f 8II0 ) 
Hegifter hath been kept of fuch Obfervatlons 5 whence we 
.Plight form a Scheme, how fuch Variations do proceed 
from time to time. 
It hath been obferved alfo, of what they call the Dip- 
pwg Needle 5 that, f befide the Horizomal Direftior. to-* 
ward the North, ) it hath alfo a Diredcion of Altitude, a- ' 
bove and below the Horizon,if balanced on an Horizontal ■ 
Axis : Fointing as it were v/ith its Northern end (in our 
Climate J to fome Point within the body of the Earth. 
Whether or no this Direftion do Vary (from time :o rime) 
as doth that of its Horizontal Pofition Northward 5 lean- 
not tell : nor do I know, whether or no it hath been yet 
obferved. Nor, whether or no the Southern End, in o- 
ther parts of the World, do Dip 5 as the Northern End 
doth with us. All which things deferve fcrious Gonfi- 
•deration. 
I could wifli, that you would take fome pains, ( for I 
know not who can do it better, ) by yourfelf , or whom 
elfe you (liall think fit to aflbciate, to coUeft, and give us 
a brief Hiftory, of what hath been done in this kind, 
/ how, when, and by whom ^ ^ and by what Steps the 
Doftrine of the Magmt hath been gradually promoted : 
For it is pity the Memory of it fhould be loft. And per- 
haps it may be the laft Requeft I may live to beg of you,, 
('being now at the age of 86 3 ) And it is' for the Publickj 
and not for my felf. 
Or, ii it be too great a task for you to undertake at pre- 
sent, (who have your hands full of other weighty bufinefs^) 
1 wifli the Royal Society would ferioufly recommend it to 
the care of fome other fit perfon, of their Members, who 
may be Able and Willing to undertake it: As a thing that 
would be welcome to the Inquifitive World, would be an 
Honour to the Nation^ to GreJham-CoUege in particular 5 
and, to the Rojd Society* 
I have fin the Letter above-mentioned) given my Con- 
jedture, that the Mariners C&mpafs ( of fuch prodigious ufe 
in Navigation) was Originally an £/?^///^Tnvention, Not 
