Your Committee cannot conclude without stating the opinion of Professor Playfair, with regard to the necessity of adhering strictly to one simple and general view, in appointing the standards, without departing from it for the sake of accommodating individuals, or particular classes of the community. The advantage of the public at large cannot be consulted, unless this rule is rigorously observed. The simplicity and accuracy of the system would be sacrificed by any partial exceptions; and it may be considered as certain, that unless the rules are simple, and the constructions independent of minute ness of division, an opening will be left for fraud, and for all the perplexity in which the standards of the country are at this moment involved. 1. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that it is necessary, in order effectually to ascertain and enforce uniform weights and measures to be used for the fature, that all former Statutes relating thereto should be repealed., 2. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the distance be tween the two points in the gold studs in the brass rod, described in the Report of the Select Committee of 1758, and preserved in the custody of the Clerk of the House, ought to be the length called a yard; and that one third part thereof should be a foot, and the 12th part of the foot one inch. 3. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the length of a pendulum vibrating 60 times in at minute of time, in the latitude of London, has been ascertained to be 39.13047 inches, of which the standard yard contains 36. 4. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that all measures of length whatsoever should be taken in parts, multiples, or certain proportions of the said standard yard. 5. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that a cubic foot of pure water, at the temperature of 56 degrees, has been ascertained to weigh exactly 1,000 ounces avoirdupois. 6. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that all measures of capacity should be ascertained, by the weight of water therein contained, as well as by the number of cubical inches. 7. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that all measures of the same denomination, whether of liquids or of dry goods, ought to contain the same weight of water, and the same number of cubical inches. 8. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the gallon ought to contain 10 pounds of pure water, or 276.48 cubical inches; that the quart, or 4th part of the gallon, ought to contain: 40 ounces of water, or 69.12 cubical inches; that the pint, or half of the quart, ought to contain 20 ounces of water, or 34.56 cubical inches. 9. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the bushel ought to contain 8 of the said gallons, or 80lbs of water, or 2211.84 cubical inches; and that all other measures of capacity ought to be taken in parts, multiples, or proportional parts of the said gallon, 10. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the standard of weight ought to be the pound avoirdupois, which is equal to the weight of 27.648 cubical inches of pure water, of the temperature of 564; that the 16th part of the said pound should be an ounce, and the 16th part of such ounce should be a dram; that the third part of the dram should be a scruple, and the 10th part of the scruple one grain; and that all other weights should be taken from parts, multiples, or proportional parts of this pound. 11. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that all contracts, bargains, sales, and dealings, ought to be taken and adjudged to be according to the standards aforesaid, and that no person should recover the price of goods sold, or the goods themselves, or any damages on account of any contracts, bargains, sales or dealings, but according to the said standards. 12. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that it ought to be penal for any person to have in his possession any measure or weight that is not agreeable to the aforesaid standards. 13. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that it ought to be made highly penal for any person to make or sell any measure or weight that is not agreeable to the aforesaid standards. 14. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that for enforcing an uniformity in the weights and measures to be used for the future, no person should be permitted to make weights and measures, without having first obtained a proper licence for that purpose, on payment of a certain sum. 15. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that all weights and measures to be hereafter made, ought to be marked with the name of the maker; and after a proper examination of the weight or measure, the same to be stamped with the initials of the name of the person who has examined it, 16. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that all weights exceeding one pound, should be made of brass, copper, bell-metal, or cast iron; and that all weights of one pound or under, should be of gold, silver, brass, copper, or bell metal. 17. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the standard yard mentioned in the 2nd Resolution, and a pound avoirdupois, made according to the directions before mentioned in this Report, together with models or patterns of the measures of capacity before mentioned, ought to be deposited in the Court of the Receipt of the Exchequer, and there safely kept under the seals of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and of the Chief Baron, and the seal of office of the Chamberlains of the Exchequer, and not to be opened but by the order of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Chief Baron for the time being. 18. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that models or patterns of the said standard yard, gallon and pound avoirdupois, and of the parts and multiples thereof, before mentioned, should be distributed in each county, city or corporate town, being a county within itself, in such manner as to be readily used as evidence, in all cases where measures and weights shall be questioned before the Justices of the Peace for each county or city, and for adjusting the same in a proper manner. 19. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the provisions of the Acts of the 35 Geo. III. Cap. 10, and the 37 Geo. III. cap. 143, should be extended, so as to empower Justices of the Peace to search for and destroy false measures as well as false weights, and to hear and determine, and put in execution the law with regard to weights and measures, and to inflict or mitigate such penalties as shall be thought proper, and to have such other authorities as shall be necessary for compelling the use of weights and measures agreeable to the aforesaid standards. 20. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the Sheriff of each county ought to be directed to summon a jury of 12 sufficient men living within the county, to return a verdict, on the comparison to be made before them of the proportions which the new standards bear to those formerly in use in each county respectively; and according to the verdict then returned, tables of equalization should be made, and copies of the same should be distributed through each county; and that all existing contracts or rents payable in corn should be calculated according to these tables of equalization. PUBLIC |