developement of magnetical properties in steel and iron, &c. 215 
incapability of the iron rods attaining, or retaining, more mag- 
netic energy. The maximum, in their conditions, it would 
appear, determines the maximum in the condition of the steel. 
But I apprehend, had I used very large rods, capable of com- 
municating magnetism to the wires above the point of their 
saturation, then the usual analogy would have been com- 
plete, and I should, progressively, have attained higher and 
higher degrees of polarity. 
As the phenomenon of the progressive elevation of the 
point of saturation in magnets became a matter of some 
thought and consideration with me, I may be excused, per- 
haps, for including here the substance of my reflections on 
this subject, and especially as some change, similar to what 
takes place in magnets having their saturated point raised by 
renewals of the magnetising operation, &c., also takes place 
in the disposition of steel bars or wires for polarity, by per- 
cussion. For, as a magnet having its poles reversed, will 
not, at first, by the same apparatus and process as that from 
which it originally derived its power, acquire the same in- 
tensity as before ; so, in wires magnetised by percussion, 
with the same end always held downward, the inversion of 
the poles will not be accompanied by equal power as before. 
Respecting this phenomenon, I may suggest the following 
explanation. 
The natural condition of iron is without polarity. It ac- 
quires polarity by certain modes of treatment, or juxtapo- 
sition with magnetic substances ; until which it evinces no 
attractive property. In this state its magnetic properties are 
neutral, and there is no tendency in the iron to develope 
polarity. But if it be rendered magnetic, no matter by what 
