MEASURE (1815) — Encyclopaedia Britannica Historical Editions

MEASURE

Volume 13 · 8,950 words · 1815 Edition

in Geometry, denotes any quantity assumed as one, or unity, to which the ratio of the other homogeneous or similar quantities is expressed.

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 material, 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. 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 fame 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 1/4 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 recovered. 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.

I. Long Measures, or Measures of Application.

1.] The English and Scotch Standards.

The English lineal standard is the yard, containing 3 English feet; equal to 3 Paris feet 1 inch and 7/8 of an inch, or 7/9 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 ell 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 7/8 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 four 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 3/4 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 7 English; the Paris foot royal exceeding the English by 68 parts, as in one of the following tables. This Measure. ell is divided two ways; viz. into halves, thirds, sixths, and twelfths; and into quarters, half-quarters, and sixteenths.

<table> <tr> <th>Proportions of the measures of each species to its principal measure or unity.</th> <th>First part of the name which indicates the proportion to the principal measure or unity.</th> <th>Length.</th> <th>Capacity.</th> <th>Weight.</th> <th>Agrarian.</th> <th>For firewood.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>10,000<br>1,000<br>100<br>10<br>1<br>0.1<br>0.01<br>0.001</td> <td>Myria<br>Kilo<br>Hecto<br>Deca<br>Deci<br>Centi<br>Milli</td> <td>Metric.</td> <td>Litre.</td> <td>Gramme.</td> <td>Are.</td> <td>Stere.</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Proportion of the principal measures between themselves and the length of the meridian.</td> <td>10,000,000th part of the distance from the pole to the equator.</td> <td>A decimetre cube.</td> <td>Weight of a centimetre cube of distilled water.</td> <td>100 square metres.</td> <td>One cubic metre.</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Value of the principal measures in the ancient French measures.</td> <td>3 feet 11 lines and \( \frac{1}{4} \) nearly.</td> <td>1 pint and \( \frac{1}{18} \) grains and 841,000 parts.</td> <td>Two square perches des eaux et forêt.</td> <td>1 demi-voie, or \( \frac{1}{4} \) of a cord des eaux et forêt.</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Value in English measures.</td> <td>Inches 39.383</td> <td>61.083 inches, which is more than the wine, and less than the beer quart.</td> <td>22,966 grains.</td> <td>11.968 square yards.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>

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 mare weight and ounce, as 63 to 68 nearly; for as 63 to 68, so is 7004 to 7539.873. See Weight. The Paris foot, expressed in decimals, is equal to 1.064 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 Dantzick and Hamburgh, 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 brachio, brace, or fatleom. This obtains in the states of Modena, Venice, Florence, Lucca, Milan, Mantua, Bologna, &c. but

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

is of different lengths. At Venice, it contains one Paris foot eleven inches three lines, or eight-fifteenth 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 Bergama, the brace is one foot seven inches fix lines, or five-ninths of a Paris ell. The usual measure at Naples, however, is the canna, containing fix 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 vara; 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 Arragon, the vara is equal to a Paris ell and a half, or five feet five inches fix 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 fix whereof make an hundred Paris ells.

7.] The Piedmontese measure is the ras, containing ME A

Measure. one Paris foot nine inches ten lines, or half a Paris ell.

In Sicily, their measure is the canna, the fame with that of Naples.

8.] The Mafcowy 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 Turkifh and Levant measures are the piqo, containing two feet two inches and two lines, or three-fifths of the Paris ell. The Chinefe measure, the cobre; ten whereof are equal to three Paris ells. In Perfla, and fome parts of the Indies, the gueze, whereof there are two kinds; the royal gueze, called alfo the gueze monkelfor, containing two Paris feet ten inches eleven lines, or four-fifths of the Paris ell; and the shorter gueze, called simply gueze, only two-thirds of the former. At Goa and Ormuz, the measure is the vara, the fame with that of the Portuguese, having been introduced by them. In Pegu, and fome other parts of the Indies, the cando or candi, equal to the ell of Venice. At Goa, and other parts, they ufe a larger cando, equal to feventeen Dutch ells; exceeding that of Babel and Balfora by \( \frac{7}{8} \) per cent. and the vara by \( 6\frac{1}{2} \). In Siam, they ufe the ken, fhort of three Paris feet by one inch. The ken contains two foks, the fok two keubs, the keub twelve nious or inches, the niou to be equal to eight grains of rice, i. e. to about nine lines. At Cambodia, they ufe the hafter; in Japan, the tatam; and the span on fome of the coasts of Guinea.

TABLES of Long Measure.

<table> <tr> <th>Barley-corn</th> <th>Inch</th> <th>Palm</th> <th>Span</th> <th>Foot</th> <th>Cubit</th> <th>Yard</th> <th>Pace</th> <th>Fathom</th> <th>Pole</th> <th>Furlong</th> <th>Mile.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>3</td> <td>9</td> <td>27</td> <td>36</td> <td>54</td> <td>108</td> <td>180</td> <td>216</td> <td>594</td> <td>23760</td> <td>190080</td> <td>63360</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>3</td> <td>9</td> <td>12</td> <td>12</td> <td>36</td> <td>60</td> <td>72</td> <td>198</td> <td>7920</td> <td>63360</td> <td>21120</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>3</td> <td>9</td> <td>4</td> <td>6</td> <td>2</td> <td>20</td> <td>24</td> <td>66</td> <td>2640</td> <td>7040</td> <td>21120</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td>6</td> <td>8</td> <td>22</td> <td>880</td> <td>2520</td> <td>7040</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td>4</td> <td>6</td> <td>16</td> <td>660</td> <td>2200</td> <td>5280</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td>2</td> <td>4</td> <td>11</td> <td>440</td> <td>1320</td> <td>3520</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>1</td> <td>2</td> <td>5</td> <td>13</td> <td>220</td> <td>110</td> <td>320</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>1</td> <td>3</td> <td>31/2</td> <td>132</td> <td>40</td> <td>8</td> </tr> </table>

2. SCRIPTURE MEASURES reduced into English.

<table> <tr> <th>Digit</th> <th>Palm</th> <th>Span</th> <th>Cubit</th> <th>Fathom</th> <th>Ezekiel's reed</th> <th>Arabian pole</th> <th>Schœnus, or measuring line</th> <th>Eng. feet.</th> <th>Inch Dec.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>-</td> <td>4</td> <td>12</td> <td>24</td> <td>96</td> <td>144</td> <td>192</td> <td>1920</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.912</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>3</td> <td>3.648</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>10</td> <td>10.944</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>1</td> <td>9.888</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>7</td> <td>3.552</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>10</td> <td>11.328</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>14</td> <td>7.104</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>145</td> <td>11.04</td> </tr> </table> 3. The Scripture Itinerary Measures.

<table> <tr> <th>Cubit</th> <th>Eng. Miles.</th> <th>Paces.</th> <th>Feet.</th> <th></th> </tr> <tr> <td>400 Stadium</td> <td></td> <td>145</td> <td>4.6</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2000 5 Sabbath day's journey</td> <td></td> <td>729</td> <td>3.000</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>4000 10 2 Eastern mile</td> <td></td> <td>403</td> <td>1.000</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>12000 30 6 3 Parasan</td> <td></td> <td>153</td> <td>3.000</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>96000 240 48 24 8 A day's journey</td> <td></td> <td>33</td> <td>172</td> <td>4.000</td> </tr> </table>

4. Grecian

<table> <tr> <th>Dactylus, digit</th> <th></th> <th>Paces.</th> <th>Feet.</th> <th>Dec.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>4 Doron, dochme</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.7554\frac{1}{18}</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10 2\frac{1}{2} Lichas</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>3.0218 \frac{1}{4}</td> </tr> <tr> <td>11 2\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{10} Orthodoron</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>7.5546 \frac{7}{8}</td> </tr> <tr> <td>12 3 1\frac{1}{7} 1\frac{7}{11} Spithame</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>8.3101 \frac{9}{10}</td> </tr> <tr> <td>16 4 1\frac{1}{10} 1\frac{1}{11} 1\frac{1}{8} Foot</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>9.0656 \frac{4}{5}</td> </tr> <tr> <td>18 4\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{4}{7} 1\frac{7}{11} 1\frac{7}{8} Cubit</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.0875</td> </tr> <tr> <td>20 5 2 1\frac{9}{10} 1\frac{5}{14} 1\frac{1}{13} Pygon</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>1.5984 \frac{1}{2}</td> </tr> <tr> <td>24 6 2\frac{1}{3} 2\frac{2}{11} 2 1\frac{1}{2} 1\frac{1}{13} 1\frac{1}{13} Cubic larger</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>3.109 \frac{3}{8}</td> </tr> <tr> <td>96 24 9\frac{1}{3} 8\frac{8}{11} 8 6 5\frac{1}{2} 4\frac{1}{2} 4 Pace</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>6.13125</td> </tr> <tr> <td>9600 2400 960 872\frac{8}{11} 800 600 533\frac{1}{2} 480 400 100 Furlong</td> <td></td> <td>100</td> <td>4</td> <td>4.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td>76800 19200 7680 6981\frac{9}{11} 6400 6800 4266\frac{1}{2} 3840 3200 800 Mile</td> <td></td> <td>805</td> <td>5</td> <td>0</td> </tr> </table>

5. Roman.

<table> <tr> <th>Digitus transversus</th> <th></th> <th>Paces.</th> <th>Feet.</th> <th>Dec.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>1\frac{1}{3} Uncia</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.725\frac{2}{3}</td> </tr> <tr> <td>4 3 Palmus minor</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.967</td> </tr> <tr> <td>16 12 4 Pes</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>2.901</td> </tr> <tr> <td>20 15 5 1\frac{1}{7} Palmipes</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>11.604</td> </tr> <tr> <td>24 18 6 1\frac{1}{3} 1\frac{1}{3} Cubitus</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>2.505</td> </tr> <tr> <td>40 40 10 2\frac{2}{3} 2 1\frac{1}{3} Gradus</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>5.406</td> </tr> <tr> <td>80 60 20 5 4 3\frac{1}{2} 2 Paffus</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>5.01</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10000 7500 2500 625 500 416\frac{1}{2} 250 125 Stadium</td> <td></td> <td>120</td> <td>4</td> <td>4.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td>80000 60000 20000 5000 4000 3333\frac{1}{2} 2000 1000 8 Milliare</td> <td></td> <td>967</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.</td> </tr> </table> 6. Proportion of several Long Measures to each other, by M. Picard.

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 - 685\frac{1}{4} The Brussels foot - 609\frac{3}{4} The Dantick 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 fame, 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 fame from the Greek foot - 652 From the vineyard Mattei - 657\frac{1}{2} From the palm - 658\frac{1}{4} From the pavement of the Pantheon, supposed to contain 10 Roman feet - 653 From a slip of marble in the fame pavement, supposed to contain three Roman feet - 650 From the pyramid of Ceflius, 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.

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

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

<table> <tr> <th></th> <th>Feet.</th> <th>Inches.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>English foot</td> <td>1000</td> <td>12</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Paris foot</td> <td>1068</td> <td>12.816</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Venetian foot</td> <td>1161</td> <td>13.944</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Rhinland foot</td> <td>1033</td> <td>12.396</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Strasburgh foot</td> <td>952</td> <td>14.424</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Norimberg foot</td> <td>1000</td> <td>12</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dantick foot</td> <td>944</td> <td>11.328</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Danish foot</td> <td>1042</td> <td>12.504</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Swedish foot</td> <td>977\frac{1}{2}</td> <td>11.733</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Derahor cubit of Cairo</td> <td>1824</td> <td>12.888</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Perian arish</td> <td>3197</td> <td>38.364</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Greater Turkish pike</td> <td>2200</td> <td>26.4</td> </tr> </table>

Lesser Turkish pike - 2131 25.572 Braccio at Florence - 1913 22.936 Braccio for woollen at Sienna - 1242 14.904 Braccio for linen at Sienna - 1974 23.688 Canna at Naples - 6880 82.56 Vera at Almara and Gibraltar - 2760 33.12 Palmo di Archetti at Rome - 732 87.84 Canna di Archetti - 732 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 - 3939 47.244

8. Different Itinerary Measures.

A French league is about 2\frac{1}{3} English miles A German mile 4 ditto A Dutch mile 3\frac{1}{4} ditto An Italian mile 3\frac{1}{8} ditto A Spanish league 3\frac{1}{7} ditto A Russian verst \frac{1}{4} ditto

II. SQUARE, SUPERFICIAL, or LAND Measure.

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}{4} square yards. A square mile contains 640 square acres. In measuring fields 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. TABLES of SQUARE Measure.

I. ENGLISH.

<table> <tr> <th>Inches</th> <th>Fect</th> <th>Yards</th> <th>Paces</th> <th>Poles</th> <th>Rood</th> <th>Acre</th> </tr> <tr> <td>144</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1296</td> <td>9</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>3600</td> <td>25</td> <td>2 3/4</td> <td></td> <td>10.89</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>39204</td> <td>272 1/2</td> <td>30 1/2</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>43.56</td> <td>40</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1568160</td> <td>10890</td> <td>1210</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>6272640</td> <td>43560</td> <td>4840</td> <td>1743.6</td> <td>160</td> <td></td> <td>4</td> </tr> </table>

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

<table> <tr> <th></th> <th>Square feet.</th> <th>Scruples.</th> <th>English roots.</th> <th>Sq. poles.</th> <th>Square feet.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>As</td> <td>28800</td> <td>288</td> <td>2</td> <td>18</td> <td>250.25</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Deunx</td> <td>26400</td> <td>264</td> <td>2</td> <td>10</td> <td>183.95</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dextans</td> <td>24000</td> <td>240</td> <td>2</td> <td>2</td> <td>117.64</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dodrans</td> <td>21600</td> <td>216</td> <td>1</td> <td>34</td> <td>51.42</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Bcs</td> <td>19200</td> <td>192</td> <td>1</td> <td>25</td> <td>257.46</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Septunx</td> <td>16800</td> <td>168</td> <td>1</td> <td>17</td> <td>191.25</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Semis</td> <td>14400</td> <td>144</td> <td>1</td> <td>9</td> <td>125.93</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Quincunx</td> <td>12000</td> <td>120</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td>58.82</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Triens</td> <td>9600</td> <td>96</td> <td>0</td> <td>32</td> <td>26.85</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Quadrans</td> <td>7200</td> <td>72</td> <td>0</td> <td>24</td> <td>19.64</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sextans</td> <td>4800</td> <td>48</td> <td>0</td> <td>16</td> <td>13.43</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Uncia</td> <td>2400</td> <td>24</td> <td>0</td> <td>8</td> <td>6.21</td> </tr> </table>

Note. Aclus major was 14,400 square feet, equal to a semis; clima, 3600 square feet, equal to sescuncia; and aclus minimus equal to a sextans.

III. CUBICAL MEASURES, or MEASURES OF CAPACITY, FOR LIQUIDS.

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 ad-

jucted 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 thereon 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 1/2 to 281 1/2 the cubic inches in the ale gallon: but in effect the ale quart contains 70 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 10 5 cubic inches; and though, after several careful trials, it has been found to contain only about 103 1/2 inches; yet, in compliance with established custom, founded on that opinion, the pint flours are still regulated to contain 10 5 inches, and the customary ale measures are about 7 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 55 Scots troy ounces of the clear water of Leith. This affords another method of regulating the pint, and also affords 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 21 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 7 1/2 less than the English wine gallon, and about 7 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 venders of Germany, for holding Rhenish and Moselle wines, are different in their gauges; some containing 14 aunes of Amsterdam measure, and others more or less. The aune is reckoned at Amsterdam for 8 stockans, or 20 verges, or for 1/2 of a tun of 2 pipes, or 4 barrels, of French or Bourdeaux, which at this latter place is called tierçon, because Measure, because 3 of them make a pipe or 2 barrels, and 6 the said tun. The fleckan is 16 mingles, or 32 pints; and the verge is, in respect of the said Rhénish and Moselle, and some other sorts of wine, 6 mingles; but, in measuring brandy it consists of 6½ mingles. The aume is divided into 4 anckers, and the ancker into 2 fleckans, or 32 mingles. The ancker is taken sometimes for ¾ 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 just gauge) 12½ 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 Chaloffe, 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,

<table> <tr> <th>The muid</th> <th>containing</th> <th>36 fetiers</th> </tr> <tr> <td>The fetier</td> <td></td> <td>4 quarts</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The quart</td> <td></td> <td>2 pints</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The pint</td> <td></td> <td>2 chopins</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The chopin</td> <td></td> <td>2 demi-fetiers</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The demi-fetier</td> <td></td> <td>2 poiffons</td> </tr> </table>

The muid is also composed of pipes or poinçons, quarteaux, queves, and demiqueves; those poinçons of Paris and Orléans contain about 15 fleckans Amsterdam measure, and ought to weigh with the cask 666lb. 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 Cadiz, Malaga, Alicant, 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 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 Hamburgh and Lubeck - 30 Verges At Embden - 27 Verges

In Provence and Languedoc, brandy is fold by the quintal, the casks included; and at Bruges in Flanders, the verges are called fetiers of 16 stopps each, and the spirits is fold 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 conveniency of stowage. In England it is fold by the tun of 236 gallons; and at Amsterdam by the tun of 717 mingles, or 1434 pints. In Provence it is fold 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 fold by roves, where 40 go to the butt; and at the latter place by almoudas, whereof 26 make a pipe. Train oil is fold in England by the tun, at Amsterdam by the barrel.

TABLES OF LIQUID MEASURE.

1. ENGLISH.

<table> <tr> <th>Solid inches</th> <th>[Wine.]</th> </tr> <tr> <td>28½ Pint</td> <td>8 Gallon</td> </tr> <tr> <td>231</td> <td>8 Gallon</td> </tr> <tr> <td>4158</td> <td>144 Rundlet</td> </tr> <tr> <td>7276½</td> <td>252 3¼ Barrel</td> </tr> <tr> <td>9702</td> <td>336 2¼ Tierce</td> </tr> <tr> <td>14553</td> <td>504 63 3¼ Hoghead</td> </tr> <tr> <td>19279</td> <td>672 84 4¼ Puncheon</td> </tr> <tr> <td>29106</td> <td>1008 126 7 4 3 2 1¼ Butt or pipe</td> </tr> <tr> <td>58212</td> <td>2016 252 14 8 6 4 3 2 Tun.</td> </tr> </table>

<table> <tr> <th>Pints [Ale]</th> <th>Pints [Beer.]</th> </tr> <tr> <td>8 Gallon</td> <td>8 Gallon</td> </tr> <tr> <td>64 Firkin</td> <td>72 Firkin</td> </tr> <tr> <td>128 Kilderkin</td> <td>144 Kilderkin</td> </tr> <tr> <td>256 Barrel</td> <td>288 Barrel</td> </tr> <tr> <td>512 Hogh.</td> <td>576 Hogh.</td> </tr> </table>

2. JEWISH

(a) These are the old measures of France, the account of which, for the sake of comparison, is here retained. 2. JEWISH reduced to English Wine Measure.

<table> <tr> <th>Caph</th> <th>Log</th> <th>Cab</th> <th>Him</th> <th>Seah</th> <th>Bath, or Ephah</th> <th>Coron, or Chomer</th> <th>Gall.</th> <th>Pints</th> <th>Sol. inches.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>1 1/3</td> <td></td> <td>5 1/3</td> <td>16</td> <td>32</td> <td>96</td> <td>960</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.177</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>4</td> <td>12</td> <td>24</td> <td>72</td> <td>720</td> <td>0</td> <td>0 1/8</td> <td>0.211</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>3</td> <td>6</td> <td>18</td> <td>180</td> <td>3 1/2</td> <td>3 1/2</td> <td>0.844</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>2</td> <td>6</td> <td>60</td> <td>1</td> <td>2</td> <td>2.533</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>4</td> <td>30</td> <td>2</td> <td>4</td> <td>5.067</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>10</td> <td>7</td> <td>4</td> <td>15.2</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>10</td> <td>75</td> <td>5</td> <td>7.625</td> </tr> </table>

3. ATTIC reduced to English Wine Measure.

<table> <tr> <th>Cochliarion</th> <th>Cheme</th> <th>Mystrone</th> <th>Conche</th> <th>Cyathos</th> <th>Oxybaphon</th> <th>Cotyle</th> <th>Xeftes</th> <th>Chous</th> <th>Metretes</th> <th>Gal.</th> <th>Pints.</th> <th>Sol. Dec.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>2</td> <td></td> <td>2 1/3</td> <td>5</td> <td>10</td> <td>15</td> <td>60</td> <td>120</td> <td>720</td> <td>8640</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.0356 1/2</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>1 1/3</td> <td>2 1/3</td> <td>5</td> <td>7 1/3</td> <td>30</td> <td>60</td> <td>360</td> <td>4320</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.0712 5/8</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>2</td> <td>4</td> <td>6</td> <td>24</td> <td>48</td> <td>288</td> <td>3456</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.089 1/8</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>1 1/2</td> <td>3</td> <td>12</td> <td>24</td> <td>144</td> <td>1728</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.178 1/4</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>1 1/2</td> <td>6</td> <td>12</td> <td>72</td> <td>576</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.356 1/2</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>8</td> <td>12</td> <td>48</td> <td>144</td> <td>144</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.535 1/8</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>2</td> <td>6</td> <td>72</td> <td>72</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>2.141 1/2</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>6</td> <td>6</td> <td>6</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>4.283</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>10</td> <td>10</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>6 25.698</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>10</td> <td>2</td> <td>19.629</td> </tr> </table>

4. ROMAN reduced to English Wine Measure.

<table> <tr> <th>Ligula</th> <th>Cyathus</th> <th>Acetabulum</th> <th>Quartarius</th> <th>Hemina</th> <th>Sextarius</th> <th>Congius</th> <th>Urna</th> <th>Amphora</th> <th>Culeus</th> <th>Gal.</th> <th>Pints.</th> <th>Sol. Dec.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>4</td> <td>6</td> <td>1 1/2</td> <td>12</td> <td>24</td> <td>48</td> <td>288</td> <td>1152</td> <td>2304</td> <td>4608</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.117 1/3</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>1 1/2</td> <td>3</td> <td>6</td> <td>12</td> <td>72</td> <td>288</td> <td>576</td> <td>1152</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.469 2/3</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>2</td> <td>4</td> <td>8</td> <td>48</td> <td>192</td> <td>384</td> <td>768</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.704 1/3</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>24</td> <td>96</td> <td>192</td> <td>384</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>1.40</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>48</td> <td>192</td> <td>384</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>2.818</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>48</td> <td>96</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>3.636</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>48</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>4.942</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>3</td> <td>4 3/4</td> <td>5.33</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>7</td> <td>1</td> <td>10.66</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>143</td> <td>3</td> <td>11.095</td> </tr> </table>

IV. Measures IV. Measures of Capacity for things DRY.

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 1/3 cubic inches. The bushel contains 8 gallons, or 217 8/9 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 215 10 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.

40 feet hewn timber make a load. 50 feet unhewn timber make a load. 32 gallons make a herring barrel. 42 gallons make a salmon barrel. 1 cwt. gunpowder makes a barrel. 256 lbs. soap make a barrel. 10 dozen candles make a barrel. 12 barrels make a laft.

2.] Scotch 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 firlot, used also for rye, peas, beans, salt, and grass seeds, contains 21 pints i mutchkin, measured by the Stirling jug. The barley firlot, used also for oats, fruit, and potatoes, contains 31 pints. A different method of regulating the firlot was appointed from the dimensions of a cylindrical vessel. The diameter for both measures was fixed at 19 1/2 inches, the depth 7 1/2 inches for the wheat firlot, and 10 1/2 for the barley firlot. 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 1/2 inches, the wheat firlot will contain 2150 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 firlot 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 firlots, 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 demi-litrons, 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 20 lines broad. The litron for salt is larger, and is divided into two halves, four quarters, eight demi-quarters, and 16 mufrettes. 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-fide. The minot consists of three bushels, the mine of two minots or fix 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 picoton 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 pack, and 36 packs 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 fix 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 muy 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 loft, lef, leth, or lecht; so called according to the various pronunciations of the people who use it. In Holland, the laft is equal to 19 Paris septiers, or 38 Bourdeaux bushels, and weighs about 4560 pounds; the laft they divide into 27 mudes, and the mude into four scheplees. In Poland, the laft is 40 Bourdeaux bushels, and weighs about 4800 Paris pounds. In Prussia, the laft is 133 Paris septiers. In Sweden and Muscovy they measure by the great and little laft; 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 staio; the staio 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 staio weighs 128 Paris pounds: the staio 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-fix 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 falma, and four mondili the tomolo. Ten falmas 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 Hamburgh, the schepel; 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 alquivier, a very small measure, 240 whereof make 19 Paris septiers, 60 the Lisbon muid.

TABLES of DRY Measure.

1. ENGLISH.

<table> <tr> <th>Solid inches</th> <th>Pint</th> <th>Gallon</th> <th>Peck</th> <th>Bushel</th> <th>Quarter.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>33.6</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>268.8</td> <td>8</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>537.6</td> <td>16</td> <td>2</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2150.4</td> <td>64</td> <td>8</td> <td>4</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>17203.2</td> <td>512</td> <td>64</td> <td>32</td> <td>8</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>

2. SCRIPTURE Dry, reduced to English.

<table> <tr> <th>Gachal</th> <th>Cab</th> <th>Gomor</th> <th>Seah</th> <th>Epha</th> <th>Leteh</th> <th>Chomer, or coran</th> <th>Peck</th> <th>Gall.</th> <th>Pint.</th> <th>Sol. inch.</th> <th>Dec.</th> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>20</td> <td>36</td> <td>120</td> <td>360</td> <td>1800</td> <td>3600</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.031</td> <td>0.073</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>1 1/2</td> <td>6</td> <td>18</td> <td>90</td> <td>180</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>2 5/8</td> <td>1.211</td> <td>4.036</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>3 1/3</td> <td>10</td> <td>50</td> <td>100</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>5 1/2</td> <td>12.107</td> <td>26.500</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>5</td> <td>15</td> <td>30</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>16</td> <td>18.969</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>10</td> <td>20</td> <td>32</td> <td>0</td> <td>1</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> </table> 3. Attic Measures of Capacity for Things dry, reduced to English Corn Measure.

<table> <tr> <th>Cochliarion</th> <th>Peck.</th> <th>Gal.</th> <th>Pint.</th> <th>Sol. inch.</th> <th>Dec.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>1 Cyathos</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0</td> <td>0.276 1/5</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1 1/3 Oxybaphon</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>2.763 1/5</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>6 6 Cotyle</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>4.144 1/4</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>12 8 Xeftes</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>16.579</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>18 12 3 Choenix</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>33.158</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>864 864 576 144 72 48 Medimmos</td> <td>4</td> <td>0</td> <td>6</td> <td>15.705 1/4</td> <td>3.501</td> </tr> </table>

4. Roman Measures of Capacity for Things dry, reduced to English Corn Measure.

<table> <tr> <th>Ligula</th> <th>Peck.</th> <th>Gall.</th> <th>Sol. inch.</th> <th>Dec.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>4 Cyathus</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.01</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>6 Acetabulum</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.04</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>24 Hemina</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.06</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>48 Sextarius</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>8 1/8</td> <td>0.24</td> </tr> <tr> <td>384 Scimiodius</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.48</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>768 Modius</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>3.84</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>

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 ways, and by the French membranes, from the pieces stuck upright to bound them; or voyes, as being supposed half a wagon load.

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

Measure, among Botanists. In describing the parts of plants, Tournefort introduced a geometrical scale, which many of his followers have retained. They measured every part of the plant; and the essence of the description consisted in an accurate mensuration of the whole.

As the parts of plants, however, are liable to variation in no circumstance so much as that of dimension, Linnaeus very rarely admits any other mensuration than that arising from the respective length and breadth of the parts compared together. In cases that require actual mensuration, the same author recommends, in lieu of Tournefort's artificial scale, the following natural scale of the human body, which he thinks is much more convenient, and equally accurate.

The scale in question consists of 11 degrees, which are as follow: 1. A hair's breadth, or the diameter of a hair, (capillus). 2. A line, (linea), the breadth of the crescent or white appearance at the root of the finger (not thumb, measured from the skin towards the body of the nail; a line is equal to 12 hairbreadths, and is the 12th part of a Parian inch. 3. A nail (unguis), the length of a finger nail; equal to six lines, or half a Parian inch. 4. A thumb (polec), the length of the first or outermost joint of the thumb; equal to a Parian inch. 5. A palm (palmus), the breadth of the palm exclusive of the thumb; equal to three Parian inches. 6. A span (spithama), the distance between the extremity of the thumb and that of the first finger when extended; equal to seven Parian inches. 7. A great span (dodrans), the distance between the extremity of the thumb and that of the little finger, when extended; equal to nine inches. 8. A foot (pes), measuring from the elbow to the base of the thumb; equal to 12 Parian inches. 9. A cubit (cubitus), from the elbow to the extremity of the middle finger; equal to 17 inches. 10. An arm length (brachium), from the armpit to the extremity of the middle finger; equal to 24 Parian inches, or two feet. 11. A fathom (orgya), the measure of the human stature; the distance between the extremities of the two middle fingers, when the arms are extended; equal, where greatest, to six feet.

Measure is also used to signify the cadence and time observed in poetry, dancing, and music, to render them regular and agreeable.

The different measures or metres in poetry, are the different MEASURE different manners of ordering and combining the quantities, or the long and short syllables. Thus, hexameter, pentameter, iambic, sapphic verses, &c. consist of different measures.

In English verses, the measures are extremely various and arbitrary, every poet being at liberty to introduce any new form that he pleases. The most usual are the heroic, generally consisting of five long and five short syllables; and verses of four feet; and of three feet and a caesura, or single syllable.

The ancients, by variously combining and transposing their quantities, made a vast variety of different measures. Of words, or rather feet of two syllables, they formed a spondee, consisting of two long syllables; a pyrrhic, of two short syllables; a trochee, of a long and a short syllable; and an iambic, of a short and a long syllable.

Of their feet of three syllables they formed a molossus, consisting of three long syllables; a tribrach, of three short syllables; a dactyl, of one long and two short syllables; and an anapest, of two short and one long syllable. The Greek poets contrived 124 different combinations or measures, under as many different names, from feet of two syllables to those of six.

in Music, the interval or space of time which the person who beats time takes between the rising and falling of his hand or foot, in order to conduct the movement, sometimes quicker, and sometimes slower, according to the kind of music, or the subject that is sung or played.

The measure is that which regulates the time we are to dwell on each note. See TIME.

The ordinary or common measure is one second, or 60th part of a minute, which is nearly the space between the beats of the pulse or heart; the systole, or contraction of the heart, answering to the elevation of the hand; and its diastole, or dilatation, to the letting it fall. The measure usually takes up the space that a pendulum of two feet and a half long, employs in making a swing or vibration. The measure is regulated according to the different quality or value of the notes in the piece; by which the time that each note is to take up is expressed. The fembreve, for instance, holds one rise and one fall; and this is called the measure or whole measure, sometimes the measure note, or time note; the minim, one rise, or one fall; and the crotchet, half a rise, or half a fall, there being four crotchets in a full measure.

MEASURE Binary, or Double, is that wherein the rise and fall of the hand are equal.

MEASURE Ternary, or Triple, is that wherein the fall is double to the rise; or where two minims are played during a fall, and but one in the rise. To this purpose, the number 3 is placed at the beginning of the lines, when the measure is intended to be triple; and a C, when the measure is to be common or double. This rising and falling of the hands was called by the Greeks άγωνις and στασις. St Augustine calls it plausus, and the Spaniards compas. See ARSIS and THESIS.

Powder MEASURES in Artillery, are made of copper, and contain from an ounce to 12 pounds: these are very convenient in a siege, when guns or mortars are loaded with loose powder, especially in ricochet firing, &c.