MAOMETI8M. 9? 



action in dissolving and reforming minerals, vegetation and 

 unhn:;ls, upon and within the earth, is noticed in other 

 bhapt 



Kl-vtrii-ity therefore no more flows along, or through the 

 |ih win-, than milk or water docs; and if physicists would 

 examine more into the nature and action of atomagnetism ; not 

 only in reference to metals, but in other departments of 

 nature, they would have less failures in connection with 

 telegraphing, and other similar operations, than have generally 

 fallen 4o their lot. 



As on incentive to new inquiry in this direction, it may be 

 stated that we have seen a telegraph lino charged and worked 

 -without tho metal galvanic battery, by simply allowing the 

 Wire line, to come in contact with the long blades of grass 

 growing in ewampy ground. The force from the dissolving, or 

 decomposition of the soil yielding the grass, affected the line 

 in a similar manner to a mineral battery and induced the mag- 

 netism in the blades of grass, on the occasion referred to, to 

 supply the Avire with a much greater force than was necessary 

 for the ordinary working of the line. 



In conclusion, the magnetism which is so abundantly pos* 

 sessed by iron, is also inherent in all other bodies, but in a 

 much less marked degree. The magrret is only observed to 

 exert its influence on iron, when the said iron is in a favourable 

 condition for tho purpose; so all bodies when in favourable 

 positions, and conditions, principally attract or repel their own 

 kind although a Urge body, su^h as the earth, composed of 

 every variety of substances, will attract materials of every kind. 



The apple that Sir Isaac Newton saw fall by the law. of 

 gravitation, was attracted by the law of magnetism to the earth, 



