1824;.] Sir R. Phillips on Magnetic Plienomena. 



lately been asserted,) parallel, or nearly 

 so, to the eartb's equator, because 

 such current would not discriminate be- 

 tween the two poles, and the poles 

 would be indifferently directed under 

 such general lateral impulse. 



I conceive that no curre4it, mechani- 

 cally acting, can explain the pheno- 

 mena; because, in such case, it would 

 direct other bodies, as well as mag- 

 netic ones. 



I conceive that it is not (as I had 

 bei'ore supposed) an effluvium proceed- 

 ing from tlie earth, because the affinities 

 would then be the same every where, yet 

 either pole dips in its own hemisphere. 



I conceive tliat the same cause ex- 

 tends over botii hemispheres; lor the noi tli 

 pole of the magnet is always directed to 

 the northward, and the south pole to 

 the southward. But each operative 

 cause is strongest in its own hemis- 

 phere, for similar poles dip only in their 

 own hemisphere ; while the contrary 

 poles lift tiie most iron, because the 

 earth acts less on that pole. 



I conceive that it arises from no mag- 

 net or magnets within the earth, because 

 these would direct all iron without pro- 

 cess or preparation; because, if existing, 

 it merely adopts another effect for an 

 original cause ; and because it does not 

 explain varying declination without ab- 

 surd hypotheses that the earth is hollow, 

 that the magnets revolve, &c. &c. 



I conclude, therefore, universally, that 

 magnetic polarity arises from no circu- 

 lation whatever, from no masses of iron 

 or loadstone, nor from any general gross 

 action or propulsion. 



Yet a magnet is directed, regularly 

 varies in its direction, and regularly in- 

 clines to the horizon ! 



A more complicated conundrum 

 never therefore was presented to the 

 curiosity and enquiry of mankind ! 



It is a mundane effect, and yet the 

 globe selects for its action a particular 

 preparation of iron. The mystery lies, 

 then, in the preparation, and in some 

 connection between its excitement and 

 the constant state of the globe. 



Tlus, at any rale, is narrowing the 

 question to the simple nature of the 

 preparation, and to the examination of 

 its possible relation to general causes of 

 similar affections. 



According to my theory, a mag- 

 net is merely a natural galvanic arrange- 

 ment, made up of galvanised parts or 

 s|)accs, which act in scries from end to 

 end, or rather in the adjoining space, 



387 



from one opposed surface of iron to 

 another. 



It appears by old and new experi- 

 ments, that all magnets can be directed 

 by artificial influence of like kind, as by 

 galvanism and electricity, bnt of which 

 the species is contrary to that said to 

 be attracted or repelled. 



It would seem, then, beyond all ques- 

 tion, that the influence whicli occasions 

 the direction and dip, must be of the 

 kind, but of the contrary species to 

 that whicii affects the near pole of the 

 directed magnet. 



It appears, however, that this directive 

 force can be no general current, be- 

 cause no current would agree with the 

 relative and absolute character of the 

 phenomena; yet happily, by the new 

 theory of electric, galvanic, and mag- 

 netic, excitement, no current exists, or is 

 necessary to the effects. 



If, therefore, we divest the generation 

 of these phenomena of the old gratui- 

 tous and ridiculous hypotheses about 

 fluids and currents of fluids; and if we 

 adopt the new theory of the correlative 

 action of the atoms which produce the 

 eflects called acidity, alkalinity, heat, 

 and light; we shall find less difficulty, 

 perhaps none, in accounting for the 

 origin, extension, and variable action of 

 the species of similar influence by which 

 the globe itself, and a species of elec- 

 trical action generally, affecis the 

 magnet. 



If we look at Jupiter, Venus, or 

 Mars, we lose that erroneous idea of 

 vaslness which seems at first incompati- 

 ble with the notion of a galvanized mass 

 so bulky as the earth. We know that 

 proximity of variously constructed 

 bodies generates the correlative actions 

 called electric and galvanic ; hence there 

 is little difficulty in conceiving, that 

 most of the solid parts of the globe are 

 subject to this condition. Nothing 

 more than juxta-position seems neces- 

 sary of such bodies as we know com- 

 pose the earth ; and the diversified sub- 

 stances, and their accidents of mutual 

 position, would evidently produce, at 

 the surface, after the manner of a gal- 

 vanic combination, every variety of in- 

 tensity in the results. 



The proofs are to be found in the 

 known electricity of the atmosphere, in 

 storms of thunder and lightning, in the 

 phenomena of earth()uakes by land and 

 sea, in aurora borcalis, and, in fine, in 

 the direction, inclination, and declina- 

 tion, of the needle. To which we might, 

 perhaps, 



