METER, the basis of the "metrical" or modern French system of weights and measures, and the unit of length. The first suggestion of a change in the previous sys tern dates as far back as the time of Philippe le Bel; but up till 1790 no important change had been effected. On May 8, 1790, proposals were made by the French' government to the British, for the meeting of an equal number of members from the academy of sciences and the royal society of London, to determine the length of the simple pendulum vibrat ing seconds in lat. 45° at the level of the sea, with the view of making this the unit of a new system of measures. The British government, however, did not give this proposal a favorable reception, and it fell to the ground. The French government, impatient to effect a reform, obtained the appointment by the academy of sciences of a commission composed of Borda, Lagrange, Laplace, Monge, and Condorcet, to choose from the fol lowing three, the length of the pendulum, of the fourth part of the equator, and of the fourth part of the meridian, the one best fitted for their purpose. The commission. decided in favor of the last—resolving that the itool000 of a quadrant of the meridian (the distance from the equator to the pole, measured as along the surface of still water) be taken for the basis of the new system, and be called a " meter." Delambre and
Mechain were immediately charged with the measurement of the meridian between Dun kerque and Barcelona; and the result of their labors was referred to a committee of 20 members, 9 of whom were French, the rest having been deputed by the governments of Holland, Savoy, Denmark, Spain, Tuscany, and the Roman, Cisalpine, Ligurian, and Flelvetic republics. By this committee the length of the meter was found to be 443.296 Parisian lines, or 39.3707904 English inches; and standards of it and of the kilogram (see Glum) were c.onstructed, and deposited among tha archives of France, where they still remain. The " metrical system " received legal sanction Nov. 2, 1801. The.
following are the multiples and fractions of the meter which are In common nse. expressed in English measure: English Inches.
Millimeter .0393707904 Centimeter .393707904 Decimeter 3-93707904 'English Feet. English Yards.