BOOK of the Indian, the Pacific, and the Eastern, extends from XXIII. pole to pole. The American navigators have already cross ed the whole of this aquatic hemisphere-already British colonists have begun to settle the innumerable islands which form, to the south-east of Asia, a fifth part of the world; and Australasia, the most delightful country of the globe, will probably, ere many ages pass away, have reached the highest pinnacle of civilization. Let another Cadmus carry thither that torch of science which enlightens Europe! Let colonists, fraught with our learning, found a new Greece in Otaheite, or the Pelew Islands, then those rising grounds, which now produce only aromatic herbs, will be covered with towns and palaces; bays now shaded by a forest of palms, will display a forest of masts; gold and marble will be extracted from the bowels of mountains as yet untouched by the miner; coral and pearls will be dragged from the bottom of the sea to adorn the new capitals; and one day, perhaps, Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, will find dangerous and successful rivals in countries, whose existence, at this moment, scarcely occupies their attention. Thus, in the history of the human race, the past, the present, and the future, are connected with the position of the great seas of the globe, and with the progress of navigation. TABLES. TABLES OF MATHEMATICAL GEOGRAPHY. I. COMPARISON OF FRENCH AND ENGLISH WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. Units which form the Bases of the New French System compared with the Weights and Measures of England. New Weights and Measures of France compared with the Old and also with English Weights and Measures. Centilitre Cubic lines. 0,2232108 English cubic feet. 353,1714693 35,31714693 3,531714693 Cubic inches. 61,0280264 6,10280284 Cubic lines. 1054,564296 The Litre, which is the unit for measures of capacity = 2,113 English pints, wine measure; and therefore the Hectolitre equals 26,4 such gallons-35 litres = a Winchester bushel. This measure is used for fire-wood, stone, &c. the same as the kilometre in the preceding measure. The stere is French New Measure of Time compared with the Old or Usual System. French New Measure of the Circle compared with the old or Com mon System. Old Weights and Measures of France. LONG MEASURE.-The toise or fathom of France is equal to six feet French, the foot to 12 inches French, and the inch to 12 lines, each subdivided into 12 points; 76 French feet are nearly equal to 81 English feet; or, more accurately, 40,000 French feet, inches, or lines, equal 42,638 English feet, inches or lines. Thus 1 French foot equals 1.06597 English, or 12, 78934 English inches; and hence one English foot equals 11,26 French inches. The Paris aune was 4617 English inches. In the old French road measure, the lieue, or league, is two French miles, each mile 1000 toises; hence the French league equals two English miles, three furlongs, and 15 poles. The French league, however, in different parts of France, has been applied to different distances. The marine league, (20 to a degree,) equals 2853 toises, or 6081 English yards; and the astronomical league, (25 to a degree,) equals 2282 French toises, or 1865 English yards. The arpent, or acre of land, contained in general 100 square perches; but the perch varied in different provinces. The old French weight for gold and silver (called poids de marc,) makes the pound or liver contain 2 marcs, 16 onces, 128 gros, 384 deniers, or 9216 grains. The French marc 3780 grains Troy weight. For commercial weight, the poids de marc was likewise used, and the quintal of 100 livers = 108 lb. avoirdupois, very nearly. Weights and measures, however, varied considerably in the different provinces. Corn measure was the muid of 12 setiers, 24 mines, 48 minots, or 144 bushels. Wine measure was the muid of 36 setiers, 144 quartes, or 288 pints. |