THE NEW NATIONAL STAND AED OF LENGTH, AND ITS PEINCIPAL COPIES. 689 
the Imperial Standard. But this disagreement is a mere exhibition of figures, in regard 
to a matter to which the accuracy of those figures is totally inapplicable. The Old 
Imperial Standard was so badly defined that its length was truly indeterminate, to an 
extent infinitely beyond the disagreement to which I allude. There is also a small 
range of uncertainty in the modern determinations, but veiy far below that in the refer- 
ences to the Old Standard. With all these considerations before them, the Committee 
felt themselves justified in considering Bronze 19 and Bronze 28 as exact copies of the 
Old Standard, and in recommending the adoption of Bronze 19 as the New Parliamentaiy 
Standard. 
It was now found convenient to distinguish the Bars by a new order of numeration, 
commencing with No. I for the Parliamentary Standard. It was also thought con- 
venient to distinguish the lengths of the Bars, not by stating their linear difference from 
Bronze 19 or Bronze 28 at the common temperatiue 62°-00 Faheenheit, but by stating 
the temperature at which the length of each bar is the same as the length of Bronze 1 9 
at 62° Faheexheit. Some of these arrangements were not completely carried out until 
after the death of Mr. Sheepshanks. 
The Final Eeport of the Committee, addressed to the Lords Commissioners of Her 
Majesty’s Treasury, was signed on 1854, March 28. It mil be better to give here a few 
Extracts from the Beport than to state in detail the later proceedings of the Committee. 
Extracts from the ‘■'■Report of the Commissioners appointed to superintend the Construction 
of New Parliamentary Standards of Length and Weight." 
“ 2. By the authority of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and by the courtesy 
of scientific societies, the following standard length-scales were placed at our service : — 
Length-scales which had been compared with the lost Imperial Yard Standard. 
Two 3-feet Iron Bars belonging to the Department of the Ordnance Survey. 
Shuckbuegh’s Scale, in the possession of the Koyal Society. 
The Brass Scale of the Boyal Society, No. 46. 
The Brass Tubular Scale of the Boyal Astronomical Society. 
“ 3. We have also had access to other length-scales, which were not available for abso- 
lute restoration of the values of the lost standards, but which we have thought it desirable 
to examine, as illustrating the construction of the lost standards. Such are, — 
The ruined Imperial Yard Standard (in the custody of the Bight Honourable the 
Speaker of the House of Commons). 
Teoughtox’s 5-feet scale (presented by W. Simms, Esq., and now preserved at the 
Boyal Observatory, Greenwich). 
Bamsdex’s 20-feet bar, and Boy’s 3-feet bar (purchased by the Committee, and now 
deposited at the Boyal Observatory, Greenwich). 
