[To Tin EDITOR or THE " SPEcriaos."] SIE,—If "H." would
only write under one alias, or, better still, sign his own name to his communications, you would find that one day he says Russia has adopted the metric system, and another day that Russia is preparing to adopt it ; then that China has adopted the metric system, followed by a statement that it is considering it; and so on with the United States, the British Colonies, and others. He invariably quotes some "high official" as his authority. The fact is, Sir, that if England and the English-speaking peoples will only to themselves be true, the metric system can either be relegated to the position which Latin occupies to-day, or, what is more likely, be "blotted out of remembrance." England has the best units in the world for manufacturing purposes, and what is now required is that we should let the world know it. The British Weights and Measures Association has beaten the pro-metrists to a standstill, and we should now seriously and vigorously take the offensive and prove, as we can, that the system based on the metre is a fallacious and retrograde system. English-speaking peoples have an opportunity at the present time of having their units universally adopted, and the opportunity is one such as they never had before, and may never have again if they allow the position they have attained through the efforts of this Association to lapse, and only do their fighting when the enemy is at the gate. No great battle ever was won by an army acting only on the defensive. We must be aggressive, and not only drive the metre and its derivatives from the positions they now occupy, but replace them, to the advantage of our manufacturers and to the prestige of British trade generally, with the greatly superior British units. I shall be glad to go into this matter with any one seeking to open up new opportunities, and increase present opportunities, for British trade.—I am, Sir,
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