Measure for Measure

All standard forms of measurement are related in some way to nature. The English yard was adjusted to the arm length of Henry I and, possibly, the French foot le pied du roi, originated or varied in a similar manner. Before decimalization the French used feet and inches, pounds and ounces much like ourselves, except they had seventeen ounces to the pound. Twelve lines = 1 pouce (inch), twelve pouce = 1 pied (foot), six pied (feet) = 1 toise. Still the French name for a device to measure recruits. Interestingly, after two hundred years, one can still buy a pound of something ‘une livre’ without fear of prosecution. And they still use quart, meaning quarter, similar to our two pints = one quart or four quarts = one gallon.
Standardisation is always a problem. Originally in Scotland 4 Gills = 1 Muchkin, 2 Muchkins = 1 Chopin, 2 Chopins = 1 Standard pint. There were twenty-nine variations of the Scottish Boll, a measure for wheat, rye, meal, peas, beans and seeds, 16 Bolls = 1 Chalder. In England 100 Scottish Bolls of wheat = 74 quarters 4 bushels or 19 cwt. 70 lb. or, if you prefer, 19 cwt. 2 qrs. 1 stone.
British Imperial Measure became law on 17th June, 1824; decimalization was rejected. In France greater confusion reigned made worse by invading neighbouring states. Clerks had to contend with the Besancon foot, Bourg en Bresse foot, Brabant ell, Hamburg foot, Parma foot, Doordrecht foot, Cracow ell, Parmesian braco, Egyptian mile, Russian Archine, Vienna post mile, etcetera. On the 1st of August, 1793, the National Convention resolved to adopt a uniform system and the Academy de Science was given the task of providing one.
As a base calculation, the distance from the equator to the North Pole, via Paris, was estimated to be 5,1130,740 toises. This distance was then divided by 10,000,000 to determine the length of the metre. All further measurements are derived from that unit. A litre is 1,000 times the volume of 1 cubic centimetre. A kilo is 1,000 times the weight of a cubic centimetre of distilled water. The twenty four hour clock was replaced by 10 hours of 100 minutes. Napoleon was not in favour and believed ‘it would confuse everyone’. In 1795 the new system was made law. After sixteen years it was ‘found to be pregnant with such evils and inconveniences’ that the Imperial Court ‘yielded to the wishes of the people’ and made changes. “The decimal division, though favourable for calculations, is not equally so for the daily operations of the people, and not easily comprehended.”