C 188 3 
VIII. Account of the repetition of Mr. Christie's experiments on 
the magnetic properties imparted to an iron plate by rotation , 
at Port Bowen, in May and June , 1825. By Lieutenant 
Henry Foster, R. N. F. R. S. ; together with Mr. Christie's 
remarks thereon. 
Previous to our leaving England in 1824., Mr. Christie 
stated to me that he had some time ago discovered singular 
magnetic properties to be imparted to iron by simply making 
it revolve about an axis, and that these properties were ex- 
hibited in the different deviations which a plate of that metal 
would cause in a horizontal needle, according as it was made 
to revolve gently by the hand in one direction or the oppo- 
site : wishing me also to pursue these experiments as oppor- 
tunites offered, in the high magnetic latitudes we were likely 
to visit in H. M. S. Hecla. The memorandum with which 
he furnished me on this subject, suggested that the plate 
should be placed in certain magnetic positions to the com- 
pass ; for which purpose, unfortunately, I had no proper 
instrument. Through the kindness, however, of Captains 
Parry and Hoppner, I was enabled to employ the carpenter 
of the Fury in constructing a suitable apparatus; and I feel 
much satisfaction in acknowledging my obligations to them, 
for the ready assistance they afforded me on this, as well as 
on other occasions. The instrument, which answered the 
purpose extremely well, is briefly described as follows. 
Plate V. AB, fig. 1, is the stand of the instrument, C D EF 
