divide tbe number proposed 35’"*_,63 by 10"^ (or 
1000)^ the quotient becomes 0™q03563^ equal to 35 millimeters _5 
and 63-hundredths of a millimeter^ i. e., a thousand times less. 
Let it be remembered that the denominator of a decimal 
number is unity, followed by as many zeros as there are ranks 
of decimals. 
The nomenclature of the new system has been severely 
criticised in England. Its denominations have even been 
called barbarous, a reproach we scarcely expected, inasmuch as 
these are derived from the Greek. But common people, it is 
urged, are not learned and cannot understand such strange 
designations. The answer is that the tradesman or artizan 
will soon understand what he requires, and how to name ifc ; if 
he cannot enunciate the numerical quantity of the object he 
requires in Greek and Latin prefixes, he will resort to English 
numerals to express its value. But we have conclusive evi- 
dence on this point. English workmen engaged on the Conti- 
nent, in railways and other works, have learnt, and do learn, 
all they require of the metric (ay, and the monetary) system 
of France, with the greatest facility, and when once learnt they 
prefer it to our own. But the advantage of the twofold classi- 
fication in the metric system is too great to be abandoned or 
departed from on trivial grounds. The divisions and sub- 
divisions of the various scales are so clearly defined by this 
double nomenclature of Greek and Latin prefixes, as could not 
be effected by any other process. To change this nomencla- 
ture would lead to ambiguity ; for instance, a decameter means 
10 meters; but if we were speaking of a decameter square 
(we should mean not 10 but 100 square meters), and were to 
translate the name of this unit into English, such translation 
would most probably engender confusion. 
In conclusion, the metric system has been tried already and 
proved, not only in France, but in Belgium, in Switzerland, 
in Italy, in parts of Germany, and in America. In Tuscany 
we read of its adoption in a moment, as if by magic, and that 
it was in general use, as if it had existed in that country for 
half a century. In short, according to the unanimous testi- 
mony of competent witnesses, the system is pronounced to be 
the most perfect ever invented. By the force of its intrinsic 
merits, it is progressing steadily through the civilized world, 
and seems destined eventually to supersede every other 
system, whether good or bad. Under these circumstances 
we, as a commercial nation, dare no longer ignore this great 
reform ; no longer slight this new competitor, that appears on 
