The Metric System of Weights and Measures; An Address Delivered Before the Convocation of the University of the State of New York, at Albany, August L

by Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872 edition. Excerpt: ... the metric system or weights and measures. I.--Recent Progress of Meirological Reform. Introduction. Gentlemen Of The Convocation: The sense of the right of property is an instinctive feeling, of which the existence is co-extensive with intelligence. We find abundant evidence of its presence in the lower animals as well as in ourselves. The dog, for instance, when he has satisfied his hunger, carefully stores up the superfluous bone of to-day, in prudent provision for the anticipated wants of the morrow. The beast, of the forest bears his prey to the lair which he has appropriated to himself; and the birds defend with spirit the nests which their own labors have constructed. In the social animals, as the beaver, and the social insects, as the ant and the bee, we see the principle more broadly developed. In these cases, the dwelling which the common toil has constructed or prepared, and the stores which the common industry has gathered, are the common property of all; and are-apportioned for the benefit of individuals upon principles which we probably do not understand. But the lower animals, though they appropriate to themselves articles which seem desirable, and assert a right of property in the objects thus appropriated, never propose to relinquish one possession in consideration of an equivalent offered in the form of another. They have no notion of commerce or exchange even in its simplest form. The commercial idea makes its first appearance in man. It is present in every stage of human civilization. Its earliest practical illustration is in the form of barter, in which objects supposed to have value are exchanged one against the other; or a single one of a certain description for several of another. But as wealth increases, ..

52 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2005

About the author

American educator Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard advocated higher opportunities for women as the president from 1864 of Columbia University to 1889; people named college in his honor.

Yale University in 1828 graduated this deaf scientist.

He worked as a classical and English scholar, a mathematician, a physicist, and a chemist. He occupied the position of professor of English literature at Alabama, also of mathematics and natural philosophy from 1838 to 1848, and of chemistry and natural history from 1848 to 1854. He died in city of New York.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederi...