366 ' A. D. 1200. 



alfo, that it is fo far affeded by heat and cold, as to differ confiderably 

 in fummer and winter, and even in the courfe of the fame day. 



Another property of the magnet is the Dip, or inchnation of the 

 north end of the needle towards the horizon, as if heavier than the 

 fouth end, which is therefor in fa6l made a little heavier in order to 

 counterpoife the dip. As the knowlege of the variation has been found 

 afliftant to navigators in afcertaining their longitude in fome parts of 

 the world ; fo, it is probable, that the theory of the dip of the needle 

 may, when better underftood, be alfo applied to fome valuable purpofe; 

 for Nature does nothing in vain. 



All the properties of the magnet are admirable and incomprehenf- 

 ible ; and philofophers, in attempting to account for them, have only 

 involved themfelves in a labyrinth of ingenious, but fruitlefs, conjec- 

 tures. But though the Almighty Author of nature has not conde- 

 fcended to let us into the knowlege of the fecret laws, which govern the 

 magnet, the knowlege, which he has permitted us to acquire of the 

 methods of applying its wonderful powers to our fervice, has enabled 

 us to become acquainted with the whole of the globe, which was given 

 us to inhabit, and thereby to make prodigious improvements in the im- 

 portant fciences of geography and natural hiftory. The compafs has 

 given birth to a new sera in the hiftory of commerce and navigation. 

 The former it has extended to every fhore of the globe, and increafed 

 and multiplied its operations and beneficial effects in a degree, which 

 was not conceivable by thofe, who lived in the earlier ages. The later 

 it has rendered expeditious and comparatively fafe by enabling the na- 

 vigator to launch out upon the Ocean, free from the dangers of rocks 

 and flioals. By the ufe of this noble inilrument the whole world has 

 become one vaft commercial commonwealth ; the moft diftant inhabit- 

 ants of the Earth are brought together for their mutual advantage; an- 

 tient prejudices are obliterated, and mankind are civilized and enlight- 

 ened. And, by the compafs Great Britain has acquired that naval pre- 

 eminence, which flie confefledly poffefles over all the maritime nations 

 of the v/orld. 



1201 — It appears from a diploma of Henry duke of Lorain, that 

 Antwerp, deftined to make fo great a figure in the commerce of fuc- 

 ceeding ages, was now firft inclofed by a wall : and Guicciardini, the 

 hiftorian of the Netherlands, adds, that from this time money of gold 

 and filver was coined in that city. 



The town adjacent to the New-caftle, built by Robert the fon of Wil- 

 liam the Conqueror on the north bank of the Tine, appears to have 

 very foon rifen into fome degree of importance, as we may judge from 

 a pretty long lift, made up in the reign of Henry I, of articles paying 

 toll or duty there ; among which the moft worthy of notice are her- 

 rings, as an indication of that valuable fiftx being then caught in the 



