■ - [ ■■+ ] 



even chance; the probability refulting upon the whole, accord- 

 ing to Dr. Waring, would be no more than an even chance, 



for I i = -^ ; which is manifeftly a falfe inference. In fad, 



fince the odds that the propofition is true are infinite, or as 

 I to o, the refulting odds muft always be as fome finite num- 

 ber to o, that is, infinite, that is, the propofition will ftill be 

 certain. 



I HAVE here mentioned fome circumftances relative to the na- 

 ture of the evidence refulting from concurring and contradidory 

 reporters, not tending diredly, it is true, , to the eftablifhment of 

 the point I propofed to myfelf, but nearly connected with it ; 

 my principal, and I may almoft fay,, my fole objcdl being to 

 fhew, that the evidence of teftimony can overcome any degree 

 of improbability however great, which can be derived from the 

 nature of the fad. 



Our expedation that a phyfical event, in the courfe of nature, 

 will happen in a particular manner, is founded on previous expe- 

 rience ; which experience may be both perfonal and derived ; 

 that is our expedation may be deduced both from our own 

 adlual experience, and the reports of others vouching their expe- 

 rience, of the like events in fimilar cafes. Since ihis expedation 

 mult neceflarily be of ibme determinate value, depending in fome 



manner 



