6. MEASURE OF TIME.

1 Pennyweight

24 gr.
= 480
=5760

DIVISION II-TROY WEight.

24 Grains
20 Pennywts. = 1 Ounce
12 Ounces =1 Pound

These are the denominations of Troy Weight when used for weighing gold, silver, and precious stones (except diamonds). But Troy Weight is also used by Apothecaries in compounding medicines, and by them the ounce is divided into 8 drams, and the dram into 3 scruples, so that the scruple is equal to 20 grains.

For scientific purposes the grain only is used; and sets of weights are constructed in decimal progression, from 10,000 grains downwards to of a grain.

The carat, used for weighing diamonds, is 3 grains. The term, however, when used to express the fineness of gold, has a relative meaning only. Every mass of alloyed gold is supposed to be divided into 24 equal parts; thus the standard for coin is 22 carats fine, that is, it consists of 22 parts of pure gold, and 2 parts of alloy.

1 Hour

1 Day

1 Week

1 Lunar Month

1 Calendar Month

1 Year

1 Common Year 1 Leap Year

In 400 Years, 97 are leap years, and 303

MEMORANDA FOR NEXT YEAR, 1859.

N.B. As towards the end of each year, or even earlier, information concerning the ensuing year is often wanted, we add to the current Almanac a synopsis of that which is to succeed it, as follows:

I.-Beginnings of the Months and Sundays.

LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET.

Corpus Christi

First Sunday in Advent

23 Nov. 27

h. m.

Sept. 12, Full

8 31 morn.

Companion to the Almanac:

OR,

YEAR-BOOK

OF

GENERAL INFORMATION

FOR

1858.

I.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON SUBJECTS OF MATHEMATICS, NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, NATURAL HISTORY, CHRONOLOGY, GEOGRAPHY, FINE

ARTS, PUBLIC ECONOMY, &c.

II.

THE LEGISLATION, STATISTICS,

PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, AND CHRONICLE OF 1857.

LONDON:

KNIGHT AND CO., 90 FLEET STREET.

PRICE TWO SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE; OR, FOUR SHILLINGS
BOUND WITH THE BRITISHI ALMANAC.

LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON SUBJECTS OF MATHEMATICS, NATURAL PHILO-

SOPHY, NATURAL HISTORY, CHRONOLOGY, GEOGRAPHY, FINE ARTS,

PUBLIC ECONOMY, &c.

I. The Educational Conference of 1857, and the Association for

the Promotion of Social Science

II. The Great Eastern, or Leviathan: the Wave Principle.

III. The Manchester Exhibition.

IV. The Atlantic Telegraph :-The Future of Electro-Telegraphy

V. Inquiry into the Purchase of Commissions in the Army

VI. A Chronological Account of the Connexion between England

and India

VII. Fluctuations of the Funds and Rate of Interest at the Bank

Page

5

THE LEGISLATION, STATISTICS, ARCHITECTURE AND PUBLIC IMPROVE-

MENTS, AND CHRONICLE OF 1856-7.

Legislation of 1857

126

IX. Abstracts of Important Public Acts passed in the Fifth Session of

the Sixteenth Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland.

Abstracts of Important Public Acts passed in the First Session of the

Seventeenth Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland :-

134 Lunatics (Scotland)

Burial of Dead within the

City of London.

Superannuation Act Amend-

ment.

Industrial Schools

132 Customs and Excise

4. Crime, Police, and Law

5. Population, Emigration, Poor Laws, &c.
6. Miscellaneous

XI. Chronicle of the Sessions of Parliament, 1857

XII. Private Bills of the Sessions of Parliament, 1857

XIII. Public Petitions

XIV. Architecture and Public Improvements:-

1. General Progress:-Art and Buildings

158

164

165

179

182

188

196

209

219

2. Public and Sanitary Improvements.-Streets, Sewerage,

Cemeteries, &c.

225

3. Churches and Chapels.

231

4. Buildings for Public Purposes

239

5. Buildings connected with Art, Science, and Education. 242

6. Street Architecture.

XVI. Necrological Table of Literary Men, Artists, &c.

255