( ) 
ftone, as that does Iron or Steel, and they alfo one 
another. 
■ IX. That every Loadftone communicates Vertue 
to Iron or Steel, not only by Contad, but even by 
an Approach of them within its attradive Sphere, 
more or lefs as nearer to, or farther from its Body ; and 
likewife its Poles, alfo according to the Shape, Bulk 
and fpecifick Vertue thereof, and Figure of the Iron 
or Steel, and their Proportion of Magnitude to one 
another. I apprehend, that though a great Magnet (I 
mean of fuch as are (imilar in Figure and fpecifick Ver- 
tue) will lift confiderably larger Irons than a fmall 
one, yet the fmall one fhall give to the fame Piece of 
Steel (provided it is not too large for it to conquer) 
well nigh (if not altogether, as to Senfe) fo ftrong a 
Touch' as the great one. And I have experienced, 
that if the fmall one is fpecifically pretty much better,^ 
it will give the fame fmall Piece of Steel a confiderably 
Itronger Touch than the great one can, though the 
great one is capable of lifting perhaps three or four 
Times fo much as the fmall one. Note^ That if the 
great one is fo ftrong as to give the fmall Piece of 
Steel fo much Vertue as it is capable of receiving (for 
there is, I fuppofe, a ne plus ultra ) that then fhould 
the fmall Stone be ever fo much better, it cannot mend 
the T ouch given by the great one. Some write, that the 
Loadftone lofes none of its Vertue by communicating 
of it to Iron or Steel, which I fomewhat doubt the 
Truth of, efpecially if the Stone is fmall in Proportion 
to the Steel, in which Cafe I have known touched Steel 
lofe confiderable Vertue. 
X. That Steel is not only more receptive, but more 
retentive of Magnetifm than common Iron j Iron or 
Steel 
