C 775 ] 
accuracy in thefe matters, as the later difcoveries in 
natural philofophy (particularly the invention of the 
pendulum) have introduced among the moderns. 
Add to this, that the different ftate of Europe, which 
has, for fome ages, been divided into many confider- 
able kingdoms and fovereign hates, independent on 
each other, equally civilized, and carrying on a more 
conftant and regular mercantile commerce with each 
other, than was known to the Romans, muff ne- 
ceffarily introduce more frequent enquiries into the 
weights and meafures of the different hates, and a 
more careful examination of the refpedtive handards 
of each, than the Romans could have any occafion 
for : and ufe in thefe matters, is the parent of ac- 
curacy. 
We can arrive at no greater certainty from the 
marbles, than from the foot-rules. Thefe, indeed, 
do not differ fo widely from each other, as the rules j 
which feems to be the reafon why moh of the writers 
on this fubjedt have given them the preference : but 
of the four that are extant, no two agree in the fame 
meafure j nor is the age of any one of them known : 
and as they were intended for reprefentations only, 
and not for ufe, their accuracy may reafonably be 
doubted. 
Feffus, Frontinus, and Rhemnius Fannius, fay, 
the fide of the quadrantal (which contained 8 congii) 
was a Roman foot (i). A ffandard congius of 
Vefpafian 
( i ) Quadrantal vocabant antiqui quam ex Graeco 
dicunt, quod vas pedis quadrati odto et quadraginta capit fextarios. 
Feftus in v. Quadrantal. Pes quadratus concavus capit amphora 
triinodia 
