520 On Dr. Franklins Obfervations on American Population, (Jan. 1, 
I think that I fhall, (1.:3, MW. 3:) 
Cor. ‘Phe former two phrafes are equiva- 
lent toe each other whence 
1. doubt that is equivalent to think but, 
aleebraically—rbind that (1. 2.)=ibink 
—ihat (11.2): 
And the’ latter two, phrafes are alfo 
equivalent to each other ; whence 
2. two oppcfing negatives are equivalent 
to an afairmative, (algebraically,— 
think—that = 4+- think ikai*.) 
LV: 
~ Hence, by I., 
I do not think but I fhall; and, 
-I do not doubt but I hhail, 
muft be ofpofite: And, 
IDO NOT DOUBT THAT I SHALL | 
will be equivalent to, 
I do not think that I fhall not, or 
GS RG NS 
I THINK THAT I sHALL.F 
Alfo, by II., 
I do not doubt that T fhall; and, 
I do not doubt but I fhal!, 
mutt be oppofte: And, 
I Do NoT DOUBT BUT I SHALL 
will’ be equivalent to, 
I do not doubt that I fhall not; or 
(TIT. Cor,2-) 
I doubt that I foall, i.e. (1. Cor. 2.) 
I THINK THAT I SHALL NOT. 
* This is alfo proved by an analyfis of 
the formeritwo phrafes: ‘* I do zt pouRT 
being in reality (by T....2.)) °4 0) do’, not 
Not THINK,” (algebraically—pousT— — 
—THINK;” and © I do zof think put” 
being in like manner (by II. 2.) ** I do zot 
think Not THAT,” (algebraicallye-THINK 
BUT I — THINK — THAT.) 
+ This illuftration, as well as fome of the 
preceding, is introduced merely to maintain 
the firi& conneétion and oppofition of the in- 
ferences: and I chooie to deduce it through 
the fecond branch of the Cor. of JIL, rather 
than the firft, which according to my plan is 
its regular channel, though at the expence of 
referring to this latter twice and negle€ting 
the former; as that would. merely give a re- 
petition of the firft line of this divifion, and 
would not fo well harmonife with the fubie- 
quent concluding refolution. 
Tt His examples are: 
‘* They made no account, éut that the navy 
fhould be abfolutely mafter of the feas. 
Bacsn. 
“<T fancied to myfelf a kind of eafe in the 
change of the paroxyfm 3 never fufpeéting 
but that the humour would have wafted itfeif, 
. Dryden. 
‘¢ There is no queftion ut the king of 
Spaia wili reform moft of the abufes. 
. Addifon,” 
Johnfon explains But ((ee its thirteenth 
fenfe in his Diétionary) as being * uled 
after 29 doubt, no quefiton, and fuch words; 
and figaifying the fame with that.’ It is 
curious that in every one of the three ex- 
amples which he quotes, it means ftriét] 
the contrary te that (cr, algebrairally— 
that), and the ufe of that alone will ex- 
prefs a meaning precifely cppofite.f 
Tt is to be obferved too, that the mofto 
- I have adopted above is erroneous, as the 
but ficuld be that. ; 
But is ufed in the fame erreneoufly in. 
cifcriminate manner after the verbs ¢o de- 
ny, dilpute, queftion, believe, think, Gc. 
and alfo after fuch words as zmpoffible, im~ 
probable, &c. / | 
If this article fhould catch the fancy of 
any of your grammatical readers; and 
they fhould think it worth ecnfideration, 
and be inclined to make a trial of, apply- 
ing a fimilar method to the inveftigation - 
of other phrafes; I would recommend them 
as a theme, to illuftrate the fenfe of wor, 
as zot or (or,—or), after mor, neither, or. 
wot; andthe improper ufe of or in fuch 
cafes: I fhould be glad to fee a fpecimen 
in your next Number. 
‘ ze 
i 
To the Editor of the Manthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
N your Magazine for O&ober laft, there 
is a Return of the Population of Ame- 
rica, according to the Cenfus or Enume- 
ration taken by Act of Congrefs for the 
year 180:, amounting to 5,305,638 fouls; 
and a marginal not: gives the amount in. 
1791 to have been 3,929,326 fouls. This 
itatement proves, 19 the moft undeniable 
manner, that Dr. Franklin has over-rated 
the probable increafe of American popula~ 
tion in his calculation ‘* that the number of 
théfinhabitants of America (exclufive of 
emigrants from the old worid) will double 
itfelf every twenty years.” As the Doétor’s 
obfervations on this head, and on its im- 
portance to Great Britain, printed at Phix 
ladelphia in 1755, are very fcarce, and 
comprized in a fmall compafs, it may not 
be unacceptable to your readers to have 
them in his own words. 
‘< Tables of the proportion of mar- 
riages to births, of deaths to births, of 
marriages to the number of inhabitants, 
&c. formed on obfervations made on the 
bilis of mortality, chriftenings, &c. of 
populous cities, will not fuit countries 5 
nor will tables formed on obfervations 
made on full fettled old countries, as Eu- 
rope, fuit new countrics as America. 
«© For people increafe in proportion a 
. tne 
