t whatever of my Memory, from the
Distance of Time;--Nor, in short, was it my Intention to attest the
several Facts therein, as Matters of Belief--But as Matters of as much
Certainty as a Man was capable of having, or giving Evidence to. In
Consequence of this Explanation of myself, I do declare myself ready to
attest the same Instrument over again, striking out the Words "to the
best of our Remembrance and Belief" which I see, have raised this
Exception to it.

Whether I was mistaken or no, I leave to better Judges; but I understood
those Words were a very common Preamble to Attestations of Things, to
which we bore the clearest Evidence;--However, Dr. Topham, as you have
claimed just such another Indulgence yourself, in the Case of begging
the Dean's Authority to say, what, as you affirm, you had sufficient
Authority to say without, as a modest and Gentleman-like Way of
Affirmation;--I wish you had spared either the one or the other of your
Remarks upon these two Passages:

--Veniam petimus, demusque vicissim.

There is another Observation relating to this Instrument, which I
perceive has escaped your Notice; which I take the Liberty to point out
to you, namely, That the Words, "To the best of our Remembrance and
Belief", if they imply any Abatement of Certainty, seem only confined to
that Paragraph, and to what is immediately attested after them in it:--
For in the second Paragraph, wherein the main Points are minutely
attested, and upon which the whole Dispute, and main Charge against the
Dean, turns, it is introduced thus:

"We do particularly remember, That as soon as Dinner was over, &c."

In the second Place you affirm, "That it is not Paid, That Mr. Sterne
could affirm he had heard you charge the Dean with a Promise, in its own
Nature so very extraordinary, as of the Commissaryship of the Dean and
Chapter":--To this I answer, That my true Intent in subscribing that
very instrument, and I suppose of others, was to attest this very Thing;
and I have just now read that Part of the Instrument over; and cannot,
for my Life, affirm it either more directly or expresly, than in the
Words as they there stand;--therefore please to let me transcribe them.

"But being press'd by Mr. Sterne with an undeniable Proof, That he, (Dr.
Topham) did propagate the said Story, (viz: of a Promise from the Dean
to Dr. Topham of the Dean and Chapter's Commissaryship)--Dr. Topham did
at last acknowledge it; adding, as his Reason or