Office of the Historian

No. 116.
Marquis de Noailles to Mr. Fish

[Translation.]
Legation of France,
Washington, January 10, 1873. (Received January 11.)

Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor to transmit to your excellency the inclosed dispatch, which has just been sent to me by the minister of foreign affairs of the French Republic.

The French section, which has been intrusted by the international meter commission with the preparation of the standard meters and kilograms which will be needed by the various governments represented in said commission, desires to know how many of these standards it must have made. The minister of agriculture and commerce therefore wishes to know the number of meters, both with and without subdivisions, as also the number of kilograms of iridized platinum which the Government of the United States requires.

The price of a cubic meter will probably not exceed four thousand francs, nor that of a kilogram fifteen hundred francs.

I shall be happy, Mr. Secretary of State, to place myself at the service of your excellency in order to transmit the reply which it may please your excellency to make on this subject to the department of foreign affairs of France.

Be pleased to accept, Mr. Secretary of State, the assurances of my very high consideration.

MARQUIS DE NOAILLES.

Count De Rémusat to Marquis de Noailles.

[Translation.]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Division of Consulates and Commercial Affairs,
Versailles, December 6, 1872.

Sir: The French section, which has been intrusted by the international meter commission with the preparation of the standard meters and kilograms which will be needed by the various governments represented in said commission, desires to know how many of these standards it must have made.

I will therefore thank you, sir, to enable me to comply with the request addressed to me by the minister of agriculture and commerce, by informing me as soon as possible of the number of meters, both with and without subdivisions, and also of the number of kilograms of iridized platinum which will be required by the Federal Government.

The price of a meter will probably not exceed, all expenses included, the sum of 4,000 francs, and the price of a kilogram will probably not exceed 1.500 francs. M. Teisserem de Bat adds that the sums whereby payment is to be made for standards must be placed at the disposal of the French government, so that the orders for payment may be delivered by the minister of commerce according to the method adopted for the expenses hitherto incurred by the meter commission.

Receive, sir, &c.,

REMUSAT.