THE
METRIC SYSTEM
OF
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE CONVOCATION OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,
AT ALBANY, AUGUST 1, 1871
BY FREDERICK A. P. BARNARD, S. T. D., LL. D.,
President of Columbia College, New York City,
MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES; AND OF THE AMERICAN PHIL0SOHICAL
SOCIETY, PHILADELPHIA; ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND
SOCIETY, BOSTON; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF
SCIENCES OF LIEGE, BELGIUM, &C., &C.
REVISED EDITION
PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE
NEW YORK
1872
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THE METRIC SYSTEM OF WEIGHT AND MEASURES
PREFACE
On the eighth day of August, 1866, the Convocation of the University of the State of New York,
being then in session at Albany, was addressed by the Hon. John A. Kasson, a member of the House of
Representatives of the Congress of the United States from Iowa, and Chairman of a Committee of that
body appointed to consider the possibility of securing a uniform system of Coinage, Weights and
Measures for all nations. Congress had then recently (July 27th, 1866), passed an act legalizing the use
of the metrological system known as "The Metric System of Weights and Measures," in all business
transactions in the United States; and, two years earlier, a similar act had passed the British Parliament.
It was known that the system had met with large acceptance on the continent of Europe, and also in the
greater portion of the American continent south of our own territory; and it was also known that the use
of this system was becoming more extended every year.
The aim and hope of Mr. Kasson had been that he might enlist the large body of enlightened
educators forming the University Convocation, in an active effort to advance the cause of metrological
reform in our country, by diffusing among the people information in regard to the Metric System; by
pointing out the merits of this system; and by meeting the objections with which the proposition to
naturalize it here, like every other threatened innovation upon established usages, however in its own
nature desirable or prospectively beneficent, is sure to be encountered. And the appearances at the time
were certainly favorable to the fulfillment of this hope; for the address of the honorable gentleman was
received with evident marks of approval.
A committee was accordingly appointed, charged with the duty of reporting on the subject to
the Convocation at a future meeting. This committee consisted of the Hon John. V. L. Pruyn, LL.D.
(Chancellor of the University), Charles Davies, LL.D., Professor Emeritus of the Higher Mathematics
in Columbia College, and Robert S. Hale, LL.D., one of the Regents of the University. Prof. Davies,
who was charged with the preparation of the report, states that it originally "seemed to be the
unanimous opinion of the committee that a report would be made favorable to the introduction of the
[metric] system into general use;" but that reflection and inquiry led to a modification of views,
especially on his own part; and that the conclusion was reached that the Convocation should not
"commit itself hastily to the great and radical changes which the introduction of the metric system
would occasion." It was not, therefore, until after three years of deliberation, that the committee
presented their report; and the report then made, which is said to have been partial, was apparently oral.
This committee — was thereupon discharged, and a new one appointed, consisting of Prof.
Davies, Regent Hale, and Prof. James B., LL.D. It is stated in the preface to the final report, that Prof.
Thomson did not act with the committee. The report of this reconstructed committee was presented to
the Convocation at the session of August 1870. It consisted mainly in an argument to demonstrate the
inexpedience and impracticability of introducing the Metric System of Weights and Measures into the
United States. By order of the Convocation this report was published and extensively circulated.
The Trustees and Faculty of the College with which the chairman of the Committee held
formerly an official, and holds still an honorary, connection, have for some years been upon the record
as advocates of legislation by the Congress of the United States, favorable to the unification of the
Moneys, Weights and Measures of the world. In their view, the object desired, so far as it regards
Weights and Measures, is most likely to be secured through the universal acceptance of a metrological
system which is already generally received; and that is the Metric System. To them it appeared that the
publication of a report prepared by a gentleman in nominal connection with them, maintaining an
opposite opinion, was likely to produce an erroneous impression in the public mind in regard to their
own position. At a meeting therefore of the Trustees, held on the first day of May, 1871, a resolution
was adopted, on motion of the Hon. Samuel Blatchford, LL.D., Judge of the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York, requesting the President of the College to attend the
meeting of the Convocation to be held in the August next ensuing, and to state to that body how far the
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THE METRIC SYSTEM OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
views set forth in the report of the committee above referred to are in harmony with those entertained
by the Faculty of the College.
It was in obedience to this resolution that the address contained in the following pages was
prepared. The address was listened to with evidently interested attention by the Convocation; and, by
the courtesy of the Regents of the University, it was immediately published, in advance of the report of
the Proceedings of the Convocation, in pamphlet form. Some copies of this publication having been
laid before the Trustees of Columbia College at a meeting held on the second day of October, 1871, it
was, on motion of Judge Blatchford, resolved, that a revised edition of one thousand copies be printed
for general circulation. In the present edition, issued in conformity with this order, some slight
modifications have been made in the original text; and some additional information presumably of
interest has been appended in the form of notes.
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