"It is highly probable that in proceeding a very short distance from south to north (or vice versa) there will be a pretty sensible change in the dip; and thus the dip being carefully noted once and the latitude observed, the same place and the same latitude may thereafter be very readily found by means of a dip instrument even in the darkest night and in the thickest weather."
January 1, 1970
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Gilbert_of_Colchester%2C_Physician_of_London