Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-01-21
AYOIRDUPOlS AND TROY WEIGHTS.

In the Cheshire Republican we find letter
of inquiry relative to the difference between
Avoirdupois and Troy weights, addressed to
Joseph Perry, Esq, teacher of large expert
ence now residing in Keene, N. H., by ALoNzo
A. WARE of Swanzey. Mr. Ware writes:
81 am informed by friend, that, at school
examination in Winchester, short time since,
the question came up,-"Is the pound Avoirdu-
pois the same as the pound Troy" or "Will
pound of gold exactly balance pound Of feath-
ersP'-The Experimenting Committee were of
the opinion, that there was difference in the
absolute weights Of the pounds. The Teacher
of the school, not satisfied with the decision of
the Committee, carried the query to Mr.. L. +.
Ward, the noted principle of Powers Institute,
Bernardston, Mass, who decided that there was
no difference; that the pound Avoirdupois is
indentical in weight with the pound Troy, and
gave his answer in writing to that effect. When
Doctors disagree who shall decide? know of
no higher authority to refer a question than
Yourself. l will thank YOU very much to answer
this"
To this query Mr.. Perry responds as follows:
KEENE, Dec. 81, 1859.
ALoNZo A. WARE, Eso.--My Dear SIR
The standard weight of Great Britain and the
United States, is the GRAIN, which is ordered
by Act of Parliament, 5 George ", c. "A, to be
such that "a cubic inch of distilled water weigh
ed in the air by brass weights, at the tempera-
ture of 81 degrees of Fahrenhet's Thermometer
the Barometer being at 80 inches, is equal to
two hundred and fifty-two grains, and four hun
dred and fifty eight thousandth parts Of grain"
(252 45S). A pound Avoirdupois contains 1000
grains. The pound is subdivided into 16 oun-
ces, and the ounce, into 16 drains. The pound
Aroirdupois is greater than the pound Troy !;
the latter containing only 5160 grains. But
the Troy ounce, which contains the twelfth part
Of 5760, or 4S0 grains, is greater than the ounce
Avoirdupois, which contains the sixteenth part
of 1000, or 431 l-2 grains. The term Avoirdu-
pois, (Fr. signifying to hare ,ceighD occurs in
some orders of Henry VIII, A. d. 1882; and
Queen Elizabeth, in 1889, ordered pound of
this weight to be deposited in the Erchequer as
a standard
Two legal measures of weight were thus es-
tablished; the Aroirdupois weight being used
tor common purposes, and the Troy, for the
precious metals, and with different division by
Apothecaries, in compounding their drugs.
The pound, ounce, and grain in Apothecares'
and Troy weight are equal, but the ounce is
differently subdivided.
The standard of these measures was definite
ly fixed by the Act of Parliament passed on the
18th of June, 1924, chap. "A, George ", ent-
tied San Act for ascertaining and establishing
uniformity Of Weights and Measures" THAT
rom anu ai'er 'he ISL eay oi Nay, 1870, the
s'aiuaiu prass We,gnt Vi Pouhu Troy weight,
maue IN the year LOS, now IN the custody OF
lhe .lerk OF the Rouse OF Commons, snail be-
% ehI 'ne 'anie 70 neIeo3 ueciareu 10 oe 'he orig
iha, anu ee"diie s'anuaru measure oi we,ght;
anu 'nal sucn 9rass weigns shaii oe ana is mere
.! 1eho,niha'eu' inaPe'ta o'anoard iToyp0und;
anu shail oe, anu the same Is he,eoy declared
70 oe, 'se unit or oniy standard measure OF
Sesn', iioh WINCH al vi 'he weighls snaii oe
Ie1t'eu co., eo~Pu'ea ana aseersalnsd; ana Una.
i-i@ part oi the saiu Troy pouha small oe an
ounce; ana tnat i-2o part OF such ounce shall
oe Peu'y~e,ym' ana Ia part OF sucn pen
hyweient snail oe a grdmi SO that o'oo @ sucn
grams snah 1e a iloy Pouhui anu lhai 'oVo
such grams snail oe' ana tney are hereoy de-
ciareo 10 oe, Poa"d hpordupo's; ana that
i-io part oi such ounce shaii oe ardm'
IL ioiiows from TINS, that the welgnt OF the
pound Troy to that OF the pound Avoirdupois,
OF common ponnd' is IN the rauo OF o.oo 10
,ooo, or OF itf 10 10. l pound Avoirdupois
equa, 10 i'o,1if Troy pounds that is, l 10.
OF: ~ pvt. 10 gr, Troy. pound Troy OF OF
AP' Is e4uar 10 Ift-i 20 avs, Pouhus' that is' Id
oH; ~. III 10 ar h'oiruupois'
me retehuch Oh Two uinereht systems oi
welgnts, was, IN compliance with the common
usages OF the country; ana the motives winch
inhuenced the commissioners OF weights and
Measures In recommending the system, which
mas oeen adopted, INV were thus explained by Mr.
DAVIS uiioert; .Ihe Troy pound appeared to
us 70 oe the ancient weight ot TINS kingdom
having as we nave reason 10 suppose, existed III
the same state IN the time OF Edward, the Con-
iessor, ,oi,Miooo h.l;a anu 'nere are moreover