prevailed, are the want of a fixed standard The standard of linear measure being thus established and ascertained, the measures of capacity are easily deduced from it, by determining the number of cubical inches which they should contain. The

the measures of capacity, by ascertaining the weight of a given bulk of some substance of which the specific gravity is invariable. Fortunately that substance which is most generally diffused over the world, answers this condition. The specific gravity of pure water has been found to be invariable at the same temperature; and by a very remarkable coincidence, a cubic foot of pure water (or 1,728 cubical inches). at the temperature of 564• by Fahrenheit's thermometer, has been ascertained to weigh exactly 1,000 ounces avoirdupois, and therefore the weight of 27 648 inches is equal to one pound avoirdupois.

in nature with which the standards of measure might at all times be easily compared, the want of a simple mode of connecting the measures of length with those of capacity and weight, and also the want of pro-standard of weight must be derived from per tables of equalization, by means of which the old measures might have readily been converted into the new standards. Some rude attempts seem to have been made to establish a mode of connecting the measures of capacity with weight. In an act of the 51st of Henry Third, intituled, "Assisa Panis et Cervisiæ," it is declared, "than an English penny called the Sterling, round without clipping, should weigh | 32 grains of wheat, well dried, and gathered out of the middle of the ear; and 20 pence to make an ounce, 12 ounces a pound, eight pounds a gallon of wine, and eight gallons of wine a bushel of London." Nothing however can be more uncertain and inaccurate than this method of determining the size of a gallon measure by the weight of a certain number of grains of wheat, which must vary according to the season and the nature of the soil and climate where they are produced.

This circumstance forms the groundwork of all the succeeding observations of your committee.

Although in theory the standard of weight is derived from the measures of capacity, yet in practice it will be found more convenient to reverse this order.

In order to obtain some information as The weight of water contained by any to what were the best means of comparing vessel affords the best measure of its capathe standards of length, with some invaria-city, and is more easily ascertained than ble natural standard, your committee proceeded to examine Dr. W. Hyde Wollaston, Secretary to the Royal Society, and Professor Playfair of Edinburgh.

From the evidence of these gentlemen, it appears that the length of a pendulum making a certain number of vibrations in a given portion of time, will always be the same in the same latitude; and that the standard English yard has been accurately compared with the length of the pendulum which vibrates sixty times in a minute in the latitude of London.

The length of this pendulum is 39′13047 inches, of which the yard contains 36.

the number of cubical inches by gauging.

Your committee therefore recommend that the measures of capacity should be ascertained by the weight of pure or distilled water contained by them, rather than by the number of cubical inches, as recommended in the 4th resolution of the committee of 1758.

Your committee are also of opinion, that the standard gallon, from which all the other measures of capacity should be derived, should be made of such a size as to contain such a weight of pure water of the temperature of 564 as should be expressed in a whole number of pounds avoirdupois, and such also as would admit of the quart and pint containing integer numbers of ounces, without any fractional parts.

The French government have adopted as the standard of their measures, a portion of an are of the meridian, which was accurately measured. The standard metre, If the gallon is made to contain 10 which is the 10,000,000th part of the quad-pounds of water, the quart will contain 40 rant of the meridian, which is engraved on ounces, and the pint 20. the platina scale preserved in the National This gallon recommended by your comInstitute, has been compared with the En-mittee, will contain 276.48 cubical inches, glish standard yard, by Professor Pictet of Geneva, and was found to exceed it, at the temperature of 32 by S-702 inches; and at the temperature of 55°, by 3.3828 inches. The standard yard may therefore be at any time ascertained, by a comparison either with an arc of the meridian, or the length of the pendulum, both of which may be considered as invariable.

being nearly 8 per cent. larger than the gallon or 8th part of the Winchester bushel as fixed by the act of the 18th and 14th of William and Mary, cap. 5, which contains 268.803 cubical inches, and the bushel will contain 2211·84 cubical inches, intead of 2150.42.

Your committee are of opinion, that this departure from the corn measure, which is

Commercial Chronicle.

prac

In London the general dispersion of intelligence, whether foreign or domestic, atfords but rare opportunities for secret information to be acted on. It is always hazardous. If detected, it acts as a principle of resistance another time: nay, we have known persons who were found-it was by accident—to receive expresses from suspicious ports, suffer much in the confidence of those who had dealt much and

The out ports are in the habit of watching the turn of affairs in London; and a report apparently credible in itself, and makes a deep impression. resting on good authority from London,

STATE OF TRADE. Lloyd's Coffee House, Sept. 20, 1814. Whether Speculation be a good thing in itself, or whether the middle man-for such is the Speculator-be an injurious excrescence, growing out of the superfluous im-long with them. portations of commerce, or productions of manufacture, is a question not to be hastily decided. In the struggle between buyer and seller, it often happens that valuable commodities could not possibly be sold, unless some third person stepped in to purchase them, at a rate on which he hopes Since our last, the effect of report has hereafter to obtain a profit. If these could been fully felt, especially in the Cotton not be sold, how could the man who ma-market, and other produce of the United nufactured them obtain a livelihood? The States of America. Towards the close of money for which he sells them is absolutely last month, government seized four vessels necessary to his existence. On the other laden with cotton, which had arrived at hand, the Speculator who has purchased Liverpool, under the suspicion that they the whole, or so great a proportion as is were American property; they were speed. tnatamount to the whole, of a necessary arily released, but not till the market for the ticle, has advantage over the mau who week was lost. Since that the market has must supply his necessities by buying; and been again greatly affected by a surmise, he now fixes the price to suit himself. Peror expectation, that the pending negocia tion between Britain and America was haps, it is the extreme to which the tice may be carried by avarice, rather than broken oif:-broken off it was not, but the principle itself that is blameable. To may be considered as suspended, and suit his convenience, the seller may, occathis is no more than might be expected, when the course of events since the comsionally, very properly accept a price something below what he ought to insist on; missioners left America is considered. They and to obtain what he wants without fur- could not possibly have received instruc ther delay or trouble, the purchaser may, tions to meet a state of things not in the occasionally, give something more than at a contemplation of their principal. Be that more favourable opportunity. If the midas it might, the active speculators took the dle man who employs his own time in sav- opportunity to buy up at improved prices, ing the time of buyer and seller, demands almost all the American articles they could but a fair compensation for his trouble, it meet with. Cottons, especially, felt the is clear that this compensation is not loss impulse, and rose with great rapidity.— to the public: for, to say the least, the loss of time and opportunity to buyer and seller, would, in all probability be to each as much as it is to him; and this double interval which he saves, to them, is in the mean while employed to their own personal benefit, and that of the public. The same is true of the inconvenience attending the prompt obtaining of money. The turn in his favour may fairly be granted to the middle man, by both parties-buyer and seller: his benefit to them, entitles him to demand some benefit from them.

The difficulty is, to determine what bounds to set to Speculation. The iniquity is, when to raise or lower the market, false reports are raised, and the honest are duped; when plans are laid to entrap the unwary, and those who are to be the prey, are marked and injured,-sometimes ruined.

COTTONS have since somewhat lowered, the heat of speculation being over. Surinams were as high as 2s. 10 d. they fell to 2s. 8.; at this price, or in a ratio proportioned to it, probably, not less than 10,000 bags were sold in one week. Sea Islands cotton fetched at Liverpool, (where the fluctuations have been the most cousiderable,) from 9s. 7d. to 4s. 2d. The public is waiting to see the result of these spe culations: those most deeply concerned put a very good countenance on the matter, and hold to their own prices; others think that they will find in the issue they have burnt their fingers. In the mean while, some of the Manchester manufacturers have slackened their works, and reported stopping of operations, till the price lowers. We hope this will prove neither extensive nor lasting.

The price of Dye-woods has been steady, but the holders keep firmly to their prices. The accumulation of these articles during a loug period of time, does not allow of spe❘ culative movements. The stock of Logwood, for instance, exceeds 12,000 tons : of Fustic above 2500 tons. However, the demand is increasing in the country; and the inference is fair, in behalf of mauufactures in which those articles are employed.

SUGARS have been lately a considerable article of speculation. They have in consequence felt some fluctuations not correspondent to the real demand. In the early part of the month the demand was great, the sales went off briskly, although they were extensive. Lately they have abated, and the spirit of enquiry has somewhat

failed.

PROVISIONS are somewhat more in de

mand for Naval purposes. Good fresh Beef is wanted: good Pork is in demand; the holders expect a rise in the price. Inferior Bacon neglected: prime very acceptable. Irish butter a short supply: the The refined market, however, is improv-high price has checked the market. The ing: good and fine lumps 2s. to 3s. higher. Order in Council of 7th March last, perBastards scarce. The additions brought mitting the importation of provisions without payment of duty is expired. This will by the fleets do not prove of that extent to glut the market. Thus shews the augment- check the importation into this country ed consumption at home, as well as the from France of cows, calves, hogs, poultry, hitherto unsupplied demand abroad. In eggs, game, sheep, lambs, beef, mutton, fact, it is thought that the supply sent in- pork, hams, tongues, butter, cheese, postantly as the continental ports were open, tatoes, rice, and other articles, by which after lying by partially for a time, has the prices were kept down in the towns sibeen dispersed over Europe: and there is tuated un the channel. The following are reason to infer that the consumption the importation duties on the undermentioned articles:-Butter, 5s. 1 d. per cwt. throughout Europe, will prove to be considerably increased, from what it formerly bacon and hams 41. 11s. 04d. ditto; eggs, was. To say the least, cargoes now sent 93d. for every 120; cheese, 4s. 44d. per meet with more ready acceptance, and cwt.; lard, 7s. 11d. ditto; tongues, 1s. 11 d. find channels of trausit, either old or new. COFFEE has been in unprecedented demand. Most extensive sa es have been brought forward, such as formerly would have overwhelmed the market: they are now taken off at a small depreciation, say Dutch, 23. to 4s.; Jamaica, Ss. to 5s. However, they do go off, and some very fine specimens have realized as high as Dutch, 100s. to 108s. Jamaica, 122s. to 122s. 6d. Dominica fine middling, 119s.

Cocoa commands a ready sale, if fine: the quantity at market is chiefly inferior: the request likely to increase.

RICE has lately experienced a briskness from the arrival of some good Carolina. Superior sold freely from 75s. 6d. to 76s. 6d. The quantity of East India on hand is considerable: not in demand.

TOBACCO is gradually getting into few hands they not only keep up the price, but raise the price; the consequence is a small demand. The trade purchase just what they want for immediate use, but no more; the holders demand further advances as the stock on hand is small.

the dozen.

The average price of Sugar in last Saturday night's Gazette, was 72s. 6d.

-of Wheat per quarter, 79s. Export and bounty price is 77s. 8d.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT.

It is not the value of Premiums, nor the extent of their immediate operation, nor the number of the members, that can

give consequence to an AGRICULTURAL SoCIETY; these are comparatively insignificant. It is the spirit of improvement universally diffused over a little spot, and in perpetual operation by every head and by every hand, that forms the standard by which it is to be estimated. Whatever theory may have suggested, or practice accomplished elsewhere, the Members of such Society know-for they have a public library of Agricultural Writings ;-- while every manageable spot in the parish is an occasional scene of experiment, the whole is an agricultural school, and a pattern worthy of being followed every where.