31 Aug 1804

Evidence

Circumstantial

Ch.2. Explanations[?]

So, on the negative side, may the correspondent expressions following.

1. The strength of the persuasion, in disaffirmance of the existence of the fact said to be disproved /principal fact in question/, that persuasion being produced by the contemplation of the evidentiary fact.

2. The disprobative force of the evidentiary fact with reference to the fact said to be disproved

3. The (apparent) /degree of/ repugnancy between the existence of the evidentiary fact and the existence of the fact said to be disproved

4. The apparent improbability of the existence of the fact said to be disproved - as deduced or inferred from the existence of the evidentiary fact.

When these quantities are respectively considered as being at their maximum, the fact said to be disproved is considered and spoken of as impossible - the impossibility of it being the necessary consequence of the existence of the evidentiary fact