\ MAGNETISM, 238. The knowledge which the antient naturalists possessed this subject was extremely imperfect, andaffords the strong est proof of their ignorance of the true method of philoso phising ; for there can hardly be named any object of phy sical research that is more curious in itself, or more likely to engage attention, than the apparent life and activity of a piece of rude unorganised matter. This had attracted no tice in very early times; for Thales attributed the charac teristic phenomenon, the attraction of a piece of iron, to the sgency of a mind or soul residing in the magnet. Philoso phers seem to have been contented with this lazy notice of * slight suggestion, unbecoming an inquirer, and rather such as might be expected from the most incurious peasant. Even Aristotle has collected no information that is of any importance. We know that the general imperfection of an cient physics has been ascribed to the little importance that attached to the knowledge of the material world by thq i