NOTE. Gold is tried by fire, and reckoned in carats, or the 24th part of any quantity. Such gold as will abide the fire without loss is accounted 24 carats fine; if it lose 2 carats, it is called 22 carats fine, &c. A pound of silver which loses nothing in trial, is 12 ounces fine. Alloy is the base metal mixed with gold or silver, which abates its fineness. 175 Troy oz. are equal to 192 Avoirdupois oz., and 175 lbs. Troy are equal to 144 lbs. Avoirdupois. 1 lb. Troy grains, and 1 lb. Avoirdupois 7000 grains. 3. AVOIRDUPOIS WEIGHT. - 5760 By Avoirdupois are weighed all coarse and drossy goods, groceries, bread, tallow, hay, leather, and all metals, except gold and NOTE.-In Avoirdupois Weight, several other denominations are used in particular goods, viz. 90. What is a Carat? pois? --91. What is the difference between Troy and Avoirdu-92. What is the use of Avoirdupois ?- -93. Repeat the Table.--94. What other denominations are used in Avoirdupois? 4. APOTHECARIES' WEIGHT. By this weight, apothecaries and physicians mix their medicines -but they buy and sell their commodities by avoirdupois. Note.-The Scotch allow one English yard in every score yards.All Scotch and frish linens are bought by the English or American yard, which are the same, and all Dutch linens by the Ell Flemish ; but are all sold in America by the American yard. 6. LONG MEASURE. The use of Long Measure is to measure the distances of places, or any thing, where length is considered without regard to breadth. NOTE.-Distances are also measured with a chain, 4 rods long, con † Or French toise, used in measuring the depth of water and cordage, and is equal to 6 feet 4 inches English measure. 100. In what other way are distances measured?- -101. What is a chain ?-102. What a furlong?- 103. A fathom?-104. What is a league?105. What is a geometrical pace?-106. What are the divisions of time? NOTE. The civil Solar year of 365 days being short of the true, by 5h. 48m. 57s. occasioned the beginning of the year to run forward through the season nearly one day in four years; on this account, Julius Cæsar ordained that one day should be added to February every fourth year, by causing the 24th day to be reckoned twice; and because this 24th day was the sixth, (sextilis) before the kalends of March, there were in this year two of these sextiles, which gave the name of Bissextile to this year, which being thus corrected, was, from thence, called the Julian year. 8. MOTION, OR CIRCULAR MEASURE. This Measure is used in reckoning latitude and longitude; also in computing the revolution of the earth and other planets round the sun. *The Zodiack is the great circle of the Sphere, containing the 12 signs, through which the Sun passes. 107. What is the origin of the Julian Year?-108. What is a degree?-109. What is the use of the table of Motion? |