2i 6 Mr. Scoresby’s experiments and observations on the 
I 
cause, as it is now in a state of constraint or violence, there is 
a tendency to return to the state of neutrality. In soft iron, 
the return to its former condition, is almost instantaneous on 
the removal of the disturbing cause ; but in steel, the resto- 
ration to its former state is resisted by a force proportionate 
to the hardness of its temper. Soft steel readily acquires po- 
larity, but it is evanescent ; and hard steel receives polarity 
with difficulty, but it is very permanent. Though in all mag- 
netised substances there is a force always acting towards the 
restoration of the condition of neutrality, yet, when the mag- 
netism has been highly developed, it produces a permanent 
change in the point where the force ceases to act. This point 
we may call the state of quiescence , being the state of a mag- 
netic substance, when the different magnetisms, though not 
perfectly neutralised, are yet, as it were, balanced. In the 
natural condition of a substance, capable of some permanency 
of magnetism, the neutral and quiescent states are coincident, 
but after every magnetising operation, if the denomination of 
the poles be always preserved the same, they are farther and 
farther removed ; hence arises an increasing capacity for 
magnetic energy. If, for the sake of illustration, a piece of 
steel somewhat soft be magnetised : on the removal of the 
cause (provided no artificial means be used to keep it up), 
the polarity will gradually diminish until it comes to the 
quiescent condition, or the state where the resistance natural 
to the metal has no returning force to oppose. Suppose, in 
this state, it yet has polarity capable of lifting the weight of 
an ounce of iron, and that in its highest or saturated state 
of magnetism it lifted 20 ounces. On being again magnetised 
by the same means and process, it will now have increased 
