Mr. Lyon's Observations on Magnetic Substances. 41,7 



respects. And are not these two qualities the principal (if not 

 the only) primary qualities which belong to atoms, and may 

 be different in value for the different chemical elements? 



May it not be hence inferred, that the power or liability 

 to manifest the magnetic phenomena, — being peculiar to, or 

 most observable in, certain elements, and them only, — is de- 

 pendent upon the values of those two qualities in their atoms ? 

 But what the particular nature may be of the connexion 

 binding the magnetic phaenomena to such elements as have 

 values of the two qualities at or near to the mean of the 

 values of the three elements, iron, nickel, and cobalt, may be 

 the subject of further research. 



It will thus be observed that in inquiries into magnetism 

 we may distinguish two parts, independent of each other : 

 1st, the nature of the magnetic substance ; 2nd, the nature 

 of the magnetic phaenomena, or the real source of their pro- 

 duction, and the description of the minute and latent modes 

 of the phaenomena themselves. What has been adduced 

 above, relates solely to the former of these parts. 



With regard to the latter, and chiefly for the sake of its 

 bearing upon the inference or view above proposed, it may 

 be well to state that I have been engaged in an investigation, 

 which appears to me to disclose the origin or fundamental 

 principle of the phaenomena of terrestrial magnetism. It may 

 be added that the original idea of this investigation occurred 

 to me, and was pursued some time previously to either of the 

 inquiries relative to magnetism. Not knowing, however, 

 whether my present communication will be permitted to ap- 

 pear in the pages of the Philosophical Magazine, and also on 

 account of the additional space, and the diagrams that would 

 be required for the development of my views on this subject, 

 the exposition of the same must be deferred for another com- 

 munication. 



For the reason before mentioned, I still think it will be of 

 service to give a brief notice thereof, and have accordingly 

 drawn up the subjoined queries for that purpose. 



Whether, in considering more rigorously the principles 

 applicable to the rotation of the globe, f. e. on examining more 

 minutely into the actual path of translation of the atoms, there 

 may not be found the origin or real source of production of 

 the phaenomena of terrestrial magnetism ; it being conceived 

 that this path is not represented in its ultimate form by the 

 theory which lays it down as being a circle. 



And whether the discussion of this matter will not more im- 

 mediately (and previously to or apart from any discussion of 

 the agency of an aether, or of the consequences of the hetero- 



Third Series. Vol. 5. No. 30. Dec. 1834. 3 H 



