26 
Captain Kater’s account of the 
The very near agreement of the preceding result with 
Mr. Bate's determination, is a sufficient proof of his care, 
and of the accuracy with which the avoirdupois pound has 
been obtained. 
As each of the avoirdupois pounds had certain wires 
enclosed in it when delivered to me by Mr Bate, the follow- 
ing is an account of the wires they now contain. 
1. 
contains 
i wire = ,053 grains. 
2. 
— 
4 wires = ,184 
3 . 
— 
4 wires = ,200 
4 . 
— 
3 wires = ,250 
5 - 
— 
not noted. 
After the adjustment of the avoirdupois pounds was com- 
pleted, Mr. Bate used the large balance to make an approxi- 
mate adjustment of the weights of the imperial gallon of 
distilled water. This was interrupted by an accident which 
rendered it necessary to repair the knife edges of the beam ; 
and notwithstanding every care, the balance afterwards 
proved less certain in its indications than it was before the 
accident. The error arising from this source I have endea- 
voured to lessen by increasing the number of comparisons. 
Adjustment of the weights of the imperial gallon of water. 
These weights were distinguished in the following 
manner : 
