Common Navigation;-day's works or the keeping of a journal at sea.

Application of Algebra to common geometry, and in part to conic sections.

The binomial theorem applied to series, &c. Fluxions; so much of them,as will enable a learner to pursue the study without the aid of the teacher, if inclination or interest should ever induce him to resume the subject.

Greek Testament considerable selections from the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles, and in profane authors a part of the Græca Minora.

His second or middle class, in Greek have read since the first of March twelve months, a part of the Græca Minora, comprising select fables, Lucian's dialogues; Tabula Cebetis; also selections from the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles and part of Xenophon,

All this and a variety of other matters 'not taken His first or senior class, during the same period, into this account, as also a considerable portion of have read the appointed portion of Xenophon's Cy the calculations pertaining to natural philosophy,ropædia, the first six books of Homer's Illiad, and has been effectually accomplished. The students Longinus's treatise on the sublime. This class conwere prepared to work indiscriminately, any pro- sisted of three, and one of the three is to be reckblem which was designated by the gentlemen pre- oned amongst the distinguished mathematicians. sent at the examination, though free to select out of As in the Latin, so also in the Greek, the greater some hundreds, those which they might think best part of the middle class, appertain to the junior class calculated to test their strength:-the young gen- in the mathematics. men gave very satisfactory proofs that they comprehended the course. Of the class, a majority were youths of from about fourteen to sixteen years of age.

The progress of the junior class, of which the greater number is made up of youths from twelve to fourteen years of age, is equally satisfactory for the time, which has been spent by them in this department.

it remains yet to be noticed, that these pupils, whose praises in their mathematical studies cannot easily be sounded upon a strain above their merit, have devoted half their time and attention to the study of classical literature; a fact which would seem to be perhaps incredible to any person not acquainted with the skill of our professors and the unusual efficiency of our plan of instruction.

From this representation it will appear to good judges, that the progress in the two departments has been so considerable that either of the two, without the other, would generally be thought unusually successful. And yet, rapid as this advancement may appear, nothing is done in a careless or superficial manner. In the classical department the students are instructed to attend carefully to the etymology of the words;-to examine their roots, derivations, compounds, declensions, and variations. They are taught to analyse the sentences;-to know the relation, government, agreement and order of the words, so that the meaning, strength or beauty of the author may be distinctly observed.

Biographical, historical and geographical facts and circumstances are noticed. The beauties of the poet, the precision of the historian, or the glowing The professor of languages, Mr. Power, has like-fires of the orator, are made subjects of their obserwise given the most satisfactory proofs of his abili-vation, and frequently become fruitful sources of ty to hold a very conspicuous place in our college. intellectual amusement.

His manneris energetic, and his skill and zeal are Military, moral, civil and political sketches are exadequate to the important task which is assigned to amined, and treated in a manner calculated to exhim. And, by a harmonious co-operation with tend the information of the pupil; at the same time the professor of mathematics, he has succeeded in that his taste is refined, his virtuous affections chehis attempts to excite and maintain in his pupils, rished, and his judgment improved and strengththough half their time is engaged in another depart-ened.

ment, a taste for the classics and a correspond- By a due attention to such exercises as these, we 、ing degree of emulation to excel in classical learn-expect to contribute our mite towards the common ing, which redound much to the honor of the pro-stock of sound literature in the United States; and fessor and to the praise of his classes.

His junior Latin class commenced with the Latin grammar on the second day of March last;-twelve months since. Within the year, in addition to the above course of mathematics, they have read, besides the little books introductory to a classical course, Cæsar's Commentaries; the conspiracy of Cataline, and the war with Jugurtha of Sallust; the Eclogues and the first three books of the Eneid of Virgil, and Cicero's Orations against Cataline.

to assist in removing out of the way those stumbling blocks of Latin and Greek stupidity, which led our great countryman, Dr. Rush, hastily and improperly, to lend the weight of his character to those superfi cial pretenders, whose labors have served too much to multiply just complaints against the literary institutions of our country.

In this laudable design, we expect much assistance from Doctor Hunter, whom you lately elected professor of Belles Lettres in our college. This learnHis second or middle class, within the same pe-ed gentleman, as you know, is a graduate of the uniriod, have read in Latin, the conspiracy of Cataline and the war with Jugurtha by Sallust; the Eclogues and first six books of the Encid of Virgil, Select Orations of Cicero; and the Odes, Epodes, Satires and Epistles of Horace.

The greater proportion of this class, however, pertain to the junior class of mathematicians.

versity of Edinburg, and is considered by the faculty an acquisition of much importance to the institution. His ability as a teacher of that elegant and important part of literature, which pertains to his chair, is the greater, in consequence of his very perfect acquain ap-ance with the Greek, Latin and French languages:He is thereby prepared to collate the most striking and beautiful idioms of those languages, and to make them all tributary to his own. His ability o teach the French, which becomes a part of his duty, is the more deserving of notice, in consequence of his having added to a very critical acquaintance with the best French authors, all the advantages of a resi dence with French familles of distinction, for the space of seven or more years,

Is first or senior class, have read, within the same period, the Select Satires of Juvenal and Persius; Tully's Offices,-books first, second, and third, to the end of the Formula Stoicorum; Five books of Livy, and a considerable portion of Tacitus.

His junior class in the Greek language, having begun about six months ago, in addition to the Latin above detailed as the work of the junior Latin class, the mathematical course, have also read in the

We are indebted to the professor of surgery in

the university of Maryland, for our introduction to Dr. Hunter. They were fellow students at Edinburg, where Doctor Gibson became acquainted with his talents; and the professor of surgery, having been informed of our determination to labor for the advancement of literature, was desirous to add to our strength.

which subsists between the weights and measures of the different states, is certainly less than might have been expected under such circumstances; but it is not inconsiderable.

The documents which accompany this report, show a difference of 51 grains between the pound weights at Baltimore and Philadelphia; and one of Whilst making this acknowledgment of obliga- them affords evidence, that some banks have used tion to one of the professors of the university of weights for money, which are considerably lighter Maryland, I should feel myself guilty of much ingra- than those of the mint Our information on the titude, were I to withhold that tribute of respect, discordance of measures, is less precise and authen, which we owe also to others of that learned body. tic; but (although the committee has been disapLaudably engaged in giving public instruction to pointed in the hope of obtaining satisfactory comyoung gentlemen destined for the profession of me-parison between those of different states) yet the dicine, and having secured a character to their insti- greater difficulties in the comparison of measures tution, not inferior to that of the best medical schools of capacity, than of weights, and the known equaliin the U. States, they have given ample proof of their ty between the English models, from which our attachment to the common cause. Knowing, howe- measures were originally taken, do not allow us to ver, the great importance of a good education, as doubt, that the difference of measures in the Unitpreparatory to the successful study of medicine, ed States is still greater than that of weights. they have favored us with a marked attention. Five The measures used in surveying the lands of the of the seven have witnessed our examinations; and, United States, are all compared, as the committee whilst we think it a privilege to boast of patrons so have understood, with a brass chain, made under distinguished, we are not a little gratified in being the direction of Mr. Rittenhouse. But, in general, able to appeal to them for the reality of the above the officers of the United States employ the weights representations. SAM'L. K. JENNINGS. M. D. and measures which are established, or rather used, Baltimore, March 15, 1819. in the districts in which they live. The changes which have been made by custom in the weights and measures of the United States, are such as add to their simplicity. We have discontinued the use of many English weights and measures, and have introduced no new ones.

Weights and Measures.

Report of a select committee of the house of representatives, upon the subject of fixing a standard of weight and measures.

Mr. Lowndes, from the committee appointed to enquire whether it be expedient to make any amendment in the laws which regulate the coins of the United States, and foreign coins, having been instructed also to enquire into the expediency of fixing the standard of weights and measures, have obtained, on the latter subject, nearly all the information which they had expected to procure during the present session of congress, and submitted their report:

The weights and measures in use in all the states of the union, have been derived from Eng and. In Louisiana they were, until lately, French; but a recent law has established such as conform to those of the other states. The laws of the colonies, before the revolution, evidence some attention to their regulation; but since that event, there have been very few legislative provisions upon the subject, in any of the states. But the highly commercial character of the people; their frequent changes of residence, and the absence of feudal institutions, have prevented the establishment of those local usages which are so embarrassing to the internal trade of most of the states of Europe. Although in some of the United States there are no laws for the regulation of weights and measures, and very defective laws in the others, yet is there more uniformity in the composition and division, both of weights and measures, in the United States, than there was in France, before the adoption of her new metrical system, or than there is in England now. Indeed, he must be a negligent observer of the manners, the legislation, and even the language of the country, who does not remark the strong tendency to uniformity which prevails every where throughout it. This circumstance facilitates the establishment of a national standard of weights and measures, without superseding its necessity. Where standards are established by the laws of the states, they are, in general, such as exist in a foreign country, and are inconsistent with each other. The differencel

Of the weights, we use the pound and ounce avoirdupois, and the Troy grain, with the pennyweight; and for medicine, the scruple and drachm. The Troy pound and ounce have been discontinued.

Of lineal measures, we use generally the inch, foot, yard, fathom, perch or pole, furlong, mile and league.

We have discontinued the barleycorn, palm, link, nail, span, cubit and pace.

For dry measure of capacity, we use the pint, quart, gallon, peck and bushel.

We have discontinued the pottle, loom, quarter, weigh, and last.

Of liquid measures, we have discontinued the ale and beer measure, and apply to all liquids the English wine measure.

We use the gill, pint, quart and gallon. We have discontinued the rundlet.

In a superficial measure, we use the inch, foot, yard, pole, rood and acre; and have discontinued the pace.

For the measurement of firewood, we use the English cord; and for coal, the common bushel heaped. We have discontinued the chaldron.

The committee are unanimous in the opinion, that this subject ought not to be left to uncertain usages, or to the various laws of particular states. They will not enlarge upon its importance, Commercial credit is well secured in every part of this country, by enforcing the punctual performance of contracts. But commerce itself could hardly subsist, unless some security were given (beside the judgment of the purchaser) that the article which he buys is of the quantity which the seller describes; that the weight of measure which is employed, is fair. The duty of providing this security has been devolved, by the constitution, upon congress; and the committee express, with great respect, their opinion, that it should not be neglected any longer. It has been frequently proposed in foreign countries, "to employ, as the fundamental unit of all

measures, a type which should be taken from nature," and be exempt from the alterations to which arbitrary standards are exposed. In execution of this plan, the government of France has employed, as the base of its system of measures, that arc of the terrestrial meridian passing through Paris, which is contained between the equator and the north pole. It has adopted the ten millionth part of this arc as the unit of measures of length, calling it the metre, and deducting from it all its other measures and weights. It has taken, as the unit of superficial measures, the arc, or square of ten metres, as the unit of measures of capacity, both for liquids and dry goods-the litre, or cube of the tenth part of the metre; as the unit of measures particularly intended for firewood, the stere, or cubic metre; and as the unit of weight the gramme, or absolute weight of a volume of pure water, in its state of greatest density, equal to the cube of the hundredth part of the metre,

ways uniform." These advantages were held to jus tify the expectation that the standard established in France would become the universal standard among civilized nations.

But the plan of obtaining an invariable standard from nature is of no easy execution. The type of such a standard should be equally accessible to all nations. This, indeed, the system is admitted to require. But the figure of the earth is irregular to observation. We do not know that gravitation is uniform in different longitudes though in the same latitude, nor that the different meridians are similar, nor even that the two hemispheres on each side of the equator are equal. If the establishment of the same meridian be proposed, or for the pendulum the same longitude and latitude, it will follow that every country but one, must verify its standard in a foreign state. If the figure of the earth be irregular the extent of that part of the meridional arc which is obtained by computation, must be uncertain, and even in ascertaining the part which is submitted to actual measurement the most perfect instruments, and the highest experience, have left the accuracy of such a process in some doubt. The improvement which has been lately proposed in the use of the pendulum seems likely to make it more sensible but not more uniform, and it is singular that respecThe establishment of a standard of weights and table authorities differ by more than half an inch measures, which should be deducted from an inva- (59-100) as to the length of the pendulum which riable type in nature, has been more than once dis- will vibrate seconds at the same level and at the vecussed in the English parliament; but nothing defi-ry latitude (that of 45) which has been proposed nitive has yet been done in it.

The standard metre is placed on a rod of platina, and a killogramme of platina, (equal to a thousand gramnies) has been declared by a law of 1800, to be the standard of weight.

The government of the Netherlands has lately adopted the French system, without material modification.

for the regulating pendulum, If, however,on either plan a fixed proportion be established by law, between the standard and a natural type, the standard itself, whose name and office imply immutabili ty, must change with every corrected estimate of the type which is its base. The first standard of the French measures was accordingly declared to be provisional,

In the United States, although the matter has been recommended to congress by successive presidents, no progress has been made in determining upon a standard of weights and measures, beyond that of receiving a report from the first secretary of state, Mr. Jefferson. Mr. Jefferson considers matter by its mere extension, as furnishing nothing invariable; and its motion as the only remaining resource. Whether standards derived from the natural He proposes the length of a metallic rod, which types which have been proposed, have all the adshall vibrate seconds of mean time at the level of vantages which have been attributed to them, seems the ocean, in the 45th parallel of north latitude, as therefore to be questionable. And the inconveni, a foundation of a system of measures for the United ences of change are not small. If a difference States. The committee abstain from the free quo-between the measures of two neighboring towns aftations which they would otherwise make from this report, on the presumption that its principal views are in the memory of the house.

They do not know that any attempt at a general reform of weights and measures has of late been made in any other country.

ford opportunities for fraud, how much greater must these be, when entirely new measures are first introduced through a whole country. We have reason, from the experience of France, to think that these will be adopted slowly and imperfectly; partially in some places, and in all with the The efforts to establish natural standards suffici- confusion which results from obtaining both the old ently prove the sense entertained of their advanta- names, and the old divisions, and giving them a ges. These are strongly stated in the report of a a new and a double meaning. It is obvious in such commission of the French institute, to which the a case, whatever benefits uniformity and system subject had been referred by their government "on may give to posterity, that the present age must the measurement of degrees of the meridian in pay no scanty price for them. The difference France, and on the results which have been deduc-between the weights and measures of the several ed from it for the determination of the basis of the the new system of measures."

"It is the essential advantage," they say, "of this system, that even if all the standards should be destroyed or annihilated, leaving no other trace but the knowledge that one of them was the ten millionth part of the quarter of the terrestrial meridian, and the other the quantity of water taken in its state of greatest density, and contained in the cube of the tenth part of the first unity; the primitive value of both might be yet recovered."

provinces of France was so great, that uniformity could not have been obtained without violent innovations. But such is not their condition in the U. S.

The principal advantage of deducing a standard of measure from an invariable type in nature, is represented to be, that, in the event of its loss or destruction, it may be restored without variation. But the proportion which either natural or arbitrary standards bear to any object of invariable magnitude, which nature may be thought to furnish, may be ascertained with equal accuracy; the restoration Of the particular system adopted by France, they of cither, therefore, must be equally practicable. observe, that its parts are all intimately connected The old toise, although not an aliquot part of the with each other, all dependent upon the primitive terrestrial meridian, may be as well obtained as the type, and its multiples and subdivisions follow a pro-metre, which is supposed to be so, by the measuregression natural, simple, easily understood, and al- ment of a meridional arc.

On the whole, the committee believe it best, at and the aliquot parts of those above them, may be least in the circumstances of this country, to adopt inconvenient, and is certainly not systematic. But absolute standards, conformed to the weights and the inconvenience is not great. There is the same measures which are in most general use among us. defect in the coins in common use. The quarters If it be thought necessary to provide by law for the of a dollar are not multiplies of a dime, nor the loss of these standards, the provision may be formed eighths multiplies of a cent. The eighths of a dol on the basis of the best experiment, and the exact-lar indeed are foreign coins, but the irregularity is est science, which the country can now command, found to be of little consequence. and without change of standard, this provision may be varied whenever the advancement of science shall furnish a better process.

The committee will therefore confine the propoals which they shall submit to the house, to the object of the first plan proposed by Mr. Jefferson, to render uniform and stable the measures (and weights) which we already possess."

The committee think, that the defect in the series of weights can produce no real embarrassment, if we have a uniform pound, with sub-divisions descending regularly to the 64th part of the pound or quarter ounce; if we have a uniform grain, which is an aliquot part of a pound, (7,000th) and of the eighth of the pound, or double ounce, and which bears to the ounce a proportion, which, though exIn pursuance of this view, they propose that mo- pressed by a fraction, is represented, aud may be asdels of the yard, bushel, wine gallon, and pound, certained, by weights in common use, (18 dwta. 54 supposed to conform to those in most common use grs. or 7 drms. 24 grs. or 4374 grs.) Small, howin the United States, shall be made under the direc-ever, as the defect is, if it can be removed without tion of a commission of persons to be selected inconvenience, it ought not to be overlooked. They by the president of the United States, and if satis- know no better plan for removing it, than that sngfactory to congress, that they shall be declared the gested by Mr. Jefferson. standard yard, bushel, liquid gallon, and pound of the United States.

This is substantially to divide the pound into 6,912 instead of 7,000 grains, and the ounce into 18, If these standards shall be adopted for our mea- instead of 20 pennyweights. The grain would be sures, the law which will establish them will deter- increased by this plan by about 1 1-3 per cent. the mine how greater or less measures shall be formed pennyweight by somewhat less. The eagle would from them. There is no variety in the composi- contain 3 less of the new than of our present grains; tion of these in the different states, and, in the opi- or, if it were thought important that it should connion of the committee, no adequate motive for pro-tain the same number of grains, its value would be posing a change. There will consequently be no difficulty in this regulation.

As to weights, there seems to be no strong objection to confirming the change which general usage has made, by giving up, as is recommended by Mr. Jefferson, the pound and ounce Troy, and the quarter and drachm avoirdupois. The pound Troy has been alone disused; there is no coin as heavy as a Troy ounce, and no coin of the United States, as heavy as an ounce avoirdupois. The silver or gold contained in the largest coins is stated generally in grains, without the use of any higher denomination. In the sale of drugs or bullion, indeed, large weights are necessary; but drugs are now sold by avoirdupois weight: and the suppression of the pound and ounce Troy will produce no change in the weights used for bullion in the United States, as these are now multiplies of the pennyweight as far as five thousand. But if it were not so, neither the mint, the banks, nor the merchants who deal with them, can be embarrassed by employing in their large transactions, not a new weight, but the common pound and ounce of the country.

about 12 cents greater, In medicine, it may be feared that the knowledge that there was a change, might produce some uneasiness in those who could not exactly estimate its extent; nor would it much improve the system of apothecaries' weights, since, though it would make the grain an aliquot part of the ounce, neither the scruple nor the drachm would

be so.

The committee think it best that the pound and the grain, which may be considered for different purposes, as both units of weight, should be changed nor be spected of being so. They propose, therefore, that the commission should ascertain the proportion between the grain and the pound, and that that proportion should be maintained unalterable.

In respect to the composition of small weights, it seems proper that the discordance between the use of the hundred and the long hundred, (or 100 and 112 lbs.) and their divisions, should be removed, and of the two set of weights, that of the hundred pound, and its divisions, is the simpler and the better. As to weights above the hundred, except the ton of shipping, they are properly but the names of vessels of capacity, of no very determinate contents, and ought not to be recognized as weights.

If we suppose the proportion between the common pound of the United States, and the grain used in money and medicine, to be one to 7,000, we shall probably not be materially wrong. It is the difference ascertained between those weights in England, from which our weights were derived originally, and observations made, as the committee believe, with great care at the bank of the United States, give 7,000 grains of the weight of that bank as equal to the pound used in the most commercial city of the United States, (New York.) Assuming this proportion, it will follow, that of weights that are in use below a pound avoirdupois, (if we omit the drachm and quarter avoirdupois, and the pound In fixing standards of weights and measures, it and ounce Troy) the ounce, the scruple and the will be proper that congress shall determine the grain are aliquot parts of the pound, the penny- means which shall be employed for their preservaweight and drachm are not so; nor are the drachm, tion, and perhaps, as connected with this object, for pennyweight, scruple, or grain, aliquot parts of the their restoration, if they shall be lost; for the distriounce. The want of a series in which all the weights bution of models with which the weights and meashould be multiplies of those which are below them, I sures employed in commerce may be compared,

The modes of measurement, the allowances and tares which are used in the different states, require correction as well as the measures themselves. The subject was brought to the view of the house by a report of the secretary of the treasury, in January last, but in that laborious session there was not time to undertake it. It will still be better to defer the provisions which it may require, until they can be included in the law which shall establish the standards.

and for enforcing the use of such as correspond with | forms for all these, and dimensions whose correctthese models.

ness might be ascertained by the common measures The committee propose, that the standards shall of length. What these forms should be, it would be be deposited in the office of the secretary of state. proper to leave to the decision of the commission, These will be employed but rarely to verify the mo- although the strength of the cylinder, its general dels which may be issued under the authority of the use, and, according to the commission of the French government. The law which establishes the stand-institue, the greater exactness which may in practice be given to that figure, are strong reasons for employing it.

ard, will determine the temperature at which it is to

be used.

The means which may be employed for the restoration of the standards, if they should be lost or impaired, are sufficiently analogous to some of those which may be used for securing the accurate execution of the models, as well as the weights and measures in common use, to make it convenient to consider the two subjects together. Indeed it must be an extravagant fondness for system which would lead us to deny that the models, if proper precautions be taken to secure their fidelity, will probably furnish a sufficiently correct, as well as an easy mean for the restoration of the standards if they should be lost.

The careful observation of the proportions which the standards of measure bear to each other, and that of the relations which each of these holds to the dimensions of a quantity of pure water of a given temperature, which is equal to the weight of the standard pound, will sufficiently provide for the contingency of the loss of any number of these standards less than the whole. The committee propose, that these relations shall be ascertained and reported by the commission, whose appointment has been already suggested.

If it be thought prudent to provide for the contingency of the loss, at the same time of all the standards and all the models, on which a just reliance may be placed, it may be done by ascertaining the relation between the standard measure of length and the pendulum, and an arc of the meridian. Which of these relations can be most safely relied on for the restoration of the standard, can be best determined when its loss shall occur. The designation of these relations by a commission may also facilitate a comparison with the measures of foreign countries. The committee do not, however, recommend the difficult and costly expedient of measuring a large arc of the merid an in this country; but the commission may ascertain the proportion between our standard and the great arc which has been measured by the the French mathematicians, or the quarter of a meridional circle inferred from it. They can do this, indeed, only by a comparison with the French measures in which the result of that operation has been stated. The length of a pendulum or rod, which shall vibrate seconds of meantime, is an object of more convenient comparison, and the commission may probably think it necessary to ascertain the relation between this and our standard of length by their own observation.

The designation of measures of capacity, the contents of which, if of rain water of a convenient temperature, would be equal in weight to a pound, or any part or multiple of it, would furnish a test which might sometimes be applied to common weights. But it will be easier to avoid considerable variation in the models of weight, than of cubic measure; and and the determination of the weight of rain water, of a convenient temperature, which ought to be contained in the several measures of capacity, furnishes a security of easy employment for the fairness of such measures.

It will be necessary that models of weights and measures, exactly compared with their several standards, shall be deposited in the different states. To prevent unnecessary delay, it may be proper to allow the commission entrusted with the charge of preparing the models which are to be proposed as standards, to cause to be prepared, also, a number of models for distribution. The committee think that there should be sent to each state, to be distributed as may be directed by its legislature, a number of each of these models equal to the number of members to which the state is entitled in the house of representatives of the United States; and that models of each standard should be deposited with the marshal of each state, and with every collector of customs throughout the United States. To enable the government to make this distribution, and to reserve the number of models which it may be proper that it should have at its disposition, the committee propose that

of each model should be provided.

The committee are not unaware of the difficulty in the accurate execution of models of measure. There are too many memorials of this, to allow them to doubt that it is in the province of the artist that the great impediment to uniform measures will be found. They believe, however, that all the practical advantages of uniformity may be obtained by a degree of skill and attention, which it is not unreasonable to expect,

The committee do not deem it necessary to propose any penal provision for enforcing the use of the standards which may be established by congress. The constant interference which such provisions would imply, with the minutest and most frequent transactions of society, might be justified by the words, but unless they shall be found indispensable, would ill comport with the general spirit and character of the constitution. It was right that there The most accurate designation of the relation be- should be a provision for uniform standards of meatween the standard of length and the pendulum on sures and of weights, as of coins, throughout the U. an arc of the meridian, cannot be expected to be of States. The only authority capable of establishing any direct service in promoting the accuracy of mea- these was the general government. But the power sarcs in common use, Considerable variation is less of enforcing the use of measures and weights, which to be apprehended in the models of lineal measure shall conform to these standards, may be most conthan in any other. And the determination of the veniently and effectually exercised by the state auproportions between lineal measures and measures thorities. The laws of many, and perhaps most of of capacity, and between both these, weights, may the states are adequate to this purpose, without have some effect in enabling us to detect without much amendment. But, to admit of amendments too difficult a process the defects of measures of ca- where they may be necessary, it may be well, if conpacity and possibly of weights in common use. For gress shall approve the standards proposed, that it this purpose it would perhaps be convenient to es-should determine on a more distant day than would blish not merely the cubical contents of the com-otherwise be proper, after which no other weights measures of capacity, but to fix determinate and measures than such as conform to these stand