 the Subject to her, because I think these Things always turn out best when left to themselves; but I have contrived such a Plan as must necessarily increase the Intimacy between

them, insomuch that if I have any Skill in Prophecy, Matters will be brought to a Conclusion before the End of the Summer. I shall not let you any farther into the Secret before the first Part of my Design has actually taken Place, as upon that the Success of the whole in a great Measure depends. Not that I have the least Fear of its failing, for I have a Confidant to assist me in the Business, by whose Diligence and Exertions I have no Doubt of all Things being brough• to a right Issue. Who he is, I shall not inform you at present, a Secresy you know is the Soul of Conspiracy, and they say Walls have Ears, but shall proceed now with transcribing my Sentiments on a Subject which indeed I should

have mentioned much sooner, had not my Proceedings and Considerations concerning my Daughter's Marriage, left me hardly a Moment to spare for any other Business. I mean the Nihil or Nothing of the Schoolmen, which, if you recollect, we disputed about for three Afternoons at Staples, when neither of us being able to make his Ideas on the Subject at all clear to the Understanding of the other, we left off just where we begun.
Now I am inclined to think that there is a very considerable Distinction and Difference to be made between Nothing as taken in its strict and confined Sense, and Nothing taken in its more general and extensive one. Nothing taken strictly, seems to be that which is impossible,

and implies an absolute Contradiction; whereas Nothing taken more generally, is applied both to what is possible as well as what is impossible. Again, Nothing may be distinguished into a Negative, which is the Absence of Reality in any Subject; and then there is Nothing privative, which is the Absence of Reality in a Subject capable thereof, or wherein it ought to be found. And as to the Possibility or Impossibility of a Thing, we know that to be impossible, which exceeds or is beyond all possible Bounds, and which in short can never happen. And if this be true, it necessarily follows, according to the Argument deduced from Contraries, that whatsoever does not exceed or go beyond those

Bounds, but which, from its not exceeding, is consequently and necessarily contained therein; may be denominated or considered as a Thing possible, or to be done. And of Things possible, there are several Species. First, there is
