200 Mr. Scorjesby’s experiments and observations on the 
terminations [7 i and I ii], the whole three sub- 
stances forming a continuous straight line, in 
a vertical position, as in the annexed figure. 
The upper end of the upper rod (I ii), being now 
beaten with a small hammer,* acquired mag- 
netical properties, which were communicated 
to the steel wire, whilst the lower rod receiv- 
ing some influence from the percussion, per- 
formed a similar office. This kind of experi- 
ment I have, in the subsequent details, de- 
nominated the compound process ; whilst the 
hammering of a wire upon the principal rod 
(I i), only, without the use of the second rod, 
is called the simple process. 
To give the experiments the best chance, I made use en- 
tirely of steel wire, such as is employed by watch-makers, 
which I found, from several comparisons and experiments, 
that I did not think it necessary to detail here, had a much 
higher capacity for magnetism thus developed, than any 
other steel that I tried : and for obtaining the best effect, in 
the trial of the lifting power produced in the steel wires by 
percussion, I procured a series of nails of different weights, 
made of good iron, with flat heads, so as to stand with their 
points upward, in which position they are the most readily 
lifted ; and after blunting their points, I gave them some de- 
gree of polish for improving the contact. 
* The hammer employed in all the subsequent experiments weighed eleven 
ounces, inclusive of the shaft. Some trials were made with a larger hammer ; but 
its tendency to bend the wires was so great, as more than to counterbalance the 
advantage it gave of a more speedy developement of magnetic energy. This larger 
hammer, however, (weighing twenty-five ounces), was generally used for beating 
the iron rods before the different experiments, when it was of decided advantage. 
