21 Aug 1815 B + A 

Ch. Imperfection Evidenciary

1

§. Marks of verity

This is [....?] Evidence?

§. Marks: or criterion of verity or [...?] circumstances attached to a narrative or statement by the individualizing and concomitant circumstance, the circumstances in which it was placed by which it was accompani ...

Marks or criterions of verity in the case of a discourse by any event, incident occurrence or state of things supposing it really to have had place will be sure to abide: these are certain circumstances with which in a proportion more or less considerable, as determined by the name or appellation employed in the designation of it, and which if the description given of it be effectually individualized, i.e. distinguished from all individual events or states of things capable of being designated by the same generic or specific names. The effect these collateral circumstances is—that, if, in relation to ony one of these heads the description given of the principal event or state of things in question is false, (the falsity of) the account given of the main or principal event, as designated by its appropriate generic or specific name will be seen to be false likewise.

Of these individualizing and these particularizing concomitant circumstances the greater the known number, the more difficult will it be in a statement which in respect of the main event or state of things is false and therefore in respect of these several circumstances if spoken of circumstances by which that event or state of things was accompanied, false likewise, shall never the less be taken for true. The greater the number of these circumstances the greater the more extensive is the surface exposed to detection in the case of falsity.

1.

Criterions of verity i.e. sources of detection in case of falsity, are individualizing

circumstances.

2.

The greater the number of those circumstances stated in the report as having had place, the greater the chance that if the report made of the principal fact be false the falsity of it will become manifest. The greater the quantity of surface exposed to detection and falsification.