The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-02 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL AND MARKETS.

IMPER AL AVERAGES.

R7L
Agvi May 13 W 64164 9:1 741314 64111 61,1614 6d
3O
Jane 6
13 464 lid 33a Id 1016.6 304 391 Si Me 114
2O
27
Oix weeks* -- - -- --,---'—•
gate Average

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COHMON&—WzroxiaDAy, Jets 1.

WEIGHTS AND MEABLIEI2I BILL
After our report left yesterday,
Mr. COBDEN maid there were two questions before the
house whith had been confounded together—the question of
the decimal system and the question of the metrical system.
As to the former he thought there was an unanimity of
feeling ru favour of it, and that it should be preferred
to all other modes of notation. Perhaps he ought to except
the opinion of Lind Overstooe. but he (Mr. Cobden) had
learnt that whenever be wee walking along the path of any
great reform it would be better not to seek the countenance
of Lord Overstone. (Hear, bear.) The evidence before the
committee showed most coocluaively that upon every ground
the decimal system would be preferable to every other.
(Hear, hear.) Professor de Morgan had declared that boys
at school would save half their times the 'lady of
arithmetic. and his evidence wee supported by that of
the Her. Mr. Barrett, Dr. Farr, and Mr. Edwin Chadwick.
The right hoa. member for Oxfordshire and the hon. mem-
ber for Buckingham had spoken of the difficulty of transi-
tion. The question of transition most be dealt with by
such • body as the Board of Trade, and it would be may in
such matters as usesemeate to have tables of equiva-
lents. An actuary would put the matter of assessments
in a parish right in ten minutes, and once done it would be
done for ever. There wee not such difficulty in this as
appeared at hist eight. A lady who went to Paris, and
tourist • quantity of silk, bought it by the metre, which
contained A. inches and a third • but in making her Weida.
tiou as to the price else tempted it with the English yard ;
but she soon became accustomed to it, and it was in
evidence before the committee that English workmen
going to Paris got habituated to the French system in a
month, and one witness said it could be mastered in two
&ea He appealed to his right bon. friend the President of
the Bond of Trade to take up this matter, and as
his name would be recorded in history in connexion
with his successful efforts to free the press, so it might be
recorded in coupe:ion with the establishment of the decimal
and metrical system. He could get him plenty of petitions
from boys at school who were desirous of seeing established
a free trade in arithmetic.

Mr. FERRAND observed that the small shopkeepers,
who were very numerous, had what to them was a large
sum invested in their weights and measures ; and if this
were made • compulsory measure they ought to be com-
pensated for these weights and measure, which would be
rendered useless.
Mr. M. t;IBSON said his hon. friend the member for
Rochdale had proposed to him a teak of no inconsiderable
difficulty. and he did not feel very sanguine of being able to
induce tho population of this country to conform, without
peat reels tsnoe, to any greet change in their weight, and
measures. Of course the thing could be done, but it was
obvious that it ought to be undertaken in a cautious manner,
and by 1110Cel1170 steps. He had not a word to say against the
metric system. On the contrary, he thought it as good •
system as could be devised. There were also peat
advantages in the decimal system in all matters
of account, but he contended that they could not make
the decimal system the only mode of division which persons
should be permitted to resort to under • penalty. The most
obvious division was the binary division, the half, the
quarter, and the eighth. He did not think they should pre-
vent a small shopkeeper from selling over the counter half •
thing, or a quarter of a thing. He had no objection to a
bill which should legalise and bream the use of a decimal
division, but he should be sorry to see soy measure which
should confine men exclusively to the decimal system.
Uniformity they all agreed was most advisable. They had
tried what they could do to enforce it in this country, and
they bad now single units ; the unit of length, the yard,
sod the unit of weight, the pound avoirdupois ; and the act
of 6 and 6 William IV., chapter 63, imposed • penalty not
exceeding st. on persons using any other weight and
measure, and declared that contract, in any other weight
and measure should be void. Why this law was not en-
forced he could not say, but he supposed it was because it
was impossible to induce the people within any short period
of time to mike say great change in the customary weights
and measures. Thies changes must be brought about by
degrees, and it was the duty of those who were in favour of
the decimal and metric system to bring public opinion into
a stele in which legislation could be receivLd for if they
were to introduce each • change as that proposed by this
bill suddenly, it would meet with great resistance over the
length and breadth of the land. He approved of the system,
but the whole question was the practical difficulty of tran-
SLUM. He could not agree to a compulsory bill, be-
cause be did not feel able, as • minister of
theorem; to say that he saw kw way to the carrying oat of
a compulsory enactment ; but if his hon. friend would with.
draw this measure he would support a bill of • permissive
claraeser.

Mr. BAZLEY said he thought that many of the difficul-
UM that were spoken of were imaginary. The decimal
system was used to a certain extent in the customs and
excise, and he did not think there would be near the diffi-
culty supposed in bringing it into gaueral use. The present
system eutailed much useless labour.

'Mr. ROEBUCK wished to suggest whether it would not
be best to pass the second reading of the bill and afterwards
withdraw it, because then they would at treat have este-
'Walled the principle.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was desirous
of pointing out to the hon. and learned gentleman what was
the view taken by the government of the principle of the
bill—unhappily compulsion was the principle of the bill.
(Hear, hear.) Compulsion was the vital portion of the
measure. and not to be divided from it, and the government
thriftier" could not offer it their support.
Mr. A. HODGSON suggested that the hon. member in
charge of this bill should alter the compulsory clauses and
introduce permissive powers. If so, he for one would vote
for the second reading, because he held a Woof opinion
that the principle of the bill was correct.
Mr. J. B. SMITH said the principle of the bill was the
adoption of the metric system, and therefore it was quite
competent, if the bill eau nada second time, for the Louse
decide that it should he permissive.
Mr. D. GRIFFITH appoved of the decimal, but not of the
metric system.

Colonel SYKES rid the majority of the nations of
Europe had adopted the metric 'Totem. The bill waa not
really compulsory, because it wetudnotoorne into operation
for three years.

Mr. W. E WART was willing to entertain the govern-
ment preimation if they would epee to go further, and
mitinttin the principle of • metsie lie: by in • manner
preparing the country for this peat c e.
Mr. M. WILSON said his own fee • waa with the hon.
gentleman, but be could not an,wer off-hand for the rest of
the government.
The house thee divided, when the numbers were—
For the almond reading
Against it
The Daiwa' consequently read • second time. The result
was received with cheers.

SHEEP, Lc., CONTAGIOUS pLSEASES PREVENTION

Mr. HOLLAND moved that the order for the second
reacting ut this ball be d believed the govern-
ment iiittuded to iutroducs • Lll for the continuance of the
existing act for a short Moo.
The order was then discharged.
NAVY PRIZE 'MONEY, &e., BILL.
The house went into committee pro form! on this bill.
NULYANCES REMOVAL ACT (1d55) AMENDMENT