The Polynesian. [volume], December 11, 1841, Image 2

About The Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii) 1840-1841

Image provided by: University of Hawaii at Manoa; Honolulu, HI

                
T 11 i: V 0 LYN KS I A N.
December
el; 25-100 or bushel; 12.V1000 or J
bushel ; 10-100 bushel or gallon ; 50-100
or J gallon; 23-100 or gallon ; 10-100
gallon; 5-100 gallon; 4-100 gallon;
3-100 gallon; 2-100 gallon; and 1-100
gallon. 1-100 of a gallon is equal to
of a gill nearly ; and in purchasing a half
point of oil it would be us easy to ask for
0 cents of a gallon, as it is to ask for half
a pint.
5. Measures or Fouck of Gravity
or Weujiit. Properly speaking, there
should be no other scale of weight than
avoirdupois ; and there seems to be no
reason for more, except ancient usage,
which originated when particular branch
es of commerce were in their infancy.
But when we consider that both the old
and new coinage of Great Britain and this
country, have been uniformly estimated
by Troy weight, as well as all medical
prescriptions or formulae, under a pecul
iar subdivision, and that these weights are
required to be used only by a very limited
number of persons, we shall be very
strongly disposed to preserve them.
The unity or integral base of commer
cial or avoirdupois weight, might be de
nominated a pound, and be equal in
weight to two pounds of our present
weight. It could then be divided into
tenths, hundredths, thousandths, &c,
which might also be expressive of any
other fractional parts of a pound that
might occur. Then one hundred weight
would be equal to 100 lbs., and one ton
would be equal to 1000 lbs., or 2000 lbs.
of our present weight. The terms quar
ters, stone, ounces, drams, &c, could then
be very conveniently dispensed with.
The old system could, at once, be con
verted into the new, as the pound of the
former would be just half that of the lat
ter ; and the other divisions could readily
be reduced to the decimal notation.
Under this improved system, the weights
that would be requisite for the common
purposes of weighing, would consist of
25 lbs.; 20 lbs.; 10 lbs.; 5 lbs.; 4 lbs;
3 lbs ; 2 lbs.; 1 lb.; 50-100 or lb.; 40
100 lb.; 30-100 lb.; 25-100 or lb.; 20
100 lb.; 10-100 lb.; 9-100 lb.; 8-100 lb.;
7-100 lb.; G-100lb.; 5-100 lb.; 4-100 lb.;
3-100 lb.; 2-10011).; and 1-100 lb. The
ten latter weights could very conveniently
be substituted by our cents, if they were
coined of the weight of 1-100 of a pound
each. 1-100 of a pound would be equal
to of an ounce of our present weight
nearly ; and, in making small purchases,
it would be to call for an ounce.
We now make some remarks upon a
subject which grows out of the preceding,
though not intimately connected with it,
namely, determining the strength of dis
tilled spirits. It is a matter of surprise
that the governments of Great Britain and
the United States, have never devised a
more equitable and intelligible mode of
testing the degrees of strength of spiritu
ous liquors, than the modes in present
use. It would be the means of adding
immense sums to their revenues, and
would enable those engaged in this branch
of commerce, to regulate their prices in
proportion to the values of the articles in
which they traffic. There is no reason,
either practical or philosophical, why al
cohol, when employed as the base for the
standard of spirituous liquors, should not
be absolute, or totally deprived of water.
A definite mixture of alcohol and water
is as invariable in its value, as absolute
alcohol, and can be more readily, and
with equal accuracy, identified by its spe
cific gravity, the only quality or condition
to which recourse can be had for the prac
tical purposes of determining the propor
tion of standard spirit present. Hence,
the intrinsic value of a spirituous liquor, is
in proportion to the quantity of absolute
alcohol it contains ; and the more imper
fect the instrument for determining this
quality, the greater or less will be the
benefit or detriment to the dealers in this
commodity.
The denominations, first proof, second
proof, fourth proof, Holland proof, h'O per
cent, above proof, (i0 per cent, below
proof, &c, arc arbitrary terms, used in
various countries to express certain de
grees of strength of spirituous liquors.
Xcaily all the instruments invented for
this purpose disagree in this respect, and
are generally based on absurd and ine
quitable principles. Hitherto, no instru
ment has been constructed, which per
forms its office with more ease and expe
dition, and with less error, than the co
mctrc of M. Gay-Lussac. It has been
used as the standard of France, Sweden,
and Prussia, for fifteen years ; and, by a
slight modification of the tables which ac
company it, it might readily be adopted
into Great Britain and the United States,
from which incalculable advantages might
be derived. The scale of this instrument
is divided into 100 parts called degrees,
which denote the per ccntage or hun
dredth parts of absolute alcohol of a spe
cific gravity of 0.7947 at 15 centigrades,
or 59 degrees of Fahrenheit. When the
instrument is plunged into distilled water
of the above-named temperature, the sur
face of the liquid is cut by 0 on the
scale, and when plunged into alcohol of
the specific gravity and temperature as
above, it stands at 100?. If it be plunged
into a mixture of equal volumes of the
same kind of alcohol and distilled water
at the said temperature, it will stand at
50, which is regarded as proof-spirit or
Holland proof. After this principle of
graduation, the strength of a spirituous
liquor may be known by the number of
degrees, or hundredths, by measure, of
absolute alcohol that the liquor contains
at 59 F. If it were desirable to know
the true quantity of absolute alcohol that
a given quantity of spirits contains, of that
temperature, it would only be necessary
to plunge the instrument into the liquor
and multiply the number of degrees at
which it would stan J bv the capacity of
cask, and the result would denote the
quantity required. Suppose, for example,
a cask containing 120 gallons, be filled
with a spirituous liquor in which the in
strument would stand at 55 at 59 F.;
120 multiplied by 0.55 will produce GG,
the number of gallons of absolute alcohol
present.
The instrument is sometimes occom
panied, by a book of rules and tables for
proving liquors, at various degrees of tem
perature, by the centigrade thermometer,
and, likewise, for mixing liquors of differ
ent degrees of strength, &c. The centi
grade thermometer should be employed
in preference to that of Fahrenheit, as it
is graduated agreeebly to our new system.
We are happy to learn that the " llegents
of the University " have adopted the cen
tigrade at the several colleges and acade
mies in the State of New York, and it is
our ardent wish that its use might become
general throughout the world.
The foregoing system could undoubt
edly be brought into practice, in a very
few years, if a law were passed and rigid
ly carried into effect, that would nullify
all legal suits other than those contracted
agreeably to the new system. Persons
who are known to keep in their posses
sion weights and measures different from
those provided by law, and to buy or sell
by the same, should be prohibited from
recovering in any legal suit that might be
instituted by them.
We will close by stating a few of the
more prominent advantages and disadvan
tages of a perfectly decimal system of
weights, measures, &c. The chief ad
vantages are :
1. All computations would be perform-
In the monetary system nf Francn tlm
J J ------ v m t'ivv IIV
coins, if they arc accurately minted,' servo
also for weights. Thus, 5 francs in copper,
501' in billon, 200f in standard silver, or 3 1001
in stanaara gniu, snouiu weigh one Kilo
gramme or 1000 grammes.
c(l by the same rules, as in the arithme
tic of whole numbers.
2. The application of logarithms would
bo materially facilitated, and would be
come universal, as also that of the sliding
rule.
2. The number of good commercial
computers would soon become many
tunes greater than at present.
4. All decimal tables, as those of com
pound interest, vVc, would be popular ta
bles, instead of being mathematical mys
teries.
5. Uniformity of weights, measures,'
quantities, &c, would exist between the
two countries as well as throughout all the
states, which would prevent a great deal
of confusion, inconvenience, and error.
As the preceding advantages are suffi
ciently obvious, we will next give the dis
advantages that would ensue in conse
quence of the change.
1. The period of confusion attending
the change,
2. The existence of a class of persons
who cannot, by any process, master any
difficulty of an arithmetical kind.
There is no question in our own minds
as to the side on which the scale predom
inates ; but we will leave the question to
be settled by the feeling of the large ma
jority, who would reconcile themselves to
the change with more or less difficulty.
lhose who consent to face this difficulty
will deserve the thanks of posterity ; and
we cannot but think that there are few
who, looking at the easy manner in which
die new system could be introduced,
would count their own share of the incon
venience too much to pay for a real and
lasting benefit to society.
Hunt's Merchants' M'mazino, May, 1811.
THE I POLYNESIAN.
Honolulu, Saturday, December 11, 1 M 1 1 .
The Polynesian which it was supposed hud
departed this life Inst Saturday, and was reg
ularly defunct, has been recuscitatcd through
the exertions of some of its friends, and is
now convalescent, although there is still
danger of a relapse which would be fatal.
This number, the first of a new series, is
issued as an experiment, and its continuance
will depend upon the reception which it
meets from its former patrons and the public.
We feel our inability to devote to the paper
either the time or the talents of its late able
editor, simply because we have neither; we
have undertaken the work at the request of
the friends of the "Polynesian," solely from
the desire which we feel and which we be
lieve is felt here generally, to have some
public organ of communication, through
which information, principally mercantile,
can be collected and disseminated. We
believe that a newspaper, conducted on
good principles, is of material benefit to this
community, both in its local effects, and in
the advantages derived from bringing the
Islands into notice abroad, and we also be
lieve that there arc enough liberal and intel
ligent persons in this community to support
one.
The Polynesian will be conducted on the
same general principles as heretofore as the
following remarks which we quote from its
first prospectus, will show:
'This paper is the organ of no sect or
party; strictly confining its objects to its le
gitimate purposes it will not flinch from or
fail to act upon the principles upon which it
is estabhshed ,4iVo bono publico ," is the
motto of its banner, and its objects are the
dissemination of knowledge, advancement of
education and civilization, promotion of good
morals, and the commercial and agricultural
interests of the Sandwich Island community.
Those immutable principles of justice and
religion, which are or should be firmly plant
ed in every man's understanding, will be its
guide; and though it adopts the tenets of no
peculiar sect, it will defend the sacred rights
of all freedom of tho press and conscience.
Though deprecating useless controversy, its
columns will be open to subjects of moment,
iatv
fv
in
on which various opinions maw nrUn nnJTi
discussion of which would elicit rmin.,
of merit, and usefulness, ttutthrv must k
of an elevated character, avoiding scurrility
personalities or any thing tending to excit
without imnrovintf thn n iinriiiinitv
- i i
"Wc appeal to the residents, to tnissionn n(1
ricsofall denominations, travelers, and airy
those who feel an interest in the growth an id,
prosperity of their adopted countries, i ry
which wc feel second to none, to aid us i j
rendering this paper to realize the most sai "
guine wishes of its friends."
Wc shall avoid all unnecessary and us pj
less controversy upon the many excititi e
topics which agitate this community, but "tli
columns of this paper will always be opt e5
to subjects of moment, on which varioi tl
opinions may arise, and the discussion V
which would elicit arguments of merit oL
usefulness." Je
If we are mistaken in the opinions of thin
body of Foreign Residents, regarding tU i
expediency of continuing to support a newjft
paper at this place, or in the indulgence w,-f
which they would look upon our own dem
its and want of ability, wc shall most willing
ly'rcsign our editorship with this numbe,
as wc do not expect it will prove a sinecurq
Hut if we do conduct it, we shall not allow (
to he made the organ of any faction or partji.
t ii : i... i i i ft
iivmiii Mian u uu nampcrcu anu its useiu
ness restrained, by the fear of any such far
tion or puity. The Liberty of the Press w
arc determined to maintain, unmoved hi.
fears of loss of patronage, or threats of perl
sonal violence.
With this brief exposition of our views!
we send forth once more the Polynesian o
its experimental errand. If it is continued!,
i ii . ..... . m
we snail make the best use ot our abilities i
rendering it a useful and entertaining paper
and whatever our success in attempting t
maintain an organ of communication, herel
wc trust that our motives will be appreciate
by the intelligent and unprejudiced of thflj
sauuwicli islands community.
Is
I
ir
Disaster to the Ship California.-
On Friday the 3d inst., as the ship Califor
nia was entering the harbor, the wind whic
had been fair, suddenly shifted, and cam!
down in a severe squall from the N. E. takj
nig her all aback; before the anchors couli
be let go, she struck on the middle ground
and remained fast by her stern. The wcatli
er was very squally, the wind blowing i
gale, and all attempts to get her otTwithot
lightening her, proved unavailing. Th
Governor, the Captains of the vessels i
port, and most of the residents assemble
with commendable alacrity, to devise som
means of rescuing her from her perilous sit
uation, and it was at last decided to send tli
brig Joseph Peabody out to her, and li'ditc
the ship by discharging a part of her carg
into her. Capt. Dominis immediately wen
on board the brig, and she was got in readi
ness with remarkable promptitude, am
was taken out and anchored at a coriveniui
distance from the ship, which was now lyind
over considerably, as she went ashore a
high tide. At about sunset they began to
discharge into the brig, and continued work-j
ing all night with untirin? industry.
about I o'clock an anchor was carried out
from the ship and she was hove up to it, bu'J
still remained aground by the stern; a warp
was then taken to tho brig, by means ot
which she was rescued from her dangerous
situation, and rode in dceo water. It wnaa
very narrow escape, as tho only hope of he
safety was that tho wind should continue to
blow a gale, which it did through the night,
-"' 'iin,uuiig mi; bum hi uiu rtu iium i
ing. The ship was safely towed into the!
harbor the next morning, and moored. l
will bo necessary to heave her down, ia or
der to ascertain the damage, though she
does not appear to be much injured. Much
nrnian i rtun lit nil wlm nacSul.xl her for the
energy and perseverance with which thcyjj
labored for the ships preservation, tor iuv