2002-05-09
As wonderful as this seems to us as a good reason to adopt SI, it will have
no affect on the followers of the BWMA. The BWMA will argue that the
British units are the true form, dating back almost uncorrupted to the time
of Adam and Eve. They will claim that they have had a standard set of
weights and measures dating to the time of the Magna Charta, where there was
only one set of measures and not the mess you see below.
You have read in Tony Bennett's article the sour attitude his kind processes
regarding the events in France in the 1790's. I'm sure Bennett and the rest
of the BWMA would remark that the French should have adopted the British
units or at least set their livres, etc. to equal those of the British.
Designing a new system that would conquer the world and displace the
establish British units is considered an unforgivable evil in their minds.
This is their Armageddon and they are going to make the most of it. Be
prepared to fight a harsh battle!
John
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pat Naughtin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, 2002-05-08 23:44
Subject: [USMA:19987] Re: Some of you might find this interesting
Dear Joe and All,
For the benefit of new members to the USMA list I am posting a list here
that is based on the data that Talleyrand collected and distributed to
support his argument that measurement in France was a mess.
Talleyrand gathered this data and presented it to the Constituent National
Assembly of France on 1790 March 9. The information below is based on the
data Talleyrand presented.
It is no wonder that the French people were constantly frustrated by
measurements. Talleyrand found that there were:
Volume measures
24 different septiers: from 18.33 to 214.85 L
23 different boiseaux: from 2.54 to 102.3 L
15 different sacs: from 71.1 to 145.8 L
9 different tonneaux: from 242.1 to 1 944 L
9 different razi�res: from 71.1 to 143.95 L
6 different pots: from 0.94 to 2.26 L
5 different barriques: from 174.3 to 238.05 L
3 different veltes: from 6.45 to 9.22 L
3 different queues: from 360.25 to 411.3 L
3 different quartauts; from 9.32 to 101.3 L
3 different muids: from 383.6 to 2 147 L
3 different mines: from 43.88 to 89.5 L
3 different emines: from 25.57 to 409.2 L
3 different charges: from 57.2 to 460.3 L
2 different cartes: 15.99 and 47.9 L
2 different bichets: 184.15 and 191.8 L
2 different barals: 25.33 and 37.3 L
2 different an�es: 25.57 and 191.8 L
Length measures
14 different aunes: from 676.3 to 1 347.2 mm
13 different pieds: from 270.7 to 341.8 mm
5 different canes: from 792 to 2 011.3 mm
Mass measures
12 different livres: from 344.13 to 518.88 g
And the values of all of these these varied from village to village, from
county to county, and from country to country. In some cities, there was
even a different set of weights and measures for use outside the city walls
(extra muros) than the set used inside the gates (intra muros). Following
the presentation of this data Talleyrand proposed to the Constituent
National Assembly of France that they develop a new measuring system.
As if these problems were not enough, many measures were still based on
various body parts, such as a foot, a hand for horses, or a cubit in the
building trade. And worst of all, in the eyes of many French citizens,
control of the values of all of these measures were controlled by the
aristocracy; there were aristocrats who insisted that their own foot or the
king�s foot be used as a standard. There was even disputes between the
church and the aristocracy, each of them having available a set of measures
that their clients could use; naturally the two sets were different.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
CAMS - Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist
- United States Metric Association
ASM - Accredited Speaking Member
- National Speakers Association of Australia
Member, International Federation for Professional Speakers
--
on 2002/05/08 00.13, Joseph B. Reid at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Further to my USMA 19955 I have found another clue that the metric system
> has Christian roots.
>
> The Bishop of Autun, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-P�rigord, on 9 March
> 1790 distributed to all the members of the *Assembl�e Nationale
> Constituante* a proposition on weights and measures. He listed the
chaotic
> mess of measures in use in France and proposed the seconds pendulum as
unit
> of length. He resigned as Bishop of Autun on 21 January 1791 and in March
> was placed under the ban of the church by the pope.
>
> On 8 May 1790 the Assembl�e Nationale Constituante requested the *Academie
> des Sciences* to propose a revision of the weights and measures. This led
> to the production of the metric system
>
> Joseph B.Reid
> 17 Glebe Road West
> Toronto M5P 1C8 Tel. 416 486-6071
>
