VI. Remarks on a Mixed Species of Evidence in Matters 

 of History : With nn Examination of n new Histo- 

 rical Hypothesis, in the Memoires pour la Vie de 

 Petrarque, by the Ahhe de S.JDE. By ALEXANDER 

 Fr.iser TtTler, Eso^. F. R. S. Ed in. Judge- Advocate of 

 North Britain. 



[Rend by Mr PLATFAIR, Auguji 21. 1797.] 



IN matters of hiftorical refearch, there is a kind of circum- 

 ' ftaijiti'al evidence which arifes from the combination of 

 known or authenticated fadts, with critical argument on the 

 import of doubtful palTag^s of authors, which the reafoner en- 

 deavours to interpret, by bringing together, comparing, and 

 making the one' illuftrate the others fo as to draw from, the 

 whole a degree of pofitive and certain information, which, tlvife" 

 authenticated fadls are not of themfelves fufficpient to convey^ 

 and which thofe paflTagcs, taken feparately, are incapable of fur- 

 nilhing. This oornplex fpecies of evidence, it mufl be, owned, 

 is, with refpeijl to its povyer erf cqnvidlion, much inferior to that 

 which arifes from, the oi-dinary proofs on which authentic; hiflo- 

 ry depends ; for example, the teflimony of adual witnefles to 

 the fa(3s j-elatecj ; or the pofitive information of authors, derived 

 ART. Tr. ' • 0^2 " from 



