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the matter up, the fact shone out that probability proper
had nothing to do with the validity of Abduction, unless
in a doubly indirect manner. But now a number of
considerations offered themselves as possibly connected
with the solution of the problem, and owing to the
extreme weakness of this form of inference, it was
difficult to make sure that they were irrelevent. I seemed
to be lost in a pathless forest, until by minute applica-
tion of the first principles, I found that the categories,
which I had been led to neglect from not seeing
how they were to be applied, must and in fact did
furnish the clue that guided me through the maze.
I prefer not to make any prefacial sketch
of this doctrine, but shall ask the reader to judge of
it, if at all, from it's full exposition. I believe it
to be the most important part of the book whether