do, that, after the change,
hear). What would have to be all calculations will be
done? Every sum would have to _proposed in old money_, and
be reduced into a vulgar then _converted into new_. He
fraction of a pound, and then cannot hit the {174} idea that
divided by the decimal of a the new coins will take the
pound--a pleasant sum for an place of the old. This lack of
old applewoman to work out!" apprehension will presently
(Hear, hear, and laughter.) appear further.
"It would not be an agreeable Let the members be assured
task, even for some members of that nine half-pence will be,
that House, to reduce 4-1/2d., for every practical purpose,
or nine half-pence, to mils." 18 mils. But now to the fact
(Hear, hear.) asserted. Davies Gilbert[301]
used to maintain that during
the long period he sat in the
House, he never knew more than
three men in it, at one time,
who had a tolerable notion of
fractions. [I heard him give
the names of three at the time
when he spoke: they were
Warburton,[302] Pollock,[303]
and Hume.[304] He himself was
then out of Parliament.]
Joseph Hume affirmed that he
had never met with more than
ten members who were
arithmeticians. But both these
gentlemen had a high standard.
Mr. Lowe has given a much more
damaging opinion. He evidently
means that the general run of
members could not do his
question. It is done as
follows: Since farthings gain
on mils, at the rate of a
whole mil in 24 farthings (24
farthings being 25 mils), it
is clear that 18 farthings
being three-quarters of 24