to ascertain a Standard of Weight and Measure. 1 65 
= the sphere, has been determined to within — — of the whole, 
Jr * 30,000 
and probably to within half that quantity. 
(§. 32.) Having then, through the means of Mr. White- 
hurst’s observations, and of his own instrument, ascertained 
the length of his proposed standard, in the latitude of London, 
113 feet above the level of the sea*, under a density of the at- 
mosphere corresponding to 30 inches of the barometer, and 6 o° 
of the thermometer, which is full as satisfactory, for all practical 
purposes, as if it had been done in vacuo -f, which I conceive 
to be nearly impossible ; and, having determined the weight of 
any given bulk of water, compared with this common measure; 
I believe it now only remains, to ascertain the proportion of this 
common measure and weight, to the commonly received mea- 
sures and weights of this kingdom. 
(§. 33.) It is perfectly true, that if I chose to indulge in fan- 
ciful speculation, 1 might neglect these comparisons, as an un- 
philosophical condescension to modern convenience, or to an- 
cient practice, and might adopt some more magnificent integer 
than the English pound or fathom; such as the diameter or cir- 
cumference of the world, &c. &c. and, without much skill in 
the learned languages, and with little difficulty, I might ape 
the barbarisms of the present day. But in truth, with much 
inconvenience, I see no possible good in changing the quan- 
tities, the divisions, or the names of things of such constant 
recurrence in common life ; I should therefore humbly submit 
it to the good sense of the people of these kingdoms at least, to 
* The height, as I have been informed, of the room of Mr. Whitehurst’s obser- 
vations. 
f It is perfectly true, that this supposes the experiment to be made with a pendu- 
lum similar to Mr. Whitehurst’s. 
