C ^57 ) 
III. A Paper about Magnet if f7t^ or cancer ning the 
changing and fixing the Polarity of a Piece of- 
Iron. By Mr. J. C. 
O^oher i^^ 1694. 
S I R, 
HAving but little Matter from abroad, I will here 
give you fbmetbing of my own ; Being a Bre- 
viate ot fome Experiments of the Loadjioney or rather 
of Magnet ifm^ which I lately made. 
'Tis known that a Rod of Iron held Perpendicular to • 
the Horizon, or inclining, the lower end is its North 
Pole, or attrafls the South end of a Magnetick Needle ; 
and that the fame end held upwards becomes a South 
Pole, fc. attrads the North end of a Needle, and repels 
the South end. The South I call a mutable Pole, which 
may be North or South, according as you hold it. I 
call a Fixt Pole that w^iich does not change houever 
you hold it, particularly that is a fixt North Pole, which 
tliough held upwards, attrafts the Needles South end , 
and repells the North end : And that is a fixt South 
Pole, which held downw^ards attracts the Needles North 
end, and repells the South end. 'Tis known that the 
Magnet does make fuch fixt Poles. But to do it with- 
out the Magnet, is what I here chiefly confider. 
I. The Species of the Pole, whether North or South, 
may be found by paffing the Iron Rod through Cork or 
Wood, and then leaving it to flvim on Water, it will 
turn to its proper Pole. But this way is not nice, but 
in fome cafes fo flow, that you would think it to be at 
reft when 'tis in motion towards its Pole. A betrer way 
to try for Inftance a Norch Pole, is to hold the Iron 
Perpen- 
