The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-05-28 00:00:00

DECIMAL COINAGE.

At a recent meeting of one of the scientific insti-
tutions of Liverpool, it was observed, on the subject of
decimal weights and measures, that the public would
be clamorous for them if aware of their advantages;
indeed it may be asserted that the importation into England
of the metrical system of France (the coinage excepted)
world be a greater benefit to us than any we are likely
to derive from the easier access giren us lately- to the
wines and brandies of that land. Without, however,
advocating literally the introduction of that system into
England, which prejudice at present would no doubt
forbid, it may be useful to take a glance at its origin
and construction, in the hope that principles may be
acquired, of safe guidance, as to the changes contem-
plated in our own science of numbers.
The term METRE, or, as we have it, meter, literally
signifies measure, and is familiar to us, in that meaning,
in the words barometer, thermometer, and gasometer, so
that "metrical system" signifies any system of measure
whatever; but, in the case before us, it is restricted to
the system adopting as its basis of measure the metre,
which is the ten millionth part of the distance from the
pole to the equator, or an arc of the meridian of Paris
and the level of the sea. The actual measurement made
was from Barcelona to Dunkirk, a distance of 9 deg.
40 min., and more than a tenth of the quadrant of the
• meridian. The length of the quadrant known, it was
necessary to divide it into parts, in order to obtain
various lineal measures, and for this purpose the divisor
chosen was 10, as a facility in calculation, and as an
indication of nature, the numeration of all countries
being by 10.
The metre being thus the unit of measure, quantities
'greater are so-10, 100, 1,000, 10,000 times more ; and
quantities smaller are EO-10, 100, 1,000 times less ;
according to the following nomenclature, in which the
greater quantities beer prefixes, derived from the Greek,
—E(B—

Dem, signifying Ten.
Hecto, „ . Hundred.
Kilo, ~ Thousand.
Myria, „ Ten thousand.
And the smaller quantities prefixes from the Latin, as
Deci, signifying Tenth,
Centi „ Hundredth.
Milli „ . Thousandth.
All which will be more apparent by a tabular statement,
thus :

Myria-metre
Kilo-metre
Hecto-metre
Deca-metre
Metre. unit
Deci-metre
Centi-metre
Milli-metre

.10,000.
1,000.
100.

0.1.
0.01.
0-001.
The Metre is 39.37079 English lineal inches, usually
reckoned 39.371, and its correspondence with some
other English quantities of measure, lineal, square, and
cubic, is exhibited in the following compendium:— ,

CON4PENDIUM OF THE METRE-39.371 inches.
Kilo- Recto- Dka- Metre. Centi- Milli-
metre. metre. metre. metre. metre.-mitre
English. Lineal.
Inches 39,37P00 3937.10 393.7 l 39.3710 3.937 .3937 .0393
Feet ... 3,280.91 328.09 32 80 3.2809 .328 •0326 :0032
Tardy.. 1,093.63 109'36 1093 1.0930 .109 .0109 .0011
Miles_ *6213 '000621 .-
SquAre.
1,550.0756 15'507 •15.0 *OOl5
10'7614 •107 •0010
11,960•46 119•60 1•1960 •••
Cubic.
.61,028.0264 61.028 •0610
35.3169

Inches
Feet ..

Inchea
Feet ..

The rnyriametre, or 10 kilometres, equal to 6.213
statute miles, is not introduced in the above table. It
will be observed the gradations are, in lineal measure,
by 10 ; in square, by 100; and in cubic, by 1,000.
The myriametre and kilometre are itinerary measures,
applicable to geographical distances, add the latter per-
forms the office of our Mile-stone ; thus the distance
from Lyons to Marseilles is 336 kilometres, or 33.6
myriametr es.

From the metre, as a root, all other units of weight,
measure, and coinage,spring, and they have in like
manner a decimal analysis.
The ARE is an agrarian measure of superficies, the
square of the dicainetre, in three divisions, thus :

Centi-are
Are ....
Hect-are

1.196
119.604 1 square yards.
11,960.46

The STERE is a cubic ,)nefre used in the measuring o
fire-wood, also in three divisions—

Deci-stere
St ere
Dka-store

3.531
35.316 1 cubic feet.
353.169

The LITRE, a measure of capacity for liquid and dry
goods, is a cubic decimetre, equal to 61.028 cubic inches
and its divisions are the following :
Kilo-litre
Heeto-litre
Deca-litre
Litre
Deci-litre
Centi-litre
Milli-litre

== 220.000 gallons
=-- 22.000 ~
2.200 ~
= •880 quarts.
= •176 pints.
▪ •035 gills.

not in use,

The GRAMME, unit of weight, is the weight of the
quantity of pure water contained in a cubic centimitre,
or •0610 cubic inches, but the lightness of the gramme
rendering it inconvenient as a unit of commerce, the
kilogramme (1,000 grammes) has taken its place
These are the divisions under this head :
Kilo-gramme ....1,000 2.2055 lbs. avdp..
Hecto-gramme .. 100 = 3.528 oz.
Deca-gramme ' 10 = 5.646 drams.
Gramme 1 =15.438 grains.

Deci-gramme
Centi-gramme
Milli-gramme .

0.1 = 077 scruples.
0.01
0.001 =

The FRANC is the unit of coinage weighing 5 grammes,
and measuring in diameter 23 millimetres, er •9055

inches.
Hence, it appears, the entire nomenclature of the
metrical system requires for its expression only six
units, and seven prefixes. All subjects of weight come
under one class ; and our own anomaly could not arise,
which makes a pound of feathers, " light as a feather,"
weigh more than a pound of gold, "heavy as gold," in
the proportion of 175 to 144.
It may be interesting to set forth a list of the actual
measures and weights in use, as allowed by law, in

France, viz. :
Deci-mitre ......1.2.5.
Metre
Centi-litre. 1 2.6.
Deci-litre 1.2.5.
Litre 1 2 5 —lo, 20, 50, 100.
Milli-gramme ... .1.2 5.
Centi-gramme 1.2.5.
Nci-gramme 1.2.5.
Gramme 1 2.5-10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 600
Kilo-gramme 1.2.5.

The numerals 1.2.5 are adopted because only they
will divide,,exactly, the basis of the system, which is 10.
In close connection with this subject is the COINAGE of
France, which is so arranged `, that the standard of
weights and measures, if lost, could be recovered from
the coins ; for, in gold, 34 pieces of twenty francs, with
11 pieces of forty francs, measure, in their diameters
1,000 milli-metres, or one metre ; so, 156 Napoleons of
twenty francs, weigh 1,000 grammes, or one kilo-
gramme ; and similar combinations arise from some of
the other coins, both in gold and silver. The present
coins of France are four in gold, five in silver, and four
in bronze, as follows :

♦alue is Franca
and
Centinae3.

Diameter
in Millimetres.

Weight
in Grammes,

GOLD.
26.

12.9032, 8
6.4516, 4
3.2258, 2
1.6129, 1

SILVER.

LATEST NEWS.

IBY BRITISH AND IRISH MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH:I

THE FRENCH FUNDS.
PARIS, May 26.

3 30 P.M.—The Bourse closed firm, and rather
animated.. The last prices of Rentes were 69.25,
or 15 centimes higher than yesterday.

ITALY AND SICILY.

TURIN, May 26.

The discussion upon the treaty of cession of
Savoy and Nice was continued to-day. Signor
Ratazzi enumerated the inconveniences of the
treaty, which he rejected by reason that the Go-
vernment, in ceding the Italian provinces, had
violated the principle of Italian independence and
weakened royalty. He also said that France,
setting foot in Italy, can go no further. The new
kingdom has lost its weight abroad, and Europe
looks upon this traffic of people with distrust.
Count Cavour in his speech admitted the sacrifice
of the two provinces to be a grievous one, and
that the State wag weakened thereby. In refe-
rence to Nice, he said, the passages of the Alps
will remain with us ; and continued—the policy
of Italian independence rendered the treaty neces-
sary since 1848, the policy of concluding an alli-
ance. The Emperor having shown sympathy for
Italy, we are attached to France. The state of
Italy does not permit us to stop. Austria has not
recognised the annexation, and we are threatened
on all sides. The Pope has rejected our overtures,
and has opened a crusade against Italy. We
meet eN erywhere with the grave dangers of war ;
the armaments which are going on prove it.
Count Cavour concluded by declaring that if the
acquisition of Venice were to cost one foot of
Italian soil, he would refuse it. (Applause.)
ANCONA, May 21.

It is rumoured that Gen. Lamoriciere intends

tendering his resignation.

TURIN, May 25

The discussion on the treaty with France, for
the annexation. of Savoy and Nice, commenced
to-day, and will be continued on Saturday.
Nothing new was said during the first day's
debate.

Tke Tines has received the following from its

Paris correspondent.:—

" PARIS, May 25.

" A telegram from Palermo, dated 23rd inst.,
10 p.m., announces that the troops of Garibaldi
were in position near Palermo. 20,000 Neapoli-
tans occupied the heights which commanded the
town for two miles round. An attack was mo-
mentarily expected."

MARSEILLES, May 26.

The regular mail steamer from Italy has ar-
rived here. The greater part of the bankers and
Neapolitan merchants have sent their money and
valuables out of the kingdom.

Advices from Messina to the 23rd instant state
that a gloomy tranquillity prevailed.

The Governor of Malta, who had arrived at
Marseilles in the Indian mail steamer, leaves this
evening for London.

ROME, May 23.

Prince Wolouski, the new Russian Plenipoten-
tiary, left to-day for Naples. It is asserted that
he is the bearer of very precise instructions in
reference to Sicily.
In the official report of the affair at the Grotto,
near Montefiascone, the Gendarmes are much
commended. The brother of Orsini, author of
the attempt, is dead. The Governor of the town
of Aquapendente being alarmed, took to flight
with the police. He has been removed from
office by the Minister.

It is asserted that General Lamoriciere left to-
day for Ancona. He dined yesterday with
General Goyon.

MARSEILLES, May 26.

The packet which left Naples on the 22d instant
has arrived, and brings letters from Palermo,
dated the 21st instant, which state that the
anxiety was increasing, and that the popular
Passions were inflamed. On the evening of the
20th instant several shots were fired from the
balconies in the Rue Toledo. The police returned
the fire and wounded some persons. Strangers
had taken refuge under their national flags. The
authorities had ordered the doors of the public
buildings to be built up to half their height.
There was a panic among the public functionaries,
and the director of the official journal had taken
to flight. The churches were opened on Sunday
but remained deserted.
Yesterday the fire of an insurgent bivouac was
seen on the. heights surrounding Palermo, and it
was asserted that a battle had taken place. The
population were anxiously expeCting the result,
which was not known. A very conciliatorycopro-
clamation of General Lanza had been
10.
5. received.

PARIS, May 26.
The Patric of this evening publishes details
identical with those contained in the despatch
from Marseilles ; and adds, it was believed that