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as per fractions

4010 3248

and

2448

> 5132 4385 3635 respectively; but the probability that all those lives shall continue so long,

13.0505
15.0000
4010 × 3248x2448_31883927040

is equal to

fractions

years, instead of

5.8466 15.0000

years, as per

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By following up the inflexibility of this immutable law of nature, through every intermediate link of the chain, to its arrival at the extremity of old age, it will be found that the probability of a person, whose age is 20, attaining to the age of 95, or live 75 years, is, according to the observations of M. De Parcieux,

27.4802

55.0000

34.0586

40.2119

as given in Mr. Bailey's third Table, equal to 75.0000 years. The probability that a person, whose age is 30, shall attain to the age of 95, or live 65 years, is, according to the same observations, equal to 65.0000 years. And the probability that a person, whose age is 40, shall attain to the age of 95, or live 55 years, is, according to the same observations, equal to years. But the probability that all those persons shall continue in being to the end of a term of 55 years, is, by the same observations, equal to years, instead of the nonentity denoted by 0.0000, as necessarily resulting from the doctrine subscribed by the mathematical faithful, enrolled in their Court of Chancery. It is here particularly asked, whether the expression "continue in being to the end of any given term" means any thing or means nothing? Should it so happen, as to mean something, the plain question is, what is that something that it

33.6807

55.0000

N

does mean? Can the probable continuation of the existence of an assigned life be equal to itself, and unequal to itself, at one and the same time? The rule given in page 355, and the result in page 531, imply that it can. To carry this a little farther: let it be supposed possible to make the expression," continue in being to the end of any given term,” to signify some real entity in nature, and that it may be attempted to form in the mind a clear and distinct conception of such entity; and that the immediate object so conceived be a specific period of time, then will the probability that a person, whose age is 15, shall continue in being to the end of a term of ten years, as deduced by the law of nature, from the register of life and death (as given in page 530, Table 3d) be equal to a period of nine years, and the fraction .5837; the probability that the same person shall continue in being to the end of a term of 20 years, will be equal to a period of 18 years, and the fraction .2394. The probability that the same person shall continue in being to the end of the term of 30 years, will be equal to a period of 25 years, and the fraction .9894. The probability that the same person shall continue in being to the end of a term of 40 years, will be equal to a period of 32 years, and the fraction .8101. The probability that the same person shall continue in being to the end of a term of 50 years, will be equal to a period of 38 years, and the fraction .2624. The probability that the same person shall continue in being to the end of a term of 60 years, will be equal to a period of 41 years, and the fraction .8909. The pro

bability that the same person shall continue in being to the end of a term of 65 years, will be equal to a period of 42 years, and the fraction .8573. The probability that the same person shall continue in being to the end of a term of 70 years, will be equal to a period of 43 years, and the fraction .3278. And the probability that the same person shall continue in being to the end of a term of 80 years, will be equal to a period of 43 years, and the fraction .5094. But the probabilities that a person, whose age is 15, shall continue in being to the end of the said terms of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, and 80 years respectively, as deduced by the rule of faith from the same register of life and death, will be equal to the respective periods of 9.1273, 16.3679, 22.0047, 24.8113, 23.2901, 14.9292, 9.0448, 3.9622, and 0.0000. years, can the probability, therefore, of the continuance in being of such a life to the extremity of old age, be, according to the result in page 531, equal to something, and at the same time equal to nothing, according to the necessary consequence of Mr. Bailey's rule in page 355? Thus it is that error always contradicts itself.

SECTION XXXVII.

REFLECTIONS ON THE MUTABILITY OF FORTUNE.

THERE is nothing certain in this world but death : theory supposes, experience sometimes proves, but the latter often deceives. The fatality which constantly attends the wayward lot of mortals is so secret in its operations, that it baffles all the penetration of man to discover it. Xerxes came to conquer Greece with such a numerous force, that his army quite exhausted the rivers in quenching their natural thirst. He covered the sea with ships, as numerous as the caterpillars which formerly infested Egypt; whence he was inflated with such a certain prospect of success, that he already considered himself as a complete master of the sea; and he commanded it to be whipt with rods, for having the insolence to mutiny tempestuously against him. But, alas! he shamefully lost so many thousand men, and such a number of ships, that he thought himself very fortunate in escaping on board of a small fishing vessel.

Alexander the Great, after having conquered almost three quarters of the globe, wept because he had not another world to conquer. He retired to Babylon to pass the remainder of his days in luxury and voluptuousness, being then no more than thirty years of age;

but he there terminated his life at the end of a few days; and, of all his conquests, possessed only a grave of about six feet.

Polycrates, the tyrant of Samos, was so fortunate, that he never met with any disgrace in the course of a long life, which induced him presumptuously to believe that he had chained Fortune herself to the wheels of his car; yet he was, at length, driven from his throne, deprived of every thing, and by his own subjects fixed to a cross, on which he finished his career by a most ignominious death.

Croesus, who had amassed immense riches, and was highly elated with his prosperity, considered Solon as a fool, when he told him, "there was no happiness on this side of the grave," till he found himself tied to the funeral pile by order of Cyrus, after having lost his dominions and his treasures.

Gustavus, the third king of Sweden, in the full vigour of life, meditated a counter-revolution in France in 1792: he hardly entertained a doubt, with the assistance of his allies, of restoring absolute power to the Gallic monarch; but, before he commenced hostilities, one of his own officers put a period to his life in the midst of the jollity and splendor of a masquerade.

In a word, there is no dependence on the uncertain issue of the affairs of this world. To-day we see a princé upon a throne—the next losing his head upon a scaffold, as our own history and that of France can testify. Today we see a man condemned to the most horrid dun

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