The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LOiNDON, THURSDAY EVEAING, JUNE 27, 1867.

The chief difficulty will be in adjusting existing con-
tracts with the new dollar ; but that will be lessened
by the fact of these contracts being based upon the
fluctuating value of paper money. Referring to the
public creditor, he considers that the reduction can
easily be adjusted in the payment or conversion of
their securities, while private creditors might be
authorised to recover on the old standard. Having
ably and clearly laid down his views, which we have
no doubt whatever will eventually be adopted by
the world, he concludes by stating that he heartily
sympathises with Mr. RUGGLES and others in
their efforts to secure the adoption of the
metrical system of weights and measures. The
first step in this direction is uniformity of currency,
but it will take some time to remove the shackles
which fetter the actions of nations in adjusting
their weights and measures to a uniform standard.
The barbarous origin of the English system can be
seen from the names by which weights and measures
are known. A stone, a nail, a foot, a band, a
fathom, a bide, a grain, all tell the expedients to
which our ancestors had recourse in computing
and regulating their barter. But they do not tell
this alone ; for our adherence to the barbarous cus-
toms of our progenitors is a proof of the tenacity
with which we cling to the customs we have inhe-
rited. This is absurdly illustrated by an incident
which
a occurred
oner ed
o among
enlightened a com-
munity public schools of Eng-
ofthe
Eng-
land. The Pall-Mall Gazette recently told a
story current among Winchester boys to the effect
that in old Dr. HUNGERFORD'S days the boys on the
foundation were not allowed potatoes as a portion
of the college diet. Oa representing the hardship
of the case to the Doctor, he replied that if it had
been good for the boys to have potatoes, they would
have been provided for, by the original founder of
suggested to him that
tpohetastcohesoowl.ereWnhoetnknit s
known in
England until the dis-
covery of America, he remarked that this entirely
altered the state of the case, and from that time
forth potatoes were permitted.

In the Isle of Man the copper coins were struck
on a standard peculiar to the Manx. Thirteen or
fourteen pence went to a shilling, and as the coin
was stamped with three legs, the arms of the
island, they were carried off as curiosities by
the visitors, depriving the people of their currency.
The difference in value gave rise to an incredible
amount of trouble in the simple transactions of
these primitive people, and it was found necessary
to adjust the standard to the English scale. When
this was attempted to be enforced, the Manx con-
ceived the idea they were being defrauded, and
serious riots resulted. From this incident the diffi-
culties may be imagined of effecting a change in
weights and measures, the scale, and the yard,
entering into every household arrangement, and
the whole economy of life. Though strongly im-
pressed with the magnitude of such a task as alter-
ing the weights and measures of a nation, and fore-
seeing therein the combined efforts of years of
labour and disappointment, we agree with the
Senator in hoping for the change, as well as in the
concluding remarks of his letter, and we end this
article with his own sentence, that such a result
would be of greater value than the usual employ-
ments of diplomatists and statesmen.
It will be seen elsewhere in our columns that the
Master of the Mint has been directed by the British
Government to attend the Conference, having asso-
ciated with him Mr. Wilson, of the Treasury, and
Mr. Graham. One of our Paris letters informs us
that the deliberations commenced on the 18th inst.,
under the presidency of Baron de Moustier, and
most of the countries of Europe as well as the
United States were represented.—Anglo-American
Times.