Egy 4 
ey ; paces 
XI. A new Theory, pointing out the Situation of the Mag- 
netic Poles, and a Method of difcovering the Longitude, 
By P.R. Nucent, E/g. formerly Surveyor-General of 
Lands for the Ifland of Cape Breton, Commynicated by 
the Author, 
Tus feveral interefting and important voyages, under- 
taken by order of his prefent Majefty, for making difcoveries 
highly beneficial to mankind, particularly in what relates to 
geography and navigation ; andthe great defire and intention 
of deriving every poffible benefit from the many obfervations 
which fuch extended voyages were defigned to offer ample 
room and opportunity for making, became objects of pecu- 
Jiar concern and confequence. In addition, therefore, to the 
undoubted and acknowledged abilities of the refpective com- 
manders and officers appointed to fuch defignations, the 
Commiffioners of the Board of Longitude thought fit to ap- 
point, for every voyage, one or more perfons on wuhol fcien- 
tific ability, fidelity, and diligence in affifting to make the 
refpective obfervations, they could alfo reft fatisfieds Thefe 
gentlemen were therefore furnifhed with the completeft in- 
ftruments whjch the moft ferupulous care, intention, and 
circumfpection, together with a total difregard to expence, 
could be found to procure. Their report and teftimony is 
therefore conclufive proof of the perfection or imperfeétion 
of the feveral infiruments they had with them; their report 
of the azimuth compafs, and dipping-needle or compats, is 
as follows :— 
ar the Azimuth Compafs. 
The late ingenious and accurate the Hon, Captain Phipps, 
afterwards rae Mui: grave, in his account of his Voyage to- 
wards the North Pale, p- 108, remarks as follows nae The 
variation of the compafs, always an interefling object to na- 
vigators and philofophers, became peculiarly ‘fo in this voy- 
age, from the near approach to the Pole: many of the theo- 
ries that had been propofed on this fubje& were to be brought 
to the teft of obfervations made in high latitudes, from which 
alone 
