Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-07-17
ENGLIsII pAiiLIAMENr.
aorsE OF Lonns, Nay 7.

I GItOtLlSil iAiS1IiA1Bl1&N l..
HOUSE or Lonps, Nay z.
Weights and pleasures. -0n the ORDER
Of the day for the second reading OF the
weights and measures bill:
Earl Stnuhopc at some length entered
into the provisions OF the bill, which he
considered as wholly ineffective with re-
gard to the object in view. He read ex-
tracts Of letter from DR.. Hutton, con-
demning the bill az unscientiic, and as
calculated to create CONFUSION aud excite
commotisn, By changing weights and mea
sures without any adequate good being
produced, lie went on to examine the
different clauses of the bill, for The Eur-
pose of shelving that they were not found
ed in that scientific kEoHlcge which was
essentially necessary toleeislation upon the
scbiect, particularly with regard to the
pendulun, AS to the vibrations of which
there was al entire mistake, from not at
tending to The nature Of the moving power
He also instanccd several absurdities III
the bill, particularly with tegard to having
weights vi gold or silver under five pounds,
which would of course be continually lla-
BILE to be stolen, and TO establishing ffacti-
| enable parts, where, from the great weight,
| such fractional parts could not turn the
scale. There was also clause. contiuu
ing the authority of a public Office in West
Minister for stamping weights, although it
was proved before the committee, that this
Office stamped weights without ever weigh
| ing them and yeee in another clause oil the
. hill, the very act under which this Office
derived authority was repealed. He, al
ter variety of remarks, maintaining the
superior accuracy OF the French standard,
and printing out the absnrdity and the ui-
ter want of science which were manifest
in the present. bill. moved that the bill be
read secnna time this day six months.
| Lord discount .lietviie would not OPP
pose the motion Of the noble earl, being OF
opinion that there was not sufficient inior-
nation at present to justify legislative
measnre but he strongly urged the ncces-
sity of resorting, with as little delay as
| possible, to some standard, by which that
want Of uniformity in weights and mea-
surcs, that at present produced SO much
| Inconvenience and SO many eyils, Should
be obtained
The Marquis Of Lansdo,0he agreed III
| the necessity there was for some measure
upon this subject, founded upon correct
data, and suggested that the best mode
! would be to address the crown, TO appoint
a commission, consisting of men. eminent
in science, who should make report upon
the best and most scientific means Of abvi.
ating the evil.
After some explanation, the motion was
agreed to, and the bill lost.
LoyDox, May 18.
The six frigates with troops, which late
| ly sailed for the West Indies from Ports
mouth, it is supposed are bound to Provi.
dence, where, we Understand serious
commotion has arisen among tbs Black
troops.
Some Dutch and German papers arrived
yesterday. The Emperor Alexander has
! published declaration, which completely
! refutes every suspicion, that tire late ALI
ance Of the three great Continental Courts
is directed against the Ottoman Porte. His
Majesty hgaiD announces, that it has no
other object than to found the happiness
Of States, and to conform to the Christian
sentiments Of peace, concord and beneyo-
lence.
Her majesty held grand Nuptial Draw
ling Room, on the 10th for the purpose of
receiving the congratulations Of the uobil-
lily and foreign ministers, on the auspicio0s
marriage Of her Royal Highness the PIN
cess Charlotte. The sssemblage was un-
commonly numerous, and the parties
dressed in all the sPleudsr Of their rsspec-
Tive srjers,