By this weight are weighed Gold, Silver, and Jewels. This is the same as Troy weight, only having some different divisions. Apothecaries make use of this weight in compounding their Medicines; but they buy and sell their Drugs by Avoirdupois weight. AVOIR without wasting, though it be kept continually melted. But silver, not having the purity of gold, will not endure the fire like it; yet fine silver will waste but a very little by being in the fire any moderate time; whereas copper, tin, lead, &c. will not only waste, but may be calcined, or burnt to a powder. Both gold and silver, in their purity, are so very soft and flexible (like new lead, &c.), that they are not so useful, either in coin or otherwise (except to beat into leaf gold or silver), as when they are ⚫ allayed, or mixed and hardened with copper or brass. And though most nations differ, more or less, in the quantity of such allay, as well as in the same place at different times, yet in England the standard for gold and silver coin has been for a long time as follows-viz. That 22 parts of fine gold, and 2 parts of copper, being melted together, shall be esteemed the true standard for gold coin: And that 11 ounces and 2 pennyweights of fine silver, and 18 pennyweights of copper, being melted together, is esteemed the true standard for silver coin, called Sterling silver. *The original of all weights used in England, was a grain or corn of wheat, gathered out of the middle of the ear, and, being well dried, 32 of them were to make one pennyweight, 20 pennyweights VOL. I. E By this weight are weighed all things of a coarse or drossy nature, as Corn, Bread, Butter, Cheese, Flesh, Grocery Wares, and some Liquids; also all Metals, except Silver and Gold. oz dwt gr Note, that 116 Avoirdupois 14 11 15 Troy. loz 1 dr = = O 18 5 Hence it appears that the pound Avoirdupois contains 6999 grains, and the pound Troy 5760; the former of which augmented by half a grain becomes 7000, and its ratio to the latter is therefore very nearly as 700 to 576, that is, as 175 to 44; consequently 144 pounds Avoirdupois are very nearly equal to 175 pounds Troy: and hence we infer that the ounce Avoirdupois is to the ounce Troy as 175 to 192. weights one ounce, and 12 ounces one pound. But in latter times, it was thought sufficient to divide the same penny weight into 24 equal parts, still called grains, being the least weight now in common use; and from thence the rest are computed, as in the Tables above. By this measure, Land, and Husbandmen and Gardeners' work are measured; also Artificers' work, such as Board, Glass, Pavements, Plastering, Wainscoting, Tiling, Flooring, every dimension of length and breadth only. and When three dimensions are concerned, namely, length, breadth, and depth or thickness, it is called cubic or solid measure, which is used to measure Timber, Stone, &c. The cubic or solid Foot, which is 12 inches in length and breadth and thickness, contains 1728 cubic or solid inches, and 27 solid feet make one solid yard. DRY 5120 640 320 = 80 = 10 2 = 1 By this are measured all dry wares, as, Corn, Seeds, Roots, Fruit, Salt, Coals, Sand, Oysters, &c. The standard Gallon dry-measure contains 2684 cubic or solid inches, and the Corn or Winchester bushel 2150 cubic inches; for the dimensions of the Winchester bushel, by the Statute, are 8 inches deep, and 184 inches wide or in diameter. But the Coal bushel must be 194 inches in diameter; and 36 bushels, heaped up, make a London chaldron of coals, the weight of which is 3156lb Avoirdupois. 864 432 = 108 = 3 Hhd = 1 Butt = 2 = 1 Note, The Ale Gallon contains 282 cubic or solid inches. Note, By this are measured all Wines, Spirits, Strongwaters, Cyder, Mead, Perry, Vinegar, Oil, Honey, &c. The Wine Gallon contains 231 cubic or solid inches. And it is remarkable, that the Wine and Ale Gallons have the same proportion to each other, as the Troy and Ayoirdupois Pounds have; that is, as one Pound Troy is to one Pound Avoirdupois, so is one Wine Gallon to one Ale Gallon. |