CHEMICAL NEWS,

June 13, 1863.

lights with only such modification in the lenses as would be necessitated by the old Argand system in present use. The steam boiler provides a means of giving an effective fog signal by whistles, trumpets, or otherwise by sound. The electric lamp may be employed even in daylight for the purpose of communicating Greenwich time to vessels, and with coloured glasses for all kinds of signalling. The whole of the machinery above described is assumed to be practically incapable of becoming disarranged, no visible cause of getting out of repair being allowed to exist. In confirmation of this statement, it is only necessary to refer to the experimental results alluded to by Lord Lovaine in the House of Commons on Friday, the 5th instant, when this subject was for the third time brought forward for discussion, and to the reports to the Trinity House, from which it appears that during a trial of nine months at Dungeness the magneto-electric light had only failed once for two minutes, at another time for thirty seconds, and on a few other occasions for even shorter intervals; whilst under the existing system it is necessary to extinguish the oil lamps every night, at least once, for a quarter of an hour, to allow of their being trimmed.

Magnesium.

MM. DEVILLE and Caron have recently studied the characters of this metal, and have found the results obtained by M. Bussy and Herr Bunsen to be strictly correct. They give the following method for preparing

this metal:

Magnesium chloride is the substance they employ for the purpose. By reaction with sodium at a red heat it yields magnesium.

The magnesium chloride was obtained by evaporating to dryness a solution of the salt, mixed with ammonium chloride, heating the residue till it melts, and pouring out the melted salt. The sal-ammoniac prevents the decomposition of the magnesium salt by the water of crystallisation. The dry residue should be transferred to a red-hot crucible, so as to complete the operation quickly.

Magnesium chloride is described as being volatile, like zinc chloride, and capable of being distilled from porcelain vessels in an atmosphere of hydrogen. It is then obtained as a colourless butyraceous mass, which solidifies with lamellar crystalline structure.

There is great difficulty in separating the last portions of ammonium chloride from the magnesium salt, and to this circumstance is attributed the frequent presence of nitrogen in magnesium.

The flux employed was calcium fluoride. Pure crystals of this salt were powdered, moistened with concentrated ́sulphuric acid, and after some days washed with water. By this means the silica and phosphoric acid are removed.

To obtain magnesium, a mixture of

Magnesium chloride
Calcium fluoride
Sodium.

Parts by weight.

.

600 480 230

is introduced into an earthen crucible heated to redness, and the cover is kept down by a weight while the reaction takes place. When the action has ceased, there remains a clear liquid without any perceptible metal, this being disseminated as microscopic globules through the liquid. After stirring the melted mass, the crucible

* Annales de Chimie et de Physique, lxvii., 340,

285

is taken from the fire, and after being left to cool for a few minutes, small successive portions of dry powdered calcium fluoride are added, so as to hasten the cooling, stirring the mass meanwhile with an iron rod till it becomes pasty. By proper management, almost all the magnesium may be gathered together in a mass upon the rod before the denser saline mass becomes solid. If the metal should take fire meanwhile, the combustion may be stopped by adding a little calcium fluoride.

The magnesium may be separated from the slag by a few blows of a hammer, and it should amount to threefourths the quantity equivalent to the sodium used. But by melting the slag several times it is possible to obtain a larger proportion of magnesium.

Good results were also obtained, according to a method previously published,† by using a mixture of magnesium chloride with one-sixth its weight of sodium chloride, or of the mixture of sodium and potassium chlorides recommended by Wöhler, and one-sixth of calcium fluoride. This mixture is melted with sodium, as above described.

Ingots of magnesium may be cast by melting it with a mixture of magnesium and sodium chlorides with calcium fluoride. By gradually increasing the proportion of the latter salt in the melted slag it is rendered less fusible than magnesium, and the metal may be poured off at the moment the slag solidifies.

Or, the globules of magnesium, cleaned by means of nitric acid, may be melted with mixed alkaline chlorides, and at the moment of solidification the magnesium becomes denser than the slag, and, sinking to the bottom,

unites to a button.

Thus obtained, magnesium contains carbon, silicium, and magnesium nitride. The metal is volatile at nearly the same temperature as zinc, and like it boils. MM. Deville and Caron have purified magnesium by distilling it in carbon vessels with an atmosphere of hydrogen. When it is impure, it leaves a very light, black residue, and the distilled metal is covered with small, colourless, transparent, acicular needles, which are rapidly converted, by contact with air, into ammonia and magnesia.

The melting point of magnesium is nearly the same as the melting point of zinc. At a temperature slightly higher the metal takes fire, and presents the same phenomena as burning zinc. The density of magnesium is 175. In the crude state the metal is brittle, but when pure it is very ductile.. It tarnishes in the air, but not more quickly than zine, and the oxidation is never very considerable.

NOTICES OF PATENTS.

349. Improvements in Refining Cast Iron, Wrought, and other Malleable Iron, and in the Cementation of Iron. W. CLARK, Chancery Lane, London. A communication. Dated February 10, 1862. (Not proceeded with.) In order to obviate the injurious action of sulphur contained in the coal, coke, or other fuel employed in the process of refining iron, and in effecting its conversion into steel, the inventor mixes with the fuel a small proportion of lime or carbonate of lime (either in the form of chalk or limestone), which, at the high temperature of the furnaces, becomes converted into quicklime, and is supposed then to be very efficacious in the removal of sulphur from the iron, and in absorbing the sulphuretted products evolved during the combustion of the coal. It is generally acknowledged that, unless a considerable + Comptes Rendus, xliv., 394. Annales de Chimie et de Physique, (3) xlvi., 182,

286

amount of lime be employed (in which case the brick lining of the furnace would be attacked), the quality of the iron, as regards sulphur, remains practically unaffected.

384. Preventing the Corrosion of Steam Boilers. T. DAVISON, Belfast. Dated February 13, 1862.

For the purpose stated in the title the inventor employs lime, carbonate of potash, or carbonate of soda, which he dissolves and introduces into the water of the boiler. Any other salt may be used which will have the effect of neutralising the injurious constituents present in the water. These chemical agents have long since been employed for preventing incrustation in boilers; they will act also in preserving the metal from corrosion.

447. Protecting Iron Boilers, Tanks, and Vats from Wear arising from Galvanic Action. G. T. BOUSFIELD, Loughborough Park, Brixton, Surrey. A communication. Dated February 19, 1862.

WITH the object of preventing the galvanic action which is sometimes set up in iron boilers as a consequence of their tubes, gauges, and fittings being constructed of metals, such as brass, copper, or bronze, which are electro-negative to iron, it is proposed to insulate these parts by washers and packing of india-rubber, or other non-conducting substance. In mining districts, and under special cir. cumstances, minute proportions of copper and other metallic salts in the water are instrumental in causing the corrosion of iron boilers; where this is the case, it is recommended to pass the water through an intermediate vessel containing scraps of waste zinc, which may reduce and precipitate the foreign metals from the water before it

enters the boiler.

{CHEMICAL NEWS,

June 13, 1863.

1174. James Burrell, Back Church Lane, Whitechapel, "Improvements in salinometers." Petitions London, recorded May 9, 1863.

1021. Philip Passavant, Bradford, Yorkshire, "Improvements in the manufacture of blue colouring matter, and also of violet colouring matter."-A communication from Friedrich Beyer, Barmen, Prussia.-Petition recorded April 24, 1863.

1173. Charles Hanson Greville Williams, Burnford Street, Glasgow, "Improvements in the manufacture of colouring matters."-Petitions recorded May 9, 1863.

1205. Carl Ludwig Kensner, East Greenwich, Kent, "Improvements in the manufacture of hydrate of barytes, and in the manufacture of sugar."

1209. Richard Archibald Brooman, Fleet Street, London, "Improvements in the extraction of hydro-carburets from minerals, in the distillation thereof, and in apparatus employed therein."-A communication from Felix Alexandre Testud de Beauregard, Paris.-Petitions recorded May 13, 1863.

1264. Paul Addington, Phipps Bridge, Merton, Surrey, "Improvements in the manufacture of varnishes.' 1278. Edward Sonstadt, Loughborough, Leicestershire, "Improvements in the manufacture and purification of the metal magnesium."

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Universal Text-book of Photography. To the Editor of the CHEMICAL NEWS.

395. Coking Coal.

THE coal is heated in close retorts of a construction which permits of the evolved gases being employed as a partial source of heat, and thus aiding by their combustion the process of converting the coal into coke.

414. Treating Fabrics or Articles Composed of Animal and Vegetable Substances for the Purpose of Separating One Class from Another. R. BELL, Dublin. Dated February 15, 1862. (Not proceeded with.)

THE process of separation here described is applicable to the treatment of mixed fabrics, the cotton of which is said to be dissolved, and the wool or silk left unaffected. The solvent prescribed is the crude chloride of manganese, left as a residual product in the retorts used in the manufacture of chlorine; this is dissolved in muriatic acid, and the mixed fabrics submitted to its action; they are then washed and treated with urine or salt water, and finally acted upon with dilute alkali, when the vegetable matters are washed away, and the animal substances retained for further use. This action must be partly mechanical, for it is well known that ligneous tissue will resist the solvent power of many chemical agents, more completely and for a longer period than other products of the animal class.

On Alum in Bread and Flour.

To the Editor of the CHEMICAL NEWS. SIR,-In No. 154 of the CHEMICAL NEWS, I furnished a paper on the extraction of alum from bread and flour. Since then I have had frequent opportunities of testing the value of that method, and have received similar favourable opinions from other gentlemen, who consider it superior to Kuhlman's,-the one ordinarily used, inasmuch as the latter leads to inaccuracy, from a phosphate being estimated as pure alumina, which is not the case with the tannin process.

Quantitative experiments have, however, shown that sometimes, owing to imperfect washing of the pulpy tannate, a little chloride of potassium is apt to be retained in the incinerated residue; it would therefore be better in all cases to throw this on to a little filter, and, having washed out the soluble matter with water, then to dissolve off the pure alumina with a little dilute hydrochloric or nitric acid, collect it in a small tared Berlin crucible, and evaporate to absolute dryness over a sand-bath.

In this way I obtained 0.33 of a grain of alumina, the entire quantity, from three grains of alum incinerated with 150 grains of flour.

Some writers considering that in aluminised flour the alum exists in a free state, imagine it can be easily extracted by water; numerous experiments, however, have proved the fallacy of such a notion, the affinity of alum for organic matter being so strong that no sooner is it wetted than it sinks in to form so insoluble a compound that neither digestion of the flour in plain water, or water acidulated with nitro-muriatic acid appears to make any impression on it, the merest traces only of alumina being perceptible. Nothing short of incineration and subsequent treatment

with an acid and tannin will enable us to extract the full quantity of pure alumina.

As a general rule, I find that the appearance of the residue after incineration forms a tolerably sure guide as to whether further treatment with chemicals be necessary or not.

A quarter or half-pound of pure bread or flour, on being incinerated for an hour in a plumbago crucible placed in the centre of a clear, well-packed fire in an ordinary grate till all signs of combustion cease, yields a charcoal, which is perfectly black and uniform in colour, exhibiting scarcely any whiteness, whereas that adulterated with alum readily shows itself by being coated with thick, white spongy patches, which break up and separate in flakes on agitation. So that, where the charcoal is uniformly black, the bread or flour has not had any mineral matter added. On the contrary, any whiteness would lead us to suspect alum or gypsum.—I am, &c. JOHN HORSLEY.

On Bathvillite, Torbanite, &c.

To the Editor of the CHEMICAL NEWS. SIR,-The criticism on Mr. Williams' paper "On Bathvillite," which I sent you on a former occasion (CHEMICAL News, vii., p. 191), seems to have been generally considered as a matter of personal spite. Permit me to say that I have no occasion for any such feeling towards this chemist, and that any such supposition is a mistake. I sent you the communication believing everything in it truthful, except only the pleasant exaggeration that he had written his paper as a satire-I still think it has a great resemblance to something of this sort. I was also impressed with the idea that any one who points out that two substances supposed to be different are the same, renders even a greater service to science than the discoverer of a new body, supposing them all of equal interest. Moreover, I imagined the term Torbanite to be used as "meaning mischief." I was not aware that any chemist or mineralogist of taste and discretion, having only a scientific interest in the matter, would employ the word; but this may be a mistake. I have never heard of Newcastle coal being termed Newcastlite, or Wigan cannel Wiganite. I believe that any one using such terms would be laughed to scorn. There is no sharp manager of a gas work that cannot distinguish the various cannels he uses. If there are any, the fault does not lie with the coal, for they all differ quite sufficiently to be readily distinguished. Even Kimmeridge shale, a far more remarkable mineral than Boghead coal, is not termed Kimmeridgite. There is no one that I am aware of who has any particular interest in using such a name, or no doubt it would have been employed. To be satisfied that this is a very peculiar mineral compared with Boghead coal we have just to read Mr. William's article, "Naphtha," in "Ure's Dictionary" (fifth edition, vol. iii., p. 220).

Besides pointing out this new word Kimmeridgite, for the lovers of such I have the pleasure of proposing other two. We have here in Wales a mineral seam at Leeswood. This is vulgarly supposed to be coal, but in reality consists of two new minerals. One portion breaks with a minute conchoidal fracture, giving the body a remarkable appearance-they were wont to call it the curly coal at the pits. I beg to propose the term Leeswoodite for this portion of the mineral. The other they call the smooth | coal; it is dark and glossy, breaking in many directions with a very large conchoidal fracture; its aspect bears the closest resemblance to a piece of pitch. For this remarkable mineral the appellation "Woodleesite" may be considered appropriate. Considering, however, that these minerals are merely composed mainly of coaly matterinsoluble in all the usual liquids employed for dissolving bitumens, and that they give products of distillation not distinguishable in the present state of science from those obtained from Torbanite and other cannels-I beg to propose that the use of these names be deferred until

287

science has made a sufficient advance to show that those bodies have a different nature from cannels in general. But any one wishing to give their books a learned appearance, and to find work for index-makers, are quite welcome to use them at present.

I have lately perused your report of Professor Ansted's lecture at the Society of Arts. (CHEMICAL NEWS, vol. vii., p. 235.) This philosopher appears to discriminate between Boghead shales and cannel coal. I had intended asking him to condescend kindly to define the characters by which a specimen of Boghead shale might be known from one of brown methel coal. The Boghead I know to be the richest in oil, but some cannel must be the richest, seeing that they all differ. It appears, however, that "it is impossible to fix any line of distinction between Boghead and Torbanehill shales and coal." It the Professor lectures to his students in this lucid manner, I am afraid that the faces of some of them must often light up with a questionable smile.

I was not a little surprised to read in Professor Ansted's discourse, that, "under the names of Boghead coal, Torbanehill mineral, &c., they (bituminous shales) have come into use for gas-making, and for the manufacture of oil by distillation at a low temperature, in the manner practised some thirty years ago by Selligue, in France, and since introduced into Scotland by Mr. James Young." The word introduced here is so artfully put I wonder how many of the members of the Society fully appreciated the meaning of the pleasant grin that must have crossed the Professor's countenance on reaching this part of the subject. The general impression of the public on this interesting topic agrees much better with what Mr. Williams writes in “Üre's Dict.” (art,“Naphtha," above referred to), viz., "It was, we believe, at first procured solely by the distillation, at as low a temperature as possible, of the Torbanehill mineral or Boghead coal." I suppose this is one of those cases in which Doctors are said to differ; it looks very like it, at any rate. The public, I have no doubt, would feel an interest in learning the party's name that knew the most profitable use to which the Boghead coal should be put until Mr. Young informed them. And if Selligue published these matters to the world thirty years ago, how is it that so many rich oil-yielding coals travelled far and wide, and yet were only used for gas-making? There is some mystery here not generally understood. A little more light on the subject, from so distinguished a geologist as Professor Ansted, would not be lost at all.

With regard to the term photogen, one of your correspondents remarks that he thinks it "a more elegant and terse appellation than paraffin oil." Perhaps so, but it is usual to respect those names of substances which their dis.. coverer has bestowed on them, so long as this is not inconvenient and interfering with some systematic nomenclature generally approved of. There is nothing in the derivation of the word photogen implying any quality peculiarly cha racteristic of this oil any more than of hundreds of inflammable bodies. Paraffin oil I think even the better name of the two, being the oil which yields paraffin in the greatest abundance. I think I could beat photogen for a name myself. Torbanite oil, or Torbanine, must be more modern. I suppose it is quite unnecessary to use one word for a mineral and another for its naphtha.

If I were Mr. Williams I would adhere to my old terms Boghead coal and Torbanehill mineral in all scientific papers. The former term implies, to my mind, that its nature is similar to other cannels, the latter, that this is not certain. The word Torbanite ought to signify that it is different from other cannels, because none of them have any such special appellation.

It seems to me just possible that "Boghead Coal without Choler" might be the better of a little. It would sometimes enliven his correspondence, perhaps.

I was sorry to observe, Mr. Editor, that you are not fond of poetry in any scientific communications. I hope any lady contributor to the "News" will note this peculiarity.

288

P.S.-I had just concluded my letter when your Number containing the report of Mr. Paul's speech arrived. The Society of Arts, I have no doubt, have now a very exact idea of the difference between the "Celebrated Torbanehill Mineral," as Mr. Gillespie finds pleasure in calling it, and cannel coal. At least this is to be hoped, after the very distressing efforts of these distinguished philosophers to enlighten them on the subject. First, Mr. Paul finds some difference in the quantity of coke they yield: cannel gave 60 to 40 per cent.; boghead, 30; Albert, 33. If I have not committed the same blunder at least half-a-dozen times, Mr. Paul has stated the Boghead 10 per cent. too low; and he might safely have gone over 70 with his maximum number from cannels. With such distinctive characters as this, science must by-and-by become greatly simplified. Mr. Paul's statement, that the greater the amount of earthy matter the richer the coaly matter of cannels and shales, must also be founded on the most limited experience. Cannels or shales may be found with very large quantities of ash, any amount in shales, and yet the coaly matter be either as rich, perhaps richer, than the coaly matter of Boghead coal or as poor in volatile matter as could be desired. The results of the efforts of these gentlemen to distinguish Boghead from other cannels could not prove more melancholy than some of them. Perhaps Mr. Paul means that when the coaly matter is rich the earthy matter is abundant, but his knowledge of the Albert coal precludes this supposition. Whatever he means, it is certainly wrong. Again, as to any distinction to be found in the oils yielded respectively by Boghead and cannels, I think it will be generally allowed that this has nowhere been shown, and I am afraid that any very remarkable difference will not be apparent for a long time.-I am, &c.

EIN UNTERSUCHER.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Preservation of Stone.-Some observations on this subject were made in the House of Commons on the 1st instant. Sir J. Shelley observed-"Various processes have been tried to preserve the stone work (of the Houses of Parliament), and notably that of a Hungarian, a protégé of Sir C. Barry's, but the portion operated upon by him was found to be in as bad a condition as any other part. There was one preparation-that of Mr. Daines - which did appear to answer, and which was spoken of by Mr. Sydney Smirke and Mr. Gilbert Scott in very favourable terms. Mr. Cowper ought to be able to give some good reasons for not employing one who had been so successful." Mr. Cowper replied that " Mr. Daines' process had not been recommended by the Commission. It consisted in the use of a perishable material, and was not of a per manent character." Mr. Tite said "he had had the honour of being on the committee referred to, and he was sorry to say they could not come to any satisfactory conclusion on the subject. Mr. Daines' process had been brought under their consideration, and the eminent chemists who acted on the committee found that it amounted to covering the stone with boiled oil with a small quantity of sulphur in it." A preparation, as Mr. Coningham remarked, used abroad as a specific for the

mange in dogs!

The Oil Springs of America and Canada.It is fearlessly asserted that had petroleum been in any other hands than those of Liverpool merchants, a very

CHEMICAL NEWS, June 13, 1863.

different and doleful state of affairs would have been chronicled, in place of that to be read below. Americans, and American advices coming to this country, have over and over again assured us that we were to be deluged with this product; in return for which they have ever had the gauntlet of "supply" thrown down to them, and the result -performances as empty as their promises. Exporters, consumers, speculators, all in their turn have combined to intimidate importers and holders into hasty sales, and unpremeditated forward contracts; but the studied conviction of past experience and careful inquiry has demonstrated to the latter, that if the very foul and inferior paraffin oil, in a ten years' career, was never known to be under 2s. 3d. per gallon, surely the circumstances must indeed be exceptional and temporary which could permit a much more superior burning oil, like petroleum, to remain at anything under 2s. per gallon." But paraffin oil has averaged 28. 9d. and 3s. during the last six months of the last ten years; and if facts are to be the basis of prediction, and value accompany merit, petroleum ought to see much higher rates than these between this and Christmas-day next. By the last advices to hand from New York, the Quickstep is the only vessel loading petroleum for this market-the very month that a whole fleet should be preparing for European ports for the commencing June 20 (longest day) demand. interest of holders here to invite a supply thus unequivoIt may not be for the cally, but all feel that the remunerating future of petroleum depends entirely on its own merits, rather than upon what can be said or prescribed. The month of May, throughout, has shown great stability in refined, while the large demand and improved business in crude does not show a single cask on speculation, the whole being absorbed by the trade.-From Alex. S. Macrae's Circular, June, 1863.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

THE intrinsic excellence of the system of weights and measures established in France is almost universally recognised, and its superiority to the system, or rather the confusion of systems prevailing in this country, has long been felt. In scientific pursuits the French decimal system has been very largely adopted, with convenience in some respects, but with disadvantages resulting from the absence of any relation between it and the legitimate weights and measures used in commercial transactions. The Parliamentary Committee that have lately been inquiring into this subject have come to the conclusion that there would be a great advantage in the general adoption of a system of weights and measures which should be uniform, in itself, and with the system now established in France. The bill now before Parliament proposes therefore to substitute the French decimal weights and measures for those hitherto used in this country. This proposal certainly combines very great difficulties with, perhaps, equally great advantages, and it will doubtless be the subject of considerable difference of opinion. The inconveniences resulting from its adoption cannot but be very great, though they may be only temporary, and the great point to be determined is, whether the advantages ultimately resulting from the adoption of a system of weights and measures uniform with that of other countries, would be so considerable in themselves, and so much more important than the inconveniences of the change, as to justify its adoption. In France the introduction of the metrical system was effected at a period peculiarly favourable for a change of the kind, but still its practical recognition was a work of considerable time and difficulty. It may even be said to be scarcely complete at the present. The introduction of the metrical system, as the legitimate one, in this country, would probably be far from being generally followed by its actual adoption, just in the same way that the present legitimate weights and measures are not universally used. Local custom is so much more influential than sound principle, that even now transactions are carried on in many parts with weights and measures that are not the legitimate ones, and it is equally probable that if the metrical system were legitimately established, the actual use of the weights and measures now familiarly known, would be discontinued but very gradually. It would almost seem as if such a progressive change were contemplated by the framers of the bill as inevitable, since it provides that "For the more convenient subdivision of weights and measures, it shall be lawful to use the double and the half of all the said units, and their principal decimal divisions and multiples, as well as any other subordinate divisions which the Committee of the Privy Council for Trade may deem expedient." Thus it is proposed that the new pound should not be identical with the kilogramme, which is equal to 2.2046 pounds avoirdupois, but that it

shall be equal to the half of a kilogramme, or 1*1023 pounds. This proposal seems somewhat inconsistent with the adoption of the decimal system. If it be admissible to use half the standard unit of weight=11023 pound avoirdupois, should it not be equally admissible to use weights that would be respectively equal to 0'45359 parts of a kilogramme, and to 50-8024 kilogrammes, and which would be equal to the pound and hundred weight now in use? If the kilogramme be substituted for the present legitimate standard unit of weight, with the view of introducing the decimal system, it would seem that there could be no reasonable objection to the use of any fraction or multiple of that standard unit in commercial transactions, any more than there is to the use of fractions or multiples of the present unit of weight, such as half, or a quarter, or a sixteenth of a pound, and 112 or 2240 pounds. In this way it might be possible to introduce eventually the metrical system without the present inconvenience of altering the actual value of the weights and measures now in use, by merely altering the mode of expressing those values as regards the legitimate standard. It is conceivable that such a plan would open the way to the practical recognition of the new system more easily and more effectually than would otherwise be possible, and that it would remove much of the opposition which the contemplated change is likely to meet with. It would render that change practically but a change of standard units, leaving the customary weights and measures to become gradually obsolete perhaps, in the same way that the guinea has come to be in reality obsolete, and to exist only in name. Το facilitate the eventual change, and to afford opportunity for the new system becoming familiar, customs and excise duties might be charged according to the legalised standard units, instead of the fractions, or multiples of them, used in ordinary commercial transactions. In any case, if the proposed alteration be made, some expedient will be necessary to lessen the inconveniences consequent upon it.

It appears to be a remarkable omission in the bill now before Parliament, that no provisions are made for the conditions under which the proposed new standard units of measure and weight are to be determined. This is more especially the case since, in clause 9 of the bill it is stated, that "all and every the provisions and provision which are by law in force with respect to the inspection, verification, &c., of the present imperial standard weights and measures, shall apply to and be in force with regard to the metric weights and measures in every respect as if the standard metric weights and measures were comprised in and designated by the imperial weights and measures in the Acts relating to such inspection, verification, &c." The unit of weight is to be the weight of a new quart of distilled water, or the tenth of the French cubic metre; but if this weight is to be estimated at 62° F. it will not be a kilogramme, since the kilogramme is the weight of a cubic decimeter