[ 34P] 
quite loft its Vertue : which cannot be attributed to th^ 
junftion of the Poles, fince they ought to ftick together, 
according to the other Experiments which have been 
made ; but only to this that hath been already noted, 
that when a Magnetical VtrguU is a little bent, it looles 
its Virtue, which cannot happen but from the alteration 
of the Pores of the Steel. 
I farther remarked that a Ring of Steel having been 
touched does for a long time retain Its Vertue, although it 
be put in a pofition contrary to its Poles. And this Ex- 
periment is confirmed by anotlier much more confidera- 
ble: Which is, that a Ring of Steel having been touched 
with a ftrong Load-ftone, cannot without difficulty re- 
cieve a contrary touch from a Magnet left ftrong than the 
firft ; but that in time by httle and little it refumes its 
former Vertue, much as we fee Magnets do, which be- 
ing applyed to another Stone, by the Poles of the {ame 
denomination, loofe their firft Vertue and take a contra- 
ry; which they afterwards looft by degrees, tojeaffume 
their firft. 
After I had prefented this new Syfteme of the Magnet 
to the Academy, there were made fome Experiments up- 
on a Terrella of much the fame diameter with mine, but 
whofe Poles were not diametrically oppofite; and upon a 
half-Globe very much bigger than the Terrella, Wee 
could find in them no confiderable difference or alteration 
of Poles : Yet becaufe of Ibme circumftances, the Compa- 
ny thought fit that fome Experiments fliould be made 
with this fort of Compafs. 
If fome of thefo compalTes were carried into very re- 
mote parts, where it is known that the Magnet xal Nee- 
dle has a great Variation ; one might be certain in little 
time whether this Hypothefis hold or no, and whether 
we may expefl: from it thole advantages, which I have 
concluded from the fuppofed immobility oidiTerrelU hung 
at liberty. 
