(564) 
eatduHy ebmpared them together, I came at length to 
this general conclufion , That the Globe of the Earth 
might be fuppofed to be one great Magnet, having four 
Magnet ical Poles or Points of Attraction, near each Pole 
of the Eau-ator two i and that in thofe parts of the World , 
which lie near adjacent to any one thofe Magnet ical Poles y 
the Needle is chiefly governed thereby 5 the near eft Pole be- 
ing alpjaies predominant over the more remote.. And I there 
have endeavoured to ftateand limit theprefent pofition 
of thofe Poles in the Surface of our Globe, which the 
Reader pleating- to oonfult willfave us the pains of re- 
peating. But after all, though that Difcourle was fa- 
vourably received both a: home and abroad, as Teem- 
ing to render a tollerable account of the obferved Varia- 
tions, yet I found two difficulties not eafic to furmount, 
the one was that no Magnet \ had cverfcen or heard of, 
had more than two oppofite Poles 5 whereas the Eardi 
had vifibly four, and perhaps more. And fecondly, it 
was plain that thefe Poles were not, at lead all of them, 
fixt in the Earth, but (hifted from placo*to place, as 
appeared by the great changes in the Needles direction 
within this laft Century of years, not only at London f 
(where this great Difco very was fir ft made,) but almoft 
' all over the Globe of Earth ; whereas it is not known 
or obferved -that the Poles of a Load-Srone ever ftifted 
their place in the Scone, nor (confidering the compaS: 
hardnefs of that fuMawe,;) can it eafily be fuppofed: 
-Though the Matter of SuSt be too notorious and univer- 
fal, not to be accounted for 
Thefe difficulties had wholly made me defpond, and 
I had long fbice given over an inquiry I had fo little 
hopes of ; when in accidental difcourfe, and ieaft ex- 
pecting it, I ftumbled on the^ following Hypothecs ? 
in* delivering whereof, if I fhall feem to advance any 
thing that looks like Extravagant or Romantick* the 
Reader is defoed to fufpend .his cenfure, till he have 
' eonfidered 
