Miscellanea Curiosa.

lies on the West side of the Meridian, and seems to be of greater force than this other) the Needle is drawn thereby Westwards, so as to counterballance the Direction given by the European Pole , and to make a small West Variation in the Meridian of the Lands-end it self. Yet I suppose that about the Meridian of the Isle Tercera , our nearest Pole may so far prevail as to give the Needle a little turn to the East, though but for a very small space: The Counterballance of those two Poles permitting no considerable Variation in all the Eastern Parts of the Atlantick Ocean; nor upon the West Coasts of England and Ireland , France , Spain and Barbary . But to the Westwards of the Azores the Power of the American Pole overcoming that of the European , the Needle has chiefly respect thereto, and turns still more and more towards it as you approach it. Whence it comes to pass, that on the Coast of Virginia , New-England , New-found-Land , and in Hudson's-Straights the Variation is Westward; that it decreases as you go from thence towards Europe , and that it is less in Virginia and New-England , than in New-found-Land , and Hudson's-Straights . This Westerly Variation again decreases, as you pass over the North America ; and about the Meridian of the middle of California the Needle again points due North; and from thence Westward to Yedzo and Japan , I make no doubt but the Variation is Easterly, and half the Sea over no less than fifteen Degrees, if there be any truth in this Hypothesis of mine. Therefore I propose this as a Trial, that the whole may be scann'd thereby; and I conceive it will not be hard to know of the Spaniards how it is, who so frequently sail through that Ocean, in their return from the Manilha Isles. This East Variation extends over Japan , Yedzo , East-Tartary , and part of China , till it meet with