An inquiry into the principles involved in the decimalization of the weights. measures & monies. of the United Kingdom; and into the practicability and expediency of an alteration in them. [With] Decimal coinage, a practical analysis of the comparative merits of one pound & tenpence as the ruling integer of a decimal currency for the United Kingdom, by J. Laurie, Volume 14

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Page 77 - That an humble address be presented to his Majesty, that he will be graciously pleased to give directions that a monument be erected in the Cathedral Church of ST.
Page 29 - These will probably continue to be used in practice. For Wine and Spirits, there are the Anker, Runlet, Tierce, Hogshead, Puncheon, Pipe, Butt, and Tun ; but these may be considered rather as the names of the casks in which such commodities are imported, than as expressing any definite number of gallons. It is the practice to gauge all such vessels, and to charge them according to their actual content. Flour is sold nominally by measure, but actually by weight, reckoned at 71b.
Page 76 - The denomination, or the value for which the coin is to pass current, is likewise in the breast of the king; and, if any unusual pieces are coined, that value must be ascertained by proclamation. In order to fix the value, the weight and the fineness of the metal are to be taken into consideration together. When a given weight of gold or silver is of a given fineness, it is then of the true standard...
Page 10 - May one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, the Straight Line or Distance between the Centres of the Two Points in the Gold Studs in the Straight Brass Rod, now in the Custody of the Clerk of the House of Commons, whereon the Words and Figures
Page 19 - ... of the said standard yard; and that one-third part of the said standard yard shall be a foot, and the twelfth part of such foot shall be an inch...
Page 10 - ... part of such pennyweight shall be a grain ; so that 5760 such grains shall be a troy pound, and that 7000 such grains shall be and they are hereby declared to be a pound avoirdupois, and that one-sixteenth part of the said pound avoirdupois shall be an ounce avoirdupois, and that one-sixteenth part of such ounce shall be a dram.
Page 78 - It is now nearly thirty years since our new monies of account, our coins, and our mint, have been established. The dollar, under its new stamp, has preserved its name and circulation. The cent has become tolerably familiarized to the tongue, wherever it has been made by circulation familiar to the hand. But the dime having been seldom, and the mille never presented in their material images to the people, have remained so utterly unknown, that now, when the recent coinage of dimes is alluded to in...
Page 76 - Thirdly, as money is the medium of commerce, it is the king's prerogative, as the arbiter of domestic commerce, to give it authority or make it current.
Page 78 - Spanish piece of eight, which had always been the coin most current among us, and to which we had given a name of our own — a dollar. Introducing the principle of decimal divisions, we said, a tenth part of our dollar shall be called a dime, a hundredth part a cent, and a thousandth part a mille. Like the French, we took all these new denominations from the Latin language; but instead of prefixing them as syllables to the generic term dollar, we reduced them to monosyllables, and made each of them...

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