[ 497 ] 
man/hIp was probably very rude and inaccurate al 
Rome, we cannot wonder at fuch a driagreeiiaent 5 
efpecinlly as both the thape of this veilci and the 
infeription fhew it was not adjufted by the foot mea- 
fure, but by weight. 
Secondly, the fame bulk of any liquor being found 
to weigh more in winter than in fummen, we cannot 
determine the precife weight of the Roman Pound 
from the contents of this vede), unlefs we knew the 
feafon of the year in which it was originally adjufled. 
Thiidly, Villalpandus fee ms to have made -his ex- 
periment carefully (9) ; but his weight exceeds 
Auzout s lefler weight by above 1000 Troy grains j 
though both Lifed fpring water. Now if two curious 
perfons, who endeavoured to difeover the exad: 
weight of the antient Roman Pounds could differ fo. 
much in weighing the contents of the fame veflei, 
can it feetn improbable, that the Roman officer, to 
whofe department the adjuffing this Ifandard might 
happen to belong, ffiould differ as much from its jufl 
weight ? But if he happened to be a perfon of accu- 
racy, he would take care, that the ftandard of a 
meafure of capacity ffiould not fall ffiorttaf its ancient 
dimenfions, which is extremely unpopular 5 and, 
though he might endeavour to be exadt, he would 
radier chufe to err in excels than defe^a. Thei'efore, 
this veffel is more likely to give too great a Roman 
Pound, than too fmall a one. 
Fourthly, this veffieJ was by law to contain ten 
Pounds weight of wine; which being lighter than 
water, the weights above-mentioned muft be too 
(9) Sev Greaves, p. 02. 
VoL. LXR S s 6 
great* 
