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Lightning's deftroying their Virtue, but alfo by its 
placing it in a particular Diredion 3 e . g. if the 
Lightning ftruck the Needle in the Direction of either 
of the two parallel Sides of the Lozenge, it mud 
ftrike the other two Sides very obliquely 3 whereby 
the fir ft two Sides may have their Polarity deftroyed, 
and a very ftrong one given them in the contrary 
Diredion 3 whilft that of the other Sides, if it be in- 
verted, will be very weak > but it is probable that 
tiie Virtue would be placed obliquely in the Diredion 
of the Stroke 3 in either Cafe, thefe two Sides can 
contribute but very little (if any thing) in direding 
the Card 5 and if the two firft Sides only are capable 
of ading upon ir, it will point in the Diredion of 
thofe Sides, which will produce a Variation of about 
4 Points. 
It may further be obferved that a Needle would 
not continue long in this State, but would every 
Day grow more and more regular; becaufe if the 
Virtue be placed obliquely, it generally turns itfelf 
in the Diredion of any Piece of Steel that is long 
and flender j and that may be the Reafon why this 
Card is now become regular, except that it is in- 
verted. 
The Wires that join the Box feem weaker than 
when I firft examin’d them ; which makes it very 
probable that they might be vaftly ftronger when firft 
ftruck with the Lightning: And the fame may be 
likewife true, in regard to the Nails in the Binacle ; 
which may account for the Experiments not anfwer* 
ing exadly the fame as at firft. 
From what has been faid it appears, that this Form 
of Needles is very improper, and ought to be changed 
for 
