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Tables of Weights and Measures (For the convenience)

1303. For the convenience of reference, the following tables of measures and weights are introduced, together with an account of the and weights are introduced, together with an account of the modes by which the exact capacity has been determined by Act of Parliament. 1304. Measures are either-1, of length; 2, of surface; 3, of solidity or capacity; 4, of force or gravity, or what is commonly called, capacity; 4, of force or gravity, or what is commonly called, weight; 5, of angles; 6, of time; and their respective standards are, in Britain-a yard , square yard, or the 1-4840th of an acre, a cubic yard, a gallon, pound weight, degree, minute. The British Act, for establishing measures throughout the realm, and called the Act of Uniformity, took effect January 1, 1826. The system thus established is called the Imperial system. Its rationale is as follows -Take a penseconds in London, on a level of the sea, in a vacuum, divide all that part thereof which lies between the axis of suspension and the centre of oscillation into 39,1393 equal parts; then will 10,000 of those parts be an imperial inch, twelve whereof make a foot, and thirty-six whereof make a yard. The standard yard is " that distance between the centres of the two points in the gold studs in the straight brass rod, now in the custody of the Clerk of the House of Commons, whereon the words and figures 'Standard Yard, 1760,' are engraved, which is declared to be the genuine standard of the measure of length called a yard; and, as the expansibility of the metal would cause some variation in the length of the rod in different degrees of temperature, the Act determines that the brass rod in question shall be of the temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit. The measure is to be denominated the Imperial Standard Yard, and to be the only standard whereby all other measures of lineal extension shall be computed." Thus the foot, the inch, the pole, the furlong, and the mile, shall bear the same proportion to the imperial standard yard as they have hitherto borne to the yard measure in general use. The Act also makes provision for the restoration of the standard yard in case of loss, destruction, or defacement, by a reference to an invariable natural standard, which is to be that proportion which the yard bears to the length of a pendulum vibrating seconds of time, in the latitude of London, in a vacuum at the level of the sea; which is found to be as thirtysix inches (the yard) to 39'1393 (the pendulum) thus a sure means is established to supply the loss which might by possibility occur. Take a cube of one such inch of distilled water, at 62 degrees of temperature by Fahrenheit's thermometer, let this be weighed by any weight, and let such weight be divided into 252,458 equal parts, then will 1000 of such parts be a troy grain, and 7000 of those grains will be a pound avoirdupois, the operation having been performed in air. Ten pounds such as those mentioned of distilled water, at 62 degrees of temperature, will be a gallon, which gallon will contain 277 cubic inches, and 274-1000th parts of another cubic inch. The standard pound is determined to be that standard pound troy weight made in the year 1758, in the custody of the Clerk of the House of Commons; such weight is to be denominated the Imperial Standard Troy Pound, and is to be "the only standard measure of weight from which all other weights shall be derived, computed, and ascertained; and one-twelfth part of the said troy pound is to be an ounce, and one-twentieth part of such ounce a pennyweight, and one-twentyfourth part of such pennyweight a grain; so that 5760 such grains shall be a pound troy, and 7000 such grains a pound avoirdupois, and one-sixteenth part of such ounce a drachm. If the standard pound shall be lost, destroyed, or defaced, the act directs that it shall be recovered by reference to the weight of a cubic inch of water; it having been ascertained that a cubic inch of distilled water, weighed in air by brass weights, at the temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit, and the barometer at thirty inches, is equal to 252.458 grains; and as the standard troy pound contains 5760 such grains, it is therefore established that the original standard pound may be at any time recovered, by making another weight to bear the proportion just mentioned to a cubic inch of water. The standard gallon is determined by the Act to be such measure as shall contain ten pounds avoirdupois of distilled water weighed in air, at the temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit, and the barometer at thirty inches; and such measure is declared to be the Imperial Standard Gallon, and the unit and only standard measure of capacity to be used, as well for wine, beer, ale, spirits, and all sorts of liquids, as for dry goods not measured by heaped measure; and all other measures are to be taken in parts or multiples of the said imperial standard gallon, the quart being the fourth part of such gallon, and the pint one-eighth part, two such gallons making a peck, eight such gallons a bushel, and eight such bushels a quarter of corn, or other dry goods not measured by heaped measure. heaped measure for such things as are commonly sold by heaped mea- The standard for sure, such as coal, culm, lime, fish, potatoes, fruit, &c., is to be "the aforesaid bushel, containing eighty pounds avoirdupois of water, as aforesaid; the same being made round, with a plain and even bottom, and being nineteen and a half inches from outside to outside;" and goods thus sold by heaped measures are to be heaped in the form of the height of at least six inches, the outside of the bushel to be the extremity of the base of such cone." Three such bushels are to be a sack, and twelve such sacks a chaldron.