C TI 5 1 
believed that there was not the leaf! Bit of Iron about 
it. 
Being willing to befatisfied of the Truth of a Cir- 
cumftance fo very extraordinary, the Captain was de- 
fired to fend the Binacle to a Houfe in the City 3 
where, in Company with the Captain, Mr. Ellicot , 
and another Gentleman, I tried it with a large Com- 
pafs touched by my Bars 5 but finding no fenfiblc 
Variation, we at that time defifted, thinking the Fadt 
quite improbable : But having difeovered the Effect 
which the Lightning had produced upon the Wires 
which fattened the Sides of the Compafs-Box, I was 
induced to examine the Binacle a fecond time 5 which 
I did with a fmall Compafs, and with great Care, in 
every Part* and at laft, about the middle of the Bi- 
nacle, I found it to vary very fenfibly, but could not 
difeover any Nails or Iron any-where thereabouts 5 
till, turning it up to examine the Bottom, I there 
found 3 or 4 large Nails, or rather Spikes, driven 
thro' it to fallen the upright Partitions in the middle 
of the Binacle. 
It would not be difficult to explain why any 
Needles, under the like Circumftances with thofe 
above-related, fhould be render'd ufclefs by Light- 
ning, tho’ the Needles themfelves had remained un- 
hurt. So many iron Wires made ftrongly magneti- 
cal would doubtlefs have effected it 3 and 3 or 4 
large Nails in the Binacle, if made magnetical, would 
alone have been fufficient to have done it» But I have 
already taken notice that the Polarity of the Needle 
was inverted by this Accident ; and I would further 
obferve, that all Needles conftru&ed after this man- 
ner are liable to be render'd ufelefs, not only by the 
P -2 Lightning’s 
