NEW SYSTEM OF MEASURES, WEIGHTS, AND AMONEY; ENTITLED''TIE LINN-BASEi DECIMAI SYSTEM; AND DESIGNED FOR THE ADOPTION OF ALL CIVILIZED NATIONS, AS THE ONE COMMON SYSTEM. BY W. WILBERFORCE MANN. NEW YORK: UNIVERSITY PUBLISHING COMIPANY, 155 AND 157 CROSBY STREET. 1871. A NEW SYSTEM OF MEASURES, WEIGHTS, AND MONEY; ENTITLED THE LINN-BASE DECIMAL SYSTEM; AND DESIGNED FOR THE ADOPTION OF ALL CIVILIZED NATIONS, AS THE ONE COMMON SYSTEM. BY W. WILBERFORCE MANN. NEW YORK: UNIVERSITY PUBLISHING COMPANY, 155 AND 157 CROSBY STREET. 1871. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY W. WILBERFORCE MANN, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. JOS. J. LITTLE, ELECTROTYPER, STEREOTYPER, AND PRINTER, NEW YORK. THE LINN-BASE DECIMAL SYSTEM OF MEASURES, WEIGHTS, AND MONEY. THE base of the new system of measures and weights, here offered to the consideration of Science and Commerce, and to the statesmen and Governments of the World, is its unit of linear measure or measures of length. The one hundred millionth (100,000,000th) part of the quadrant of the earth's meridian, or the one hundred millionth part of the distance from the equator to the pole, is assumed as its unit of lineal measure. The justly celebrated and admirable "Metrical System" of France has previously taken for its standard the quadrant of the earth's meridian; and it establishes the metre-the ten millionth part of the quadrant —as its unit of lineal measure and base. The expediency of assuming the one hundred millionth, instead of the ten millionth part of the quadrant, as the unit of the new system, will, it is believed, become apparent in the sequel. This length of ten million metres, as the distance from the equator to the pole, was deduced from the great trigonometrical measurement of the meridian from Dunkirk to Barcelona, in 1806-7. From comparison of English standards with a copy of the metre in possession of the Royal Society, Capt. Kater found the length of the metre to be 39.37079 of the English standard (Phil. Trans., 1818). Mr. Bailly found the length of the metre to be 39.3696786 inches of the Royal Astronomical Society's scale (Mem. R. A. S., vol. ix. page 133); from 4 THE LINN-BASE DECIMAL SYSTEM. which, by reducing to the imperial standard, by the data given in the same memoir, the true length of the m8tre is 39.370091 inches of the imperial yard. It is one tenth of this ]ength3.9370091 inches of the British imperial yard-which has been fixed upon as the unit of lineal measure and base of the new system of decimal measures and weights here described, and from which all its calculations are deduced. NOMENCLATURE.-The nomenclature of the system has been invented with special regard to conditions of acceptability by all nations. The fitness and utility that would make names, throughout the system, indicate the nature of the thing named, were also borne in mind. The six units are calledLinn (Lat. linea, a line) unit of lineal measure, or of length. Arr (Lat. area, surface, area) unit of square measure, or of area. Soll (Lat. solidus, solid) unit of solid measure, or of volume. Capp (Lat. capacitas, capacity) unit of liquid and dry measure, or of capacity. Pondd (Lat. pondo, weight) unit of gravity, or of weights. lMonn (Lat. moneta, money, coin) unit of money. The unmistakeable cosmopolitan character of these names seems to fit them for general adoption. Neither by form nor origin do they point to any particular modern country. They can neither gratify nor wound the amour propre of any existing people. They are short, being all monosyllabic, and of easy utterance, beginning and ending with different letters, so that there can be no possible confusion among them, of sound. Throughout all the denominations, they are invariable, having no plural termination. We say: 1 linn, 25 linn-l pondd, 85 pondd. Moreover, these names, to the ear and to the mind, by sound, as by origin, are instantly suggestive of the thing signified. -Linn suggests lineal measure, and gives its name to the system. Arr suggests measures of area. Soll suggests solids; capp, capacity; pondd, weights; and monn, money. It should be especially noted, also, that in all the languages of Europe, very nearly the same pronunciation must be popularly given to these names of the units. By the ac NEW SYSTEM OF MEASURES, WEIGHTS, AND MONEY. 5 cepted rules of pronunciation, the sound of the words when uttered, cannot materially vary, wherever the letters of our language are used. But the final consonants must remain double, or grave variations of pronunciation will ensue. The value of the several units is as follows: LNNW, the 100,000,000th part of the quadrant of the earth's meridian. ARR, an area, or superficies of...................... 1 square linn. SOLL, a volume, or bulk of......................... 1 cubic linn. CAPP, a vessel whose capacity is of.................. 1 " " PONDD, the weight of distilled water................ 1 " MONN, a silver coin of the value of 5 francs. YTWe multiples and divisions or fractions of the units. All the multiples and fractions of the several units are decimal; and the denominations are formed by prefixing to the names.of the units Greek numerals, from one to ten, to designate the multiples, and Latin numerals, fromt one to six, to designate the fractions. But, in the formation of the denominations, the seventh and ninth numerals of the ascending series, or multiples, and thefItt'of the descending series, do not appear. The numerals areDECA (Gr. dExa, ten) tenth multiple............10,000,000,000 ENNA (Gr. Evv'c, nine) ninth "............1000,000,000 OCTA (Gr. Oxtrco, eight) eighth "...100,000,000 HEPTA (Gr. izrrd, seven) seventh"............ 10,000,000 HEXA (Gr. et, six) sixth "...........1000,000 PENTA (Gr. iz-re, five) fifth "............ 100,000 TETRA (Gr. rirtpa, four) fourth "............10,000 TRIA (Gr. rpiar, three) third "............1000 DUA (Gr. &do, two) second "............100 HENA (Gr. ev', one) first "..........10 Unit...............................................1 PRIMI (Lat. primi, first) first division..........-.. oBINI (Lat. bini, two) second "............ —. TErtNI (Lat. terni, three) third "............, -6so QUARTI (Lat. quarti, four) fourth "............ QuiNI (Lat. quini, five) fifth "...........1 SENI (Lat. seni, six) sixth "............ T o o-6 6 THE LINN-BASE DECIMAL SYSTEM.. In this system, the numerals employed do not-as in the French "Metrical System" —indicate the products resulting from multiplication of the units, nor the fractions resulting from their division; but they indicate the number and order of the several multiplications and divisions. To illustrate: myria, in the "Metrical System," expresses the multiple 10,000. In this system, tetra, the equivalent of myria, indicates the fourth decimal multiplication of the unit, producing, as is seen in the above table, the same multiple, 10,000. In the descending series, or divisions of the units, milli of the "Metrical System" expresses the one thousandth part of the unit. In this system, terni, the equivalent of milli, indicates the third decimal division of the unit, descending, as may be seen above, to its one thousandth part. The advantage of this plan of nomenclature, avoiding, as it does, the use of long, doubly and trebly compounded numerals in the higher and lower denominations, will appear as we proceed. But the numerals of the Linn-base System do really specify as distinctly, and, perhaps, more conveniently than those of the "Metrical System," the actual products and fractions resulting from the multiplications and divisions of the units, which form the denominations of the system. For, it will be noted in the above table that our numerals invariably specify the number of ciphers required, when placed after the unit, to express the fraction resulting from a division, and the product of a multiplication. Thus, tria, indicating the third multiplication of the unit, specifies also the number of ciphers required to express the product; to wit, three, composing the multiple 1000. Seni, of the other series, indicating the sixth decimal division of the unit, specifies also, in the manner described, as the result of that division, the fraction, the 1000,000"h part of the unit, expressed by six ciphers. So, dua specifies the multiple 100; and primi, the first division, specifies, by one cipher, W of the unit, as the fraction arrived at by the first division. In fact, for the use of Science (and the attention of scientific men is particularly invited to this feature of our nomenclature), the numerals of the system are not merely natural numbers. NEW SYSTEM OF MEASURES, WEIGHTS, AND MONEY. 7 They are logarithms, as well. They are the numerical exponents of a ratio. They form a series of numbers in arithmetical progression, susceptible of indefinite extension, and answering to another series of numbers in geometrical progression, also susceptible of indefinite extension. They are the logarithms of a system of logarithms whose base is 10. Thus: hena. dua. tria. tetra. penta. hexa. & rithmetical progression. 0. 1.2 3. 4 5. 6. &c. 1. 10 100. 1000. 10000. 100000. 1000000. &c. geometrical progression. Our numerals, treated as logarithms, offer to science unlim ited power of facile expression in the use of the Linn-base System. Its units may be raised by geometrical progression to any required power, which will be instantly indicated by the appropriate logarithm. The application of the logarithms for the multiplication of the units is illustrated in the Synoptical Comparative Table hereto annexed. But the rule in question applies no less to the submultiples, or divisions of the units, than to their multiples. In the monetary department of this system, logarithms, applied to the very large amounts prevalent nowa-days in the budgets and treasury reports of all. nations, afford facilities that can hardly fail to be appreciated. The sum of one hundred million Monn, which, in natural numbers, must be expressed by eight ciphers after unit, is announced under the Linn-base Decimal System, by either of three short forms. It may be written octaronn, or more shortly, Monn8, or simply J8. Decanlon, or Monn 0, or Ml, signifies ten thousand million (10,000,000,000) Monn; Monnl1, or Ml', one hundred thousand million; the numeral logarithm annexed to Monn, always indicating the number of ciphers required after unit to express the sum in natural numbers. 8 THE LINN-BASE DECIMAL SYSTEM. DENOMINATIONS. LINEAL, OR LONG AIEASURE —UNIT LINN. DENOMINAENOINA-S. VALUE LINN. AMIERICAN AND ENGLISH EQUIVALENTS. FRENCH. Octalinn.... 100,000,000 6213.713857 British statute miles. Pentalinn.. 100,000 6.2137 miles. myriamktre. Tetralinn... 10,000 0.62 mile = 1093.613639 yards. kilometre. Dualinn.... 100 10.936 British imperial yards. decametre. Henalinn... 10 1.0936 yards = 39.37 inches. mltre. LINN....... 1 3.9370091 inches of imperial yard. decimktre. Primilinn... a~ 0.3937 inch. centimentre. Binilinn.... -o 0.039370091 inch. millim tre. 10 binilinn (bnL) make 1 primilinn 10 primilinn (pmL) " 1 linn 10 linn (L) " 1 henalinn 10 henalinn (hL) " 1 dualinn 100 dualinn (dL) " 1 tetralina 10 tetralinn (tL) " 1 pentalinn 1000 pentahinn (pL) " 1 octalinn (oL) The henalinn, divided into linn and primilinn (tenths and hundredths), would serve in commerce as our yard. The tetralinn and dualinn would be the common itinerary measure, as we now use the mile and yard. Perhaps, as distances in the United States are so great, it would prove more convenient there to take the pentalinn as the usual measure of itinerary distance. The dualinn, double dualinn, and demidualinn would be used-as are their equivalents in Francefor surveyors' chains, each link having the length of two linn. The octalinn is given for the rendering of immense astronomical distances and other scientific uses. For such purposes, it is far more convenient and appropriate than any of the infinite variety of leagues and miles in common use all over the world, or than the French myriametre. Astronomical distances are so great, that they are quite inconceivable when expressed in miles; but the octalinn would promptly convey to the popular mind, and to intelligent youth, a definite and correct idea of NEW SYSTEM OF MEASURES, WEIGHTS, AND MONEY. 9 many of them, for it will be remarked that the octalinn has precisely the length of the standard-base of this new system of measures. It is the quadrant of the earth's meridian-one aumndred million linn —the distance from the equator to the poleexactly one fourth of the circumference of the earth. It is fitting, then, that the octalinn should be accepted as the measure of astronomical distances. DENOMINATIONS. MEASURES OF SUPERFICIES, OR SQUARE MEASURE-UNIT ARR. DENOMINA- VALUE ARR. AMERICAN AND ENGLISH EQUIVALENTS. FRENCH. TIONS. Decarr... 10,000,000,000 38.6102399 square miles. Octarr.... 100,000,000 0.3861 sq. mile = 247.1 acres. Hexarr... 1000,000 2.47105535364 acres. hectare. Tetrarr... 10,000 0.0247 acre = 119.519 sq. yards. ARE. Duarr.... 100 1.195990791164 square yards. centiare. ARR..... 1 0.10763917120474 square feet. Biniarr... Tlo 0.1550004065348281 square inch. Quartiarr. rT-oh 0.001550004 sq. inch = sq. binilinn. 100 quartiarr (qA) make 1 biniarr 100 biniarr (bA) " 1 ARR 100 ARR (A) " 1 duarr 100 duarr (dA) " 1 tetrarr 100 tetrarr (tA) " 1 hexarr 100 hexarr (hA) " 1 octarr 100 octarr (oA) " 1 dclecarr The decarr will serve to measure the area of continents, States, provinces, and all very large tracts of territory, more conveniently than the irregular vague quantities known as;' square leagues," and " square miles," of which nearly all countries have their own, differing from others. The decarr is one square pentalinn. For other less extensive yet large bodies of land, the octarr-one square tetralinn-may be employed. The hexarr, tetrarr, and duarr-equivalents of the Frenchb 10 THE LINN-BASE DECIMAL SYSTEM. hectare, are, and centiare —would be used, as the acre. with us, for measuring smaller bodies of land, farms, lots, etc. The French "Metrical System" is defective, and unfit for adoption as the universal system, in that it makes no provision for the measurement of area or surface, over the hexarr, nor under the duarr. It simply provides very limited agrarian measure; whereas the Linn-base System provides for the measure of all area, from that of a pin's head to a continent, the decarr containing thirty-eight and a half square miles, and the quartiarr, one square binilinn. The decarr is the equivalent of 1 square myriamdtre of the French system; and the quartiarr, of 1 square millimetre. DENOMINATIONS. MEASURES OF VOLUME, OR OF SOLIDS-UNIT SOLL. DENOMINA- VALUE TDENOINA- SoLLU ENGLISH AND AMERICAN EQUIVALENTS. FRENCH. TIONS. SOLL. Octasoll.... 100,000,000 130,795.184 cubic yards. Hexasoll... 1000,000 1307.95. cc Tetrasoll... 10,000 2.759 cords = 13.0795 cubic yards. decastere. Duasoll.... 100 3.5314699712460514851 cubic feet. decistere. SOLL...... 1 61.0238011031317696635 cubic inches. Binisoll.... to 0.61 cubic inch. Quartisoll.. rTlon 0.0061 cubic inch. Senisoll.... T1 JiT 0.000061 cubic inch = cubic binilinn. 100 senisoll (sS) make 1 quartisoll 100 quartisoll (qS) " 1 binisoll 100 binisoll (bS) " 1 SOLL 100 SOLL (S) " 1 duasoll 100 duasoll (dS) " 1 tetrasoll 100 tetrasoll (tS) " 1 hexasoll 100 hexasoll (hS) " 1 octasoll (oS) The department of the French "Metrical System" corre. sponding with this, is, like the last, (square measure), very shortcoming. It is not worthy to be accepted in a general NEW SYSTEM OF MEASURES, WEIGHTS, AND MONEY. 11 system, as affording a satisfactory measure of solids. It affords simply-and was so intended-a measure of firewood. The Linn-base Decimal System, in its department of solid measures, completely supplies the desideratum; affording denominations which cover all bulks, from the cubic binilinn to 100,000,000 cubic linn-from sixty-one millionth parts of a cubic inch (cubic millime'tre), to hundreds of thousands cubic yards. In fact, the French system lacks the power to express our highest and lowest denominations, except by terms of impossible acceptance. For instance: Its equivalent of our quartiarr would be centi-milli-milliare; and of our decarr, hecto-myriare. Our senisoll would be found in milli-milli-millist~re; and our octasoll, in deca-myriastlre. Our octalinn would be recognized in kilo-myriamltre. It is thus demonstrated that the French nomenclature will not suffice for a complete metrical system. Indeed, it confesses its own insufficiency, and gives up in despair, by retaining the old style of "tonneau" rather than accept the systematic denomination of hecto-myriagramme; and by calling its weight of 100 kilogrammes, Quintal IMtrique, instead of deca-myriagramme. 12 THE LINN-BASE DECIM&L SYSTEM. DENOMINATIONS. MEASURES OF CAPACITY-LIQUID AND DRY MEASURE-UNIT CAPP. DENOMINA- VALUE TIONS.A- VALUE BRITISH AND AMERICAN EQUIVALENTS. FRENCH. Triacapp.. 1000 220.08 gal. = 27.51 bushels = 1.048 tuns. kilolitre. Duacapp.. 100 2.751 bushels = 22.008 imperial gallons. hectolitre. CAPP... 1 1.76068 pints = 0.88 quart. LITRE. Binicapp.. IT- 0.0176068 pint. centilitre. Ternicapp. Tr- 0U 0.00176 pint = 1 cubic primilinn. Senicapp.. T v-6U[to 0.00000176 pint. 1000 senicapp (sC) make 1 ternicapp 10 ternicapp (tnC) " 1 binicapp 100 binicapp (bC) " 1 CAPP 100 CAPP (C) " 1 duacapp 10 duacapp (dC) " 1 triacapp (tC) Liquid and Dry Measures of capacity in common use, would be as below: MEASURES OF AMERICAN AND ENGLISH EQUIVALENTS. FRENCH. 100 CAPP 22.008 gallons = 2.751 bushels............ 1 hectolitre. 50 " 11.004 " = 1.3755 " 5 d6calitres. 20 " 4.4016 " = 0.54 " = 2.2 pecks. 2 " 10 " 8.80339 quarts=1.10 pecks=17.6 pints. 1 " 5 " 4.4 " =0.55 " =8.8 " 5 LITRES. 2 " 1.760678638 " =3.52136 " 2 " 1 " 0.880339319 " =1.76068 " " 50 binicapp 0.44 " =0.88 " 5 decilitres. 25 " 0.44 pints............................ 2.5 " 10 " 0.176 "......... 1 " 5 " 0.088 "............................ 5 centilitres. 2 " 0.0352 "............................ 2 " 1 " 0.0176 "............................ 1 5 ternicapp 0.0088 "............................ 5 millilitres. 2 " 0.00352 "............................2 " 1 " 0.00176 "............................ 1 " 1.25. 50. 75. 100. 250. 500. 750 senicapp. Measures of 10, 20, 50, and 100 capp, made of wood, are used in French dry measure, as we use the bushel, half-bushel, peck, etc. NEW SYSTEM OF MEASURES, WEIGHTS, AND MONEY. 13 A metrical system which aims at completeness, and seeks universal adoption-which would satisfy all needs, and meet all reasonable requirements-which descends, in its measures of area, to the minute quartiarr, and of volume, to the almost atomic senisoll, must not fail to commence its series of practical measures of capacity, by vessels of which the content shall be of one cubic binilinn and one cubic primilinn. These are quite appreciable and measurable quantities. It is time to have done, in scientific parlance, with those inexact, uncertain expressions, so common in pharmacy, and in the practice of medicine, teaspoonful, table-spoonful, and drops, unless indeed-which is much- to be desired-the several sizes of spoons were modeled, by common consent of manufacturers, upon well-known systematic quantities. This idea would, probably, soon be realized, if a metrical system providing such quantities, were generally adopted by the nations. It is one of the characteristics of the Linn-base Decimal System, recommending it particularly to the acceptance of scientific men, and to general adoption, that the several parts bear a far more direct and simple and scientific relation to the base, and to each other, than obtains in the "Metrical System" of France. Each unit being immediately derived from the baselinn itself, and not from a multiple, or from a firaction of itthe soll and capp and pondd being cubes of the linn, and the arr, its square,-there results, for the whole, a seemly and practically useful harmony, which is wanting in the metrical system. In the last-named system, the are is the square of a decamltre; the litre is the cube of a ddcimetre; the gramme is the cube of a centimertre, and the stere alone, comes immediately from the m~tre itself, being its cube. From this variety springs a confusion, in reference to the XMltne, of the numerals employed to form the several denominations, —a confusion which is distracting to most minds, and which mars the beauty of the system, as a whole. The harmony referred to, and the parallelism of the several departments, and the absence of those qualities in the French system, are made apparent to the eye, as well as to the mind, by inspection of the Synoptical Comrn 14 THE LINN-BASE DECIMAL SYSTEM. parative Table hereto annexed. In that Table is exhibited the relation of all the parts to the base-linn, and to each other; and then, the metre, with the " Metrical System" beside it, being placed in juxtaposition, and in proper relation to the Linn, th}e relation of the several parts of the Metrical System to its base-metre is seen, and the two systems compared. This harmony has been spoken of as not only seemly, but practically useful. In proof, be it remarked, that it puts to every man's hand, and in the possession of every family, for domestic purposes, a ready, convenient, and perfectly simple substitute for any of the regular systematic weights or measures —a substitute, not of scientific exactness, but very nearly equivalent, sufficiently so, for all ordinary purposes. In a 1 capp measure of common water, we have the equivalent of a 1 pondd weight. In 3, 4, 15, 50, 100 capp of water, we have the equivalents of 3, 4, 15, 50, 100 pondd of weight. One binicapp of water is equivalent to 1 binipondd of weight. And so of all the systematic measures of capacity, from the I binicapp to the triacapp-from one third of an ounce to 2200 pounds. Any of the measures, filled with water, supplies the weight of its numerically corresponding pondd. Indeed, it will be only necessary to know the contents in capp, of any vase, can, barrel, hogshead, or reservoir containing liquids, to tell instantly, with fair approach to accuracy, its actual weight in pondd, by the simple mental substitution of "pondd" for "capp." And vice versd, if a capp or binicapp-measure be wanting, weigh in any other vessel, a pondd, or a binipondd of water, and you have the content desired. It is urged against a decimal system of measures and weights, that it "has been found, in practice, unsuited to the purposes of retail traffic, to which, in fact, only a binary system, or the division of the unit into halves and quarters seems applicable." Now, it is asked, in all seriousness, if with any candor, or justice, or common sense, such objection can lie against the Linn-Base Decimal System here described? All of its unitsmeasures and weights to be upon all counters, and daily used in " retail traffic," are divided into hundredths. Is it not just NEW SYSTEM OF MEASURES, WEIGHTS, AND MONEY. 15 as easy, we demand, and just as convenient to ask for, to give, and to receive seventy-five prirnilinn of calico, as "three quarters of a henalinn" of that fabric? Is it not just as easy and convenient to ask for, to give, and to receive twenty-five binipondd of sugar, as "a quarter of a pondd" of the article? or fifty binicapp of milk, as "half a capp?" Why, these terms, for all possible " purposes of retail traffic," practical and theoretical, are respectively equivalent. Tlhese objectors to decimal systems for "retail traffic" forget, or are not aware of this mode, (by division of units into hundredths), of rendering decimal systems "binary." DENOMINATIONS. MEASURES OF GRAVITY —WEIGHTS-UNIT PONDD. DENOIINA- VALUE TIONS. PONDD. ENGLISH AND AMERICAN EQUIVALENTS. FRENCH. Triapondd.. 1000 2204.8571428 lbs. av.d.p.=0.984 ton. Tonneau. Duapondd.. 100 1.9686 cwt.=220.48 lbs. avoirdupois. { Quintal Mitrique. PONDD..... 1 15434 troy grs.=2.679513888 troy lbs. kilogramme. Binipondd. lTi 0.321541 troy oz. =0.352777 oz. av.d.p. decagramme. Quartipondd _TTO 0.07717 scruple=-1.5434 grains. decigramme. Senipondd...vL-ouo~ 0.015434 grains=1 cubic binilinn. milligramme. 100 senipondd (sP) make 1 quartipondd 100 quartipondd (qP) " 1 binipondd 100 binipondd (bP) " 1 PONDD 100 PONDD (P) " 1 duapondd 10 duapondd (dP) " 1 triapondd (tP) This system employs but four denominations of practical weights, as seen in the following category; yet it affords greater facilities, and is no less comprehensive, than the "Metrical System," which employs eight denominations, nor than the English and American systems, which, with their troy, avoirdupois, and apothecaries' weights, count thirteen denominations. 16 THE LINN-BASE DECIMAL SYSTEM. The Weights, to be used under this system, are as follows: NUMBER AND DENOMINATIONS OF WEIGHTS USED IN THE LINN-BASE DECIMAL SYSTEM. NO. DENOMINATIONS. AME.WICAN AND BRITISH EQUIVALENTS. FRENCH. one of 75 pondd 200.9635 lbs. troy=165.364275 lbs. av.d.p... 7.5 myriagrammes. one " 50 " 1:33.97569 lbs. troy=110.24285 lbs. av.d.p.... 5 one" 20 53.59 lbs. troy.............................. 2 " two 10 " 22.048571 lbs. avoirdupois..................1 "s one 5 11.024 lbs. av.d.p. = 13.4 lbs. troy....... 5 kilogrammes. two" 2 4.4 Ibs. = 5.3.5 lbs........ 2 two" 1 " 2.2 lbs. " = 2.6795 lbs. "....... 1 one" 75 binipondd 1.65 lbs. " = 2.0096 lbs. ".......7.5 hectogrammes. one 50 1.1 lbs. " = 1.33975 lbs. ".......5 one 20 " 0.44 lbs. " = 0.5359 lbs. ".......2 two 10 " 0.22 lbs. " =0.26795 lbs. "...... 1 one" 5 0.11 lbs. " = 1.6077 ounce troy..... 5 decagrammes. two" 2 " 308.68 grains = 0.643 ounce troy...... " two " 2.57 drachrns = 154.34 grains...... 1 oiie " 75 quartipondd 115.755 grains - 1.929 drachms.........5 GRAMMES. one 50 7" 7.17 = 1.286 drachms.........,5 one 20 30.868 " = 1.5434 scruples........2 two "10 " 15.434' = 0.7717 ".........1 " one " 5 " 7.717 " = 0.38585 ".... 5 dcigramme. two " 2 " 3.0868 " = 0.15434 "........2 two" 1 " 1.5434 " = 0.07717 "..... 1 one 75 senipondd 1.15755 =.............. 7.5 centigrammes. one 50 0.7717 " = 0.03858 ".........5 one "20 " 0.30868 ".............. 2 two " 10 " 0.15434 " = 0.007717".........I 1 one "1 5 " 0.07717............................ 5 milligrammes. two " 2 " 0.0308........................... 2 two " 1 " 0.015434'"........................... 1 All the above weights have their exact equivalents in the usual French system, except the 75S. But these last will be found convenient, and almost necessary for ready combination in the higher tens. NEW SYSTEM. OF MEASURES, WEIGHTS, AND MONEY. 17 MONEY. UNIT —MONN. DENOMINATIONS. VALUE. AMERICAN. BRITISH. FRENCH. Monn. $. c. m.;E~ s. d. rFs c. Henamonn.... 10 9.35. 2.0.4.5 50.00. Monn......... 0.93.5 4.0.45 5.00. Centt......... 0.9.35 0.4845 05. Mill.......... ro6 0.935.04845 0.5 10 mill (m) make 1 centt (c) 100 centt " 1 MoNN (M) 10 Mo i " 1 Henamonn (hM) COINS TO BE USED UNDER THIS SYSTEM. DENOMINATIONS. VALUE. Gold. M. c. m. c. rn. ~.. d. Frs. c. Double-Henamonn.. 20. 00.0 18.70.0 4.0.9. 100.00 Henamonn........ 10. 9.35. 2.4.5. 50. Demi-Henarmonn.... 5. 4.67.5 1.0.2.25 25. Silver. Monn.............. 1 93.5.4.0.45 5. 50 centt.............50. 46.7.5.2.0.225 2.50 25 centt............ 25. 23.3.75.1.0.1125 1.25 10 centt............ 10 9.3.50 4.845.50 5 centt............ 05. 4.6.75 2.4225.25 Copper. 2 centt.............02. 1.8.7.969.10 1 centt............ 01. 9.350.4845.05 5 mill............. 0.5 4.675.24225.02.5 In order to familiarize the people promptly as possible with the new system, and for their real convenience too, in that it would enable them, in emergencies, to establish and verify its weights and measures, the diameter and weight of coins-particularly of the silver and copper coins-should be stamped upon one of their faces; and a graduated line, divided into binilinn, drawn through the centre. By these means, in con2 18 THE LINN-BASE DECIMAL SYSTEM. nection with the use of the capp and binicapp, as above described-and when the reformation of spoons, as previously suggested, shall be effected-it would not be long after the adoption of the system, ere every family in Christendom, without any special effort to that end, and without a teacher, might become perfectly acquainted with the theory of the system, and able to extemporize for prompt daily use, in town and country, in hut and palace, in the workshop, in the kitchen, in the parlor, its three practical units, the linn, capp, and pondd, with their multiples and fractions. Indeed, a single centt, if stamped as recommended, could, in case of need, supply all of three units. Its diameter would establish the linn. Its weight would give the pondd. The pondd and a mug of water would establish the capp. It will be observed that the Linn-Base system adopts the French money, without other change than that of name, and the substitution of the five-franc piece, instead of the franc, as the monetary unit. This is done, not because the sum of five francs is deemed positively the best, and most suitable value for a monetary unit; nor because it is believed to possess any advantage over the American dollar, entitling it to the post of honor. It has no such advantage. Indeed, the dollar is preferable, in that it is slightly superior in value; and possessing, equally with the French coin, the decimal character, it has, moreover, the incontestible and very important advantage of being already universally and favorably known in the world's commerce, as the monetary unit of one of the leading commercial powers. Its adoption, therefore, would subject commerce and peoples to comparatively little disturbance and difficulty. But the concurrence of France in the projected reformation is very desirable. The painful throes of recentlyaccomplished reform within her own limits, are but just subsiding; and she would very naturally recoil from their renewal soon, or at all. Her "Metrical System" is admirable and glorious. The world is daily according to her the praise due to its achievement. It constitutes the first great step in the path of much-needed reform; and will never be forgotten by an NEW SYSTEM OF MEASURES, WEIGHTS, AND MONEY. 19 admiring and grateful world. But the system is imperfect in its very design; and is incapable of being made suitable for adoption by the nations, as the one, common, satisfactory system. Its monetary department, if not positively the best that could be devised, is very good; and, with the changes proposed, might become acceptable in a general system of measures, weights, and money. It has, therefore, been adopted and incorporated into the Linn-Base System in the hope, if the Linn-Base System should find favor with the world, and be deemed suitable for general acceptance, as the common system, that France may be induced, by this concession in her favor, to join the family of nations in its adoption; and again to meet, for her own ultimate good, and the convenience of the world, the just quieted troubles incident to such change. But if-other nations being disposed to accept the new system-France should positively refuse her concurrence, then, it would be advisable, in order to disturb the world's commerce, and the interior life of nations, as little as possible, to reject the five-franc piece, and assume the American dollar as the Inonetary unit. Or, let the nations, persevere in the efforts now being made to find some other more convenient and acceptable unit of money than the American dollar; and applying to it, when found, the names and other suggestions herein proposed, incorporate it into the Linn-Base System of measures and weights. A word, in conclusion, touching the exact scientific length of the standard-base of this new system. It is now well known, and generally admitted, that the distance of ten million metres, found by the trigonometrical measurement of 1806-7 as the distance from the equator to the pole, is a little too short. Bissel fbund it too short by 935 yards; Puissant, by 1411 yards; Chazallon, by 1958 yards. The great surveys in India (1832-42) also present slightly varying results. If any system of measures and weights, founded upon the measurement of an arc of the earth's meridian, be adopted by the nations, the error above signalized, whatever it be, should be ascertained as exactly as possible, and formally corrected. It is certain, 20 THE LINN-BASE DECIMAL SYSTEM. in advance, that the error would amount to nothing in its application to the measures and weights of commerce. The difference to be ascertained is so slight as to be quite inappreciable as affecting the length of the Linn. But for theoretic and scientific uses-astronomical and other-to say nothing of the honor of science-the length of the Octalinn should be determined with the utmost precision to which science can attain. SYNOPSIS OF THE LINN-BASE DECIMAL SYSTEM. UNIT OF LINEAL MEASURE. LINN. (The 100,000,000th part of the quadrant of the earth's meridian.) Mleasures. Units. Value. Length unit Linn = 3.93700910 inches of imperial yard. Area " Arr = 1 square linn = 15.5000406535 square inches. Solids " Soll = 1 cubic linn = 61.023801103 cubic inches. Capacity " Capp = 1 cubic linn = 1.7606 pints imp. gallon. Weight " Pondd = 1 cubic linn = 2.6795 troy pounds. Money " Monn = 5 francs. LENGTH. AREA. SOLIDS. CAPA CITY. WEIGHT. MONEY. Decarr Decamonn Octalinn Octarr Octasoll Hexarr Hexasoll Hexamonn Pentalinn Tetralinn Tetrarr Tetrasoll Triacapp Triapondd Dualinn Duarr Duasoll Duacapp Duapondd Henalinn Henamonn LINN ARR SOLL CAPP PONDD MONN Primilinn Binilinn Biniarr Binisoll Binicapp Binipondd centt mill Quartiarr Quartisoll Quarticapp Quartipondd Senisoll Senicapp Seniponldd It would perhaps be well to suppress the ternicapp, and add the quarticapp; making the denominations of the Capp and Pondd correspond throughout, as in the above synopsis.