526 Lecture on a new property of Magnetism. 



now a days, to make any considerable advances. And further, here 

 is this singular point : according to my mode of viewing matters, 

 we are always inclined to feel in reality, although we acknowledge 

 the contrary in principle, that we think we know every thing. There 

 is a feeling in the minds of many, that we are already in a position 

 to give an answer to almost every question. There is an irresistible 

 tendency in the minds of many persons to this conclusion. 



Nevertheless, we are slowly making progress, and to-day it is 

 my duty to bring before you a step in advance in science ; that is, to 

 describe a new condition of our knowledge of matter, a new condition 

 of the force we have called magnetic, and which you have seen 

 exhibited in various forms, by a current, and by independent pieces 

 of ferruginous substances. I shall endeavour to make you ac- 

 quainted with this first gleam of knowledge, for it is only the crudest 

 notions we can expect at present, since these facts are quite new 

 to us. I shall try to make you acquainted with this first germ of 

 what I believe will be a great branch of knowledge hereafter. It 

 relates to a new kind of knowledge — to our knowledge of the power 

 of magnetism over matter, and of the capability of matter exhibiting 

 a force beyond that of gravity, or chemical affinity, or even electric 

 action such as it is known at the present time. 



I must ask you first to look at my large magnet, although you 

 have seen it before, inasmuch as the development of this branch 

 of knowledge must depend on the condition or power of the magnets. 

 I will for a few moments hold your attention to this electro-magnet 

 before me, and of which there is the larger part below the table. 

 [The enormous poles only of a horse-shoe electro-magnet were visible 

 on the table.] It is a bar of iron, and there are wires round it, 

 which wires go to a battery. We have here, then, a very powerful 

 electro-magnet, with this beautiful condition, that we can make or 

 unmake it at pleasure, — that having the extremes or poles together, 

 I can vary the form of the poles, and make them come nearer, or go 

 further, by putting on moveable masses of iron of different shapes. 

 I have here an enormous amount of power, but I can create it and 

 destroy it in an instant. Two or three experiments will shew it at 

 once, from which you may form a comparative judgment hereafter, 

 either next year or ten years hence, when this science has made still 



