BOOK III PART II
thing, not only when we immediately touch
it, but also when we are so situated with re-
spect to it, as to have it in our power to use
it; and may move, alter, or destroy it, accord-
ing to our present pleasure or advantage. This
relation, then, is a species of cause and effect;
and as property is nothing but a stable posses-
sion, derived from the rules of justice, or the
conventions of men, it is to be considered as
the same species of relation. But here we may
observe, that as the power of using any object
becomes more or less certain, according as the
interruptions we may meet with are more or
less probable; and as this probability may in-
crease by insensible degrees; it is in many cases
impossible to determine when possession be-
gins or ends; nor is there any certain standard,
by which we can decide such controversies. A
wild boar, that falls into our snares, is deemed