418 Mr. Sturgeon's Description of 



geneity of atoms in the globe,) afford the natural interpreta- 

 tion of the law or formula of the magnetic clip or inclination 

 deduced by Messrs. Biot and Kraft from data of observation, 

 viz. that for any given latitude, the tangent of the inclination 

 is to the tangent of that latitude as 2 : 1 . 



If it can thus be shown that the fundamental principle of 

 terrestrial magnetism js necessarily connected with the path 

 of an atom, considered in a system homogeneously composed, 

 then with regard to the various chemical elements or species 

 of atoms composing the mass of the earth, the greater part 

 of which do not exhibit the magnetic phenomena, it would 

 remain to be examined in what manner, or by what circum- 

 stance, dependent upon the respective values of the two atomic 

 qualities before mentioned, the atomic paths of the greater 

 number are so far modified (from what may be called the 

 type, preserved in the magnetic elements,) as not to present 

 the (magnetic) phenomena in the same sensible way as the 

 three elements, iron, nickel, and cobalt. 



In connexion with the foregoing investigations would come 

 another: whether, in general, the physical and chemical pro- 

 perties of the several chemical elements or species of atoms 

 may not depend upon the respective values of the atomic 

 weights and atomic bulks. And here it may be remarked 

 with respect to the magnetic elements, and the approximation 

 in their values of the two qualities, that besides the circum- 

 stance of their being magnetic, there are also to be observed 

 many marked analogies in their physical and chemical pro- 

 perties ; these analogies being, without doubt, greater than 

 what are to be found in the case of any two or more of the 

 other chemical elements. 



Liverpool, April 22, 1834. 



LIX. Description of a Thunder-Storm as observed at Wool- 

 wich; with some Observations relative to the Cause of the 

 Deflection of Electric Clouds by high Lands; and an Ac- 

 count of the Phenomena exhibited by means of a Kite ele- 

 vated during the Storm. By W. Sturgeon.* 

 CXN Saturday evening, (June 14th,) about 8 o'clock, an elec- 

 ^^ trie storm passed partly over this place, exhibiting light- 

 ning the most splendid ever beheld. The wind was pretty brisk 

 from S. by W. about the first appearance of the storm, and 

 if the electric clouds had obeyed the force of the wind only, 

 the principal part of them would have come directly over us. 

 This, however, was not the case, for instead of their being 

 ■ Communicated by the Author. 



