44 Mifiellanea Curiofa. 



Variations, yet I found two Difficulties not eafie 

 to furmbunt \ the one was, that no Magnet I 

 had ever (Seen or heard of, had more than two 

 oppofite Poles, whereas the Earth had vifibly 

 four, and perhaps more. And fecondly, it was 

 plain that thefe Poles were not, at leaft all of 

 them, fixt in the Earth, but fh'rfted from place 

 to place, as appear'd by the great Changes in 

 the Needles Direction within thi3 laft Century of 

 Years, not only at London, (where this great 

 Bifcovery was firft made) but almoft all over 

 the Globe of Earth ; whereas it is not known 

 or obferv d that the Poles of a Load-ftone ever 

 fliifted their place in the Stone, nor (confider- 

 ing the compact hardnefs of that Subftance) can. 

 it eafily be fuppos'd \ though the Matter of Facl: 

 be too notorious and univerfal, not to be ac- 

 counted for. 



Thele Difficulties had wholly made me de- 

 Jpond, and I had long fmce given over an In- 

 quiry I had fo little hopes of, when in accidental 

 Difcourfe, and leaft expe&ing it, I ftumbPd on 

 the following Hypothefis ; in delivering where- 

 of, if I mall feem to advance any thing that 

 looks like Extravagant or Romantick, the Rea- 

 der is defird to fufpend his Cenfure, till he have 

 confidcr'd the force and number of the many 

 Arguments which concur to make good fo new 

 and fo bold a Suppofition. 



Though it be Sufficiently known and allow'd, 

 that the Needles Variation changes, it will be 

 neceffary however to give a few Inftance*, 

 whereby it may appear that this Change is gra- 

 dual and univerfal, and the effect of a great and 

 permanent motion : For which take the follow- 

 ing Examples. 



At 



