The unit of measure is still that which must give law through
the whole system; and from whatever unit we set out, the coincidences
between the old and new ratios will be rare. All that can be done,
will be to choose such a unit as will produce the most of these. In
this respect the second rod has been found, on trial, to be far
preferable to the second pendulum.
MEASURES OF LENGTH.
Let the second rod, then, as before described, be the standard
of measure; and let it be divided into five equal parts, each of
which shall be called a foot; for, perhaps, it may be better
generally to retain the name of the nearest present measure, where
there is one tolerably near. It will be about one quarter of an inch
shorter than the present foot.
Let the foot be divided Let 10 feet make a decad;
into 10 inches; 10 decads one rood;
The inch into 10 lines; 10 roods a furlong;
The line into 10 points; 10 furlongs a mile.
SUPERFICIAL MEASURES.
Superficial measures have been estimated, and so may continue
to be, in squares of the measures of length, except in the case of
lands, which have been estimated by squares, called roods and acres.
Let the rood be equal to a square, every side of which is 100 feet.
Pages:
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136