<4n) 
Of a confiderahle Load-fione digged out of the 
Ground in Dez^onjhire, 
T His Stone was lately fent up out of the faid County, and 
prefented to the R. Society by the Reverend Arch-deacoo^ 
DoStotFJnf.Cotton^With thisdefcription^that it weighs 6opounds5 
and thatjthough it take up no great weight, yet it moves a Needle 
about nine Foot diftant. Some part of it being broken off.he hath 
fentupalfo, h^cmk (faith he) being put in its proper place, it 
adds much ftrength to it, but without that addition it moves noE 
much more than feven Foot. 
Care mil he had^ that Trjals he made of the Fertue of this Stone j 
Both of the tm pieces clofed together ^ and of each fiece fep irately ^and 
that uncafped as well as capped. 
Some Obfewahles about Load-flones^and Sea-Comp^jfes, 
A Noble Perfon did upon a late occafion^ affirra^That a Needle 
of a Sea-Compafs;, put in a good Iron-Mine ( which 5 he faidy 
yielded 23 pounds ot Metal, out of 120 pounds of Orej was not 
fenfibly moved thereby. 
r. Another Honourable Perfon defired,it might be obfcrved^whe- 
ther touched Needles move otherwife , when the Veines of Iron 
do not lie North and South ^ thea when they do fo < 
It being inquired by a Note from forreign parts. Whether the 
Sea-Compaffes in England v^txt brought to a greater perfection ^ 
than in other Countries i Anfwer was made by intelligent per- 
fons here. That all the perfedlion of our Sea-CompafTes, as yet, 
confifted in this, That the Needles be touched by good Load- 
ftones,and well librated, and that the Variation be truly p^aced: 
Though it was fuggefted withal, that for the greater perfection of 
fnch ^ea-Compa^^es, a way was contriving, to fhew the Variation 
xo Minutes ^nd Seconds, 
It was alfo propos d, That it might be inquired into, 
I , VVhether a Needle may be fo toucht upon any Magnet, as 
not to point to the true North and South, to be tried in fuch pl> 
ces where there is no Variation known t 
2. Whether 
