244 POPULAR LECTURES AND ADDRESSES. 



which were similarly dealt with in the process of 

 magnetization, and with attraction between ends 

 which were dissimilarly dealt with. When one end of 

 the needle turns in virtue of its magnetism towards 

 the earth's northern regions, its magnetic quality 

 is, therefore, dissimilar to that of the earth's northern 

 regions, and similar to that of the earth's southern 

 regions : therefore the end of the needle which 

 when there is freedom to turn, turns towards the 

 northern regions of the earth, has magnetism o f 

 the same name as that of the earth's southern 

 regions, and the end of the needle which is repelled 

 from the north has the same kind of polarity as 

 that of the earth's northern regions. Hence Gilbert 

 remarks that that end of the needle which points 

 from the north has truly northern polarity p , and the 

 other end, which points towards the north, has truly 

 southern polarity. And he complains that all 

 writers and instrument-makers and sailors, up to 

 his time, had erroneously estimated as the north- 

 pole of the lodestone or steel the point of it that is 

 drawn to the north and the south pole the point 

 that is drawn to the south. 



