On 2008/03/16, at 3:53 AM, James Frysinger wrote:
I have come across a bit of writing by Ferdinand Hassler that is
intriguing. Though this pertains to the survey of the east coast
of the U.S. being "suspended" in part due to Hassler's foreign
origins, it applies well I think to the issue of the metric system
being a "foreign" thing.
[quote]
The nation that shall exclude from itself the admission and use of
foreign talents and knowledge, must always remain behind in the
paths of civilization, and will appear comparatively barbarous, if
not really become so. Sciences, arts, and ideas for improvements,
are the common property of all nations--their mutual ties--and
cannot be successfully cultivated without free intercourse,
exchange, and intermixture... Every civilized nation of Europe has
contributed its share to that happy mixture of knowledge and ideas
of improvements, that has caused the character of this country to
rise to so high a standing.
[end quote]
Ferdinand R. Hassler
in a letter of 1827 January 08
subsequently published in the New York American
Dear Jim,
Many thanks for that quote from Ferdinand R. Hassler. I have included
it in the 'Metrication timeline' at http://www.metricationmatters.com/
docs/MetricationTimeline.pdf and I may include it in a future edition
of the Metrication matters newsletter.
With reference to the idea that the metric system is a 'foreign'
development', two issues should be considered:
1 The idea for a universal measure came from Bishop John Wilkins in
London in 1668. The metric system was invented in the English
language as part of the good bishop's desire to return our language,
including our measuring language and methods, to those used in the
Garden of Eden before 'The Fall'. He was motivated by providing
honesty in measurement. See the three Wilkins articles near the top
of this page: http://www.MetricationMatters.com/articles.html for
detailed information or go to http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/
2007/07/15/1978802.htm to see a news report.
2 The fact that we have a 'decimal' metric system is due in no small
part to the activities of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and to
a lesser degree, Benjamin Franklin. See: http://
www.metricationmatters.com/docs/MetricationTimeline.pdf for details
by searching for Franklin, Jefferson, and Washington.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has
helped thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the
modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they
now save thousands each year when buying, processing, or selling for
their businesses. Pat provides services and resources for many
different trades, crafts, and professions for commercial, industrial
and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and in the USA.
Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA, NIST,
and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See
http://www.metricationmatters.com/ for more metrication information,
contact Pat at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or to get the free
'Metrication matters' newsletter go to: http://
www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter/ to subscribe.
