1814.] Report on Weights and Measures. tage of the public at large cannot be consulted, unless this rule is rigorously observed. The simplicity and accuracy of the system would be sacrificed by any partial exceptions; and it may be considered as certain, that unless the rules are simple, and the constructions independent of minuteness of division, an opening will be left for fraud, and for all the perplexity in which the standards of the country are at this moment involved. 1. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that it is necessary, in order effectually to ascertain and enforce uniform weights and measures to be used for the future, that all former statutes relating thereto should be repealed. 2. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the distance between the two points in the gold studs in the brass rod, described in the Report of the select committee of 1758, and preserved in the custody of the clerk of this house, ought to be the length called a yard; and that one-third part thereof should be a foot, and the 12th part of the foot one inch. 3. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the length of a pendulum vibrating 60 times in a minute of time, in the latitude of London, has been ascertained to be 39.13047 inches, of which the standard yard contains 36. 4. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that all measures of length whatsoever should be taken in parts, multiples, or certain proportions of the said standard yard. 457 quart, ought to contain 20 ounces of water, or $4.56 cubical inches. 9. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the bushel ought to contain eight of the said gallons, or 80 pounds of water, or 2211.84 cubical inches; and that all other measures of capacity ought to be taken in parts, multiples, or proportional parts, of the said gallon. 10. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the standard of weight ought to be the pound avoirdupois, which is equal to the weight of 27.648 cubical inches of pure water of the temperature of 5610; that the 16th part of the said pound should be an ounce, and the 16th part of such ounce should be a drachm; that the third part of the drachm should be a scruple, and the tenth part of the scruple one grain; and that all other weights should be taken from parts, multiples, or proportional parts of this pound. 11. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that all contracts, bargains, sales, and dealings, ought to be taken and adjudged to be according to the standards aforesaid; and that no person should recover the price of goods sold, or the goods themselves, or any damages on account of any contracts, bargains, sales, or dealings, but according to the said standards. 12. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that it ought to be penal for any person to have in his possession any measure or weight that is not agreeable to the aforesaid standards. 5. Resolved, That in the opinion of 13. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, a cubic foot of pure this committee, that it ought to be made water at the temperature of 56 has highly penal for any person to make or been ascertained to weigh exactly 1000 sell any measure or weight that is not ounces avoirdupois. agreeable to the aforesaid standards. 6. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that all measures of capacity should be ascertained by the weight of water therein contained, as well as by the number of cubical inches. 7. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that all measures of the same denomination, whether of liquids or of dry goods, ought to contain the same weight of water, or the same number of cubical inches. 8. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the gallon ought to contain 10 pounds of pure water, or 276.48 cubical inches; that the quart, or fourth part of the gallon, ought to contain 40 ounces of water, or 69.12 cubical inches; that the pint, or half of the 14. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that for enforcing an uniformity in the weights and measures to be used for the future, no person should be permitted to make weights and measures, without having first obtained a proper license for that purpose, on payment of a certain sum. 15. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that all weights and measures to be hereafter made, ought to be marked with the name of the maker; and, after a proper examination of a weight or measure, the same to be stamped with the initials of the name of the person who has examined it. 16. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that all weights exceed ing one pound should be made of brass, copper, bell metal, or cast iron; and that all weights of one pound, or under, should be of gold, silver, brass, copper, or bell metal. 17. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the standard yard mentioned in the second resolution, and a pound avoirdupois, made according to the directions beforementioned in this Report, together with models or patterns of the measures of capacity beforementioned, ought to be deposited in the Count of the Receipt of the Exchequer, and there safely kept under the seals of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and of the Chief Baron, and not to be opened but by the order of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Chief Baron for the time being. 18. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that models or patterns of the said standard yard, gallon, and pound avoirdupois, and of the parts and multiples thereof, before mentioned, should be distributed in each county, city, or corporate town being a county within itself, in such manner as to be readily used as evidence, in all cases where measures and weights shall be questioned before the justices of the peace for each county or city, and for [Dec. 1, adjusting the same in a proper man ner. 19. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the provisions of the acts of the 35 Geo. III. cap. 102, and the 37 Geo. III. cap. 115, should be extended, so as to empower justices of the peace to search for and destroy false measures as well as false weights, and put in execution the law with regard to weights and measures, and to inflict or mitigate such penalties as shall be thought proper, and to have such other authori ties as shall be necessary for compelling the use of weights and measures agree able to the aforesaid standards. 20. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the sheriff of each county ought to be directed to summon a jury of twelve sufficient men living within the county, to return a verdict, on the comparison to be made be fore them of the proportions which the new standards bear to those formerly in use in each county respectively; and according to the verdict then returned, Tables of equalization should be made, and copies of the same should be distri buted through each county; and that all existing contracts or rents payable is corn should be calculated according to these Tables of equalization. NEW ACTS, PASSED IN THE SECOND SESSION OF THE FIFTH PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.-5S GEO. III. (1814.) [The figure which follows the date of each Act, denotes the number of sheets of which it consists: each sheet is sold for THREE-PENCE.] CAP. LXX. An act for the further improvement of the land revenue of the crown. June 17, 1814.-9. The sum standing in the name of Lord High Treasurer of England is 151,6721.5s. 4d. and in the names of the Commissioners of the Treasury 36,390l. 13s. 5d. and 44,3471, 19s. 4d. All balances of rent of crown lands, monies arising from fines of leases, sales of rents and lands, enfranchisement, &c. to be paid to Commissioners, to whom the Commissioners of the Treasury are empowered to transfer the sums abovestated-Sale of the crown lands in Wales authorized, and the monies arising from them to be carried to the New Street Account -Certain parcels of waste land, part of the forest of Dean, may be sold-Monies after sale of manorial rights, quit rents, &c. to be laid out in lands for the growth of timber. LXXI. An act to revive and continue until the 5th day of July, 1819, the manufacture of Maidstone Geneva. June 17.-1. LXXII. An act for permitting a trade between the United Provinces, and certain colonies now in his Majesty's posses sion. June 17.-1. The colonies enumerated are those which formerly belonged to the United Provinces in the West Indies. LXXIII. An act to continue till the 5th day of July, 1815, certain additional duties of excise in Great Britain. June 17.-1. LXXIV. An act for granting to his Majesty a sum of money to be raised by lotteries. June 17.-7. LXXV. An act for raising the sum of 1,716,666. 13s. 4d. Irish currency, by treasury bills, for the service of Ire land, for the year 1814. June 20.-1. Bank of Ireland may advance the sum above-mentioned on the credit of this act. LXXVI. An act for raising the sum of twenty-four millions, by way of annuities. June 28.-3. Contributions of 1001, entitled to sol, in the 5 per cents., 231. 10s, in the 3 per cents. and sol, in the 3 per cent. reduced. Discount to be allowed on payment of the whole subscription by Jan. 19, 18155,500,000l. to be remitted to the Exchequer of Ireland. LXXVII. An act to amend an act of the 58d year of his present majesty, for repealing the duties payable on the importation of wine, the produce of the Cape of Good Hope and its dependencies, and charging other duties in lieu thereof. June 23.-2. LXXVIII. An act to repeal so much of an act passed in the 9th and 10th year of the reign of K. William III. and of another act passed in the 23d year of his present Majesty, as respects the removal of wool within a certain distance of the sea. June 28.-1. So much of the above-recited acts is repealed, as requires notice to be given, or entry made, of wool shorn or housed within 10 miles of the sea; certificate of wool, or number of fleeces shorn, housed, or removed; notice or bond to be given, or entry made or permit taken out before the removal; or as prohibits persons residing near the sea from selling and buying wool, without having entered into bond; or as subjects to forfeiture wool carried towards the sea-side unless entered; or wool first found within 10 miles of the sea, if afterwards lodged within 15 miles; or any wool, or horses, or carriages, carrying the same between sunset and sun rise. LXXIX An act for raising the sum of six millions, by exchequer bills, for the service of Great Britain, for the year 1814. July 1.-1. LXXX. An act for raising the sum of 1,500,0001. by exchequer bills, for the service of Great Britain for the year 1314. July 1.-1. LXXXI. An act to continue until the 5h day of July, 1815, and to amend several acts for granting certain rates and duties, and for allowing certain drawbacks and bounties on goods, wares, and merchandize, imported into and exported from Ireland, and to make further regulations for securing the collection of the said duties. July 1-5. LXXXII. An act to grant to his Majesty duties upon auctions in Ireland, in lieu of former dutics thereon, and to provide for the regulating and securing the collection of the said duties, and to prevent frauds therein. July 1-4. LXXXIII. An act for the more effectual regulation of the receipts and issues of his Majesty's treasury, and for securing the due application of money coming into the hands of the public accountants in Ireland. July 1.-2. 450 LXXXIV. An act for regulating the time of holding the Michaelinas Quarter Sessions in England. July 1.-1. The Quarter Sessions in England, Wales, and Berwick-upon-Tweed, are to be held in future in the first week after the 11th of October: but this act is not to affect London and Middlesex. LXXXV. An act for raising the sum of three millions by way of annuities for the service of Ireland. July 14.-2. LXXXVI. An act for regulating the payment of army prize money, and to provide for the payment of unclaimed and forfeited shares to Chelsea hospital. July 14-7. LXXXVII. An act to grant duties of excise on certain sorts of glass made in Ireland, and to grant and allow certain countervailing duties and drawbacks in respect thereof. July 14.-2. LXXXVIII. An act to amend the several acts for regulating and securing the collection of the duties on spirits distilled in Ireland July 14.-3. LXXXIX. An act for the charge of the further addition to the public funded debt of Great Britain for the service of the year 1814. July 14.-1. Whereas on the 1st Feb. 1814, the sum estimated to be applicable in the present year to the reduction of the national debt amounted to 11,330,4521.; and whereas, by an act for raising the sum of 24 millions by way of annuities, the sum of 18,500,000l. was raised for the service of Great Britain, the charge of which will amount to 1,175,6741. and whereas it is expedient to make provision for such charge, it is enacted that the sum of 3,994,000l. 3 per cent. New South Sea annuities; 253,000l. 3 per cent. South Sea annuities; 10,272,3921. 3 per cent. consols; 142,000l. 5 per cent. annuities, shall, after the 5th July, 1814, and 23,733,0991. 3 per cent. reduced annuities, standing in the names of the commissioners for the reduction of the national debt shall, from the 10th of October, 1814, be respectively cancelled, the interest or dividends upon them shall cease, and the money applicable to the payment shall be a part of the consolidated fund, for the purpose of defraying the charge occasioned by the addition made or to be made to the public funded debt of Great Britain in the present year. XC. An act to explain and extend an act passed in the 43d year of his present majesty, intituled-An act for remedying defects in the laws relative to the building and repairing of county bridges and other works maintained at the expense of the inhabitants of counties in England, and for extending the said acts to bridges and other works maintained XCI. An act to amend so much of an act passed in the 43d year of her late majesty, Queen Elizabeth, as concerns the time of appointing overseers of the poor. July 14.-1. The appointment of overseers to be made on the 25th of March, instead of Easter week. XCII. An act to secure the payment of stamp duties on probate and letters of administration, and on receipts for property obtained by legacy or intestacy in Ireland. July 14.-15. XCIII. An act for regulating the payment of navy prize money, and the transmission of accounts and payment of balances to Greenwich hospital. July 18.-10. XCIV. An act to grant additional annuities to judges of the Courts of Session, Justiciary and Exchequer in Scotland, who had resigned their offices before the last augmentation of salaries granted to the judges of those courts. July 18.-1. XCV. An act to enable his majesty to grant additional annuities to the judges of the Court of King's Bench, judges of the Courts of Common Pleas, and Exchequer in Ireland, on the resignation of their offices. July 18—1. XCVI. An act to amend an act passed in the 5th year of Queen Elizabeth, intituled-An act containing divers orders for artificers, labourers, servants of husbandry, and apprentices. July 18. -1. So much of the above act as enacts that persons shall not exercise any art unless they had served an apprenticeship of seven years, is repealed; but the customs of London in respect to apprentices not to be affected Justices may determine complaints as heretofore. XCVII. An act to continue until the 1st day of August, 1815, several laws relating to the duties on glass made in Great Britain, for granting an excise duty on common glass bottles imported, and for the further prevention of frauds in the exportation of glass. July 18.—2. Duty of 8s. 2d. to be paid for every cwt. of common glass bottles imported-Penalty for making an improper entry 100l. [Dec. 1, XCVIII. An act to empower the auditor-general of the accounts in Spain and Portugal to examine accounts of public expenditure in France. July 18. -1. XCIX. An act to continue until the 25th day of March, 1815, an act of the 44th year of his present Majesty, to con tinue the restrictions contained in se. veral acts of his present Majesty on payments of cash by the Bank of England. July 18-1. Č. An act to repeal the schedule an nexed to an act of the 47th of his present majesty, by which the drawbacks and bounties on sugars exported from Ireland are to be ascertained, and to substi tute another schedule in lieu thereof; and to permit the importation into Ireland of sugar, coffee, and other articles, the produce of Martinique, Mariega lante, Guadaloupe, St. Eustatia, St. Martin, and Saba, under the same duties and regulations as similar articles of the British plantations; to continue antil the 5th day of April, 1815. July 18.-1. CI. An act for the more effectual prevention of child stealing. July 18.—1. Persons who shall by force or fraud carry or entice away any child under the age of ten years, with intent to deprive its parent or parents, or others having the lawful care of such child, of the possession of it, or with intent to steal any article of apparel or ornament about the person of such child, or shall receive and harbour any child so carried or enticed away, shall be deemed guilty of felony, and subject to the penalties usually inflicted on persons convicted of grand lar ceny. of the next session of Parliament several CII. An act to continue until the end acts relating to the British White Herring fishery. July 18.-1. CIII. An act to grant until the 10th day of April, 1819, certain duties on goods, wares, and merchandize, imported into Ireland from any port or place within the limits of the charter granted to the united company of mer chants of England trading to the East Indies; and to establish further regula tions for the better security of the revenue on goods so imported. July 18. -7. ORIGINAL POETRY. ODE to NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE, GO, fiend accurst! to Eiba's shore, Nor hurl destruction far; Go, weep that Europe does enjoy That peace thy mad ambition would destroy With desolating war. 1 1814.1 The angry whirlwinds, as they rise The ocean's bosom to the skies,The tempests, as they gather wide Original Poetry. In dark'ning glooms, and frowning pride,→ A momentary transport still And on thy cheek percbance may light For Fancy in the hollow wind Oh if the clam'rous blast should bear From sinking mariner, What pleasure in thy brow would start! Than Heaven could confer: For, as upon the heaving tide The warring elements alone Can soothe thy bosom's madd'ning groan: The balmy breath of morn, the placid smile of eve, MORNING. 461 The lark from its nest is with rapture up springing To hail the first dawning of day, With fluttering wings he mounts merrily singing, And exults in the sun's cheering ray. So, if from my Emma my steps idly straying, Their smiles would no rapture impart : I heed not the beauties of morn's crimson'd vest, Nor yet the still whispers of even; But I long to return to my Emma's fond breast, For Emma's my hope and my heaven. ENIGMA, By FREDERIC BEWLEY. When Sin her iron reign began, In Paradise I sprang to birth. A symbol or of woe or joy : Like dew-drops on the budding roses. Yet, when that cheek is flush'd with Plea sure, I, too, partake the radiant gleam, |