5 Aug 1815

Jug True

Miracles

Condition of Credibility

Best Evidence never given

(1)

The best evidence JB footnote: ‘ Note here the difference between Preappointed and Subsequential Evidence.’ which the nature of the case admitts of—this is what for the ascertaining of a matter of fact on which a question respecting the most trifling case of money or compensation for any the most trifling injury Judges in our own [time] never fail to require or at least to profess to require and to speak of as indispensable: a matter of fact in which the difference between an eternity of delight and an eternity of torment depends, is it consistent with reason in some form—with common benevolence or with common justice that it should have been suffered to rest on any less stable MS alt. illegible. ground.

Designation the individual point of time at which the alledged matter of fact—say the alledged miracle took place—the individual spot or place—if in a town the town the street the side of the street the House the names and descriptions of the persons at that time of the House—the names and descriptions of the actors in the scene, and if other than the actors there were any percipient witnesses MS alt. ‘witness’. the names and descriptions of these witnesses, and which if any one of them is the relative witness by whom the relation in question has been penned and if not, what other person or persons have one after another [...?] between the percipient witness or witnesses and this relating witness—in some such way as this it is that the best evidence, preappointed or not, which the nature of the case admitts of has frequently been, and in ordinary cases by ordinary human power may in general be, provided.