[ 68 ] 
Upon the whole therefore, I think it is fufficiently 
proved, that a cubic VtJJ'el, whofe Sides are equal 
co an Englifh Foot , will contain 1000 Ounces Avoir - 
depots , or very near that Weight of Spring-Water : 
That Weights and Meafures, deduced by a regular 
geometrical Progrejfiun from fuch a Veffel, or from 
cubic Veilels, whole Sides are equal to known Parts 
of an Englijh Foot, bear an exact Analogy to each 
other, and to Weights and; Meafures railed from a 
Found, according to the YVords of our mod ancient 
AJJife Laws. This being confidered, and that the 
Avoir depots Weight is now in common Ule for 
determining the Gravity of all heavy Bodies, that this 
Weight 
were of foreign Extraction. The firft time I find the Word u fed in 
our Laws, is in an Ad of Ed. III. St. i. where it is applied to 
Wines as well as Corn ; as it is afterwards in 25 Ed. III. St. 3. c. 2. 
and 16 R. II. c. 1. And in an Ad 27 Ed. III. St. 2. c. xo. there 
is the following Claufe: — ‘ Becaufe we have perceived fume Mer- 
‘ chants buy Avoirdepois Merchandizes by one Weight, and fell by 
‘ another, we will and eftablifh, that one Weight , one Meafure , and 
‘ .one Yard , be through all the Land ; and that Wools, and all man- 
‘ ner of Avoirdepois, be weighed by even Balance.” This King, 
in his 14th Year, had directed Standard Weights to be made of 
Brafs, and fent into every City and Town ; and I conjecture, that 
thole Standards , from the Words of the foregoing Claufe, took the 
Name of Avoirdepois, and were the Weights by which the Mer- 
chants ufed to buy. What were the lighter Weights by which they 
fold, does not appear ; perhaps the Pound Troy. That the former 
were the lawful Weights, appears by an Ad 24 H. VIII. c. 3. 
where they are fo called ; and Butchers, who before that time fold 
their Meat by Hand, were thereby obliged to provide themfelves 
with Beams, Scales, and Weights fealed , called Haberdepois (for 
Avoirdepois) ; and in the next Reign the Avoirdepois Weights, now 
remaining as Standards in the Exchequer, were depofited there, as 
appears from the Name and Infcription thereon. 
