in schools, and in practical life millions of times as multipliers and divisors, and every unnecessary additional figure is justly objectionable.

In a popular sense of the word, however, the numbers in the schedule may be said to be exact. The length of the meter, for example, is given as 39.37 inches. The mean of the best English and the best American determinations differs from this only by about the amount by which the standard bar changes its length by a change of one degree of temperature. Such accuracy is certainly sufficient for legal purposes and for popular use.

The second measure recommended is a joint resolution, necessarily following the adoption of the leading bill, and provides for furnishing the standards which will thereby be required, to the several States.

The third proposition is a bill to authorize and provide for the use of the weight of 15 grams in the post-office, in conformity with the system adopted by that department for foreign correspondence.

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The nomenclature, simple as it is in theory, and designed from its origin to be universal, can only become familiar by use. Like all strange words, these will become familiar by custom, and obtain popular abbreviations. A system which has incorporated with itself so many different series of weights, and such a nomenclature as scruples," "pennyweights," avoirdupois," and with no invariable component word, can hardly protest against a nomen. clature whose leading characteristic is a short component word, with a prefix signifying number. We are already familiar with thermometer, barometer, diameter, gasometer, etc., with telegram, monogram, etc., - words formed in the

same manner.

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After considering every argument for a change of nomenclature, your Committee have come to the conclusion that

any attempt to conform it to that in present use would lead to confusion of weights and measures; would violate the easily learned order and simplicity of metric denomination, and would seriously interfere with that universality of system so essential to international and commercial convenience.

When it is remembered that of the value of our exports and imports in the year ending June 30, 1860, in all $762,000,000, the amount of near $700,000,000 was with nations and their dependencies that have now authorized, or taken the preliminary steps to authorize, the metric system, even denominational uniformity for the use of accountants in such vast transactions assumes an important significance. In words of such universal employment each word should represent the identical thing intended, and no other, and the law of association familiarizes it.

BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS ACCOMPANYING THE

REPORT.

A BILL to authorize the Use of the Metric System of Weights and Measures.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the passage of this act, it shall be lawful throughout the United States of America to employ the weights and measures of the metric system; and no contract, or dealing, or pleading in any court, shall be deemed invalid, or liable to objection, because the weights or measures expressed or referred to therein are weights or measures of the metric system.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the tables in the schedule hereto annexed shall be recognized, in the construction of contracts, and in all legal proceedings, as establishing, in terms of the weights and measures now in use in the United States, the equivalents of the weights and measures expressed therein in terms of the metric system; and said tables may be lawfully used for computing, determining, and expressing in customary weights and measures the weights and measures of the metric system.

MEASURES OF LENGTH.

METRIC DENOMINATIONS AND VALUES. EQUIVALENTS IN DENOMINATIONS IN Use.

JOINT RESOLUTION to enable the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish to each State one set of the Standard Weights and Measures of the Metric System.

Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to furnish to each State, to be delivered to the governor thereof, one set of the standard weights and measures of the metric system, for the use of the States respectively.

A BILL to authorize the Use in Post-Offices of Weights of the Denomination of Grams.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Postmaster General be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to furnish to the post-offices exchanging mails with foreign countries, and to such other offices as he shall think expedient, postal balances denominated in grams of the metric system, and until otherwise provided by law, one-half ounce avoirdupois shall be deemed and taken for postal purposes as the equivalent of fifteen grams of the metric weights, and so adopted in progression; and the rates of postage shall be applied accordingly.