54 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



OF SOME OTHER LAWS OF NATURE, HITHERTO 

 IMPERFECTLY KNOWN. 



, There are, befides thofe which have been men- 

 tioned, fome phyfical Laws, not hitherto pro- 

 foundly investigated, though we have had a glim- 

 mering of them, and made them the frequent fub- 

 ject of conversation. Such is the Law of attrac- 

 tion. It has been acknowledged in the planets, 

 and in fome metals, as in iron and the load-ftone, 

 in gold and mercury. I believe attraction to be 

 common to all metals, and even to all foflils ; but 

 that it acts, in each of them, in particular circum- 

 ftances, which have not hitherto been obferved, 

 and afcertained. Each of the metals, perhaps, 

 may have a diipofition to turn toward different 

 points of the Earth, as magnetic iron points to- 

 ward the North, and toward places where there 

 are mines of iron. It would probably be necef- 

 fary, in order to afçertain this by experiment, that 

 each metal ihould be armed with it's proper at- 

 traction ; this takes place, as I think, when it is 

 united to it's contrary. 



How do we know, whether a needle of gold, 

 rubbed with mercury, might not have attractive 

 poles, as a needle of fleel has, when rubbed with 



the 



