>At 19:40 -0400 01/02/15, Joseph B. Reid wrote:
>H.Moreau in Le Système métrique, 1975, said that the decree of 7 April 1795
>defined the "Système métrique décimal" to distinguish it from the several
>"systèmes métriques" of former times that were not "décimal". The new
>meaures were officially named "républicaines".
Joe,
I attach the text (in French - no problem for you !) of the decree of
7 April 1795 : nowhere you will find the term "système métrique".
But I just found a text, dated 29 thermidor an XIII (1804) which
clearly mentions the metric system : "Tous les fonctionnaires et
directeurs d'administration publique, se rappelleront l'obligation
qui leur est imposée, d'employer dans leurs actes et instructions,
les dénominations du système métrique". This comes from a "règlement
de police" issued by the "préfet" (representative of the central
government) of the city of Rennes - incidentally, the city where I
live.
I suppose that similar instructions have been issued in the various
departments.
It is a pity that we cannot trace a document clearly making the name
of "système métrique" official !
Louis
%1795=04=7_Lois_du_18_germinal
1795=04=7_Lois_du_18_germinal
