IV. Account of fome Magnetical Experipicnts and 
Ob/erVations. "By W. Derham, ^Elor c/Upmin- 
fler m EiJex, ani F. % S. 
HAving lately invented an Azimnth^Cewpafs^ as I was 
preparing it for obferving the Magrietick VarUtlon, I 
took Qccafion, in fome leifure hours, to try divers Magne- 
tick Experiments for my diverfion ^ and by that means 
happened upon this odd Phenomenon. 
Having touched a piece of Wire, fo that it ftrongly 
tended N. and S., I was minded to fee whether it would 
have any Inclination to either of the Poles of the World, 
when turned round like a Ring, fo that the two ends of 
the Wire met. And having again ftraitened it, I was fur- 
prized jco find it had quite loft its Verticity. The caufe of 
which I prefently concluded to be the Contaft of the Nor- 
thern and Southern ends of the Wire, which I thought 
might fo influence one the other, as to confufe its Poles 5 
although I confefs I had never obferved ^ny fuch Confufi- 
on to arife upon the bare contact of the Northern and 
Southern ends of two other touched .pieces of Wire, 
Upon this I touched ftrongly the fame, and other pieces 
of frefh Iron Wire, and having found t^^em all greedily to 
turn N. andS. I coylad them round fo as that the ends 
fhould not come near one another , and again fpeedily o- 
pened themftrait 5 and found, as before, that every piece 
had utterly loft its Verticity : Nay, the Magmtick Virtne 
was fo abfolutely deftroyed by bending the Wire, that it 
had not only loft its Inclination to either Pole, but the two 
ends of each Wire feemed indifferent to the Poles of the 
Load* 
