MAGNETIC CHARACTERS OF METALS, &c. 649 
were highly magnetic also. And, generally, 
_ whatever might be the magnetic condition of any 
individual spoon, the whole number of the set to 
which that spoon belonged were magnetic alike, 
or very nearly so. Hence, if the quantity of 
magnetic action of any individual spoon were to 
be denoted by g, and the number of spoons in 
the set denoted by , the sum total of magnetic 
action in that set of spoons would be x q, nearly. 
Of course, this reasoning applies only to. indi- 
vidual sets of spoons which are of uniform make, 
composition, and structure of metal. It appears, 
also, as far as my experience has extended, that 
the same mode of reasoning would give the 
sum total of all the magnetic action that any 
individual coinage would display. Suppose, for 
instance, the magnetism displayed by a half-crown 
piece were to be taken as the unit of quantity 
equal g, then the number of pieces being m, the 
sum total of magnetism which the whole of that 
coinage would display would be 7 q, nearly ; and, 
similarly, for any other coinage of silver. 
31. The difference of magnetic action displayed 
in the silver coinage and domestic articles of that 
metal (29,30), led to the supposition that minute 
portions of iron might accidentally have got 
