148 Sir George Shuckburgh Evelyn's Endeavours 
( §. 15. ) Having adjusted the beam of the balance, (Tab. VI. ) 
with respect to the length of its arms, its centre of gravity, and 
the three points of suspension of the beam and scales, and 
having examined the weights, I proceeded to the remaining 
parts of this experiment. 
Sept. 2d, 1796. The balance beam adjusted by the screw p> 
till the vibrations were so slow as to require more than 50 se- 
conds of time for each, yoo g rain appeared to move the index 
through three divisions* of the scale s and t, = -l inch, when 
the beam was not loaded; but, when the beam was loaded 
with 16384 grains, or near 31b. Troy, grain was equal 
only to o\ division-^ of the same scale. 
(§.16.) Sept. 4th. The thermometer being at 63°, and the 
barometer at 29,36 inches. 
pan or scale for weighing the cuue ;>= 1 75,02 = 555,02 
* 20 divisions are — i ,o inch. 
f That is, the beam was sensible with rszhooo P art ^ ie whole weight. Mr. 
Harris’s beam, with which he and Mr. Bird made their observations on the Ex- 
chequer weights, turned with TJ5 ’ 555 part of the whole weight, and was consequently 
only ~ part so sensible as this. See “ The Report of the Committee of the House of 
“ Commons in 1758, to inquire into the original Standards of Weights and Measures 
« in this Kingdom, and to consider the Laws relating thereto.” See also a second 
Report 1^1759 ; both of which contain a vast deal of useful information on this sub- 
ject, extending through fifty folio pages, and are to be found in the 2d volume of 
Reports, from 1737 to 1767. A bill was brought in, in consequence, but afterwards 
dropped; and it is much to be lamented, that this inquiry did not go to the full length 
of an act of parliament. Note farther, the largest of the beams, of which there are 
four of different sizes, now made use of in the dutchy court of Lancaster, for the 
actual sizing of the weights of the kingdom, is about 3 feet long, and is moveable 
with about 30 grains, when 561b. avoirdupois are in each scale, viz. about P ar ^ 
of the whole. 
The weight of the counterpoise to 
oz. grains. 
grains. 
m air, was 
J 
