( ) 
dicularly with its South Pole downward, the Weight 
whereof was 3j 31] Gr. xv good Weight (/. e, 115' 
Grains or better) Wherefore (ince the Needle weigh- 
ed lefs than 4 Gr. which is the 19th Part of ii6,we 
may reckon it lifted full X9 times its own Weight by 
the Force of one Pole, the Key having no permanent 
Vertue before. 
I never faw this Communication of Magnetifm out- 
done by the Loadftone itfelf, as it is commonly ufed j 
but what a good one would do, ufed as I did the Steel, 
I know not for want thereof, but doubt, unlefs Steel 
could be made better than it ufually is, a ftronger De- 
gree of Attraction therein is fcarce to be hoped for from 
the Ufe of the belt* of Loadftones. 
I ufually find the attractive Power in fquare Bars cut 
plain over tranfverfe to their Lengths, to be (trongeft, 
not in the Middle of their Ends, but much nearer to 
their Corners or Sides, and to be greater at one Corner 
or Side than another •, and this not only in fuch as are 
of touched Steel, but in Iron ones having no Polarity, 
but from their Pofition. The fame I obferved in round 
Bars, if their Ends are not convex. 
In fome of my large Steel Bars (as alfo in fome of the 
round Bars) I found the North Pole ftrongefi, in others 
the South. I know not the Caufe thereof; for though I 
touched the weaker End twice fo often as the ftronger, it 
would (till continue to be fo,when the flrongefl: had been 
well touched before. I imagine it mud be owing to 
fome Inequality of the Steel occafioned by the different 
Degree of Heat taken at the Forging ; different Degree 
of Heat when the Smith defifted hammering ; different 
Degree of Heat in making the Iron into Steel, or 
Quantity of what is ufed in doing it ; Finenefs of 
Y y z the 
