32 
FRENCH AND ENGLISH MONEY-WElGHTS AND MEASURES. 
Since the gramme has been ascertained to weigh more than 15 grains, we may 
be justified in saying that a quarter-gramme is a measure of 4 grains; our penny- 
piece is within eight grains of the 10 gramme-weight, so that our penny gives 
us some idea of what weight the gramme is; and if, for the sake of working up 
from our atom on what may be called an international scale, we bear these facts 
in mind, we shall have to begin with the quarter-gros, and its equivalent 
in grains, and have a table up to 16 grains to a gramme, just as we have 16 
drachms to the ounce, and 16 ounces to the pound, our international standard 
being one half-gramme=7"7l6 grains for fine weights, and seventeen ounces 
and three-fifths or 1*1 lb.=500 grammes (ifi defect only one grain in the ounce) 
for weights and measures from the ounce up to the gallon, and the old English 
tun. 
In our coppers we have fifths and tenths both of the pound and the ounce, 
so that a farthing thrown into the scale with our ounce is the equivalent (within 
one grain) to the so-called metric-ounce or sixteenth of 500 grammes, arid with 
eight halfpence on the pound we get the half-kilo quite near enough for prac¬ 
tical purposes. 
Since the standard metre is very nearly 1 yard, 3 inches, and § (within an 
inch of lJL yard), a ready measure of the length of the metre is obtained by 
adding twopence and a halfpenny to our yard measure. A decimetre or ^ 
of a metre is very nearly 4 inches, so that we may say the measure of the litre 
is the quantity of water contained in a tin cube of 4 inches. Thus we have 
a ready-reckoner in counting metric to English measures of length as well as 
weight and capacity in the ratio of 10 to 11, and the old English tun of 220 
gallons is the nearest equivalent to the French tonne or cubic metre. We may 
also bear in mind that in measuring up, 10 metres are nearly equal to 11 yards, 
10 square metres to 12 square yards, and 10 cubic metres to 13 cubic yards. 
The pound sterling is our unit of account, and the value of the sovereign is 
well known all over the world. The pound of sterling silver is coined into sixty- 
six shillings; and we have in the crown and half-crown the ounce and half- 
ounce; but our copper coins afford us the best weights and measures we can 
have for international purposes; they afford us very exact weights and decimal 
measures of the pound and avoirdupois ounce, as well as the foot and the inch, 
and, in using them in connection with our ordinary weights, we have all that 
is necessary for dealing in metric quantities. 
The practice of pharmacy gives us the following as the most comprehensive 
scale:— 
1 
2 
4 
5 
7 
14 
28 
gramme 
55 
55 
55 
55 
55 
55 
15 minims. 
30 „ 
60 „ 
77 grains. 
4 ounce. 
i: 
2 
55 
55 
For measures of the gramme and the grain we have— 1 
5 grammes = 77 grains = 0-011 pound. 
50 „ 771 „ 0-110 „ 
500 „ 7716 „ 1-100 „ 
For measures of the pound and the kilo, the gallon and the litre:— 
5 kilos = 5 litres = 11 pounds = 1-1 gallon. 
50 „ 50 „ 110 „ 11-0 „ 
500 „ 500 „ 1100 „ 1100 ,j 
And at six bottles to the gallon we have, in 100 litres, exactly 11 dozen. 
Your obedient servant, 
“ Decimal-Point.” 
