440 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
If, however, we turn to the questions, which carry with them 
the stamp of premeditation and mutual adjustment, we have only 
to mention those, which are put to Capt. Ross, on the subject 
of the magnet. To allege that, amongst the members of the 
committee, there were not some individuals of acknowledged 
talent, were to expose ourselves to the imputation of a wilful per¬ 
version of facts ; but it does not follow, that those men of talent 
ever joined the committee, for, as five were a quorum, it is possible 
that, as the committee sat only three days, it was composed of 
the non efficients, with Sir Andrew Agnew in the chair, who, 
in consequence of the valuable information obtained from Capt. 
Ross, intends, in the next session of Parliament, to extend the 
provisions of his Bill for the better Observance of the Sabbath, to 
the Esquimaux nation. The questions, to which we allude, are 
as follows. We do not aver exactly, that Sir Andrew Agnew 
was the honorable member, who put the questions to Capt. Ross; 
but that they were put by some one, who had had a peep be¬ 
hind the curtain, and had learned his part properly, cannot admit 
of a doubt. 
Capt Ross having explained to the members, the effects of 
light, heat, and all other combinations, upon the magnet, is 
asked,—Did you remark, whether light, such as the light of a 
candle , had any influence upon it (the magnet) ? he answers 
The light of a candle has also an effect upon it. 
Did you remark, that any metallic substance produced an 
effect on the magnet?— Yes. 
The buttons of your coat?— The buttons of my coat pro¬ 
duced an effect upon the magnet. 
Capt. Ross considers, that the discovery of light, especially 
the light of a candle, having an influence on the magnet, is a 
great desideratum in science ; we have, therefore, considered it 
proper to bestow upon that discovery, our most special notice, 
in order that all those, whose lives depend on the correctness 
of the compass, may regulate their course accordingly, and make 
the necessary distinction, between the time when the candle is 
burning, and when it is extinguished. In regard to the dis¬ 
covery, that the buttons of his coat had an influence on the 
