New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-17
WEIGHTS, MEURES. AND ASCOINS".No. 4.

There is very general disposition in the minds OF
men TO copcede great Importance to the opinions of
eminent or distinguished characters. But to attach
Importance to all that great man may cay, is mere
hero.worship. On the contrary, when such mans
position character talents whatever else has rem
dered him celebrated, gives him superior means Of
forming correct judgment of any matter, his opin-
ions, rightly Disseminated according to his own quail
ties, ought to have great weight
Nannceiieson was prominently popular man. The
masses of the people believed whatever else they be-
ieyed about HIM that he sought their good; and
i,bou the honest intention he could hardly have in
spired such general belief The extract heretofore
given from his auo.nemors clearly evinces the feel
ire which made him 60 popular, where he speaks OF
the Games tina. contributed to the unpopusrty Of the
Directory Indeed his whole history shows that tue
attachment of the masses to him, caused by MS ep
probation of and sympathy with them, was one OF Ms
great sources Of power and success. but tnougn IT,
nu,cd Of considerable scientific and literary attanments
though he adopted the dress and affected the society
~ the members Of the National Institute after his re-
turn from his Italian campaign, he was not known 10
have cultivated science for its own sake and bis fame
is in 10 degree based on anything OF 'cen''nc mo-
ture In fact his tastes and sympsthies were not WIN
the learned, but with the people, and his
practical talent would therefore be likely to make MN
good Judge of what would meet their wants ana SUI.
their convenience; but to the recondte causes Vi
things or "a TO the merits Of philosophers or tner 'e
cries his opinion is entitled to no special weight
has given his opinions the French system OF weights
and measures Montholon, chap. XII, and mas re's-
rated these opinions in still stronger form III MS i
perial decree, changing and remodellDg the system
established by the Directory. After commenting win
.everitv bu, without much discrimination on the a.-
tempt TO construct new system which shouid DC UNI,
ver.a and the perplexity caused BY the changes az
ten Pied, he goes on to say:
"Tbe ,orans conceived another idea, whSny un,
connected with the benefit Of the unity OF we,gnsS aIu
measures they adopted the decimal M IAN
inc the metre for unity, and suPPae,s 70 tha or-
numbers. Nothing can 90 more and The magma
80 The eIperience OF all ages had so
complety established the difficulty Oh o.viang
ia;cL, into a greater number Of parts than Twelve,
~ NV no,rfsr name had been gwen to each Oh
,hasa d;v.;ons II the twelfth OF an men were re-
on;red tbs onsrstion was already performed; was
The comnlex number called ipe. m tuo
Gvision 10 had been preferred 20 lne avson ~ PCS
cause 10 has but two factors, .I.t A..;,n, n,me
c'nr y;y. 4 and 6. It's true tnat decimal hume
o.a, VIZ ncrs1ed and exclusively adapted to the me,
iaon' 80. c. ;,;taes the labor OF astronomers and
.nSi.tnrs but these advantages are lar from com-
,;u ,bs dssdysntsge Of rendering thought more
difficult"
~. unnecessary to examine this extract minutey.
"a. a..o,;ns, are unsupported, and making due a.
r.,ce for the faults Of transIationl the language