MEASURE

MEASURE, in a legal and commercial sense, denotes a certain quantity or proportion of any thing, bought, sold, valued, or the like.

It is necessary, for the convenience of commerce, that an uniformity should be observed in weights and measures, and regulated by proper standards. A foot-rule may be used as a standard for measures of length, a bushel for measures of capacity, and a pound for weights. There should be only one authentic standard of each kind, formed of the most durable materials, and kept with all possible care. A sufficient number of copies, exactly corresponding to the principal standard, may be distributed for adjusting the weights and measures that are made for common use. There are several standards of this kind both in England and Scotland. See the article WEIGHTS and Measures.

If any one of the standards above-mentioned be justly preserved, it will serve as a foundation for the others, by which they may be corrected if inaccurate, or restored if entirely lost. For instance, if we have a standard foot, we can easily obtain an inch, and can make a box which shall contain a cubical inch, and may serve as a standard for measures of capacity. If it be known that a pint contains 100 cubical inches, we may make a vessel five inches square, and four inches deep, which will contain a pint. If the standard be required in any other form, we may fill this vessel with water, and regulate another to contain an equal quantity. Standards for weights may be obtained from the same foundation; for if we know how many inches of water it takes to weigh a pound, we have only to measure that quantity, and the weight which balances it may be assumed as the standard of a pound.

Again, if the standard of a pound be given, the measure of an inch may be obtained from it: for we may weigh a cubical inch of water, and pour it into a regular vessel; and having noticed how far it is filled, we may make another vessel of like capacity in the form of a cube. The side of this vessel may be assumed as the standard for an inch; and standards for a foot, a pint, or a bushel, may be obtained from it. Water is the most proper substance for regulating standards; for all other bodies differ in weight from others of the same kind; whereas it is found by experience that spring and river water, rain, and melted

snow, and all other kinds, have the same weight; and this uniformly holds in all countries when the water is pure, alike warm, and free from salt and minerals.

Thus, any one standard is sufficient for restoring all the rest. It may further be desired to hit on some expedient, if possible, for restoring the standards, in case that all of them should ever fall into disorder, or should be forgotten, through the length of time, and the vicissitudes of human affairs. This seems difficult, as no words can convey a precise idea of a foot-rule, or a pound weight. Measures, assumed from the dimensions of the human body, as a foot, a hand-breadth, or a pace, must nearly be the same in all ages, unless the size of the human race undergo some change; and therefore, if we know how many square feet a Roman acre contained, we may form some judgment of the nature of the law which restricted the property of a Roman citizen to seven acres; and this is sufficient to render history intelligible; but it is too inaccurate to regulate measures for commercial purposes. The same may be said of standards, deduced from the measure of a barley-corn, or the weight of a grain of wheat. If the distance of two mountains be accurately measured and recorded, the nature of the measure used will be preserved in a more permanent manner than by any standard; for if ever that measure fall into disuse and another be substituted in its place, the distance may be measured again, and the proportion of the standards may be ascertained by comparing the new and ancient distances.

But the most accurate and unchangeable manner of establishing standards is, by comparing them with the length of pendulums. The longer a pendulum is, it vibrates the slower; and it must have one precise length in order to vibrate in a second. The slightest difference in length will occasion a difference in the time; which will become abundantly sensible after a number of vibrations, and will be easily observed if the pendulum be applied to regulate the motion of a clock. The length of a pendulum which vibrates seconds in London is about 39$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ inches, is constantly the same at the same place; but it varies a little with the latitude of the place, being shorter as the latitude is less. Therefore, though all standards of weights and measures were lost, the length of a second pendulum might be found by repeated trials: and if the pendulum be properly divided, the just measure of an inch will be obtained; and from this all other standards may be restored. See Whitehurst on Invariable Measures.

Measures are various, according to the various kinds and dimensions of the things measured. — Hence arise lineal or longitudinal measures, for lines or lengths; square measures, for areas or superficies; and solid or cubic measures, for bodies and their capacities: all which again are very different in different countries and in different ages, and even many of them for different commodities. Whence arise other divisions of ancient and modern measures, domestic and foreign ones, dry measures, liquid measures, &c.

The English lineal standard is the yard, containing 3 English feet; equal to 3 Paris feet 1 inch and $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ of

Measure. of an inch, or $\backslash frac\{1\}\{3\}$ of a Paris ell. The use of this measure was established by Henry I. of England, and the standard taken from the length of his own arm. It is divided into 36 inches, and each inch is supposed equal to 3 barley-corns. When used for measuring cloth, it is divided into four quarters, and each quarter subdivided into 4 nails. The English ell is equal to a yard and a quarter, or 45 inches, and is used in measuring linens imported from Germany and the Low-Countries.

The Scots alcound was established by king David I. and divided into 37 inches. The standard is kept in the council-chamber of Edinburgh, and being compared with the English yard, is found to measure 37$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ inches; and therefore the Scots inch and foot are larger than the English, in the proportion of 180 to 185; but this difference being so inconsiderable, is seldom attended to in practice. The Scots ell, though forbidden by law, is still used for measuring some coarse commodities, and is the foundation of the land-measure of Scotland.

Itinerary measure is the same both in England and Scotland. The length of the chain is 4 poles, or 22 yards; 80 chains make a mile. The old Scots computed miles were generally about a mile and a half each.

The reel for yarn is 2$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ yards, or 10 quarters, in circuit; 120 threads make a cut, 12 cuts make a hasp or hank, and 4 hanks make a spindle.

2.] The French Standard is the aune or ell, containing 3 Paris feet 7 inches 8 lines, or 1 yard $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ English; the Paris foot royal exceeding the English by $\backslash frac\{6\}\{1000\}$ parts, as in one of the following tables. This ell is divided two ways, viz. into halves, thirds, sixths, and twelfths; and into quarters, half-quarters, and sixteenths.

This ell holds throughout the greatest part of France; excepting at Troyes in Champagne, at Arc in the Barrois, and in some parts of Picardy and Burgundy, where the ell contains only 2 feet 5 inches 1 line; in Bretagne, where it contains 4 feet 2 inches 11 lines; and at St Genoux in Berry, where it exceeds the Paris ell by 8 lines. See ELL. But in Languedoc, particularly at Marfeilles, Montpellier, Thoulouze in Provence, and in Guienne, they measure by the canna, which at Thoulouze and in Guienne contains 5 Paris feet 5 inches and 6 lines; or one Paris ell and a half. But at Montpellier, and throughout the Lower Languedoc, as also in Provence and Avignon, and even Dauphine, the canna is 6 feet and 9 lines, or 1 Paris ell and $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$. See CANNA.

We have lately had some accurate comparisons between some of the French weights and measures and those of England, the result of which is, (1.) The Paris half toise, as set off on the standard kept in the Royal Society; contains of English inches by the same standard 38.355, whence it appears, that the English yard and foot is, to the Paris half toise and foot, nearly as 107 to 114; for as 107 to 114, so is 36 to 38.35514.

(2.) The Paris 2 marc, or 16 ounce weight, weighs English Troy grains 7560; whence it appears, that the English Troy pound of 12 ounces, or 5760 grains, is to the Paris 2 marc, or 16 ounce weight, as 16 to 21; that the Paris ounce weighs English Troy grains

472.5, and that consequently, the English Troy ounce is to the Paris ounce as 64 is to 63.

(3.) The English Avoirdupois pound weighs Troy grains 7004; whence the Avoirdupois ounce, whereof 16 make a pound, is found equal to 437.75 Troy grains.—And it follows, that the Troy pound is to the Avoirdupois pound as 88 to 107 nearly; for as 88 to 107, so is 5760 to 7003.636: that the Troy ounce is to the Avoirdupois ounce, as 80 to 73 nearly; for as 80 to 73, so is 480 to 438. And, lastly, that the Avoirdupois pound and ounce is to the Paris two marc weight and ounce, as 63 to 68 nearly; for as 63 to 68, so is 7004 to 7559.873. See WEIGHT.

(4.) The Paris foot expressed in decimals, is equal to 1.0654 of the English foot, or contains 12.785 English inches. See FOOT.

3.] The standard in Holland, Flanders, Sweden, a good part of Germany, many of the Hans-towns, as Dantzick, and Hamburg, and at Geneva, Franckfort, &c. is likewise the ell: but the ell, in all these places, differs from the Paris ell. In Holland, it contains one Paris foot eleven lines, or four sevenths of the Paris ell. The Flanders ell contains two feet one inch five lines and half a line; or seven-twelfths of the Paris ell. The ell of Germany, Brabant, &c. is equal to that of Flanders.

4.] The Italian measure is the braccio, brace, or fathom. This obtains in the states of Modena, Venice, Florence, Lucca, Milan, Mantua, Bologna, &c. but is of different lengths. At Venice, it contains one Paris foot eleven inches three lines, or eight fifteenths of the Paris ell. At Boulogna, Modena, and Mantua, the brace is the same as at Venice. At Lucca it contains one Paris foot nine inches ten lines, or half a Paris ell. At Florence, it contains one foot nine inches four lines, or forty-nine hundredths of a Paris ell. At Milan, the brace for measuring of silks is one Paris foot seven inches four lines, or four-ninths of a Paris ell: that for woollen cloths is the same with the ell of Holland. Lastly, at Bergamo, the brace is one foot seven inches six lines, or five-ninths of a Paris ell. The usual measure at Naples, however, is the canna, containing six feet ten inches and two lines, or one Paris ell and fifteen seventeenths.

5.] The Spanish measure is the vara or yard, in some places called the barra; containing seventeen twenty-fourths of the Paris ell. But the measure in Castile and Valencia is the pan, span, or palm; which is used, together with the canna, at Genoa. In Aragon, the vara is equal to a Paris ell and a half, or five feet five inches six lines.

6.] The Portuguese measure is the cavados, containing two feet, eleven lines, or four-sevenths of a Paris ell; and the varra, a hundred and six whereof make a hundred Paris ells.

7.] The Piedmontese measure is the ras, containing one Paris foot nine inches ten lines, or half a Paris ell. In Sicily, their measure is the canna, the same with that of Naples.

8.] The Muscovite measures are the cubit, equal to one Paris foot four inches two lines; and the arcin, two whereof are equal to three cubits.

9.] The Turkish and Levant measures are the pieq, containing two feet two inches and two lines, or three fifths of the Paris ell. The Chinese measure, the

Measure. cobre; ten whereof are equal to three Paris ells. In Persia, and some parts of the Indies, the guez, whereof there are two kinds; the royal guez, called also the guez monkeffer, containing two Paris feet ten inches eleven lines, or four-fifths of the Paris ell; and the shorter guez, called simply guez, only two thirds of the former. At Goa and Oirmuz, the measure is the vara, the same with that of the Portuguese, having been introduced by them. In Pegu, and some other parts of the Indies, the cando or candi, equal to

the ell of Venice. At Goa, and other parts, they use a larger cando, equal to seventeen Dutch ells; exceeding that of Babel and Balfora by $\backslash frac\{2\}\{3\}$ per centum, and the vera by $6\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$. In Siam, they use the ken, short of three Paris feet by one inch. The ken contains two foks, the fok two keubs, the keub twelve niou or inches, the niou to be equal to eight grains of rice, i. e. to about nine lines. At Camboia, they use the hafter; in Japan, the tatam; and the span on some of the coasts of Guinea.

Measure. From the diameters of the columns in the arch of Septimius Severus - - - - 653$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$
From a slip of porphyry in the pavement of the pantheon - - - - 653$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$
See on this subject Phil. Trans. Vol. LI. art. 69. p. 774.

7. Proportions of the Long Measures of several nations to the English foot, taken from Mr Greaves, Auzout, Picard, and Eisebechmid. See Foot.

The English standard foot being divided into 1000 equal parts, the other measures will have the proportions to it, which follow:

1. English square measures are raised from the yard of 36 inches multiplied into itself, and thus producing 1296 square inches in the square yard; the divisions of this are square feet and inches; and the multiples, poles, roods, and acres. Because the length of a pole is 5$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ yards, the square of the same contains 30$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ square yards. A square mile contains 640 square acres. In measuring fens and woodlands, 18 feet are generally allowed to the pole, and 21 feet in forest lands.

A hide of land, frequently mentioned in the earlier part of the English history, contained about 100 arable acres; and 5 hides were esteemed a knight's fee. At

the time of the Norman conquest, there were 243,600 hides in England.

2. Scotch square or land measure is regulated by the Scotch ell: 36 square ells = 1 fall, 40 falls = 1 rood, 4 roods = 1 acre.—The proportion between the Scotch and English acre, supposing the feet in both measures alike, is as 1369 to 1089, or nearly as 5 to 4. If the difference of the feet be regarded, the proportion is as 10,000 to 7869. The length of the chain for measuring land in Scotland is 24 ells, or 74 feet.—A husband-land contains 6 acres of fock and scythe land, that is, of land that may be tilled with a plough or mown with a scythe: 13 acres of arable land make one ox-gang, and 4 ox-gangs make a pound-land of old extent.

3. French square measures are regulated by 12 square lines in the inch square; 12 inches in the foot, 22 feet in the perch, and 100 perches in the arpent or acre.

2. Grecian square measures were the plethron or acre, by some said to contain 1444, by others 10,000 square feet; and around the half of the plethron. The around of the Egyptians was the square 100 cubits.

3. Roman square measure reduced to English. The integer was the jugerum or acre, which the Romans divided like the libra or as: thus the jugerum contained

Note, Actus major was 14,400 square feet, equal to a femis; clima, 3600 square feet, equal to fescuncia; and actus minimus equal to a sextans.

1.] The English measures were originally raised from troy-weight: it being enacted by several statutes, that eight pounds troy of wheat, gathered from the middle of the ear, and well dried, should weigh a gallon of wine measure, the divisions and multiples whereof were to form the other measures; at the same time it was also ordered, that there should be but one liquid measure in the kingdom: yet custom has prevailed, and there having been introduced a new weight, viz. the avoirdupois, we have now a second standard gallon adjusted thereto, and therefore exceeding the former in the proportion of the avoirdupois weight to troy weight. From this latter standard are raised two several measures, the one for ale, the other for beer. The sealed gallon at Guildhall, which is the standard for wines, spirits, oils, &c. is supposed to contain 231 cubic inches; and on this supposition the other measures raised therefrom, will contain as in the table underneath: yet, by actual experiment, made in 1683, before the lord-mayor and the commissioners of excise, this gallon was found to contain only 224 cubic inches: it was however agreed to continue the common supposed contents of 231 cubic inches; so that all computations stand on their old footing. Hence, as 12 is to 231, so is $14\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ to $281\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ the cubic inches in the ale-gallon: but in effect the ale-quart contains 704 cubic inches, on which principle the ale and beer gallon will be 282 cubic inches. The several divisions and multiples of these measures, and their proportions, are exhibited in the tables underneath.

The barrel for ale in London is 32 gallons, and the barrel for beer 36 gallons. In all other places of England, the barrel, both for ale and beer, is 34 gallons.

2.] Scotch liquid measure is founded on the pint. The Scotch pint was formerly regulated by a standard jug of cast metal, the custody of which was committed to the borough of Stirling. This jug was supposed to contain 105 cubic inches; and though, after several careful trials, it has been found to contain only about 1034 inches; yet, in compliance with established custom, founded on that opinion, the pint stoup are still regulated to contain 105 inches, and the customary ale measures are about $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ above that standard. It was enacted by James I. of Scotland, that the pint should contain 41 ounces Trone weight of the clear water of Tay, and by James VI. that it should contain 35 Scots Troy ounces of the clear water of Leith. This affords another method of regulating the pint, and also ascertains the ancient standard of the Trone weight. As the water of Tay and Leith are alike, the Trone weight must have been to the Scots Troy weight as 55 to 41; and therefore, the pound Trone must have contained about 214 ounces Scots Troy.

The Scotch quart contains 210 inches; and is, therefore, about $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ less than the English wine-gallon, and about $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ less than the ale-gallon.

3.] As to the liquid measures of foreign nations, it is to be observed, that their several vessels for wine, vinegar, &c. have also various denominations according to their different sizes and the places wherein they are used. The wooders of Germany, for holding Rhenish and Moselle wines, are different in their gauges; some containing 14 aumes of Amsterdam-measure, and others more or less. The aume is reckoned at Amsterdam for 8 fleckans, or 20 verges, or for $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ of a ton of 2 pipes; or 4 barrels of French or Bourdeaux, which $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ at this latter place is called stieren, because 3 of them make a pipe or 2 barrels, and 6 the said ton. The fleckan is 16 mingles, or 32 pints; and the verge is, in respect of the said Rhenish and Moselle, and some other sorts of wine, 6 mingles; but, in measuring brandy, it consists of 64 mingles. The aume is divided into 4 anckers, and the ancker into 2 fleckans, or 32 mingles. The ancker is taken sometimes for $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ of a ton, or 4 barrels; on which footing the Bourdeaux-barrel ought to contain at Amsterdam (when the cask is made according to the just gauge) 124 fleckans, or 200 mingles wine and lees; or 12 fleckans, or 192 mingles racked wine; so that the Bourdeaux-ton of wine contains 50 fleckans, or 800 mingles, wine and lees; and 48 fleckans, or 768 mingles of pure wine. The barrels or poinçons of Nantes and other places on the river Loire, contain only 12 fleckans Amsterdam measure. The wine-ton of Rochelle, Cognac, Charente, and the Isle of Rhe, differs very little from the ton of Bourdeaux, and consequently from the barrels and pipes. A ton of wine of Chalosse, Bayonne, and the neighbouring places, is reckoned 60 fleckans, and the barrel 15, Amsterdam-measure.

The muid of Paris contains 150 quarts, or 300 pints, wine and lees; or 280 pints clear wine; of which muids 3 make a ton, and the fractions are

The muid is also composed of pipes, or poinçons, quarteaux, queues, and demiqueues: those poinçons of Paris and Orleans contain about 15 fleckans Amsterdam measure, and ought to weigh with the cask 666 lb. a little more or less. In Provence they reckon by milleroles, and the millerole of Toulon contains 66 Paris pints, or 100 pints of Amsterdam, nearly; and the Paris pint is nearly equal to the English wine-quart.

The butts or pipes from Cadiz, Malaga, Alicante, Benecarlo, Saloe, and Mataro, and from the Canaries, from Lisbon, Oporto, and Fayal, are very different in their gauges, though in affreightments they are all reckoned two to the ton.

Vinegar is measured in the same manner as wine; but the measures for brandies are different: these spirits from France, Spain, Portugal, &c. are generally shipped in large casks called pipes, butts, and pices according to the places from whence they are reported, &c. In France, brandy is shipped in casks called pices at Bourdeaux, and pipes at Rochelle, Cognac, the Isle of Rhe, and other neighbouring places.

places, which contain some more and some less, even from 60 to 90 Amsterdam verges or veertels, according to the capacity of the vessels, and the places they come from, which being reduced into barrels will stand as follows, viz.

In Provence and Languedoc, brandy is sold by the quintal, the casks included; and at Bruges in Flanders, the verges are called stellers of 16 stops each, and the spirit is sold at so much per stop.

Olive oil is also shipped in casks of various sizes, according to the custom of the places where it is embarked and the convenience of stowage. In England it is sold by the ton of 2.6 gallons; and at Amsterdam by the ton of 717 mingles, or 1434 pints. In Provence it is sold by milleroles of 66 Paris-pints; from Spain and Portugal it is brought in pipes or butts, of different gauges; at the first place it is sold by roves, whereof 4 go to the butt; and at the latter place by almodas, whereof 20 makes a pine. Train oil is sold in England by the ton, at Amsterdam by the barrel.

Solid inches.

Pints [Ale.]

Pints [Beer.]

1.] English dry or corn measure. The standard for measuring corn, salt, coals, and other dry goods, in England, is the Winchester gallon, which contains 272 1/2 cubic inches. The bushel contains 8 gallons, or 2178 inches. A cylindrical vessel, 18 1/2 inches diameter, and 8 inches deep, is appointed to be used as a bushel in levying the malt-tax. A vessel of these dimensions is rather less than the Winchester bushel of 8 gallons, for it contains only 2150 inches; though probably there was no difference intended. The denominations of dry measure commonly used, are given in the first of the subjoined tables. Four quarters corn make a chaldron, 5 quarters make a wey or load, and 10 quarters make a ton. In measuring sea-coal, 5 pecks

make a bushel, 9 bushels make a quarter or vatt, 4 quarters make a chaldron, and 21 chaldrons make a score.

2.] Scottish dry measure. There was formerly only one measure of capacity in Scotland; and some commodities were heaped, others stroked, or measured exactly to the capacity of the standard. The method of heaping was afterwards forbidden as unequal, and a larger

Measures. larger measure appointed for such commodities as that custom had been extended to.

The wheat-firlet, used also for rye, pease, beans, salt, and grass-seeds, contains 21 pints 1 mutchkin, measured by the Stirling jug. The barley firlet, used also for oats, fruit, and potatoes, contains 31 pints. A different method of regulating the firlet was appointed, from the dimensions of a cylindrical vessel. The diameter for both measures was fixed at 19$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ inches, the depth 7$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ inches for the wheat-firlet, and 10$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ for the barley-firlet. A standard constructed by these measures is rather less than when regulated by the pint; and as it is difficult to make vessels exactly cylindrical, the regulation by the pint has prevailed, and the other method gone into disuse.

If the Stirling jug contain 103$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ inches, the wheat-firlet will contain 2109 inches; which is more than 2 per cent. larger than the legal malt-bushel of England, and about 1 per cent. larger than the Winchester bushel; and the barley-firlet will contain 3208 inches. The barley-boll is nearly equal to six legal malt bushels.

In Stirlingshire, 17 pecks are reckoned to the boll: in Invernessshire, 18 pecks: in Ayrshire, the boll is the same as the English quarter. And the firlets, in many places, are larger than the Linlithgow standard.

3.] French dry, are, the litron, bushel, minot, mine, septier, muid, and tun. The litron is divided into two demilitrons, and four quarter-litrons, and contains 36 cubic inches of Paris. By ordonnance, the litron is to be three inches and a half high, and three inches 10 lines broad. The litron for salt is larger, and is divided into two halves, four quarters, eight demi-quarters, and 16 mesurettes. The French bushel is different in different jurisdictions. At Paris it is divided into demi-bushels; each demi-bushel into two quarts; the quart into two half-quarts; and the half-quart into two litrons: so that the bushel contains 16 litrons. By ordonnance the Paris bushel is to be eight inches two lines and a half high, and ten inches broad, or in diameter within-side. The minot consists of three bushels, the mine of two minots or six bushels, the septier of two mines or 12 bushels, and the muid of 12 septiers, or an 144 bushels. The bushel of oats is estimated double that of any other grain; so that there go 24 bushels to make the septier, and 288 to make the muid. It is divided into four picotins, the picotin containing two quarts, or four litrons. The bushel for salt is divided into two half-bushels, four quarters, eight half-quarters, and 16 litrons; four bushels make a minot, 16 a septier, and 192 a muid. The bushel for wood is divided into halves, quarters, and half-quarters. Eight bushels make the minot, 16 a mine; 20 mines, or 320 bushels, the muid. For plaster, 12 bushels make a sack, and 36 sacks a muid. For lime, three bushels make a minot, and 48 minots a muid. The minot is by ordonnance to be 11 inches 9 lines high, and 14 inches 8 lines in diameter. The minot is composed of three bushels, or 16 litrons; four minots make a septier, and 48 a muid. The French mine is no real vessel, but an estimation of several others. At Paris the mine contains six bushels, and 24 make the muid; at Rouen the mine is four bushels; and at Dieppe, 18 mines make a Paris muid. The septier differs in different places: at Paris it contains two mines, or eight bushels, and 12 septiers the

muid. At Rouen the septier contains two mines or 12 bushels. Twelve septiers make a muid at Rouen as well as at Paris; but 12 of the latter are equal to 14 of the former. At Toulon the septier contains a mine and a half; three of which mines make the septier of Paris. The muid or may of Paris consists of 12 septiers; and is divided into mines, minots, bushels, &c. That for oats is double that for other grain, i. e. contains twice the number of bushels. At Orleans the muid is divided into mines, but those mines only contain two Paris septiers and a half. In some places they use the tun in lieu of the muid; particularly at Nantes, where it contains 10 septiers of 16 bushels each, and weighs between 2200 and 2250 pounds. Three of these tuns make 28 Paris septiers. At Rochelle, &c. the tun contains 42 bushels, and weighs two per cent. less than that of Nantes. At Brest it contains 20 bushels, is equal to 10 Paris septiers, and weighs about 2240 pounds. See TUN.

4.] Dutch, Swedish, Polish, Prussian, and Muscovite. In these places, they estimate their dry things on the foot of the last, lest, leth, or lecht; so called according to the various pronunciations of the people who use it. In Holland, the last is equal to 19 Paris septiers, or 38 Bourdeaux bushels, and weighs about 4560 pounds; the last they divide into 27 mudes, and the mude into four schepels. In Poland, the last is 40 Bourdeaux bushels, and weighs about 4800 Paris pounds. In Prussia, the last is 133 Paris septiers. In Sweden and Muscovy, they measure by the great and little last; the first containing 12 barrels, and the second half as many. See LAST. In Muscovy, they likewise use the chefford, which is different in various places: that of Archangel is equal to three Rouen bushels.

5.] Italian. At Venice, Leghorn, and Lucca, they estimate their dry things on the foot of the staro or staino; the staro of Leghorn weighs 54 pounds: 112 staros and seven-eighths are equal to the Amsterdam last. At Lucca, 119 staros make the last of Amsterdam. The Venetian staro weighs 128 Paris pounds: the staro is divided into four quarters. Thirty-five staros and one-fifth, or 140 quarters and four-fifths, make the last of Amsterdam. At Naples and other parts, they use the tomolo or tomalo, equal to one-third of the Paris septier. Thirty-six tomoli and a half make the carro; and a carro and a half, or 54 tomoli, make the last of Amsterdam. At Palermo, 16 tomoli make the salma, and four mondili the tomolo. Ten salmas and three-sevenths, or 171 tomoli and three-sevenths, make the last of Amsterdam.

6.] Flemish. At Antwerp, &c. they measure by the viertel; 32 and one-half whereof make 19 Paris septiers. At Hamburg, the schepel; 90 whereof make 19 Paris septiers.

7.] Spanish and Portuguese. At Cadiz, Bilbao, and St Sebastian, they use the fanega; 23 whereof make the Nantes or Rochelle tun, or nine Paris septiers and a half: though the Bilbao fanega is somewhat larger, inasmuch that 21 fanegas make a Nantes tun. At Seville, &c. they use the anagoras, containing a little more than the Paris mine; 36 anagoras make 19 Paris septiers. At Bayonne, &c. the concha; 30 whereof are equal to nine Paris septiers and an half. At Lisbon, the alquiver, a very small measure, 240 whereof make 19 Paris septiers, 60 the Lisbon muid.

Measure. MEASURE of Wood for Firing, is usually the cord; four feet high, and as many broad, and eight long; this is divided into two half-cords, called cords, and by the French membrures, from the pieces stuck upright to bound them; or veges, as being supposed half a waggon-load.

MEASURE for Horses, is the hand, which by statute contains four inches.