C 239 ] 
XXXVI. A View of the Relation between the 
celebrated Dr. Halley V Tables, and the No- 
tions of Mr. De Buffon, for eft abli fling a 
Ride for the probable Duration of the Life 
of Man*, by Mr. William Kerffeboom, of 
the Hague. Tranflated from the French, 
by James Parions, M. D. and F. R.S. 
eo difconvenit inter 
Meque et te 
Read May 31, § j, 1\ /TY fituation in life not per- 
I?53 ' JV X rnitting me to look over the 
works of the learned, was the reafon, why I was not 
one of the firft, who perufed the General and parti- 
cular Natural Hijlory , &c. of Mr. de Buffon. How- 
ever a little interval of leil'ure allowing me to look 
into it, I am at a ftand to find myfelf mention'd, in 
the fame breath with the celebrated Dr. Halley and 
others, to receive our condemnation on account of 
the tables for determining the degrees of probability 
of the duration of human life : and as this paffage 
is the occafion of my remarks, I will begin by citing 
it intirely here : 
“ Man (fays M. de Buffon, at the end of the 
tl fecond tome) as is well known, dies at all ages ; 
« c and altho’ it may be faid in general, that his life 
“ is longer than that of almoft any other animal, it 
<c cannot be denied, that it is at the fame time more 
“ variable and uncertain. Attempts have been of late 
“ years made to know the degrees ofthefe variations, 
^ “ and 
