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Measures and Weights (I The Metric System Introduced)
I. The Metric System, Introduced 1795, but imperfectly established until 1840, is based upon the metre, the estimated ten-millionth part of the terrestrial quadrant, as deduced from the measurement of an arc comprised between Dunkirk and Barcelona. But its perfect restoration from this source being doubted, and an error having occurred in the reductions, the legal standards were, in 1799, decreed to be the platina models of the metre and kilogramme deposited in the archives; the metre being fixed at 3 old Paris feet, 11.296 lines. The system is on the decimal scale, with the multiples of the integers * Silver coins under 5 fr. are now minted at 835-1000ths only. denoted by the Greek prefixes deca, hecto, and kilo, for 10, 100, and 1000; and the divisions by the Latin prefixes deci, centi, and milli, for 10th, 100th, and roooth; while the doubles and halves of each denomination are also legalized for common purposes; thus uniting the advantages of the decimal scale for computation, and of the binary scale for retail trade.
Length.--Metre of 10 decimetres, 100 centimetres, or 1000 millimetres = 1.- 0936 Imp. yards, or about 393/8 inches; and 1000 metres, 100 decametres, or 10 hectometres = 1 kilometre = 1093.633 Imp. yards, or nearly 5 furlongs. The myriametre = 10 kilometres, = nearly 614 Imp. miles. Surface. Are (or 100 square metres) of 10 deciares, or 100 centiares = 119.- 603 Imp. yards, nearly 4 sq. poles or perches; and 100 ares or 10 decares = 1 hectare = 2.47114, or nearly 27/½ Imp. acres. = Capacity. Litre (or cubic decimetre) of ten decilitres, or 100 centilitres 61.027 cubic inches = 1.7608, or about 134 Imp. pint; and 100 litres, or 10 decalitres = I hectolitre = 22.0097 Imp. gallons, or about 23/4 bushels. The myrialitre of 10 kilolitres, or 100 hectolitres = 34.390 Imp. quarters. The stere, or cubic metre, of 10 decisteres = 35.317 Imp. cubic feet; 10 steres = I decastere.
Weight. Gramme (weighing I cubic centimetre of water) of 10 decigrammes, 100 centigrammes, or 1000 milligrammes = 15.432 grains; and 1000 grammes, 100 decagrammes, or 10 hectogrammes = 1 kilogramme = 32.1507 troy ounces, or 2.205 lbs. avoirdupois. The metrical quintal of 10 myriagrammes, or 100 kilogrammes = 220.462 lbs. avoirdupois; and 10 quintals = 1 millier, or marine ton = 19.684 cwt. avoirdupois.
Medicinal. Ounce of 8 drachms or gros, or 640 grains = 32 grammes. (For conversion Tables, see Decimal Section of the British Measures.) 2. THE SYSTÈME USUEL, Instituted 1812, and interdicted 1840, was a transitional retail system, having the ancient denominations with their binary subdivisions adapted to the metric system. Toise of 6 feet, each of 12 inches = 2 metres. Aune =12 decimetres. Litron = I litre. Boisseau of 4 quarts, or 8 pints = 1/8 hectolitre. Livre of I6 ounces, 128 gros, or 9216 grains = 1½ kilog. 3. THE ANCIENT SYSTEM, Consisted of the official standards, with numerous provincial and municipal measures still partially in use.
Pied de roi, or of Paris, of 12 inches, each of 12 lines = 0.325 metre; 6 pieds = 1 toise d'Ordonnance = 1.949 metre; and aune of Paris = 1.188 metre. Lieue de poste of 2000 toises, or 2 miles = 3.898 kilometres; geographical league of 20° = 5.555 kilometres; league of 25° = 4.444 kilometres. = Arpent des eaux-et-forets, or d'Ordonnance, = 51.072 ares. Arpent de Paris 34.189 ares. Each contained 100 perches, the former of 22, the latter of 18 linear feet.
Wine muid, of 36 setiers or veltes, 144 quarts, or 288 pintes = 268 litres. Corn setier of 2 mines, 4 minots, or 12 boisseaux = 1.560 hectolitre. Livre (Poids de Marc), of 2 marcs, 16 onces, 128 gros, 384 deniers, 9216 grains = 489.506 grammes.
Diamond karat = 205½ milligrammes.
BORDEAUX.-Tun of 4 barriques or 128 veltes = 912 litres. MARSEILLES.-Corn charge of 8 panaux = = 1.6 hectolitre, or 10 charges = 16 hectolitres. Wine millerolle of 4 escandaux, or 60 pots = 64.33 litres.