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 bulhel 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.

Measure. 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 judgement 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\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 \frac{1}{2} of an inch, or \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 barleycorns. 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 elwand 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\frac{1}{3} 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\frac{1}{2} yards, or 10 quarters, in circuit; 120 threads make a cut, 12 cuts make a hank or hank, and 4 hanks make a spindle.

2.] The French standard was formerly the aune or ell, containing 3 Paris feet 7 inches 8 lines, or 1 yard \frac{1}{2} English; the Paris foot royal exceeding the English by \frac{1}{1000} parts, as in one of the following tables. This ell

Measure. ell is divided two ways: viz. into halves, thirds, sixths, and twelfths; and into quarters, half-quarters, and sixteenths.

The French, however, have also formed an entirely new system of weights and measures, according to the following table.

Proportions of the measures of each species to its principal measure or unity. First part of the name which indicates the proportion to the principal measure or unity. Length. Capacity. Weight. Agrarian. For firewood.
10,000
1,000
100
10
0
0.1
0.01
0.001
Myria
Kilo
Hecto
Deca

Deci
Centi
Milli
Metre. Litre. Gramme. Are. Stere.
Proportion of the principal measures between themselves and the length of the meridian. 10,000,000th part of the distance from the pole to the equator. A decimetre cube. Weight of a centimetre cube of distilled water. 100 square metres. One cubic metre.
Value of the principal measures in the ancient French measures. 3 feet 11 lines and \frac{1}{4} nearly. 1 pint and \frac{1}{2} or 1 litron and \frac{1}{4} nearly. 18 grains and 841,000 parts. Two square perches des eaux et forêts. 1 demi-voie, or \frac{1}{4} of a corde des eaux et forêts.
Value in English measures. Inches 39.383. 61.083 inches, which is more than the wine, and less than the beer quart. 22,966 grains. 11.968 square yards.

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. 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 what were formerly called the Hans-towns, as Danzig and Hamburg, and at Geneva, Frankfort, &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 branchio, 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 Bologna, 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 cavedos, containing two feet eleven lines, or four-sevenths of a Paris ell; and the vara, an hundred and six whereof make an hundred Paris ells.

7.] The Piedmontese measure is the ras, containing one

Measure. 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 Muscovy 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 Levanti measures are the picq, containing two feet two inches and two lines, or three-fifths of the Paris ell. The Chinese measure, the cobre; ten whereof are equal to three Paris ells. In Persia, and some parts of the Indies, the guezze, whereof there are two kinds; the royal guezze, called also the guezze monkesser, containing two Paris feet ten inches eleven lines, or four fifths of the Paris ell; and the shorter

guezze, called simply guezze, only two thirds of the former. At Goa and Ormuz, 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 \frac{1}{2} per cent. and the vara by 6\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 nious or inches, the nious to be equal to eight grains of rice, i. e. to about nine lines. At Cambosa, they use the basler; in Japan, the tatam; and the span on some of the coasts of Guinea.

Barley-corn
3 Inch
9 3 Palm
27 9 3 Span
36 12 4 1\frac{1}{2} Foot
54 18 6 2 1\frac{1}{2} Cubit
108 36 12 4 3 2 Yard
180 60 20 6\frac{1}{2} 5 3\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} Pace
216 72 24 8 6 4 2 1\frac{1}{2} Fathom
594 198 66 22 16\frac{1}{2} 11 5\frac{1}{2} 3\frac{1}{2} 2\frac{1}{2} Pole
23760 7920 2640 880 660 440 220 132 110 40 Furlong
190080 63360 21120 7040 5280 3520 1760 1056 880 320 8 Mile.
Digit Eng. feet. Dec. Inch.
0 0.912
4 Palm 0 3.648
12 3 Span 0 10.944
24 6 2 Cubit 1 9.888
96 24 8 4 Fathom 7 3.552
144 36 12 6 1\frac{1}{2} Ezekiel's reed 10 11.328
192 48 16 8 2 1\frac{1}{2} Arabian pole 14 7.104
1920 480 160 80 20 13\frac{1}{2} 10 Schoenus, or measuring line 145 11.04
Eng. Miles. Paces. Feet.
Cubit - - - 0 0 1.824
400 Stadium - - - 0 145 4.6
2000 5 Sabbath day's journey - - - 0 729 3.000
4000 10 2 Eastern mile - - - 1 403 1.000
12000 30 6 3 Parasang - - - 4 153 3.000
96000 240 48 24 8 A day's journey - - - 33 172 4.000
Paces. Feet. Dec.
Daetylus, digit - - - - - - - - - 0 0 0.7554\frac{1}{2}
4 Doron, dochme - - - - - - - - - 0 0 3.0218 \frac{1}{2}
10 2\frac{1}{2} Lichas - - - - - - - - - 0 0 7.5546 \frac{1}{2}
11 2\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} Orthodoxoron - - - - - - - - - 0 0 8.3101\frac{1}{2}
12 3 1\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} Spithame - - - - - - - - - 0 0 9.0656 \frac{1}{2}
16 4 1\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} Foot - - - - - - - - - 0 1 0.0875
18 4\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} Cubit - - - - - - - - - 0 1 1.5984 \frac{1}{2}
20 5 2 1\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} Pygon - - - - - - - - - 0 1 3.109 \frac{1}{2}
24 6 2\frac{1}{2} 2\frac{1}{2} 2 1\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} Cubit larger - - - - - - - - - 0 1 6.13125
96 24 9 \frac{1}{2} 8\frac{1}{2} 8 6 5\frac{1}{2} 4\frac{1}{2} 4 Pace - - - - - - - - - 0 6 0.525
9600 2400 960 872\frac{1}{2} 800 600 533\frac{1}{2} 480 400 100 Furlong - - - - - - - - - 100 4 4.5
76800 19200 7680 6981\frac{1}{2} 6400 6800 4266\frac{1}{2} 3840 3200 800 8 Mile - - - - - - - - - 805 5 0
Paces. Feet. Dec.
Digitus transversus - - - - - - - - - 0 0 0.725\frac{1}{2}
1\frac{1}{2} Uncia - - - - - - - - - 0 0 0.967
4 3 Palmus minor - - - - - - - - - 0 0 2.901
16 12 4 Pes - - - - - - - - - 0 0 11.604
20 15 5 1\frac{1}{2} Palmipes - - - - - - - - - 0 1 2.505
24 18 6 1\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} Cubitus - - - - - - - - - 0 1 5.406
40 40 10 2\frac{1}{2} 2 1\frac{1}{2} Gradus - - - - - - - - - 0 2 5.01
80 60 20 5 4 3\frac{1}{2} 2 Passus - - - - - - - - - 0 4 10.02
10000 7500 2500 625 500 416\frac{1}{2} 250 125 Stadium - - - - - - - - - 120 4 4.5
80000 60000 20000 5000 4000 3333\frac{1}{2} 2000 1000 8 Milliare - - - - - - - - - 967 0 0.
Measure. Feet. Inches. Measure.
The Rhinland or Leyden foot (12 whereof make the Rhinland perch) supposed 696
The English foot 675\frac{1}{2}
The Paris foot 720
The Amsterdam foot, from that of Leyden, by Snellius 629
The Danish foot (two whereof make the Danish ell) 701\frac{1}{2}
The Swedish foot 658\frac{1}{2}
The Brussels foot 609\frac{1}{2}
The Dantzick foot, from Hevelius's Selenographia 636
The Lyons foot, by M. Auzout 757\frac{1}{2}
The Bologna foot, by the same 843
The braccio of Florence, by the same, and Father Marfenne 1290
The palm of the architects at Rome, according to the observations of Messrs Picard and Auzout 494\frac{1}{2}
The Roman foot in the Capitol, examined by Messrs Picard and Auzout 653 or 653\frac{1}{2}
The same from the Greek foot 652
From the vineyard Mattei 657\frac{1}{2}
From the palm 658\frac{1}{2}
From the pavement of the Pantheon, supposed to contain 10 Roman feet 653
From a slip of marble in the same pavement, supposed to contain three Roman feet 650
From the pyramid of Cestius, supposed to contain 95 Roman feet 653\frac{1}{2}
From the diameters of the columns in the arch of Septimius Severus 653\frac{1}{2}
From a slip of porphyry in the pavement of the Pantheon 653\frac{1}{2}
See on this subject Phil. Trans. vol. iv. art. 69. p. 774.

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

Measure. Feet. Inches.
English foot 1000 12
Paris foot 1068 12.816
Venetian foot 1161 13.944
Rhinland foot 1033 12.396
Straiburgh foot 952 14.424
Norimberg foot 1000 12
Dantzick foot 944 11.328
Danish foot 1042 12.504
Swedish foot 977\frac{1}{2} 11.733
Derahor cubit of Cairo 1824 12.888
Perfian arifh 3197 38.364
Greater Turkish pike 2200 26.4
Measure. Feet. Inches. Measure.
Lesser Turkish pike 2131 25.572
Braccio at Florence 1913 22.956
Braccio for woollen at Sienna 1242 14.904
Braccio for linen at Sienna 1974 23.688
Canna at Naples 6880 82.56
Vera at Almaria and Gibraltar 2760 33.12
Palmo di Archetti at Rome 732 87.84
Canna di Archetti 7320 87.84
Palmo di braccio di mercantia 695\frac{1}{2} 83.46
Genoa palm 815 9.78
Bolognian foot 1250 15
Antwerp ell 2283 27.396
Amsterdam ell 2268 27.216
Leyden ell 2260 27.12
Paris draper's ell 3929 47.148
Paris mercer's ell 3937 47.244
A French league is about 2\frac{1}{2} English miles
A German mile 4 ditto
A Dutch mile 3\frac{1}{2} ditto
An Italian mile 4\frac{1}{2} ditto
A Spanish league 3\frac{1}{2} ditto
A Russian verst 4\frac{1}{2} ditto.

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, rods, and acres. Because the length of a pole is 5\frac{1}{2} yards, the square of the same contains 30\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 four 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.

Inches
144 Feet
1296 9 Yards
3600 25 25 Paces
39204 272\frac{1}{2} 30\frac{1}{2} 10.89 Poles
156816 10890 1210 435.6 40 Rood
6272640 43560 4840 1743.6 160 4 Acre.

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

Square feet. Scruples. English rods. Sq. poles. Square feet.
As 28800 288 2 18 250.05
Deunx 26400 264 2 10 183.85
Dextans 24000 240 2 2 117.64
Dodrans 21600 216 1 34 51.42
Bes 19200 192 1 25 257.46
Septunx 16800 168 1 17 191.25
Semis 14400 144 1 9 125.03
Quincunx 12000 120 1 1 58.82
Triens 9600 96 0 32 264.85
Quadrans 7200 72 0 24 198.64
Sextans 4800 48 0 16 132.43
Uncia 2400 24 0 8 66.21

Note, Actus major was 14,400 square feet, equal to a femis; clima, 3600 square feet, equal to sestuncia; 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 thereof 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 ad-

justed 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 1688, 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\frac{1}{2} to 281\frac{1}{2} the cubic inches in the ale gallon: but in effect the ale quart contains 70\frac{1}{2} 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 103\frac{1}{2} 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 \frac{1}{2} above that standard. It was enacted by James I. of Scotland, that the pint should contain 41 ounces troy weight of the clear water of Tay, and by James VI. that it should contain 55 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 troy weight. As the water of Tay and Leith are alike, the troy weight must have been to the Scots troy weight as 55 to 41; and therefore the pound troy must have contained about 21\frac{1}{2} ounces Scots troy.

4 gills = 1 mutchkin.
2 mutchkins = 1 chopin.
2 chopins = 1 pint.
2 pints = 1 quart.
4 quarts = 1 gallon.

The Scotch quart contains 210 inches; and is, therefore, about \frac{1}{2} less than the English wine gallon, and about \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 woeders 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 fleekans, or 20 verges, or for \frac{1}{2} of a tun of 2 pipes, or 4 barrels, of French or Bourdeaux, which \frac{1}{2} at this latter place is called stiergeon, because

Measure. because 3 of them make a pipe or 2 barrels, and 6 the said tun. The fleckan is sixteen 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 6\frac{1}{2} mingles. The zume is divided into 4 anckers, and the ancker into 2 fleckans, or 32 mingles. The ancker is taken sometimes for \frac{1}{2} of a tun, or 4 barrels; on which footing the Bourdeaux barrel ought to contain at Amsterdam (when the cask is made according to the jall gauge) 12\frac{1}{2} fleckans, or 200 mingles, wine and lees; or 12 fleckans, or 192 mingles, racked wine; so that the Bourdeaux tun 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 tun of Rochelle, Cogniac, Charente, and the isle of Rhé, differs very little from the tun of Bourdeaux, and consequently from the barrels and pipes. A tun 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 tun, and the fractions are,

The muid } containing 36 setiers
The setier 4 quarts
The quart 2 pints
The pint 2 chopins
The chopin 2 demi-setiers
The demi-setier 2 poinçons

The muid is also composed of pipes or poinçons, quarteaux, quives, and demiquives; those poinçons of Paris and Orleans contain about 15 fleckans Amsterdam measure, and ought to weigh with the cask 665 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 (A).

The butts or pipes from Caliz, Malaga, Alicante, Benecarlo, S. loc, and Mataro, and from the Canaries, from Lisbon, Oporto, and Fayal, are very different in their gauges, though in all freightments they are all reckoned two to the tun.

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 pieces, according to the places from whence they are imported, &c. In France, brandy is shipped in casks called pieces at Bourdeaux, and pipes at Rochelle, Cogniac, the isle of Rhé, and other neighbouring 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.

At Rochelle, Cogniac, the isle of Rhé, and the country of Aunis, 27 Veertels
At Nantes, and several places of Bretagne and Anjou 29 Veertels
At Bourdeaux, and different parts of Guienne 32 Verges
At Amsterdam, and other cities of Holland 30 Veertels
At Hamburg and Lubeck 30 Verges
At Emden 27 Verges

In Provence and Languedoc, brandy is sold by the quintal, the casks included; and at Bruges in Flanders, the verges are called setiers of 16 stops each, and the spirits 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 tun of 236 gallons; and at Amsterdam by the tun 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, where 40 go to the butt; and at the latter place by almondas, whereof 26 make a pipe. Train oil is sold in England by the tun, at Amsterdam by the barrel.

Solid inches [Wine.]
28\frac{1}{2} Pint
231 8 Gallon
4158 144 18 Rundlet
7276\frac{1}{2} 252 31\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} Barrel
9702 336 42 2\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} Tierce
14553 504 63 3\frac{1}{2} 2 1\frac{1}{2} Hoghead
19279 672 84 4\frac{1}{2} 2\frac{1}{2} 2 1\frac{1}{2} Punchion
29106 1008 126 7 4 3 2 1\frac{1}{2} Butt or pipe
38212 2016 252 14 8 6 4 3 2 Tun.
Pints [Ale.] Pints [Beer.]
8 Gallon 8 Gallon
64 8 Firkin 72 9 Firkin
128 16 2 Kilderkin 144 18 2 Kilderkin
256 32 4 2 Barrel 288 36 4 2 Barrel
512 64 8 4 2 Hogsh. 576 72 8 4 2 Hogsh.

(A) These are the old measures of France, the account of which, for the sake of comparison, is here retained.

Gall. Pints Solid inches.
Caph - 0 0\frac{1}{8} 0.177
1\frac{1}{4} Log - 0 0\frac{1}{8} 0.211
5\frac{1}{2} 4 Cab - 0 3\frac{1}{2} 0.844
16 12 3 Hin - 1 2 2.533
32 24 6 2 Seah - 2 4 5.067
96 72 18 6 3 Bath, or Ephah - 7 4 15.2
960 720 180 60 30 10 Coron, or Chomer - 75 5 7.625
Gal. Pints. Sol. inch. Dec.
Cochliarion - 0 1\frac{1}{100} 0.0356 1\frac{1}{2}
2 Cheme - 0 1\frac{1}{100} 0.0712 1\frac{1}{2}
2\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{2} Mystrone - 0 1\frac{1}{100} 0.0891 1\frac{1}{2}
5 2\frac{1}{2} 2 Conche - 0 1\frac{1}{100} 0.1781 1\frac{1}{2}
10 5 4 2 Cyathos - 0 1\frac{1}{100} 0.3561 1\frac{1}{2}
15 7\frac{1}{2} 6 3 1\frac{1}{2} Oxybaphon - 0 1\frac{1}{100} 0.535 1\frac{1}{2}
60 30 24 12 6 4 Cotyle - 0 1\frac{1}{100} 2.141 1\frac{1}{2}
120 60 48 24 12 8 2 Xestes - 0 1 4.283
720 360 288 144 72 48 12 6 Chous - 0 6 25.698
8640 4320 3456 1728 864 576 144 72 12 Metretes - 10 2 19.629
Gal. Pints. Sol. inch. Dec.
Ligula - 0 0\frac{1}{4} 0.117 1\frac{1}{2}
4 Cyathus - 0 0\frac{1}{100} 0.469 1\frac{1}{2}
6 1\frac{1}{2} Acetabulum - 0 0\frac{1}{100} 0.704 1\frac{1}{2}
12 3 2 Quartarius - 0 0\frac{1}{100} 1.40
24 6 4 2 Hemina - 0 0\frac{1}{100} 2.818
48 12 8 4 2 Sextarius - 0 1 5.636
288 72 48 24 12 6 Congius - 0 7 49.42
1152 288 192 96 48 24 4 Urna - 3 4\frac{1}{2} 5.33
2304 576 384 192 96 48 8 2 Amphora - 7 1 10.66
46080 11520 7680 3840 1920 960 162 40 20 Culeus - 143 3 11.095

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\frac{1}{2} cubic inches. The bushel contains 8 gallons, or 2178 inches. A cylindrical vessel, 18\frac{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 straked, or measured exactly to the capacity of the standard. The method of heaping was afterwards forbidden as unequal, and a 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 feeds, 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\frac{1}{2} inches, the depth 7\frac{1}{2} inches for the wheat firlet, and 10\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 contains 103\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 Invernesshire, 18 pecks: in Ayrshire, the boll is the same as the English quarter. And the firlets, in many places, are larger than the Linsithgow 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 demibushels; each demibushel 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 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 mui 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 leicht; 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 schepies. 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.

Measure. 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 stajo; 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 scepel; 90 whereof make 19 Paris septiers.

7.] Spanish and Portuguese. At Cadiz, Bilboa, and St Sebastian, they use the fanega; 23 whereof make the Nantes or Rochelle tun, or nine Paris septiers and a half: though the Bilboa fanega is somewhat larger, insomuch 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 a half. At Lisbon, the alquiver, a very small measure, 240 whereof make 19 Paris septiers, 60 the Lisbon muid.

Solid inches
33.6 Pint
268.8 8 Gallon
537.6 16 2 Peck
2150.4 64 8 4 Bushel
17203.2 512 64 32 8 Quarter.
Peck. Gall. Pint. Dec. Sol. inch.
Gachal - - - - 0 0 0 \frac{1}{128} 0.031
20 Cab - - - - 0 0 2 \frac{1}{8} 0.073
36 \frac{1}{4} Gomor - - - - 0 0 5 \frac{1}{16} 1.211
120 6 \frac{1}{2} Seah - - - - 1 0 1 4.036
360 18 10 3 Ephra - - - - 3 0 3 12.107
1800 90 50 15 5 Letech - - - - 16 0 0 26.500
3600 180 100 30 10 2 Chomer, or coron - - - - 32 0 1 18.969
Peck. Gall. Pint. Sol. inch. Dec.
Cochliarion - - - - - 0 0 0 0.276 \frac{1}{10}
10 Cyathos - - - - - 0 0 0 2.763 \frac{1}{4}
15 1\frac{1}{2} Oxybaphon - - - - - 0 0 0 4.144 \frac{1}{4}
60 6 4 Cotyle - - - - - 0 0 0 16.579
120 12 8 2 Xestes - - - - - 0 0 0 33.158
180 18 12 3 1\frac{1}{2} Choenix - - - - - 0 0 1 15.705 \frac{1}{4}
360 864 576 144 72 48 Medimnos - - - - - 4 0 6 3.501
Peck. Gall. Pint. Sol. inch. Dec.
Ligula - - - - - 0 0 0 \frac{1}{12} 0.01
4 Cyathus - - - - - 0 0 0 \frac{1}{12} 0.04
6 1\frac{1}{2} Acetabulum - - - - - 0 0 0 \frac{1}{6} 0.06
24 6 4 Hemina - - - - - 0 0 8 \frac{1}{2} 0.24
48 12 8 2 Sextarius - - - - - 0 0 1 0.48
384 96 64 16 8 Semimodius - - - - - 0 1 0 3.84
768 192 128 32 16 2 Modius - - - - - 1 0 0 7.68