[ 544 ] 
then proceed to what concerns the feveral Weights 
of the Troy and Averdupois Tounds. 
The Standards of Length now ufed in the Ex- 
chequer ■, are Two fquared Rods of Brafs, of the 
Breadth and Thickncfs of about half an Inch; the 
one called the Tard , and the other the Ell . The 
Ends of neither are exa&ly flat and parallel, or, if 
they were fo once, they have fince fuffered fome 
Bruife or Damage, and that poflibly by the imprefling 
near each End the Seal of a crowned E. jby which it 
appears, they were placed here during the Reign of 
Queen Elizabeth , and, probably, at the fame time 
when the feveral Standard-weights, hereafter men- 
tioned, were lodged here alfo. 
To thefe Rods there belongs a fubflantial Brafs Bar, 
of about the Length of 49 Inches, the Breadth of an 
Inch and a half, and the Thicknefs of an Inch : On 
one Edge of this Bar is a hollow Bed or Matrix, fitted 
to receive the fquare Rod of a Tard > and on another, 
a like Bed fitted to receive that of an Ell: And into 
thefe Beds they ufually fit the Tard and Ell Mea- 
fures brought to be examined and fealed at this 
Office. The fquare Tard and Ell Rods fit fufhciently 
well into thefe refpedive Beds, fo as neither to rub 
or fhake very fenfibly ; yet, as neither the Ends of the 
Rods, or of the hollow Beds, are accurately flat and 
parallel, the greateft Lengths of thofe Beds mud, of 
neceflity, be fomewhat greater than the greateft 
Lengths of the Rods intended to be placed in them : 
By which greateft Lengths of thofe Rods, and which 
were looked upon by all the Gentlemen prefent, as 
the real and proper Lengths of thofe Rods, are meant 
the Diftances of Two parallel Planes or Cheeks, fo 
placed 
