437 
on Spirituous Liquors. 
the original tables, the quantity by measure of alcohol and 
water corresponding to each specific gravity and degree of 
heat ; and then dividing the quantity of alcohol by the whole 
quantity of the mixture ; thus a decimal multiplier will be 
obtained, which must be put in the compartment of the table 
formed by the intersection of the columns of that particular 
heat and specific gravity. When the table is completed in 
this manner, we have only to multiply the contents of any 
cask, as found on gauging it, by the decimal number given in 
the table for the heat and specific gravity of the liquor, and 
the product will be the quantity of pure alcohol it contains. 
Hence it must be evident, that no objection can lie to this 
method on account of difficulty ; if, however, it be thought 
more eligible, for different reasons, to adopt the proportion of 
alcohol per cent., the relation of strength to the point of proof, 
or any other method, the numbers in this Report will equally 
apply to all, with the proper variation in the table to be 
employed. 
As to the calculation necessary for constructing the table of 
decimal multipliers, what has been already said with respect to 
the reduction of the harmonic numbers applies also to it. The 
labour of the whole will not be very great, and it is once for 
all. The process is not an approximation, but a plain arith- 
metical computation, which may be carried on true to as many 
decimal places as the experiments will allow. For this pur- 
pose, indeed, it is necessary to have the weight of a known 
measure of water. Mr. Ramsden’s method of obtaining this, 
by means of a cylinder, is far preferable to that of hollow 
cubes, particularly if the ends of the cylinder can be made as 
true as the body of it. But in applying this instrument to 
fix the term of proof, as proposed by that gentleman, it must 
mdccxcii. 3 L 
