26 
The Principles of Magnetism . 
[January, 
are free to readily reverse their positions. Consequently 
it is very probable that every molecule in such a mass feels 
the magnetic energy of every other molecule, and freely 
shifts its axis into the direction required by the superior 
attraction. The case is like that which would exist between 
larger magnets if so arranged as to have liberty to revolve, 
and so placed that the aCtion of their mutual energies could 
not be counteracted by terrestrial magnetism. 
But the side-by-side relation of magnets so far examined 
needs to be considered in connexion with another relation 
ere 'we can comprehend the true magnetic condition. This 
is the end-to-end relation. If two magnets which, laid side 
by side, would repel — be shifted without a change of axial 
direction until they become end to end — they will attract. 
Or if in the first instance they attracted, in the second they 
would repel. And this relation of magnets must influence 
and vary the relations we have hitherto considered. Thus 
the tendency of two magnets to arrange themselves astatic- 
ally, thus : — 
N S 
S — N 
would be counteracted in the following arrangement. 
N S 
NS NS 
N S 
The two end magnets would attract the upper one of the 
astatic pair, and repel or cause a reversal of poles in the 
lower one. In the new relation assumed the paired magnets 
would repel each other, but their repulsion would be over- 
come by the attraction of the end magnets. 
Let us again consider a cylindrical mass of magnets, 
made up of unit magnets arranged thus end to end as well 
as side by side. The tendency of the magnets in the core 
of the cylinder to assume an astatic relation with those in 
the surface, and for this agency to overcome the local 
influences of magnet on magnet, must be aided by the above 
arrangement. In any group of surface magnets like that in 
the last diagram, the influence of the central magnets of the 
cylinder would be aided by the energies of the two end 
magnets of the group, and the astatic tendency of any two 
contiguous magnets would be thus doubly resisted. But at 
