The usual value of gold is nearly £4 an ounce, or 2d a grain; and that of silver is nearly 58 an ounce. Also, any quantity of gold is to the same weight of standard silver, nearly as 15 to 1, or more nearly as 15 and 1-14th to 1. Pure gold, free from mixture with other metals, usually called fine gold, is of such purity of nature, that it will endure the fire without wasting, though it be kept continually melted. But silver, not having the purity of gold, will not endure the fire like it: yet fine silver will waste but a very little by being in the fire any moderate time; whereas copper, tin, lead, &c, will not only waste, but may be calcined or burnt to a powder. Both gold and silver, in their purity, are so very soft and flexible (like new lead, &c.) that they are not so useful either in coin or other ise, (except to beat into leaf gold or silver) as when they are alloyed, or mixed and hardened with copper or brass. And though most nations differ more or less in the quantity of such alloy, as well as in the same place at different times, yet in England the standard for gold and silver coin has been for a long time as follows, viz, That 22 parts of fine gold, and 2 parts of copper, being melted together, shall be esteemed the true standard for gold coin: And that il ounces and 2 pennyweights of fine silver, and 18 pennyweights of copper, being melted together, is esteemed the true standard for silver coin, called Sterling silver. • The original of all weights used in England, was a grain or corn of wheat, gathered out of the middle of the ear, and being well dried, 32 of them were to make one penuyweight, 20 pennyweights one our ev, and 12 ounces one pound. But in later times, it was thought sufficient to divide the same pennyweight into 24 equal parts, still called grains, being the least weight now in cominon use; and from thence the rest are computed, as in the Tables above. B This is the same as Troy weight, only having some different divisions. Apothecaries make use of this weight in compounding their medicines; but they buy and sell their drugs by Avoirdupois weight. 16 = 1 qr. cwt. 28 = 256 = ton. By this Weight, are weighed all things of a coarse or drossy nature, as Corn, Bread, Butter, Cheese, Flesh, Grocery Wares, and some Liquids; also all Metals except Silver and Gold oz. dwt. gr. Note, that I lb. Avoirdupois = 14 11 15 Troy. 10890 - 1210 = 40 = 1 Acr. Pole. Rd. Acr. 6272640 = 43560 = 4840 = 160 = 4 = 1 By this measure, Land, Husbandmen and Gardeners work are measured; also Artificers works, such as Board, Glass, Pavements, Plastering, Wainscotting, Tiling, Flooring, and every dimension of length and breadth only. When three dimensions are concerned, namely, length, breadth, and depth or thickness, it is called cubic or solid measure, which is used to measure Timber, Stone, &c. The cubic or solid Foot, which is 12 inches in length and breadth and thickness, contains 1728 cubic or solid inches, and 27 solid feet make one solid yard. 5120 = 640 = 320 = 80 - 10 = 2 = 1 By this are measured all dry wares, as Corn, Seeds, Roots, Fruits, Salt, Coals, Sand, Oysters, &c. The standard Gallon dry-measure contains 2684 cubic or solid inches, and the Corn or Winchester Bushel 2150 cubic inches; for the dimensions of the Winchester bushel, by the Statute, are 8 inches deep, and 18 inches wide or in diameter. But the Coal bushel must be 191⁄2 inches in diameter; and 36 bushels, heaped up, make a London chaldron of coals, the weight of which is 3136 lb. Avoirdupois. Note, The Ale Gallon contains 232 cubic or solid inches, 672 = 336 = 1008 = 63 1 Pun. = } = 1 Pi. 2 = 11 = 1 Tun. = 3 = 2 = 1 84 = 2 Note. By this are measured all Wines, Spirits, Strong waters, Cyder, Mead, Perry, Vinegar, Oil, Honey, &c. The Wine Gallon contains 231 cubic or solid inches. And it is remarkable that the Wine and Ale Gallons have the same proportion to each other, as the Troy and Avoirdupois Pounds have; that is, as one Pound Troy is to one Pound Avoirdupois, so is one Wine Gallon to one Ale Gallon. By the late Act of Parliament for Uniformity of Weights and Measures, which commenced its operation on the 1st of January, 1826, the chief part of the weights and measures are allowed to remain as they were; the Act simply prescribing scientific modes of determining them, in case they should be lost. The pound troy contains 5760 grains. The pound avoirdupois contains 7000 grains. The imperial gallon contains 277-274 cubic inches. The corn bushel eight times the above, or 2218·192 cubic inches. Hence with respect to Ale, Wine, and Corn, it will be expedient to possess a TABLE OF FACTORS, For converting old measures into new, and the contrary. N. B. For reducing the prices, these numbers must all be reversed. RULES FOR REDUCTION. I. When the Numbers are to be reduced from a Higher Denomination to a Lower MULTIPLY the number in the highest denomination by as many of the next Lower as make an integer, or 1, in that higher; to this product add the number, if any, which was in this lower denomination before, and set down the amount. Reduce this amount in like manner, by multiplying it by as many of the next lower as make an integer of this, taking in the odd parts of this lower, as before. And so proceed through all the denominations to the lowest; so shall the uum |
