Page:British Weights and Measures - Superior to the Metric, by James W. Evans.djvu/59

Rh

Just on the point of going to press the following article appeared in the Daily Telegraph of February 17, 1904, and the world-wide reputation of Herbert Spencer precludes the necessity for any apology for republishing the extract:—

HERBERT SPENCER'S WILL.

The late Mr. Herbert Spencer's will (writes our London correspondent) is typical of the man. There are the most minute directions as to the disposal of his goods, his works and copyrights.

The most interesting feature of the will is a clause in the codicil. Mr. Spencer expressly desires that, whenever a bill is introduced into Parliament dealing with the metric system, his pamphlet against that system shall be re-printed and distributed amongst the members of both Houses, and placed on sale at a nominal price. Here, as one of the papers puts it, is "a clear example of a ruling passion strong in death." The philosopher’s objection to the metric system was plainly inveterate, although the public, proverbially short of memory, had probably forgotten all about his pamphlet, which has long been out of print. It was written in 1896, and originally appeared in the form of a series of letters to The Times, under the signature of "A Correspondent," to oppose the promised introduction of a bill favoring the adoption of the metric system in England. Mr. Balfour, later in the session, stated in the House that he did not contemplate in any way imposing the metric system on the