40 
SUPPLEMENT. 
in fact that he appears to be comparatively ignorant of the extent 
to which that science has been carried by some of the eminent phi¬ 
losophers of the present day ; thus Commander Ross says, “ The 
primary cause of magnetic phenomena has always been, and still 
is, one of the secrets of nature, although several of the laws of 
magnetism have of late years been gradually developed,and during 
our absence from England, a greater step, perhaps, than any former 
one, has been made, through the indefatigable research of Dr. 
Faraday, by his splendid and convincing proofs of its complete 
identity with electricity 
On this subject Capt. Ross thus expresses himself before the 
committee of the House of Commons. 
“Among the valuable observations of every kind which you de¬ 
scribed the voyage to have enabled you to collect, are the com¬ 
mittee to understand that there are observations connected with 
magnetical electricity f '—“ I know of no magnetic electricity . I 
know of no such term; but the effect of light and heat upon it is 
an important discovery which we have made.’* 
“ You stated you did not recognise such a term as magnetic 
electricity, do you mean to state you do not believe there is any 
identity or necessary connexion between magnetism and elec¬ 
tricity (. electro magnetism) ?”—“ I believe they may combine 
with each other, but I do not understand how electricity can be 
magnetized: the magnet may be electrified, but I do not know 
that it can? 
“ Is that opinion formed from the observations you made 
during your last voyage on the phenomena of electricity and 
magnetism?’’—“No, there was no natural electricity present 
where we were.” 
In regard to the singular contradictions which exist in these 
answers of Capt. Ross, with the information contained in the 
memoir of Commander Ross, it is curious to observe, that the 
memoir was read before the Royal Society on the 19th December 
1833, and that the examination of Capt. Ross before the commit¬ 
tee of the House of Commons did not take place until the fol¬ 
lowing March 1834. Thus, although it was distinctly stated in 
the memoir of Commander Ross, that the complete identity of 
