MAGNETIC CHARACTERS OF METALS, &c. 661 
with a few sovereigns of the present reign which 
are more magnetic than any others that have 
come under my notice. 
52. With respect to jewellery, it is generally 
more highly magnetic than those articles of silver 
that have come under my examination. Wedding 
rings, which contain but a small proportion of 
copper, have so slight a degree of magnetic action 
as almost to elude the detection of it: whilst 
ornamental rings, keepers, &c. which contain a 
much greater proportion of copper, are, generally, 
highly magnetic. Some ear-rings that I have 
examined, are still more magnetic than the finger- 
rings. Gold watch chains are generally magnetic, 
especially those containing much copper: also 
gold spectacle frames, unless they be of what is 
called fine gold, are magnetic to a considerable 
extent. In all cases where steel or iron screws, 
or nails, have been found in the gold articles 
examined, those parts have been carefully removed 
previously to the magnetic test being applied. 
53. We next come to the consideration of 
metallic alloys, of which either iron or nickel form 
no inconsiderable proportions. It has already 
been shown in the first section of this memoir 
4s 
