The Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii) 1840-1841, 1841-12-11
COINS, WEIGHTS, AND MEAS
1TRES
PROPOSED CHANGE IN WEIGHTS, MEAS
URES, AND MONEYS IN GREAT BRIT
AIN AND TIE UNITED STATES.

URES, AND MONEYS IN GREAT BRIT
AIN AND THE UNITED STATES.
1t may not be generally known, that a
body Of learned men in Great Britain
have been engaged for some years in the
Commission" of dvising more simple
and convenient system of weights, meas.
ures, and moneys; and as the question is
one of deep importance to our own coun.
try, it may not be amiss to prepare OUT
readers with few observations anticpa.
tory to the forthcoming "Report."
In two countries like Great Britain and
the United States, which stand first in
point of commerce in the known world, i,
can but be looked upon as reproach that
twenty-scven years of peace should have
been suffered to elapse without this great
desideratum having been accomplished,
except in some trivial particulars and
the more so, as France, had at the earlier
date of her Republic, proved to us its
practicability and advantages. The sub
]ect, however, presents so many embar-
easements for ingenuity to exercise itself
upon, that it is difficult to bring a body OF
mathematician to the same conclusion, in
consequence of their not being able to
agree to start from the same point. Ma
poleon, in the latter respect, was more ia
vo,ably circumstanced-for he was not
only cIear-headed mathematician him
self: and therefore capable of Judging of
the matter, but when he had come to a
conclusion, his power was sufficiently
strong to carry out his views without re-
sistance, even if his name had not been
enough to recommend them as inGallibe.
In England and this country, on the con-
trary, no government could pretend to the
despotic control, even if it possessed the
requisite attainments, necessary to origin
ate and enforce change. 1t is subject
alike out of the sphere of the legislatures
and executives, who are, therefore COM
PEELED to devOlve its consideration upon
some other competent deliberate body,
and, as to each member OF such body,
his own ideas naturally appear the most
simple and etficacious; years are con-
sumed in the work of mutual conversion,
before they can agree upon the basis
Wherein their superstructure of practical
calculations is to be raised.
There are many who think that any al
teration of established weights, measures,
or coins, must be injurious, whatever may
be the abstract merit of the proposed in
novaton; and there are others who doubt
the practicability of introducing any chan
ges without long period Of confusion,
and the conquest of a large force of re-
sistance. This may be true to certain
extent; but when shall we be better pre-
pared for a change? 1t can be nothing
more than trivial sacrifice on the part
of some of the present generation for the
benefit Of their successors. One thing,
however should be borne in mind, that is,
whatever system of weights and measures
Great Britain may choose to devise, it
will be highly important for us to adopt,
in consequence of the intimate connec-
ton of the commerce of the two countries.
In this respect, it is desirable that the fun
damentaD bases of the weights, measures,
and coins of all the countries with which
we have commercial intercourse, should
be the same but this could not be done
without producing, for long period, con-
fusion. injustice and error.
The great desderatum in establishing