Remusat to Marquis de Noailles, December 6, 1872

Count De Rémusat to Marquis de Noailles.

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.,