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pofTefiion ; for though length of poflcffion fhould not fuperfede 

 right, yet confiderable regard fhould be paid to it, not only for 

 the fake of the public tranquillity, but likewife becaufe in the 

 progrefs of time, there, in many cafes, arifes a greater difficulty 

 of producing the original titles of property. So that perhaps it 

 would be wife to increafe the majority, requifite to decide the 

 quefiion, according to the duration of the pofTefTion. On the 

 other hand, all queftions which require immediate determination, 

 fhould be decided even by the leafl pofTible majority. 



It follows therefore, that although we cannot ad;ually aflign 

 the fraclion which expreffes the credibility of a given witnefs, 

 yet our reafonings on teflimony will be rendered more clear, 

 determinate, and extenfive by this notation. And accordingly 

 Dr. Waring, after he lays down the principles for determining 

 the probabilities of events obferves that they may be applied to 

 human teflimony. See his ElTay on the Principles of Human 

 Knowledge, § 17. 



That probability may juftly be exprefTed by a fradion, 

 certainty being denoted by uaity, and impofhbility by a cypher, 

 will likewife appear from the following confiderations : 



If upon the happening of an event, fays De Moivrc, I be en- 

 titled to a fum of money, my expedation of obtaining that fum 

 has a determinate value before the happening of the event. 



If 



