[ 374 ] 
the effedt of the wifdom and power of an intelligent 
caufe; and thus to confirm the argument taken from 
final caufes for the exigence of the Deity. It will be 
eafy to fee that the converfe problem folved in this 
efiay is more diredtly applicable to this purpofe ; for 
it fhews us, with diftindtnefs and precifion, in every 
cafe of any particular order or recurrency of events, 
what reafon there is to think that fuch recurrency or 
order is derived from liable caufes or regulations inna- 
ture, and not from any of the irregularities of chance. 
The two laft rules in this efiay are given without 
the deductions of them. I have chofen to do this 
becaufe thefe deductions, taking up a good deal of 
room, would fwell the efiay too much ; and alfo be- 
caufe thefe rules, though of confiderable ufe, do not 
anfwer the purpofe for which they are given as per- 
fectly as could be wifhed. They are however 
ready to be produced, if a communication of them 
Ihould be thought proper. I have in fome places 
writ fhort notes, and to the whole I have added an 
application of the rules in the efiay to fome particu- 
lar cafes, in order to convey a clearer idea of the na- 
ture of the problem, and to fhew how far the folu- 
tion of it has been carried. 
1 am fenfible that your time is fo much taken up 
that I cannot reafonably expect that you fhould mi- 
nutely examine every part of what I now fend you. 
Some of the calculations, particularly in the Appen- 
dix, no one can make without a good deal of labour. 
I have taken fo much care about them, that I believe 
there can be no material error in any of them ; but 
fiiould there be any fuch errors, I am the only per- 
fon who ought to be confidered as anfwerable for 
them. 
Mr. 
