OF MONEY, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES. TABLES OF MONEY.* * 2 Farthings=1 Halfpenny grs. 4 Farthings=1 Penny d. d 4 = 1 S. * £ denotes pounds, s. shillings, and d. denotes pence. denotes 1 farthing, or one quarter of any thing. denotes a halfpenny, or the half of any thing. denotes 3 farthings, or three quarters of any thing. The full weight and value of the English gold and silver coin, both old and new, are subjoined. The usual value of gold is nearly 41. an ounce, or 2d. a grain: and that of silver is nearly 5s. an ounce. Also the value of any quantity of gold, was to the value of the same weight of standard silver, as 15 to 1, in the old coin; but in the new coin they are as 14 to 1. Pure gold, free from mixture with other metals, usually called fine gold, is of so pure a nature, that it will endure the fire without wasting, though it be kept continually melted. But silver, not having the purity of gold, will not endure the fire like it: yet fine silver will waste but a very little by being in the fire any moderate time; whereas copper, tin, lead, &c. will not only waste, but may be calcined, or burnt to a powder. In England the standard for gold and silver coin has been for a long time 22 parts of fine gold, and 2 parts of copper; and 11 ounces and 2 pennyweights of fine silver, and 18 pennyweights of copper, are esteemed the true standard for silver coin. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, Agreeably to the Act of Uniformity, which took effect 1st January, 1826. The term MEASURE is the more comprehensive of the two, and it is distinguished into six kinds, viz. :— Measure of, 1. Length. 3. Solidity, or Capacity. 4. Force of Gravity, or what is commonly called Weight. 5. Angles. 6. Time. The several denominations of these Measures have reference to certain standards, which are entirely arbitrary, and consequently vary among different nations. In this kingdóm The standard of Length is a Yard. Surface is a Square Yard, the 40 of an Acre. Solidity is a Cubic Yard. Capacity is a Gallon. Weight is a Pound. The Standards of Angular Measure, and of Time, are the same in all European, and most other countries. I. MEASURE OF LENGTH. = 1 Furlong. Furlongs = 1 Mile. 691 Miles = 1 Degree of a Great Circle of the Earth. An Inch is the smallest lineal measure to which a name is given; but subdivisions are used for many purposes. Among mechanics, the Inch is commonly divided into eighths. By the officers of the revenue, and by scientific persons, it is divided into tenths, hundredths, &c. Formerly it was made to consist of 12 parts, called lines, but these have properly fallen into disuse. III. MEASURES OF SOLIDITY AND CAPACITY. 1728 Cubic Inches = 1 Cubic Foot. 27 Cubic Feet = 1 Cubic Yard. Imperial Measure of Capacity for all Liquids, and for 4 Gills = 1 Pint dry Goods. = 34 Cubic Inches, nearly. 694 2774 554 The four last denominations are used for dry goods only. For liquids several denominations have been heretofore adopted, viz. :-For Beer, the Firkin of 9 gallons, the Kilderkin of 18, the Barrel of 36, the Hogshead of 54, and the Butt of 108 Gallons. These will probably continue to be used in practice. For Wine and Spirits, there are the Anker, Runlet, Tierce, Hogshead, Puncheon, Pipe, Butt, and Tun; but these may be considered rather as the names of the casks in which such commodities are imported, than as expressing any definite number of gallons. It is the practice to gauge all such vessels, and to charge them according to their actual content. Flour is sold, nominally, by measure, but actually by weight, reckoned at 7 lb. Avoirdupois to a gallon. Imperial Measure of Capacity for Coals, Culm, Lime, Fish, Potatoes, Fruit, and other Goods, commonly sold by heaped Measure. 2 Gallons = 1 Peck = 704 Cubic Inches, 8 Gallons = 1 Bushel = 28153 3 Bushels = 1 Sack = 48 12 Sacks = 1 Chald. = 58% The goods are to be heaped up in the form of a cone, to a height above the rim of the measure of at least of its depth. The outside diameter of Measures used for heaped goods are to be at least double the depth; consequently not less than the following dimensions : — The Imperial Measures described in the second and third Divisions were established by Act 5 Geo. 4. c. 74. Before that time there were four different measures of capacity used in England:-1. For wine, spirits, cider, oils, milk, &c.; this was one-sixth less than the Imperial Measure. 2. For malt liquor, this was part greater than the Imperial Measure. 3. For corn, and all other dry goods not heaped; this was part less than the Imperial Measure. 4. For coals, which did not differ sensibly from the Imperial Measure. The Imperial Gallon contains exactly 10 lbs. Avoirdupois of pure water: consequently the pint will hold 11 lb., and the bushel 80 lbs. IV. MEASURE OF WEIGHT. 1. AVOIRDUPOIS WEIGHT. 2711 Grains 16 Drams 16 Ounces = 1 Pound (lb.) = 7000 28 Pounds = 1 Quarter (qr.) 4 Quarters = 1 Hundredweight (cwt.) |