28a Dr. Wollaston’s experiments on the mass 
enable us to appreciate rightly, those of the entire mass from 
which they have been detached; for though the mass, when 
tried upon the spot by Mr. Morn ay, gave indications of having 
distinct N. and S. poles, it is pretty clear that these were only 
so by induction, in consequence of position with respect to the 
magnetic meridian. For though the fragments are not in the 
least attractive as magnets, and have in themselves no pola- 
rity, they are precisely like any other pieces of the best soft 
iron, and assume polarity instantly, according to the position 
in which they are held with respect to the magnetic axis of 
the earth. When a long fragment is held in a vertical posi- 
tion, its lower extremity being then within 2d 0 of the dip of 
the N. magnetic pole, becomes N., and repels the N. pole of 
a magnetic needle suspended horizontally. But this power 
is instantly reversed by being suddenly inverted. So that the 
apparent contradiction between the observed polarity of the 
mass, and the seeming' want of it in the fragments, is thus 
completely removed. 
Although Mr. Mornay reasonably expected that this iron 
would not differ from the many others now on record that have 
been found in various parts of the world, and from his expe- 
riments was led to infer the presence of nickel, it appeared 
desirable to ascertain this point with more precision than he 
had been enabled to do, and to determine also in what pro- 
portion this peculiar ingredient of meteoric bodies might be 
found to prevaiL 
I believe the means which I am accustomed to employ for 
detecting the presence of nickel in native iron to be new, and 
may deserve to be described, on account of the very small 
quantity of the iron required for this mode of examination. 
