Lecture on a new property of Magnetism. 529 



netic force which this magnet will not give us. If I remove all 

 these things away for the present, take away all the iron, and, as far 

 as I can, clear the table, you will be able to see that I can get mag- 

 netic phenomena from this magnet, which before I could not. I am 

 about to roll up this paper into a cylinder, or hoop, or roll, for the 

 purpose of showing that it is most likely magnetic, for I never yet 

 found a piece of foolscap paper that was not so. I have taken some 

 pains to keep this paper clear from all impurities of a ferruginous 

 kind, and if I make a nice suspension, I shall be able to hang it 

 between the poles of the magnet and to examine its state. I am 

 now drawing your attention to an arrangement that I am able to 

 turn to account in further examination. The one I have here is 

 in the open air, that you may see all things which occur in it ; but 

 I shall by and by adopt another plan to show you the particular 

 phenomena. Here is a piece of cocoon silk, and here are some 

 copper wires, all of which are perfectly free from magnetism. They 

 have been tested by this powerful magnet, and unless they were 

 perfectly free they would not serve my present purpose. If I take 

 this paper and hang it up near these poles, using this little piece 

 of cocoon silk for the purpose of suspending it, and then ascertain 

 whether it is a magnet or not, perhaps to your surprise, and to my 

 surprise in the first instance, it will prove to be considerably magne- 

 tic, and will point as a piece of iron would do. I expect you will see 

 that when I shall make a magnet of that which is indifferent and 

 will point anywhere, that most likely it will point between the poles. 

 Contact is made, and we shall see whether it takes up an axial 

 position. If it does, and vibrates, it is magnetic. It does so, and 

 tends to rest between the poles of the magnet. If contact is broken 

 it will take what direction the wind gives it. When the contact 

 is renewed it will become again magnetic. You see how quickly 

 it obtains a new action and goes to the poles by becoming magnetic. 

 Observe this arrangement. I have ten or twelve cocoon threads 

 which are capable of holding that or any other weight. They have 

 no torsion, no twist of themselves, and therefore they will hold the 

 weight without tending to twist or untwist. All I have to be careful 

 of is to avoid the currents of the atmosphere, and then I will give 

 you this motion as a test of every one that, takes place. I am now 



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