where the same sum will consequently effect the greatest, measure of relief to the colony.  It is our wish, as undoubtedly it must be yours, that the monies we furnish be applied strictly in the line they prescribe.  We understand, however, that there are in the hands of our citizens, some bills drawn by the administration of the colony, for articles of subsistence delivered there.  It seems just, that such of them should be paid as were received before fide bona notice that that mode of supply was not bottomed on the funds furnished to you by the United States, and we recommend them to you accordingly.

I have the the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CXXVIII.—­TO MR. RUTHERFORD, December 25, 1792

TO MR. RUTHERFORD.

Philadelphia, December 25, 1792.

Sir,

I have considered with all the attention which the shortness of the time would permit, the two motions which you were pleased to put into my hands yesterday afternoon, on the subject of weights and measures, now under reference to a committee of the Senate, and will take the liberty of making a few observations thereon.

The first, I presume, is intended as a basis for the adoption of that alternative of the report on measures and weights, which proposed retaining the present system, and fixing its several parts by a reference to a rod vibrating seconds, under the circumstances therein explained:  and to fulfil its object, I think the resolutions there proposed should be followed by this; ’that the standard by which the said measures of length, surface, and capacity shall be fixed, shall be an uniform cylindrical rod of iron, of such length, as in latitude forty-five degrees, in the level of the ocean, and in a cellar or other place of uniform natural temperature, shall perform its vibrations in small and equal arcs, in one second of mean time, and that rain-water be the substance, to some definite mass of which the said weights shall be referred.’  Without this, the committee employed to prepare a bill on those resolutions, would be uninstructed as to the principle by which the Senate mean to fix their measures of length, and the substance by which they will fix their weights.

The second motion is a middle proposition between the first and the last alternatives in the report.  It agrees with the first in some of the present measures and weights, and with the last, in compounding and dividing them decimally.  If this should be thought best, I take the liberty of proposing the following alterations of these resolutions.

2nd.  For ‘metal’ substitute ‘iron.’  The object is to have one determinate standard.  But the different metals having different degrees of expansibility, there would be as many different standards as there are metals, were that generic term to be used.  A specific one seems preferable, and ’iron ’the best, because the least variable by expansion.