34 
supplement. 
nal, if not its annual motions, could be determined, and furnish 
the means of investigating most of the phenomena of magnetism, 
which are now exhibited on our globe, and establishing for fu¬ 
ture ages a most important point of reference, by which any pro¬ 
gressive movement may be ascertained, and ultimately brought 
within the reach of mathematical determination for any given 
period. 
This is precisely what is still wanting; and now that its 
position is so nearly known, and that it is placed in a spot easy 
of access, and affording every facility for carrying such a series 
of operations into effect, it only remains to be considered whether 
those who have the power to promote such an undertaking may 
attach sufficient importance to the subject to direct its being car¬ 
ried into execution. It is certainly every way worthy of our 
country. The science of magnetism, indeed, is eminently British. 
There is no other country in the world whose interests are so 
deeply connected with it as a maritime nation, or whose glory 
as such is so intimately associated with it, as Great Britain. All 
the late discoveries and improvements are to be attributed to 
the perseverance of British science, and the encouragement and 
assistance of an enlightened and liberal administration. Nor 
will the name of Felix Booth, Esq. be omitted in the list of our 
country’s most distinguished patriots, whose munificence and 
princely spirit have furnished the whole pecuniary means of 
obtaining the results which are now presented to the Society ; 
and, I may fearlessly venture to add, of enabling a few British 
seamen to plant the flag of their country upon the northern 
magnetic pole of the earth. 
In the first voyage of Capt. Ross, we find some valuable in¬ 
formation respecting the variation of the compass, and deviation 
of the magnetic needle, which in this place deserve particular 
notice. We there find, that since the discovery of the polarity 
of the magnet, and the consequent invention of the mariners’com¬ 
pass, great improvements have been made in its construction, 
