MR. J. B. SMITHsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he is aware that there is a Bill before the Congress of the United States of America to adopt the metrical system of weights and measures; and, seeing that the metrical system is in use in France, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, and Italy, and that Russia has intimated her intention also to adopt it if England adopts it, whether, with the view to facilitate the growing intercourse between the nations of the world, the noble Lord will take the opportunity of returning peace in Europe to invite a congress of nations to consider the practicability of adopting an international system of monies, weights, and measures?
LORD STANLEY,in reply, said, he understood that there was before the United States Congress a Bill of the kind to which the hon. Gentleman referred; but he had not heard what had become of it, whether it had been passed, rejected, or was still in suspense. As to the second part of the question, the hon. Member was doubtless aware that he (Lord Stanley) had long been personally friendly to the introduction of a metrical system of weights and measures, believing it to be the best and most convenient system. But he could not be blind to the fact that considerable difficulty stood in the way of the adoption of so extensive a change; and he need hardly remind the hon. Gentleman of what was sufficiently obvious—namely, that until they had themselves adopted such a system it would be impossible for them to call an international congress in order to press its adoption upon other countries.