ably situated to collect information as to the standards of weight and measure in use in various countries, and to ascertain their relation to each other, they would of course be in a situation to form an estimate of their comparative merits. And from learning the results of practical legislation, in particular countries, they would fully understand not only the greatness of the evils to be corrected, but the obstacles, which stand in the way of such correction. And such information would be found the more important, because hasty innovations in this matter, necessarily extending to the transactions of every family in the community, would be likely to be attended with the very greatest inconveniences. Different countries have at different times, consulted and legislated on this subject. For more than seventy years, it has received, at short intervals, the attention of the English Parliament, with the design of instituting a permanent system for themselves and their dependencies, founded on scientific principles, and with the laudable hope, undoubtedly, of its being ultimately adopted by other nations; but after all the inquiries and experiments, which they have been able to make, they have not felt at liberty to venture on any decisive acts. So late as May 1821, the Report of a select Committee, appointed to consider several Reports, which had previously been laid before the House of Commons, discountenanced a departure from the standards already established in Great Britain for the purpose of conforming them to those of other nations; and merely advised bringing in a Bill, the principal object of which was to secure an uniformity in the standards of length, capacity, and weight in Scotland, England and Ireland, and in the colonies and dependencies of the empire, among all of which the greatest diversity had previously prevailed. During the past fifty years the Congress of the United States has had, at various times, the same subject under consideration; but satisfied as they were of the inconveniences of existing systems and of the desirableness of uniformity among all commercial nations, they have taken no measures; and as their commercial connections are chiefly with Great Britain and her dependencies, they will undoubtedly choose to wait for her movements. The wisdom of this policy is perhaps unquestionable. The United States received the standards of their weights and measures from England; the standards at the English exchequer are the same now as at the first settlement of this country; and it is worthy of notice, that in the Report to the House of Commons just now referred to, the Committee recommend the sending of copies of the standards in the exchequer to the United States, in the confident hope of their being adopted here, and thus securing the great object of uniformity, as far as these two commercial communities are concerned. A learned Report, made a few years since to the Congress of the United States, came to the conclusion, that any change in our system would be inexpedient at the present time, and among other prominent reasons, for the following; "That no change whatever of the system could be adopted, without losing the greatest of all the elements of uniformity, that referring to persons using the same system. This uniformity we now possess in common with the whole British nation; the nation, with which, of all the nations of the earth we have the most of that intercourse which requires the constant use of weights and measures."* Great Britain, therefore, and the United States may be considered as going together on this subject, or rather as remaining where they are, until further inquiries shall have satisfied them, what new measures can be taken with safety. " Report upon Weights and Measures by John Q. Adams, in obedience to a Resolution of the Senate of the 3d of March, 1817. The kingdom of France had suffered from a want of uniformity in weights and measures within her own limits; and on the first of August 1793, the National Convention, animated with the hopes of correcting the evils and inconveniences of the previous state of things, resolved to adopt an uniform system; and in conformity to this resolution, a new system was established by law in 1795. Although prepared for the immediate use of France, its authors evidently took into view the wants of other nations, and desired and anticipated its universal adoption. The Committee of public instruction spoke of it as being placed on a basis immutable as nature herself, as a plan ardently desired by the enlightened friends of humanity, and as worthy of being offered to all other nations, as well as France. The French system was founded on the principle, that all weights and measures should be reduced to one uniform standard of linear measure; and that this standard should be an aliquot part of the circumference of the globe. The unit of linear measure, to which as a standard they proposed to refer all others, is the ten millionth part of the quadrant of the meridian, extending from the equator to the pole. This is called the metre, being about 39 1-3 English inches. A cube, whose side is one tenth of a metre, forms the unit of measures of capacity; it is equal to about 2 1-8 English pints, and is called the litre. With such beginnings a plan was ultimately matured, and verified by scientific observations, which, in the theory at least, seemed to have a decided advantage over all others, especially as it was expressed by a simple and significant nomencla ture. But the French system, though generally understood to possess in many respects decided advantages, has not come into use beyond the limits of France, except perhaps to a very small extent; and the civilized world still continue exposed to many frauds and a great deal of useless labor in consequence of the want of a well established and uniform arrangement, which, in its outlines at least, should be understood and practised upon by all nations. Great Britain and the United States, with a characteristic caution, have not ventured upon any very decisive measures even in respect to their own dominions, still less with reference to foreign countries; and the system of France, which necessarily encountered popular prejudice as well as national jealousy, has as yet exerted but litle influence beyond the limits of French territory. So that the undeniable evils, resulting from the want of an uniform system of weights and measures, still remain; nor is there any prospect, that they will be remedied, except by the mutual and long-continued consultation of nations. On this ground, therefore, we assert it will be found a subject deserving the attention of a Congress of nations, whenever nations can be induced to meet together for the purpose of friendly and peaceable discussion. And as we have from time to time fortified the opinions, that have been hazarded, by an appeal to the authority of men well known to the public, and high in public estimation, we shall here introduce to the notice of the reader an extract from Mr. Adams' Report to the American Congress, which goes to show the importance of the subject and the measures proposed to be taken. "The plan, which is thus, in obedience to the injunc tion of both houses of Congress, submitted to their consideration, consists of two parts, the principles of which may be stated: 1. To fix the standard, with the partial uniformity of which it is susceptible for the present, excluding all innovation.-2. To consult with foreign nations, for the future and ultimate establishment of universal and permanent uniformity. * * * "The two parts of the plan submitted are presented distinctly from each other, to the end that either of them, should it separately obtain the concurrence of Congress, may be separately carried into execution. In relation to weights and measures throughout the Union, we possess already so near an approximation to uniformity of law, that little more is required of Congress for fixing the standard than to provide for the uniformity of fact, by procuring and distributing to the executives of the States and Territories positive national standards conformable to the law. If there be one conclusion more clear than another, deducible from all the history of mankind, it is the danger of hasty and inconsiderate legislation upon weights and measures. From this conviction, the result of all inquiry is, that, while all the existing systems of metrology are very imperfect, and susceptible of improvements involving in no small degree the virtue and happiness of future ages; while the impression of this truth is profoundly and almost universally felt by the wise and the powerful of the most enlightened nations of the globe; while the spirit of improvement is operating with an ardor, perseverance and zeal, honorable to the human character, it is yet certain, that, for the successful termination of all these labors, and the final accomplishment of the glorious object, permanent and universal uniformity, legislation is not alone competent. A concurrence of will is indispensable to give efficacy to the precepts of power. All trifling and partial attempts of change in our existing system, it is hoped, will still be steadily discountenanced and rejected by Congress; not only as unworthy of the high and solemn importance of the subject, but as impracticable to the purpose, and as inevitably tending to the reverse, to increased diversity, to inextricable confusion. Uniformity of weights and measures, permanent, universal uniformity, adapted to |