460 Mints for the Formation of 
To determine this curious question, it would be neces- 
sary to make choice of two opposite coasts, and directed 
almost east and west from the magnetic meridian ; such 
as the coast of Provence to the south, and that of -Nor- 
mandy to the north ; to establish two compasses well sus- 
pended, such as those of M. Coulomb, one to the south, 
at Antibes for example, and the other to the north, near 
Cape de La Hogue ; and to see whether their diurnal 
variations did not proceed in a contrary direction : that 
is to say, whether that at Antibes, having the continent 
to the north, and only sea to the south, would not decline, 
in the morning, towards the west, as that of Mr. Canton 
did ; and whether that of La Hogue, having the continent 
to the south and sea to the north, would not, at the same 
time, decline to the east. Mr. Canton, indeed, who made 
these observations at London, had, to the north of his 
magnetic fiorizon, the greater part of England and all 
Ireland ; and thus he must have had the variation west 
in the morning and east in the evening, as he observed it ; 
for it is certain that the sea preserves the land, which it 
covers, from the action of the sun ; and that thus the at- 
traction of that land ought not to vary by the heat which 
emanates from that luminary. 
By carefully repeating and varying these observations. 
In places chosen with discernment, we shall be able to 
decide whether the regular diurnal variation depends upon 
a general cause, the action of which, however, is suscepti- 
ble of being suspended or disturbed by local causes ; or 
whether we are to believe, on the contrary, as M. Yan 
Swinden does, that the diurnal variation is not a cosmic 
phenomenon, or that it does not depend on a general 
cause inherent in the globe, and which every where acts 
according to the same law. 
9. Is there properly any action of the magnetic fluid 
on the electric fluid ? or is there, between these two fluids, 
